Have you recently undergone lumbar, cervical or thoracic spine surgery? Are you now looking for ways to return back to your activities and quality of life?
Our team of physiotherapists, chiropractors and massage therapists work closely with neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons to help return you to a healthy and functional state following spine surgery.
Contact Foundation Physiotherapy & Wellness today to schedule an appointment.
What is lumbar fusion?
Lumbar fusion is a type of surgical procedure that connects two or more vertebrae in your lumbar spine (lower back), restricting motion between them, in order to preserve or prevent further damage to the disc material in between the vertebrae. Similar procedures can be done at the cervical spine (neck) and thoracic spine (mid back)
The surgeon inserts a bone or a bone-like plate between two spinal vertebrae. Metal plates, screws, and rods may be used to hold the vertebrae together until they heal into a more stable unit.
Lumbar fusion is performed to reduce back pain, correct a spinal deformity, or relieve disc pain that does not recover conservatively.. According to the Mayo Clinic, your doctor may recommend spinal fusion to treat:
- Spinal deformities. Spinal fusion can aid in the correction of spinal deformities such as sideways spine curvature (scoliosis).
- Instability or weakness of the spine. If there is abnormal or excessive motion between two vertebrae, your spine may become unstable. This is a common side effect of severe spine arthritis. In such cases, spinal fusion can be used to restore spinal stability.
- Herniated disk pain. After removing a damaged (herniated) disk, spinal fusion may be used to stabilize the spine.
The benefits of PT after spinal fusion
It’s essential to start a post-surgical rehabilitation plan as soon as your doctor states that you’re ready. The following are a few of the benefits of post-surgical rehab
- Regain Lost Strength- The more quickly you regain strength and stamina, the faster you’ll get back to your daily routine. A physiotherapy program can target specific areas in your body that need to be strengthened after surgery.
- Regain movement: Following surgery, due to the inflammation and the hardware, you may experience a loss of range of motion in your spine and surrounding joints. It is essential to regain movement to return to pre-surgical function.
- Reduce Pain and Swelling: Various treatments such as manual therapy, acupuncture and soft tissue therapy can help reduce the amount of pain and swelling you experience after your surgery.
- Improve Circulation: Improved circulation facilitates faster healing and reduces the chance of a blood clot forming. Something as simple as massage can improve circulation. Many basic exercises and simple movements prescribed by a physio can promote increased blood circulation.
Your physiotherapist will also prescribe you exercises to ensure that your flexibility and strength do not become limited after spine surgery.
Working with a physiotherapist immediately after surgery helps you regain function, preventing long term complications, pain and altered movement patterns.
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Begin your recovery with Foundation Physiotherapy & Wellness!
Spine surgery is a procedure that requires time and guidance to recover from. Our rehabilitation team of physiotherapists, chiropractors and massage therapists at Foundation Physiotherapy & Wellness are skilled at working with patients following surgeries and can guide you towards moving and living better!
Are you ready to get a jumpstart on your recovery? Contact our clinic today to schedule an appointment!
