Recovery After Endoscopic Discectomy - Spinal DISC Center | Kris Radcliff, MD | New Jersey

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Recovery After Endoscopic Discectomy

Endoscopic discectomy removes the piece of a herniated disc that is pressing on a nerve, through an incision less than half an inch long.

What the Surgery Does

A small camera and instruments are passed through a tube to the herniated disc, and the fragment pressing on the nerve is removed. No fusion and no hardware are needed. Most patients go home the same day.

Your Recovery, Stage by Stage

Day 0: Surgery day

How you may feelLeg pain is often better right away. Small incision soreness.

What you can doWalk the same day.

Hold off onBending, lifting, twisting, driving.

Milestone: Home the same day.

Week 1: Home and walking

How you may feelBack soreness that improves daily. Some leftover leg tingling is normal.

What you can doWalk several times a day. Shower when the team says it is OK.

Hold off onLifting over 10 pounds, bending, prolonged sitting, baths and pools.

Milestone: Pain controlled with little or no medicine.

Weeks 2-4: Back to routine

How you may feelMost people feel much better.

What you can doDesk work and driving once off narcotics. Longer walks.

Hold off onHeavy lifting and repeated bending. These raise the chance of the disc herniating again.

Milestone: Follow-up visit at about 2 weeks.

Weeks 4-8: Building strength

How you may feelEnergy and stamina returning.

What you can doPhysical therapy for core strength if recommended. Most light-duty and physical jobs by 6 to 8 weeks.

Hold off onHeavy lifting until cleared.

Milestone: Return to most normal activity.

Months 3+: Full activity

How you may feelMost people feel back to normal.

What you can doExercise, sports and heavy work as cleared.

Hold off onNothing specific for most people, unless told otherwise.

Milestone: Keep up core exercises to protect your back long term.

When to Call

CALL 911Trouble breathing, chest pain, or sudden weakness in your arms or legs.

CALL THE OFFICE THE SAME DAYFever over 101 F; redness, swelling or drainage from the incision; new or worsening numbness or weakness; calf pain or swelling; loss of bladder or bowel control. Sudden return of severe leg pain, or new leg weakness.

CALL DURING OFFICE HOURSQuestions about medicines, paperwork, physical therapy, or returning to work.

Good to Know

About 5 to 10 percent of people have the disc herniate again at the same level, most often in the first few months. Following the lifting limits lowers that risk.
Numbness can take longer to recover than pain.

Questions?

Offices in Somers Point, Cherry Hill, and Brick, New Jersey, as part of Progressive Spine & Orthopaedics.
New patients: 609-800-3472
Existing patients: 609-800-3472

This page is general information, not medical advice. Every patient heals at a different pace. Your own instructions from Dr. Radcliff always come first.