Discectomy surgery—a procedure to remove a herniated disc that is pressing on a nerve root or the spinal cord—represents a significant step in addressing debilitating back pain. While the surgery itself usually resolves the immediate issue, the recovery process plays an equally crucial role in ensuring long-term success. Among the various aspects of rehabilitation, walking stands out as perhaps the most important activity during your recovery journey.
Unlike more strenuous exercises that might place unwanted stress on your healing spine, walking offers the perfect balance of gentle movement, cardiovascular benefit, and psychological boost. However, knowing exactly how much walking is appropriate—and when to increase your activity level—can be challenging for patients navigating the postsurgical landscape.
In this article, you will learn about recommendations for walking after discectomy, common concerns, and a realistic guideline for gradually increasing your mobility without compromising your discectomy recovery.
Walking after discectomy surgery is not just about getting back on your feet—it serves multiple crucial purposes in your recovery:
Recovery times and procedures vary for each patient, but many surgeons now implement “enhanced recovery after surgery” (ERAS) protocols that encourage getting out of bed and walking as soon as possible.
While this initial walking might feel uncomfortable, it sets the stage for a more successful recovery. Studies show patients who begin walking as soon as possible after surgery typically experience faster overall recovery times.
During these first walks, focus on:
After discharge from the hospital, walking remains your primary physical activity, though still with significant limitations.
During this period, the goal is not distance or speed but rather establishing a consistent routine of gentle movement. Many patients find that breaking walks into shorter, more frequent sessions throughout the day works better than attempting longer walks.
Pay careful attention to how your body responds to these initial walking sessions. While some discomfort is expected, walking should not:
If you experience any of these reactions, consult your surgeon before continuing.
As the initial postsurgical inflammation subsides, you can begin carefully increasing your walking regimen.
During this period, keep a simple log of:
This information proves invaluable both for your own motivation and for providing your healthcare team with concrete data about your progress.
As progress increases with time, many discectomy patients can significantly expand their walking routines, assuming their recovery has proceeded without complications.
During this period, you should be:
Many patients return to work during this period (depending on the physical demands of their occupations), making it especially important to maintain your walking routine despite increasing daily responsibilities.
As post-surgery time increases, many discectomy patients receive clearance to expand their physical activities beyond walking. However, walking should remain a cornerstone of your ongoing physical routine.
Rather than viewing walking solely as rehabilitation, this is the time to integrate it as a permanent lifestyle habit:
Throughout your recovery, remain vigilant for signals you may be overdoing your walking program:
If you experience any of these symptoms, reduce your walking duration and intensity by approximately 50 percent for as long as necessary. If symptoms persist, consult your healthcare provider.
While walking forms the foundation of your recovery, your surgeon or physical therapist may recommend complementary activities, such as:
These activities should supplement—not replace—your walking program.
Walking after discectomy represents the perfect balance between rest and activity, providing enough movement to promote healing while avoiding the stress of more demanding exercises. By following a gradual, progressive approach to walking, you not only optimize your surgical recovery but also establish healthy habits that protect your spine for years to come.
Remember these guidelines should be adapted to your specific situation in consultation with your healthcare team. Some patients may progress more quickly, while others—particularly those with more extensive surgery or multiple health concerns—may need to advance more cautiously.
Ultimately, the goal is not to reach a specific walking milestone by a predetermined date but rather to use walking as a tool to reclaim your mobility, independence, and quality of life after discectomy surgery.
Even though discectomy surgery is a common and generally quite successful procedure, a hole is frequently left in the outer wall of the disc. In fact, 70 percent of all reherniations come from large holes in the disc. These reherniations often require additional surgery or even fusions. Fortunately, there is a new treatment specifically designed to close the large holes that are often left in spinal discs after discectomy surgery. Barricaid is a bone-anchored device proven to reduce reherniations, and 95 percent of Barricaid patients did not undergo a reoperation due to reherniation in a 2-year study timeframe. This treatment is done immediately following the discectomy—during the same operation—and does not require any additional incisions or time in the hospital.
If you have any questions about the Barricaid treatment or how to get access to Barricaid, ask your doctor or contact us today.
For full benefit/risk information, please visit: https://www.barricaid.com/instructions.