Spinal Fusion

The decision to have a spine fusion surgery to treat low back pain from degenerative disc disease is a personal one, and it is entirely the patient's decision.

The decision to have a spine fusion procedure done to treat low back pain is a very personal one, and it is entirely the patient’s decision.

Spinal fusion for spondylolisthesis is usually is not considered until a patient has tried at least six months of non-surgical treatment.

By 4 weeks after lumbar spinal fusion surgery, most patients are experiencing significantly less pain. Between 6 weeks and 3 months after the surgery, an outpatient physical therapy program is typically started.

From 1 to 4 weeks after lumbar spinal fusion surgery, patients must continue with keeping the incision site clean, walking more often, and eventually transitioning to weaker pain medications.

About 3 months after lumbar spinal fusion surgery, the surgeon typically clears the patient to perform more types of exercises and activities. By about 6 months, most patients receive approval to return to a fully active lifestyle, including bending, lifting, and twisting.

The first few days after returning home from lumbar spinal fusion are an important phase of the recovery.

The spine fusion surgery works best for treating one level of the spine, although two levels can be fused if the patient has severe low back pain.

The role of spine fusion instrumentation like pedicle screws, anterior interbody cages and posterior lumbar cages is to provide additional spinal stability and help the fusion set up.

The most common risk of any of the modern spine fusion surgery techniques is the failure to relieve lower back pain symptoms following the surgery.