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How soon after lumbar fusion should PT start?
Spine Health | Last Active: Dec 17, 2024 | Replies (5)Comment receiving replies
@jenniferhunter
Thank you for responding. I had a feeling that would be the case for recommendations. I've been reading things on-line, and some give fairly specific time lines to follow. But as with most things regarding spine surgery, it is an individual case by case thing. It depends on how the individual is responding and their overall strengths, I think. But I was just curious if there were general guidelines for post op recovery.
I think the best advice that I've read is to take it slow and gentle, not to do anything that will disrupt the fusion from happening, which can be at least 6 months to a full year to complete. Is that what you have found? How long did yours take?
Thanks,
Bill
Replies to "@jenniferhunter Thank you for responding. I had a feeling that would be the case for recommendations...."
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@kremer1 My cervical spine started to fuse at 3 months. That is checked with flexion and extension x-rays and they look at those on the computer screen and actually measure to see if the distances are the same in both views. If, yes, fusion has begun with bone growth inside the spacer disc. My bone spacer had a milled out section to seed with the bone spurs that were removed during the surgery to get it started. It will take a lot longer for more bone to fill in and solidify. After a year or 2, there is more bone growth between the vertebrae, but outside of the spacer disc that was placed. That is how my imaging looks now. Some patients take longer to fuse and have simulators to help aid the process. I have heard of it taking 6 months on bigger surgeries. Smoking is also an issue for some patients because it lowers blood oxygen levels and can hinder bone growth.