A fusion needs time to consolidate, and the levels above and below now take more load than they used to.
Follow your surgeon’s restrictions first
This page is general. Your surgeon’s specific instructions for your construct override anything written here.
Avoid bending, lifting and twisting early on
The standard early restriction, and it exists because the fusion is not yet solid.
Respect the adjacent levels long term
Fused segments do not move, so the levels above and below absorb more. Adjacent segment problems are a genuine long-term consideration.
Watch the sacroiliac joints
Lumbar fusion increases load through the sacroiliac joints, and new one-sided low back pain after fusion is often coming from there rather than from the fusion.
Rebuild gradually
Deconditioning after fusion is common and is itself a source of ongoing pain.
These are general suggestions, not a prescription. If any movement sharply increases pain, causes numbness, or sends pain down a limb, stop and get assessed. Advice that suits a disc problem can be exactly wrong for spinal stenosis, which is why a diagnosis comes first.
If pain is not settling, or you are not sure which of these applies to you, get a diagnosis first. Call (314) 310-5577 or request an appointment.
Common questions
I had a fusion and still have pain. What now?
Persistent or new pain after fusion deserves a fresh diagnosis rather than an assumption that the surgery failed. The sacroiliac joint and adjacent levels are the usual suspects.
Hurt in an accident? Start here.
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