Lumbar laminectomy recovery Baltimore will require physical therapy

People always worry about the procedures themselves, but what does lumbar laminectomy recovery Baltimore mean?

The tough decisions have been made, and rather than continuing to ignore your back pain, or treat it ineffectively with over the counter medication, it’s time to get that necessary surgery. The procedure itself may only take a few hours, but what happens next? What will life after surgery be like? Luckily for you, you aren’t the first person in Baltimore that’s needed to have a lumbar laminectomy in order to correct issues with the lower back, so others (and medical professionals) can describe what the recovery process will be like. Sure, there’s no way to know or promise that one recovery period will mimic another exactly, but even having a general idea about what to expect can help a great deal.

Despite the fact that most patients will be able and encouraged to get up and out of bed within a few hours of surgery, this may take a little longer for others. Patients will only be allowed to leave the hospital when their condition has improved and they can do things like use the bathroom, stand, walk, and sit or lay down comfortably on their own. This is not to limit those that are experiencing a greater deal of pain; it’s to ensure that patients can be released safely and with a decreased risk of complications.

For the first few weeks of lumbar laminectomy recovery Baltimore, patients won’t be permitted or able to drive. This is for their own safety as well as that of others on the road; medications may be needed to alleviate pain during this time, which can make driving unsafe. While standard movements will be able to be made almost immediately, true recovery won’t begin for a couple of weeks, and those that have jobs in places like offices or those that don’t require a lot of movement can go back (usually) within a month. For other types of professions, the timetable will be increased with athletic professions or hobbyists taking months to work back up to. Before returning to work after a lumbar laminectomy, consulting with a medical professional is essential.

After roughly a month, physical therapy sessions will need to begin. These are different than traditional PT appointments because for the first few weeks, the focus will be on decreasing and eliminating pain and inflammation while incorporating simple and safe movements. This period may also include light massages and heating or cooling elements. As time passes and patients recover more and more, it will become more important to exercise and re-condition the body’s systems including the heart and lungs along with the muscles. Things that can do this include swimming, walking, light stretches and even teaching patients new ways to move comfortably and safely.