After such a surgery the natural process of healing starts in stages. Stage one lasts a few weeks and consist of : tissues and incision healing. It is recommended that the patient should try to walk and move as much as possible so that the healing process speeds up. The first day of the operation can be difficult but the first steps should be possible. Then each day little by little the effort should continue to increase. Recovery exercised in the following weeks are also recommended.
A constant monitoring process should start. Your doctor will try to follow the progress and boe fusion at each visit. X-rays are used to see the fusion. Recovery for spinal fusion can be a painful process and this can be felt both in the back and hip. There are however some medication that can help with the pain. If your pain level is higher then expected the doctor should be informed. The entire process should last six weeks. After this period of time the normal activities can start again.
The fusion is not completed 100% after the first weeks. This can take months and it's different from patient to patient. The flexibility of the back can suffer some changes but again the doctor should be on constant lookout.
In the end the surgery purpose is to offer relief and increased moving ability for people suffering from spinal problems.