Sitting after spinal surgery: What to expect?

Roughly three months ago, I suffered a sudden, debilitating spinal spasm that landed me straight in the emergency room for urgent spinal surgery. In the aftermath, I was diagnosed with nerve damage in one leg—though my doctors insist this occurred during the initial spasm rather than as a complication from the procedure itself. I have been incredibly disciplined with my physical therapy sessions and have even implemented a rigorous exercise routine at home, which has led to some noticeable improvement in my leg, provided I am not sitting down. The issue is that if I remain seated for more than fifteen or twenty minutes, the numbness returns in full force, often accompanied by a localized stiffness. I also deal with this persistent, dull ache in my lower back that eventually forces me to either stand up or lie down just to find relief. My surgeon keeps pushing back the timeline for when I might be able to sit comfortably again; apparently, November is the next milestone on the horizon.
I am deeply unsettled by this entire situation because my profession is entirely sedentary; I spend my workdays tethered to a computer. I find myself plagued by the fear that I may never fully recover enough to sustain my career. Has anyone here navigated a similar ordeal or dealt with these kinds of setbacks? I would truly appreciate any insights you might share.

So, are you sitting down after the surgery? 🤔

I haven't been through it myself, but both my aunt and uncle had spinal surgery, and if I remember right, they were stuck in bed for about six months (maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, I can't be totally sure...). My aunt is back to her usual office job now and sits just fine... but I'm pretty sure you have to stay horizontal for a specific amount of time at first to let the spine actually heal. 🤔

I underwent my own surgery just three months ago, and I was forced to remain bedridden for a period of time. However, let me be perfectly clear: absolutely no one spends six agonizing months lying in bed following an operation. In fact, within the standard American medical system, patients are typically expected to be upright and walking by their third day in the hospital, followed closely by the commencement of physical therapy just a few days later. Perhaps you haven't spent much time visiting your relatives, which might explain why you seem so blissfully unaware of the actual hardships they have endured.

Oh, come on... I don't mean they were just lying around all day😬

They were still out there doing things... it’s just not happening nearly as often as it used to...

I remember how, for example, my buddy Joe used to spend hours just lounging face down with a coffee🥳

And honestly, I can't even tell you how long that phase lasted😳

Are you wearing a back brace or some kind of support while you sit? It’s actually quite common to deal with aches and pains when sitting for long periods, mainly because those core muscles tend to atrophy during a recovery phase. I was glad to hear you managed to strengthen your legs through the recommended exercises, though it will likely take a bit more time and steady effort before you feel completely back to yourself. One little trick I've found helpful is trying to blow up a balloon or a latex glove a few times every day to work on that respiratory strength. I remember posting a specific tea recipe on another forum once for someone recovering from a similar surgery, and she found it incredibly effective; I'll do my best to track down that recipe for you again.
Try to lean into natural sources by loading up on Vitamin D and calcium in your diet whenever you can.

For quite some time now, I have been relegated to wearing one of those heavy-duty abdominal braces provided by the hospital, but my doctors are now insisting that I finally ditch it, lest my core muscles decide to simply give up and lose all their strength. Christian Wilson16, I truly owe you a debt of gratitude for your guidance; while I was already well aware of the necessity of calcium and Vitamin D, I had absolutely no idea about this whole business of using muscle stimulators to prevent atrophy.

Here is the tea recipe.

To ensure there isn't any confusion regarding the herb names—since folks in different parts of the country often call them by different nicknames—I’ve included the Latin botanical names in parentheses.

- 20 g Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
- 20 g Arnica stem (Arnica montana)
- 20 g Lungwort stem (Pulmonaria officinalis)
- 10 g Horsetail stem (Equisetum arvense)
- 10 g Germander stem (Teucrium montanum)
- 10 g Calendula flowers and leaves (Calendula officinalis)
- 10 g Comfrey root (Symphytum officinale)
- 10 g Burdock root (Arctium lappa)
- 10 g Chicory root (Cichorium intybus)
- 10 g Wormwood leaves (Artemisia absinthium)
- 5 g Henbane stem (I couldn't track down the Latin name for this one, it's the only ingredient I'm missing)

Finely mince all the herbs and mix them together thoroughly. Take 10 g of this blend and add it to 1 liter of boiling water, then let it simmer covered for about 30 seconds. Once the tea has cooled down, strain it into a bottle, seal it up, and store it in a dark spot. You should drink it three times a day—about 2 tablespoons before meals and 4 tablespoons after you eat.

Christian Wilson16, I cannot express just how deeply I appreciate your insight... truly, my thanks to you 😘 😘
Tomorrow, I shall begin my weary trek in search of tea—or rather, various botanical infusions and herbs.

It seems as though everyone has suddenly gone silent... Is there truly nobody left willing to offer even a shred of advice, or perhaps share a bit of hard-earned experience?