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Recovery restrictions after spinal cord stimulator implant surgery
I'll be doing a lumbar SCS trial this week. I already have a cervical SCS, so I'm expecting the trial to go well. I'm starting to mentally plan for surgery for a permanent lumbar SCS implant, and have some questions about activity restrictions during recovery.
The Abbott site says to avoid twisting, bending, stretching, or lifting anything heavier than five pounds for six to eight weeks after surgery. I guess I can ask my doctor and the device rep about this, but what about sexual activity during recovery?
I certainly don't want my leads to move before they have a chance to scar into place. But I'm thinking some conservative positions might be okay as long as there is no excessive twisting, bending, or stretching?
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@vincescs Hello and welcome to Connect. I see that you are a new member. I am a cervical spine surgery patient, and I had the same restrictions after my surgery of a 5 lb limit on lifting and no twisting or bending, so that is standard after surgery recommendations. Gradually over time, the lifting limit was increased a little bit about every 6 weeks or couple of months. I could not twist or bend until my fusion took hold.
You will need to address your concerns with your surgeon. That would be medical advice that no one here would be qualified to answer, and a doctor who is treating you needs to examine you before recommendations can be made, so it wouldn't be given as general advice on a patient support forum. I hope that helps!
Jennifer
@ vinescs, How did your cervical SCS go & what was your recovery like? I'm getting a referral to talk about the possibility of having a trial SPS done. I've already had ACDF surgery and now have muld to moderate cervical stenosis in C3 and severe stenosis in C7/T1.
My situation is similar. I had a two-level ACDF and then followed it up with a cervical SCS two years later. It was a great decision for me and has really improved my quality of life. I was out of work for a week after surgery and then worked from home for a week. Then another 6 weeks of living with post-surgery restrictions. Been good ever since.
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1 ReactionMy lumbar SCS trial went very well, and I agreed with my doctor and the device rep to move forward with the permanent implant. It took about two weeks to receive insurance authorization, which I just received yesterday. My surgery is scheduled for mid-March.
I did ask more detailed questions about post-surgery recovery limitations. I will need to avoid excessive (keyword) bending, stretching, and twisting or lifting more than 5 pounds for 4 weeks, after which I can "pretty much do what I need to do". After 6 weeks I will have no restrictions.
As far as sexual activity goes, my doctor said it's okay as long as I can stay within the limitations described above. So, I will need to go slow and choose my positions carefully.
I wonder if there are any restrictions for things like massage, chiropractor, and stuff like this.
Any procedure that might dislodge the electrode placement should be avoided. After the established post-operative recovery restrictions are done the wires should be anchored well. You certainly don’t want to repeat the procedure so soon anyway.
My doctor left the timing up to me as long as I could comply with the restrictions to avoid excessive twisting, bending, or stretching. My answer ended up being two weeks. If you are creative with positioning and your partner is willing to do more of the work, then it doesn't have to be super taxing physically. Plus, the endorphins and oxytocin are a nice change from post-op recovery pain.