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beached · 08-16-2004, 08:02 AM

Hello everyone!

I was wondering if anyone had experiences to share on the subject of returning to work after surgery.

I was working fire/rescue before surgery for over ten years. It isn't the toughest job in the world, but it does require frequent heavy lifting, sometimes in excess of 300 lbs.

My physician isn't really helpful in determining how long this will take or if I will be able to return to "normal" duties or activities. He just says, let's wait and see, which I appreciate the honesty, but I would like to know where I'm heading.

Any stories to share? How long can this take to recover? Will I be able to return to fire/rescue?

Thanks in advance for responses,
Scott

Love2cook · 08-16-2004, 08:14 AM

Scott,

Hi, hope you're doing well!

As you may remember you and I had the same surgery, mine about 2 weeks before yours. I am a stay at home mom, and I started "back to work" pretty quickly

I just think it depends on your situation and how you are healing. I am doing very well, with only minor aches and pains. I was able to do many of my pre-surgery activities at around 2-3 weeks. I'm still not doing all of them, but most of them.

Take care!
Elaine

scotty12 · 08-16-2004, 08:21 AM

scott,
you really need to rest up for the first 8 weeks.thats one of the reasons ive been holding off a 2 level TLIF.If your going to subject your body to the trauma of an ALIF yoy really should give it the time to heal after surgery.its a major operation,they retract the spinal cord to get acess to the bad disc.it can take over a year to fuse but the general guidline is 8 weeks.no long periods of sitting.no lifting,etc.......
if your going thru with it i wish you luck and a speedy recovery,but please give it some time before returning to work.statistically your chances of good bony fusion drop dramatically with each failed attempt...........scotty

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