Scoliosis Surgery Recovery

Full scoliosis surgery recovery can be a slow process and during that time the movement of the individual will be restricted. It may be anything up to seven months before the recovery is period is complete and the individual can move about without restrictions. The fact that the scoliosis surgery recovery is quite slow might sound a bit off-putting for a lot of people, but the fact that for much of the time the restrictions are minor means that it won't interfere with a person's life too much. The decision to have this type of surgery can really benefit an individual and once they have made it past the recovery stage they should be able to enjoy life more than before the operation.

What Does the Scoliosis Surgery Recovery Involve?

The scoliosis surgery recovery period can vary depending on the individual and how the procedure went. In about 5% of cases there can be complications that slow down the scoliosis surgery recovery. These complications can include –

• Excessive bleeding
• Nerve damage
• Infection
• Respiratory problems
• Reaction to the anaesthesia
• Organ damage
• Hospital acquired infections
• Reaction to medication such as antibiotics
• Tissue damage during the procedure

If complications do arise then they can mean that the scoliosis surgery recovery period is delayed. In most cases though, people will follow a similar recovery from this procedure.

• They will usually stay in hospital for at least a week. Those patients who have had their spine fusion will be on complete bed rest for about three to four weeks. It will be about a week before the patient will be able to do things like take a share, and longer with a spinal fusion.
• Once the patient is discharged home they will have a six month healing period. During this time they will be allowed to walk, but not anything high impact like jumping or running. They will also not be allowed to lift anything heavy during that time.
• As the end of the six month period approaches the surgical team might advise adding additional activities such as swimming.
• At the all clear from the doctors the patient will be able to return to normal activities with no further restrictions.

Most people having this type of procedure will be still in childhood; adults having the treatment might have increased risks and a slightly different scoliosis surgery recovery.

Some Final Thoughts on Scoliosis Surgery Recovery

Scoliosis surgery recovery really can make a huge difference to people's ability to live life to the full so it might well be an option to consider. Scoliosis can make people very self-concisions and the condition can be physically very debilitating. The recovery period is a fairly long one; six months can sound like a lifetime to young kids in particular. If the results mean an improved ability to enjoy life then it will be worth it in the end. Every case is different and the surgical team will be able to explain the benefits and risks in each case.