Hi Jennifer. I would give myself some more time to heal. I have a long fusion, T4-L3, which was done decades ago. These days, after having years of various bodywork therapies, I have regular sessions with an MFR therapist using the John Barnes method. It causes no pain and gives me relief from body traumas (surgeries), scar tissue, and spinal stenosis. Good luck!

@lilypaws That is a good question. I think MFR can help because it helps break up surgical scar tissue, but I also know from my own experience that 6 weeks postop is a bit soon to start doing MFR after major surgery. Your sutures take about 6 weeks to heal completely from what I was told by my spine surgery team. The fusion takes longer to heal too, and my cervical fusion was beginning at 3 months post op as shown by X rays. I was permitted some physical therapy for some breathing issues (related to my thoracic outlet syndrome) before 3 months, but working on my neck was off limits until the vertebrae started to fuse. My rehab and MFR really began at about 4 months post op. You are probably still under surgical restrictions for lifting, twisting and bending and for good reason because those would exert forces on your spine. MFR can also exert forces against bone and muscle depending on where the therapist directs it, and of course, any physical therapy must be approved by your surgeon. You can look for a MFR therapist now so you will be ready when you get clearance. I remember I felt frustrated by pain too at 6 weeks and had to be patient. Your surgery was bigger than mine and working on the lower end of the spine is a longer recovery because it us bearing most of your body weight and fusions can fail for various reasons, so it's important to be careful. I have had to be patient also because of my current ankle fracture and I've been in pain for the last 2 months and this was a lot more painful than my spine surgery and I am still in my cast and not yet ready for rehab. I have realized how difficult it is to be disabled and try to move around the house, and it is very tiring. Hang in there, it will get better!