Advanced, or complex, spine conditions are health issues that affect the spine. This includes the bones in your back and also the nerves, muscles, and sometimes the spinal cord itself. Examples include severe scoliosis (a condition where the spine curves in a way it shouldn't), spinal tumors (abnormal growths) or injuries that require special care from doctors.

What is the recovery time for advanced spine surgery?

Advanced spine surgery covers a wide range of spine problems, and recovery time after spine surgery depends on the nature of the problem, the type of surgery you have, the severity of your condition, your age, fitness level and overall health. Most people are walking right away after surgery and starting to get back to normal life with some activity restrictions. Most people take about six weeks off from work, depending on the nature of their jobs, to recover from surgery. The full benefit of complex spine surgery often takes several months to a year after surgery.

How long do nerves take to heal after back surgery?

In most cases, nerve pain related to complex spine problems improves immediately or within a few weeks of surgery. Improvement in nerve dysfunction such as arm or leg weakness related to complex spine problems varies depending on its severity and duration, but generally takes several months to a year.

How long does scoliosis surgery take?

Scoliosis surgery generally takes between four to eight hours, but each case is different and shorter or longer operating times are not unusual. It is a major surgery that involves realigning the spine while protecting the nerves, spinal cord, blood vessels and internal organs.

What are the permanent restrictions after a spinal fusion or scoliosis surgery?

One of the goals of scoliosis surgery is spinal fusion, in which the separate bones of the spinal column heal together to form one solid bone. This process generally takes about three months for the bone to heal. Before the bone heals, there are modest activity restrictions placed such as limiting bending, twisting and lifting heavy objects. After the spine fuses, all activity restrictions are usually lifted. There will be some loss of range of motion of the spine after surgery, but in general this is not limiting to patients in terms of function or quality of life.