How long do you stay in the hospital after herniated disc surgery?

Recovering from herniated disc surgery usually requires a hospital stay of 1-3 days. However, the length of hospitalization can vary depending on the type of surgery performed and each patient’s response to surgery. Here’s an overview of typical hospital stays and what to expect as you recover in the hospital after herniated disc surgery.

Typical Hospital Stays for Herniated Disc Surgery

For minimally invasive discectomy surgery, such as microdiscectomy or endoscopic discectomy, the typical hospital stay is:

  • 1-2 days for an uncomplicated single-level surgery
  • 2-3 days for a more complex multi-level surgery

For open discectomy surgery, where a larger incision is made, hospital stays are slightly longer:

  • 2-3 days for an uncomplicated single-level discectomy
  • 3-5 days for a multi-level open discectomy

For more complex spinal fusion surgery, where two or more vertebrae are joined together, hospital stays are:

  • 3-5 days for a single-level spinal fusion
  • 5-7 days for a multi-level fusion

However, the ultimate length of your hospital stay will depend on your individual circumstances and how fast you recover after surgery.

What to Expect in the Hospital After Herniated Disc Surgery

Here’s an overview of what typically happens during a 1-3 day hospitalization after herniated disc surgery:

Day of Surgery

  • You will wake up from anesthesia in a recovery room where nurses will monitor your vital signs.
  • Once awake and stable, you will be moved to an inpatient hospital room.
  • The nurses will regularly check your dressing, monitor your pain, and assist with getting in and out of bed.
  • You may have a urinary catheter to track urine output after surgery.
  • You will be encouraged to do some gentle leg movements in bed to start preventing blood clots.
  • Pain medication will be given to manage post-surgical pain.
  • You will be helped out of bed for a short walk within 8-24 hours after surgery.

1-2 Days After Surgery

  • Your urinary catheter will be removed once you are mobile.
  • You will progress to walking farther distances out of bed with assistance.
  • You may start eating solid foods once any nausea has resolved.
  • Your pain medication will be adjusted to keep you comfortable.
  • You will learn coughing/deep breathing exercises to prevent lung problems.
  • You may have a drain tube removed from your surgical incision if you had more extensive spinal surgery.

Final Hospital Day

  • Your surgeon and care team will examine you and ensure you are ready to be discharged.
  • Your surgical dressing will be changed or stitches/staples checked.
  • You will receive prescriptions for any oral pain medications you will need at home.
  • Discharge instructions will be given with activity guidelines, warning signs to watch for, and follow-up appointment information.
  • You will need to demonstrate safe mobility with a walking aid like a walker before discharge.
  • Once discharged, you will go home or to a designated rehabilitation facility if prescribed.

Factors that May Lengthen Hospital Stay

While 1-3 days is typical, some factors can result in a longer necessary hospitalization after herniated disc surgery. These include:

  • Multi-level surgery – Fusing multiple discs or repairing herniations on more than one disc level often results in a longer hospitalization for closer monitoring.
  • Prior spine surgery – Those with prior back surgery tend to have longer hospital stays to ensure adequate healing since there is pre-existing scar tissue.
  • Poor mobility – Difficulty walking safely even short distances may warrant staying a day or two longer.
  • Medical complications – Issues like slow bleeding, spinal fluid leak, nerve injury, or urinary retention may require a longer hospital stay until stable.
  • Sleep apnea – Those with breathing disorders may stay longer to monitor respiration after anesthesia.
  • History of chronic disease – Medical issues like heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes usually necessitate extra monitoring.
  • Smoking status – Smokers have higher risks of healing problems and may need to stay longer after spinal surgery.
  • Obesity – Being obese makes recovery more difficult and typically results in a longer hospitalization.
  • Age – Older patients tend to have longer hospital stays to ensure full post-surgical stabilization.

Recovery Milestones Before Hospital Discharge

To ensure you are ready to be discharged after herniated disc surgery, your surgeons will be looking for you to meet certain recovery milestones, including:

  • Adequate pain control with oral medication
  • Ability to eat, drink, and digest normally
  • Passing urine without difficulty
  • Mobilizing out of bed and walking safely, at first with assistance
  • No concerning neurological symptoms in the legs
  • No signs of wound infection like fever, redness, or swelling
  • Stable vital signs within normal ranges
  • Clear understanding of wound care, activity restrictions, warning signs to watch for, and follow-up care instructions

Once you have met these targets and your surgeon feels you are stable enough to be discharged, the preparations will begin for you to go home or to a rehabilitation facility if prescribed.

Preparing to Be Discharged from the Hospital

To facilitate the safe discharge process, your healthcare team will:

  • Provide detailed written instructions for wound care, showering, recognizing potential complications, and more.
  • Arrange follow-up appointments with your surgeon and primary doctor.
  • Prescribe any necessary oral pain medications or other medications you will take at home.
  • Teach you how to properly get in and out of bed.
  • Instruct you on using walking aids like walkers or crutches.
  • Assess your home environment and make modifications if needed, like installing grab bars in the shower.
  • Review all activity restrictions and Graeme precautions.

You will also need to arrange for transportation home from the hospital. Most patients cannot drive themselves home after major back surgery due to pain medication side effects and mobility restrictions. Ask a family member or friend to take you home when you are discharged.

Recovery and Rehabilitation After Leaving the Hospital

Once discharged from the hospital, your recovery process continues at home or at a rehabilitation facility if your surgeon prescribes it. Here is what you can expect:

  • Acute pain should gradually subside in the first week, transitioning to soreness near the surgical site.
  • Take prescribed medication as directed to control pain.
  • Keep up with walking and gentle movement daily to prevent stiffness and blood clots.
  • Avoid bending, lifting, and twisting during the initial 6-8 week recovery period.
  • Attend all follow-up appointments for wound checks and progress evaluations.
  • Communicate regularly with your surgeon about your rate of improvement.
  • Adhere to all activity restrictions until the surgeon clears you for normal activity.
  • Expect full recovery and clearance for physically demanding activities to take around 3-6 months.

Recovering well after discharge takes commitment to the rehabilitation process. With patience and care, many patients make excellent progress in the first weeks after leaving the hospital. Listen to your body and do not overexert yourself too early in recovery.

When to Call Your Doctor After Discharge

While it is normal to have some ups and downs after surgery, report any concerning symptoms after discharge to your surgeon, including:

  • Fever or chills
  • Uncontrolled surgical site pain or swelling
  • Increasing leg numbness, weakness, or loss of bowel/bladder control
  • Redness, yellow discharge, or foul smell from surgical wound
  • Difficulty passing urine or having a bowel movement
  • Shortness of breath or uncontrollable nausea/vomiting
  • Drainage leaking from your surgical incision
  • Difficulties walking or performing daily living activities
  • Unexpectedly severe headache, neck pain, or muscular weakness

Promptly reporting concerning symptoms can prevent minor issues from becoming serious problems. Do not wait until your follow-up visit to call your surgeon about anything out of the ordinary in your recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I take off work after herniated disc surgery?

Most patients require 4-6 weeks off work after herniated disc surgery. Those with more strenuous jobs may need up to 3 months of medical leave to ensure adequate healing before returning to work fully.

When can I drive again after herniated disc surgery?

You must wait until cleared by your surgeon to prevent harm, usually around 4-6 weeks after surgery. Refrain from driving while still on narcotic pain medication.

When can I start physical therapy after herniated disc surgery?

Physical therapy typically starts 2-3 weeks after surgery once your incision is healing well and pain is controlled. A guided program helps optimize your results long-term.

How long does pain and stiffness last after herniated disc surgery?

Many patients have significant pain relief by 6 weeks post-surgery, but it takes around 3 months for pain to fully stabilize. Stiffness and soreness around the surgery site can linger up to a year.

What restrictions will I have after herniated disc surgery?

Common restrictions include no bending, lifting over 5-10 pounds, twisting your spine, or vigorous activity during the initial 6-8 week recovery period. Your surgeon will provide customized restrictions.

Conclusion

The typical hospital stay after herniated disc surgery lasts 1-3 days, but may be longer depending on the complexity of your surgery and your response. Make sure you meet all recovery milestones before discharge. Expect a gradual recovery process for weeks to months after leaving the hospital. Closely follow your surgeon’s instructions during your recovery period to achieve the best surgical outcome. Report any concerning symptoms promptly rather than waiting for your follow-up appointment. With consistent rehabilitation and proper rest, most patients achieve significant pain relief and improved function after surgery for a herniated disc.

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