What to Expect After a Kyphoplasty

Getting any kind of spinal surgery can be intimidating. Kyphoplasty is no different, however, getting relief from spinal compression fractures can help improve your comfort and, in turn, your quality of life.

While recovery from kyphoplasty looks different for everyone, having a general idea of what to expect can help you to prepare and feel confident ahead of your procedure.

Kyphoplasty Recovery Time and Process

Typically, a kyphoplasty is performed as an outpatient procedure. This means that you can head home within the same day of your surgery. Without major complications, you are likely to be back home and recovering comfortably within a few hours.

After a kyphoplasty, you might feel immediate pain relief from the spinal compression within a day or two. You may experience slight pain, stiffness, and soreness, which should improve as you heal. It typically takes people four to six weeks on average to fully recover from a kyphoplasty, provided that you don’t have any complications. 

Your doctor will have an extensive list of recovery tips to ensure that you can heal smoothly and quickly after you’ve had a kyphoplasty procedure done.

Kyphoplasty Recovery Restrictions

After a kyphoplasty, you must follow some restrictions for an optimal recovery. You will not be able to drive after your procedure until your doctor clears you, so you must arrange transportation accordingly. Within the first 24 hours post-procedure, you will want to take it easy and prioritize rest. If you are healing well, you may slowly resume regular daily activities in the following weeks. 

Tasks that require physical exertion, like vigorous exercise, twisting or bending front to back or side to side, and lifting, pushing, or pulling objects that weigh more than 10 pounds should be avoided for six weeks minimum. Either way, without major complications, you are likely to be back home and recovering comfortably within a couple of hours.

Common Kyphoplasty Complications and Risks 

Every surgical procedure, big or small, has some level of risk. General surgery risks include infection, excessive bleeding, and negative reactions to surgical equipment or anesthesia. Specific to kyphoplasty, common risks include nerve and spinal cord compression or damage, paralysis, bone cement leaks, pulmonary embolism, and pain that either worsens or doesn’t go away after the surgery.

Keep an eye out for signs of complications or other serious symptoms throughout your recovery, such as fever, increased leg or back pain, unusual headache, difficulty urinating, signs of infection at the incision, or numbness. If you experience incontinence, paralysis in your legs, difficulty breathing, or severe chest pain, get emergency medical assistance. If you’re worried about any post-procedure symptoms, don’t hesitate to reach out to your care team.

How to Have a Smooth Recovery After a Kyphoplasty

There are a few things you can do to ensure you have an optimal recovery after your kyphoplasty. Your doctor may recommend a few of the following: 

• Prepare before your surgery. What you do to prepare for spinal surgery is just as important as what you do during recovery. Before your kyphoplasty, you will want to make sure you follow a healthy diet, get plenty of rest, and keep up regular activity, as permitted by your doctor.
• Follow a well-balanced diet. Just as you will want to do this as you prepare for surgery, staying hydrated and eating nutritious foods after surgery can help support healing.
• Eliminate alcohol and tobacco products. Alcohol and tobacco products can impede healing and lead to complications during and after surgery. You will want to cut these out in the weeks leading up to your procedure and not resume using them until your doctor has cleared you.
• Take care of the incision site. Your doctor will be able to instruct you on how to keep your incision clean and protected so that you are able to heal quickly and avoid infection. In general, you should keep your incision dry and covered with sterile bandages. Keep an eye out for signs of infection, like redness, swelling, bleeding, or discharge at the incision site, and alert your care team if you notice any of these signs.
• Manage your pain. Your doctor may recommend cold therapy, over-the-counter pain medicines, or prescription pain relief to help you manage any pain as you recover. 
• Take your recommended medications. Your doctor will advise you on when you can resume taking any of your regular medications or over-the-counter medicines. They will also provide instructions on any new medications. They may prescribe certain medications or recommend additional supplements, vitamins and minerals to help improve bone health and lower your risk of future compression fractures. 
• Adhere to your doctor’s instructions and attend all follow-up appointments. It’s important to attend any post-procedure appointments to ensure you’re recovering optimally. After your surgery, your doctor will schedule a follow-up appointment and take an X-ray to verify that your procedure was successful and that the bone cement is in place. Communicate transparently with your doctor about your symptoms and recovery. Make sure you go to every physical therapy session you can, if prescribed, to help you heal quickly and retain a full range of motion as you recover. 

Trust Citrus Spine With Your Kyphoplasty

The most important thing you can do when it comes to any surgical procedure is to partner with a reputable surgeon. At Citrus Spine Institute, our spinal experts proudly provide excellent care to residents in and around Crystal River. 

Contact us today to schedule a consultation.