Rehab for Spinal Fusion Surgery

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Rehab for Spinal Fusion Surgery

HOW CAN PHYSICAL THERAPY HELP ME RECOVER FROM SPINAL FUSION SURGERY?

Physical therapists play an important role in recovery following spinal fusion surgery. While certain movements or activities will be restricted by your surgeon for a while after the procedure, there is still a lot you can do with the guidance of a physical therapist to begin the recovery process. Physical therapy helps promote healing of the surgical area and return to full function through the use of manual therapy techniques, therapeutic exercises, neuromuscular re-education and more.

WHAT DOES PHYSICAL THERAPY FOLLOWING A SPINAL FUSION SURGERY LOOK LIKE?

My team of physical therapists and I will help you recover from spinal fusion surgery. In the beginning your PT will work on reducing swelling around the surgical site, teach you how to protect the area and initiate return of muscle function around and adjacent to the surgical area. As recovery progresses you will continue through a series of exercises to increase range of motion, improve strength and neuromuscular control, regain normal movement and then progress to sport or job specific activities. Usually this consists of 2-3 visits per week with your therapist as well as a series of exercises or other activities you will perform at home between visits. The frequency of visits often decreases near the end of your rehabilitation program.

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HOW LONG WILL I NEED PHYSICAL THERAPY?

In general, most people are back to light work and household duties after about 6 weeks of healing. It can take 6-12 months, however, to return to your full activity level as the bone continues to heal and the fusion continues to solidify. The duration of your physical therapy plan of care will vary depending on the specifics of your surgery, how well the surgery site is healing and any additional impairments that also need to be addressed.

While full resolution of symptoms can take some time, you may begin to see some results right away. You should experience improvements in many symptoms such as pain, stiffness, and inflammation within a couple of weeks. Progression in strength, flexibility and overall mobility that allows you to stand, walk, reach, turn your head and perform job and sport-related tasks more comfortably, will take longer. Achieving long lasting results may take some time, but dedication to your program will help you achieve these results. Your PT will be able to give you a more specific timeline for recovery after your surgery and as you move through the rehabilitation process.

SPINAL FUSION SURGERY

Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that fuses two or more vertebrae so that they become one bone instead of several. With a fusion of two bones a patient will notice very minimal restrictions in spinal motion. Fusions of three or more bones are typically reserved for patients with severe spinal abnormalities like scoliosis or significant spinal instability. The purpose of a spinal fusion is to stabilize the spine and reduce pain. In an area where movement of the vertebrae causes pain, eliminating motion in that area is intended to stop the pain. Like most surgical procedures, spine surgery should be reserved only for cases in which the spinal deformity threatens life or function or the patient has failed high-quality conservative care like physical therapy. Spinal fusion is used to address these types of conditions:

Degenerative disc disease
Scoliosis
Spinal stenosis
Fracture
Spondylolisthesis
Tumor
Infection
Herniated discs

Spinal fusions are most typically performed in the cervical spine (neck) and the lumbar spine (lower back). Because motion of the vertebrae can put pressure on or stretch spinal nerves, a spinal fusion may eliminate symptoms like radiating pain into the arms or legs, changes in bowel or bladder function, muscle weakness and numbness and tingling. Your surgeon may use an anterior approach to access the vertebrae through the lower abdomen or front of the neck, or a posterior approach. A bone graft is used between the vertebrae to stimulate bone growth that will help fuse them together and screws are placed to help stabilize it further. Movement and activity restrictions are prescribed after surgery to prevent disruption of this fusion process.

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End Injury Progression

Rehab physical therapy for spinal fusion surgery has proven to prevent injury, slow and even stop pain issues, improve performance, and reverse injury progression in many cases.

**Relieve Pain**
The movements used in this technique can target your entire body helping you to manage discomfort and pain during the course of your physical therapy treatments.

**Improve Range of Motion**
Posture awareness is an important area to focus on due to the fact that certain positions may cause you further discomfort and pain.

**Restore Mobility**
You can regain mobility and flexibility by taking part in the stretches and exercises as prescribed by your physical therapist.

How Long Will Rehab Physical Therapy for Spinal Fusion Surgery Last?

If you decide to work with a physical therapist to help with spinal fusion rehab related issues, your entire treatment plan could consist of around 8-20+ different physical therapy sessions that will each last 60-90 minutes. Once you complete your customized physical therapy treatment plan, you will be able to continue to do the prescribed stretches and exercises utilized during your PT sessions yet in the comfort of your own home.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM PHYSICAL THERAPY AFTER SURGERY?

Right after your surgery your physical therapist may use modalities and manual therapy techniques to address pain and inflammation around the surgical site. Because motion and high stress around the surgical site is limited for 4-6 weeks after surgery, you will not be lifting anything heavy, bending over or twisting early on in therapy. You can, however, still participate in exercises that safely target adjacent areas like the hips, abdominals or shoulder to prevent atrophy and stiffness in these areas.

As you progress through your recovery and the surgical site is allowed to undergo more stress, your physical therapist will begin to progress the interventions in order to help you achieve your maximal level of function:

Strengthening: Restoring strength and endurance to the muscles around the surgical site is an important part of post-surgical rehabilitation. It will help decrease pain and assist you in returning to your prior level of function. Strength losses can be attributed to a decreased level of exercise or activity pre-surgery as well as a result of pain, inflammation and modified activity post-surgery.

Stretching: Stretching is often needed after a surgery to restore normal muscle length. Restoring full or functional range of motion is very important following spine surgery and your PT will guide you on how to do this while maintaining movement precautions.

Neuromuscular Re-education: This type of treatment is used to improve the motor control and coordination of muscles around the spine and in adjacent areas so the spine and limbs function well during both daily tasks and higher impact activities like athletics or job tasks.

Sport and job-specific Tasks: For athletes returning to sport or workers returning to a job, sport- and job-specific exercises will be incorporated later on in your rehabilitation to prepare the surgical site for the demands of returning to these activities.

Having any type of surgery can feel daunting but my team of physical therapists and I are here to help make that process as smooth as possible. Call Evolve today to get started on your recovery from spinal fusion surgery.