Discectomy and fusion????

Question

I'm going in for a disectomy and disc fusion operation, my specialist tell me it will take 6 weeks to recover...is this true? Has anyone had this operation? I thought it would take longer to recover. Please help, thanks!

Answer 1

The 6 weeks healing time is the time it will take for the bones to fuse together (same process as the healing of a broken bone), the muscular recovery will likely take a good while longer. The muscles are pulled around quite a lot to do the operation so get stretched. They will need to be exercised properly (physio) to bring them back to full strength, and perhaps improve to give your back extra support.
I have not had this op but I was considering it, so looked into it quite carefully.
Good luck...;

Answer 2

I had a cervical disectomy and disc fusion with cadaver bones in May of this year. I spent the night in the hospital and went home the next morning. I had a lot of shoulder/upper back aching and stiffness for two weeks. I used a heating pad and muscle relaxants for the discomfort. I have had good results from the surgery and know others who had good success also. GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 3

WELL, IT WILL TAKE 6 WEEKS TO RECOVER FROM AN ORTHOPAEDIC POINT OF VIEW. THE BONES ARE VERY GOOD AT HEALING IN REGULAR PATTERNS, AND THE FACT THAT THE BONES WILL ALREADY BE PARTLY FUSED AFTER THE PROCEDURE MAKES THE CHANCES OF HEALING BY 6 WEEKS MORE LIKELY.

HOWEVER, WHAT MAY NOT BE HEALED BY 6 WEEKS, IS YOUR SYMPTOMS. THIS MAY TAKE VARYING TIME PERIODS TO SETTLE AND IT MAY NOT BE KNOWN WHETHER THE DISCECTOMY AND FUSION WAS A SUCCESS OR NOT FOR MANY MONTHS.

THE OPERATION WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED IF IT WAS NOT SAFE ENOUGH, OR IF IT WAS UNLIKELY YO BENEFIT YOU. WITH THAT IN MIND, YOU PROBABLY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE, AND POTENTIALLY A LOT TO GAIN, SO I WOULD SAY STICK WITH IT, DON'T EXPECT TOO MUCH TOO SOON AND I'M SURE THINGS WILL GO WELL.

I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST