How long is recovery from bulging disc surgery?

How long is recovery from bulging disc surgery?

Most patients return to work within 2-4 weeks following surgery; however, those with more strenuous jobs may need to wait up to 12 weeks before returning.

Is discectomy major surgery?

Discectomy is a common but major surgery with significant risks and potential complications. You may have less invasive treatment options.

Does a discectomy weaken the back?

However, it’s entirely possible to have some degree of spinal weakening and not experience related discomfort. Should there be suspected weakening of your back following a microdiscectomy, image tests are typically performed to confirm if this is the case.

How long will discectomy surgery last?

It may take about 1 hour. Here is an example of what you might expect: You will receive a local anesthetic so that you won’t feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure.

How long is hospital stay after discectomy?

Most lumbar microdiscectomy patients are able to go home from the hospital a few hours after the surgery. The traditional approach to recovering from lumbar microdiscectomy has been to limit bending, lifting, or twisting for a minimum of 6 weeks in order to prevent the disc from herniating again.

Is a discectomy painful?

A lumbar discectomy is completely painless as it is done under anesthesia. The patient will feel nothing except the pinprick of the injection needle. Post-surgery, there is likely to be some amount of stiffness and pain that can be relieved with painkillers.

What happens to disc after discectomy?

An additional disc herniation may occur directly after back surgery or many years later, although they are most common in the first three months after surgery. If the disc does herniate again, a revision microdiscectomy will generally be just as successful as the first operation.

What’s worse bulging disc or herniated?

Herniated discs are considered more severe than bulging discs because they put significant pressure on nearby nerves, which can cause intense pain, inflammation and difficulties with movement.