How long is hospital stay after spinal stenosis surgery?

A traditional spinal fusion surgery with general anesthesia takes about four hours and requires a hospital stay of three to four days as well as IV painkillers. The awake spine surgery takes half the time and typically has patients out of the hospital within 24 hours.

Do you have to stay in the hospital after spinal stenosis surgery?

Spinal stenosis surgery is performed in a hospital operating room. You should expect to stay overnight for at least one night in the hospital so that the medical staff can make sure you are stable before you are discharged home.

Can you walk after spinal stenosis surgery?

You'll be encouraged to walk and move around the day after surgery and it's likely you'll be discharged 1 to 4 days afterwards. It will take about 4 to 6 weeks for you to reach your expected level of mobility and function (this will depend on the severity of your condition and symptoms before the operation).

What to expect after spinal stenosis surgery?

Typically you will experience pain for a few weeks after surgery and you may need over-the-counter or prescription pain medications. Your spine surgeon may also prescribe a course of physical therapy to help you regain strength in your abdomen and back and promote a better recovery.

Is spinal stenosis surgery inpatient or outpatient?

Lumbar Laminectomy

This procedure most commonly treats lower-back spinal stenosis. After the procedure, you'll spend time in the outpatient surgery center's recovery area. You'll return home on the same day. A traditional lumbar laminectomy involves at least four to six weeks of recovery time.

Your Hospital Stay after Spine Surgery

How serious is surgery for spinal stenosis?

Risks from surgery for spinal stenosis include damage to the nerves, tissue tears, chronic pain, and trouble passing urine. You may not be able to go back to all of your normal activities for at least several months. There is a chance that surgery might not relieve your symptoms.

How long does stenosis surgery take?

It relieves pressure on the nerves and decreases symptoms such as numbness, tingling, pain and weakness. Surgery will last approximately 2 to 3 hours.

When is it time for surgery for spinal stenosis?

If nonsurgical treatment and therapeutic injections have not eased the pain caused by spinal stenosis, doctors at NYU Langone may recommend surgery to relieve pressure on nerves or the spinal cord.

What is considered severe spinal stenosis?

Stenosis is considered severe when it causes loss of certain functions or disabilities, or when other treatment options have failed to relieve symptoms. You should consult an expert neurosurgeon to assess your symptoms.

What is the success rate of spinal stenosis surgery?

The success rate of a lumbar laminectomy to alleviate leg pain from spinal stenosis is generally favorable. Research suggests: 85% to 90% of lumbar central spinal stenosis patients find relief from leg pain after an open laminectomy surgery.

How long will I need a walker after back surgery?

You will need an assistance device such as a walker or cane for the first week; however, you should strive to limit the use of this device after the first two to three weeks when you are on stable ground. By the end of the first month, you should be able to walk one mile without your assistance device.

Do you have to wear a brace after spinal stenosis surgery?

You will need to wear a brace at all times when you are up, for 3 months following surgery. You may remove the brace for brief periods to shower and attend to personal hygiene, but remember to maintain your back in a neutral position and avoid any bending.

What is the best surgery for spinal stenosis?

A decompression laminectomy is the gold standard of surgery for treating spinal stenosis. This surgery removes the bony spurs and buildup of bone in the spinal canal, giving more room for the spinal cord and nerves.

When can I return to work after spinal stenosis surgery?

Expect to be able to leave the surgical center within an hour after the procedure. Patients can typically return back to work after back surgery within a few days, but heavy lifting, bending, and twisting should not be done for six weeks.

What is the latest treatment for spinal stenosis 2022?

The Vertiflex procedure for spinal stenosis (also called the Superion® implant) is a new way to increase the space between the vertebrae — space that may collapse as spinal stenosis progresses. This new procedure uses a small spacer inserted between the spinous processes (those bumps you can feel on your back).

What makes spinal stenosis worse?

Spinal stenosis symptoms tend to worsen the more you walk without treating it since the leading cause is a contraction of the spinal cord, which irritates the leg nerves. The irritation of the terms causes inflammation, and so this should be part of the treatment.

What does a neurosurgeon do for spinal stenosis?

An anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is the most common surgical procedure for spinal stenosis. A neurosurgeon will remove the disc through a neck incision, which relieves pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. Usually a bone graft and metal hardware are then placed in the space.

Can you wait too long for spinal stenosis surgery?

There is usually not any urgency to having surgery for spinal stenosis, and there typically is not any window of opportunity that a patient will miss if they delay surgery.

What happens if you don't have surgery for spinal stenosis?

Managing Spinal Stenosis Without Surgery

Pinched spinal nerves may cause pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in the back and extremities. Though nonsurgical treatments won't change the structural component of spinal stenosis or remove the “pinch” on your nerves, they may help improve your symptoms.

What do I need at home after spinal fusion surgery?

How long is bed rest after spinal fusion?

You don't need to fear being bed-ridden for weeks after spinal surgery, since it's of the utmost importance to your post-surgical recovery to get up very soon. Movement is critical to proper healing after spinal surgery, so you can expect to get out of bed the same day or the very next day after surgery.

Do you get a catheter during spinal fusion surgery?

Your back will be washed before starting the surgery. The surgery usually takes about 4 hours, but you will be in the operating room a total of 4 to 5 hours. A tube, called a Foley catheter, is placed in your bladder while you are asleep. The catheter drains urine from your bladder.

Are you awake during spinal stenosis surgery?

Awake surgery is currently available for one- or two-level lumbar procedures for decompression and/or fusion to treat stenosis and spondylolisthesis. UCSF is one of the first major medical centers in the U.S. to offer awake spine surgery through an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol.

What do I need to bring to the hospital for back surgery?

For your comfort, you will want to bring your own toiletries to the hospital. Also pack underwear and comfortable, loose pajamas or nightgowns. You will also need a robe (not floor length), and slippers or soft, low-heeled shoes with closed backs, such as sneakers, walking shoes, or loafers.