Q. What is the duration of hospitalization after Lumbar Disc Replacement Surgery in India?

Usually, the patient stays in the hospital for 2-3 days after the disc replacement surgery in India. However, the length of stay may vary depending on the recovery status, healing speed and improvement after the surgery.

Q. When will I be able to stand or walk after the surgery?

Generally, the patients are required to stand and walk before they leave the hospital. They are guided by the doctor and physical therapist during this time. A cane or walker may be needed by the patients for the first few days or weeks after surgery.

Q. How long does it take to recover after Lumbar Disc Replacement Surgery?

Recovery time after lumbar artificial disc replacement is usually 3 months. During this time, the spine will adjust to the new artificial device and the body heals from surgery. The duration of recovery may vary for patients depending on the patientu2019s age, severity of the damage to the disc, individual healing speed, and several other factors.

Q. When can I return to work and other normal activities after the surgery?

With proper physical therapy and good healing, the patient may return to normal activities and work (desk job) in about six weeks or more after the surgery.

Q. Who is a suitable candidate for Disk Replacement?

A good candidate for disk replacement is determined on the basis on several tests including Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, Discography, Computed tomography (CT) scansX-rays and others. These tests help the surgeon find out the source of back pain. Artificial disc replacement is not recommended for all patients with lower back pain.A suitable candidate for disc replacement should have the following:Pain in the back caused due to one or two degenerated intervertebral disks in the lumbar spineNo significant disease of the facet joint or bony compression on the spinal nervesNot excessively overweightDoes not have a prior major surgery on the lumbar spineDoes not have a spine deformity (scoliosis)

Q. What are expected outcomes after disc replacement surgery?

In most cases, improvement with lower back pain and disability can be expected within a few weeks to months after the surgery. However, according to the studies, disc replacement surgery improves, but does not entirely eliminate the back pain.