If you have a herniated disc, also known as a slipped disc, you may experience severe pain and disability that affects your daily activities. A herniated disc occurs when the soft inner portion of the disc (nucleus) protrudes outside through the hard outer ring (annulus). This can cause compression and inflammation of the nearby nerves, resulting in symptoms such as back pain, leg pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness.
In many cases, a herniated disc can be treated conservatively with medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications. However, some people may require surgery to remove the herniated disc material and relieve pressure on the nerves. Surgery may be recommended if conservative treatments fail to alleviate your symptoms after six weeks or if you have severe nerve compression that causes bladder or bowel dysfunction.
If you are considering or have undergone herniated disc surgery, you may be wondering how long you need to stay on bed rest after the procedure. Bed rest is often advised to reduce inflammation and promote healing in the early stages of recovery. However, excessive bed rest can have negative effects on your health and recovery. This article discusses the factors that affect how long you need to stay on bed rest after herniated disc surgery.
Importance of Bed Rest in Recovery
Bed rest is a crucial component of post-operative care after herniated disc surgery. It allows the body to heal and recuperate from the surgical procedure. Bed rest can reduce strain on the surgical site and prevent further damage to the spine, allowing it to heal properly. It also provides an opportunity for the body to recover from the effects of anesthesia and helps with managing pain and discomfort associated with the surgery.
Typical Duration of Bed Rest After Herniated Disc Surgery
The length of bed rest after herniated disc surgery can vary from a few days to several weeks or sometimes even months. In most cases, patients are advised to rest and limit their physical activities during the immediate postoperative period. This may involve lying down or reclining with limited movement, avoiding heavy lifting, and refraining from activities that strain the spine. However, as every patient's condition is unique, the duration of bed rest may vary. It is essential to follow your surgeon's instructions and guidelines for your specific recovery process.
Factors that Affect Bed Rest Duration
The length of bed rest after herniated disc surgery varies depending on several factors, such as:
- The type of surgery – There are different types of herniated disc surgery, ranging from minimally invasive procedures, such as microdiscectomy and endoscopic discectomy, to more invasive procedures, such as laminectomy and fusion. Minimally invasive procedures typically involve smaller incisions, less blood loss, less muscle damage, and faster recovery than more invasive procedures. Therefore, you may need less bed rest after a minimally invasive surgery than after a more invasive surgery.
- The severity of your condition – The extent of your nerve compression and inflammation may affect how long you need to stay on bed rest after herniated disc surgery. If you have severe nerve compression that causes bladder or bowel dysfunction, you may need longer bed rest than if you have mild nerve compression that causes only pain or numbness.
- Your individual healing process – Your age, general health, nutrition, smoking status, and other medical conditions may influence how quickly you heal after herniated disc surgery. Some people may recover faster than others and require less bed rest. Your doctor will monitor your progress and advise you on when you can resume your normal activities.
In general, most people are advised to limit their activities for two to four weeks after herniated disc surgery. However, some people may need to remain on bed rest for up to eight weeks. Your doctor will give you specific instructions based on your individual situation.
Why Prolonged Bed Rest May Not Be Recommended
While bed rest may be beneficial in the short term to reduce inflammation and pain after herniated disc surgery, prolonged bed rest can have negative effects on your health and recovery. Some of the risks of excessive bed rest include:
- Muscle weakness and atrophy – When you are inactive for a long time, your muscles lose strength and mass. This can make it harder for you to move and perform daily activities. It can also increase your risk of falls and injuries.
- Joint stiffness and pain – When you are immobile for a long time, your joints lose their range of motion and flexibility. This can cause stiffness and pain in your spine and other joints. It can also increase your risk of developing arthritis or other joint problems.
- Bone loss – When you are inactive for a long time, your bones lose density and become weaker. This can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis or fractures.
- Blood clots – When you are immobile for a long time, your blood circulation slows down and becomes more prone to clotting. This can increase your risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), which are potentially life-threatening conditions.
- Depression – When you are inactive for a long time, you may feel isolated, bored, anxious, or depressed. This can affect your mood, motivation, and quality of life.
To avoid these risks, it is important to gradually resume your physical activity after herniated disc surgery as soon as possible.
Back surgery recovery time varies among individuals and depends on factors such as whether the patient has a large hole in the outer ring of the disc after surgery. If the hole in the disc is larger than a standard pencil eraser, the patient has a significant risk of experiencing a reherniation. In fact, 70 percent of all reherniations come from these larger holes in the disc. These reherniations often require additional surgery or even a larger spinal fusion operation. Fortunately, there is a new treatment available: Barricaid. Barricaid is a bone-anchored device shown to reduce reherniations by closing the hole in the disc after a discectomy, and it was proven 95 percent effective in a study of over 500 patients. This means 95 percent of Barricaid patients did not undergo a reoperation due to reherniation in the 2-year study timeframe.
If you have any questions about the Barricaid treatment or how to get access to Barricaid, you may ask your doctor or contact us at 844-288-7474.
For full benefit/risk information, please visit: https://www.barricaid.com/instructions.
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