How long is the recovery from minimally invasive spine surgery?

Many patients are concerned about how long the healing process takes after minimally invasive spine surgery. Two of the most common questions we hear are about returning to work and sports.

Everyone heals at different rates, which is why we recommend having a conversation with your NJ surgeon about your specific condition and what to expect after your surgery. In general, you can expect to be up and be walking immediately after minimally invasive spine surgery. This is due to the fact that your muscles are spared from a major dissection during the procedure. By keeping those muscles intact, you can quickly get back to your normal active lifestyle.

Recovery timelines

For many minimally invasive spine procedures, you can be back to your normal activities as quickly as 3-4 weeks after your minimally invasive surgical procedure. If you engage in high-intensity work or athletic activities, your doctor may ask you to avoid these activities a few weeks longer, just to be sure that things heal properly. If your surgery requires a spine stabilization, also known as a spinal fusion, your doctor may bring you along more slowly even though you may be feeling great.