Here's how to walk after spine surgery
Spine surgery is a very complex procedure, you already know that very well.
We hope that your recovery is going well, that you have 'redecorated' the house, that you know how to shower and how to lie down after spine surgery and that everything is slowly falling into place, and soon you will be able to sit. You can read about sitting after spine surgery here.
But let's get to the point.
How much to walk, what you can expect and how to know when walking is enough are questions that we will try to answer in this text.
When I say me, I mean the team of doctors, my colleagues and me - on whose back the MySpine application was created.
Namely, after spinal surgery, in cooperation with doctors, I developed an application that helps you with timely information, training, reporting to the doctor about progress, counting steps, sitting and much more, mainly all life activities through the prism of recovery after spinal surgery.
But, finally, let's go to the topic of this text.
Whether you've had lumbar or cervical spine surgery, the best thing you can do for your spine in the first 6 weeks of post-operative recovery is moderate walking several times a day.
When you first start walking, the area around the wound, as well as the muscles themselves, will probably hurt.
During the first few weeks, this is normal and to be expected. It is important to walk every day and to increase the time and distance covered as possible. It is very important not to overdo the walking, let your pain be the measure. Once you feel pain coming on, sit or lie down to rest.
You have the walking program and recommendations for the daily total number of steps defined in the application, but be sure to check the exact distances with your doctor considering the type of your surgery and the recovery protocol.
A typical walking program is defined based on how many days have passed since your surgery and is generally like this:
- On the first day after surgery while you are still in the hospital, try to walk 50 to 100 meters 3-4 times a day.
- On the second day while you are still in the hospital, try to do 200 meters 4-6 times a day
- On the third to fifth day, try to walk 4-6 times a day for 5 minutes
- On the sixth to eighth day, try to walk 4-6 times a day for 7 minutes
- On the ninth to fourteenth day after surgery, try to walk 4-6 times a day for 10 minutes
- In the third week after surgery, try to walk 3-5 times a day for 15 minutes
- For the fourth week, try to walk 3 times a day for 20 minutes
- In the fifth week, try to walk twice a day for 30 minutes
- From the sixth week onwards, try to walk for 60 minutes at a time or twice for 30 minutes.
Try to stick to the walking program you agreed with your doctor or follow the program above.
If you feel pain, adjust the intensity to your capabilities, the most important thing is to move, and over time, the distance traveled will increase.
We wish you a fast and successful recovery!
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