Rick Sasso, MD

A reader recently asked a question in reference to a posting about cervical discs and spinal fusion.  The question asked how long recovery takes for screws to be put in - to put the disc back in place. 

In response to this question, screws do not put a disc back in place.  Most of the time in spine surgery, if you are putting in screws, the disc has been removed and a bone or plastic spacer has been put in place.  For the back to fuse afer surgery, when screws are placed it can take up to one-year for it to completely fuse.  In respect to recovery time for the patient with a lumbar fusion that varies greatly - but most people can go back to work within three months or less.  And most patients following this spine surgery are able to go back to most of their "normal" activities in about three months.  A patient's pain tolerance, type of job, length of back pain history, overall health and pain medication use before surgery all can effect recovery time.