Recovery after TES
(Transforaminal Endoscopic Surgery)

Day of surgery, directly after the surgery
Walking and Standing

With corset, several times per day, up to 30 min. max. Lie down in between.

Sitting With corset, several times per day, up to 30 min. max.
Lying

The corset has to be kept on, especially during the first night. Possible sleeping positions: back, abdominal, lateral.*

Physical Strain
Only slight activities are possible.
Sports Not possible yet.
First day after the surgery
Walking and Standing After check-up: with corset, several times per day, up to 1 h max
Sitting With corset, several times per day,
up to 30 min. max.
Lying The corset has to be kept on, especially during the night. Possible sleeping positions: back, abdominal, lateral.*
Physical Strain Only slight activities are possible.
Sports Not possible yet.
2-7 days after the surgery
Walking and Standing With corset, several times per day, up to 1h max.
Sitting With corset, several times per day, up to 30 min. max.
Lying The corset can be put off at night, depending on the patient’s condition.*
Physical Strain With corset and only slight activities.
Sports Not possible yet.
8-14 days after the surgery
Walking and Standing With corset, several times per day, up to 1h max.
Sitting

With corset, altering with walking and standing, several times per day, up to 1 h max.

Lying The corset can be put off during the day and - depending on the patient’s condition - also at night.
Physical Strain Physical and physiotherapeutic treatments can be started as an additional support (fango, thermal, electrical therapy, cryotherapy e.c.). The exercises are carried through in a lying position with the corset put on
Sports On your own, you should do exercises 2 – 7 several times a day, in a lying position and without the corset.
Other sports are not possible yet

* When resting, please move your ankles and knee-joints several times per hour in order to avoid thrombosis.

Stabilisation Phase (3. – 6. post-op week)
Walking and Standing

With back-brace, several times per day, depending on the patient’s condition even more than 1 h

Sitting

With back-brace and regularly altering position (walking, standing) possible. Driving only with the corset on, from week 5 on with back-brace, but with breaks for moving every 30 minutes

Lying

Without corset or back-brace. Possible sleeping positions: back, abdominal, lateral.

Physical Strain

With corset, light work / housework possible. From week 5 after the surgery on, the corset can be replaced by the back-brace

Sports

After the 3rd post-op week (wounds should have healed) swimming is possible (prone position, back position). From week 4 on, a decent staying-power training on the bicycle and a bike ergo meter or on the stepper is possible (with back-brace). Extreme activities such as badminton, squash, and other ball games with body contact as well as high physical strain are still forbidden in this phase. Additionally, you can do exercises 8 – 14 on your own.


Normalisation Phase (from 7. post-op week on)
Walking and Standing

Without back-brace, no restrictions

Sitting

Without back-brace, no restrictions

Lying

Without back-brace, no restrictions

Physical strain

When pain-free, the physical therapy should be reduced step by step. The specific strengthening of the lower (autochthonous) dorsal muscles with the MedX testing and therapeutic equipment should now begin (Medical Strengthening Therapy). Training of the knee-extensors (m. quadriceps) with stretched legs is forbidden as well in a lying and a sitting position until the 8th post-op week.

For sports, the back-brace should always be put on. After the 8th post-op week slight activities such as biking, walking etc. are also possible without the back-brace. From week 12 after the surgery on, sport activities should be possible in general and without any restriction. Additionally, you may now integrate exercises 15 – 17 into your training programme.


Learn more from our brochure 'Post-op Status after TES



Further information:


Frau