Living With an Interspinous Spacer

The procedure to implant an interspinous spacer may be minimally invasive, so you may be able to travel and engage in light activity as soon as you feel able. Depending on your specific condition, you might even be able to resume normal activity in as little as 2 weeks.

After Surgery

Following your discharge from the hospital, physiotherapy may be recommended. Your doctor will likely schedule a follow-up exam for approximately 6 weeks after the procedure. While your doctor may impose limitations on your physical activities in the weeks following your operation, you may be able to travel and engage in light activity as soon as you feel able.

In some cases, normal activity may be resumed within 2 to 6 weeks after the procedure, provided your doctor has given you permission to do so.

If you are planning to have other diagnostic procedures or treatments, please tell all doctors involved in your care that you have had spinal surgery.

Caution: It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully in order to fully recover from surgery. Failure to follow postoperative care recommendations may result in recurrence of symptoms and discomfort. A stress fracture of the spinous process may occur if strenuous physical activity is resumed too soon postoperatively.

Daily Living

After back surgery, you should focus on your recovery. Once you have healed and are back to normal activities, you may not even notice or feel your spinal implant.

Talk to your doctor about how you can maintain a healthy lifestyle after back surgery. Exercising and eating a healthy diet are important, and your doctor may have some helpful tips for you.