If you’re considering bone spur surgery, you’re probably anxiously looking ahead to reclaiming your daily routine. You may also have a lot of questions about what you can expect during the recovery period that follows. Keep in mind that every patient, bone spur and surgical procedure is different. For accurate information that applies to your specific situation, your best source is the surgeon who will perform your procedure. He or she can provide individualized advice and guidance, along with a step-by-step rehabilitation program that is uniquely yours.

What about driving?

Of course, you’ll need to plan how you will return home after your surgery, get to your follow-up appointments, take care of your family, run general errands and eventually return to work after your bone spur surgery. Therefore, it’s quite understandable that you may be wondering how long it will be before you can safely drive again.

There is no single answer to this question. In making this determination, a physician must consider your safety as well as the safety of the general public, and balance that with the potential impact of a prolonged period of being unable to drive on your quality of life. However, in general, if you are not taking any medications that could affect your reaction time, your surgeon may clear you for driving approximately two to three weeks after your bone spur surgery. But, again, you’ll need to discuss the specifics of your situation with your surgeon to obtain the best estimate for you.

Over time, and at a pace that your surgeon has determined to be appropriate for you, you will be able to return to various activities — including driving — as you regain your strength while allowing your surgical site to heal properly and completely.

Minimally invasive surgery

Before scheduling your bone spur surgery, you should explore all of your treatment options and learn as much as you can. That way, you’ll be able to make well-educated health care choices. You may be interested in knowing that the surgeons at USA Spine Care perform minimally invasive spine surgery, which is often the clinically appropriate first choice and provides many advantages versus open neck or back surgery, including no lengthy recovery. Among other things, this can help you get back to driving sooner.

If you’d like to find out if you’re a candidate for minimally invasive outpatient bone spur surgery at USA Spine Care, contact us to request more information.