When Can I Bend Again After Spine Surgery? | Backbones Podcast

This video is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always follow the guidance of your surgical team. You've had spine surgery and been told: no bending, no lifting, no twisting. But what does that actually mean day to day? And when can you start doing these things again? Your host Joel Proskewitz is a spinal kineticist with over 20 years of clinical experience — and a multiple spine surgery patient himself. His co-host Carol Stewart has had three spinal surgeries, shares her experiences at ‪@SpinalSurgerySurvivalist‬ and knows firsthand how tough and lonely the journey can be. Together, they're here to share real stories, break down the clinical side, and help you feel less alone. In this episode, Joel and Carol answer a question sent in by a viewer. They break down the BLT rules for both discectomy and fusion patients, explain why these restrictions exist, and talk about the fear that can come with movement after surgery. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:34 The viewer question: no bending, lifting or twisting 0:52 What BLT means after a discectomy 2:59 The no lifting rule explained 5:11 The no twisting rule explained 6:53 How do patients know when it's safe? 9:13 What about fusion patients? 12:25 What is pseudarthrosis? 13:35 Living in fear of movement after surgery 15:06 Joel's experience — more movement after fusion than before 17:34 Carol on catching herself overprotecting 18:33 When people push too hard too soon 19:47 Why the rules aren't forever They cover: ⁠ Why the no bending, lifting and twisting rules exist after a discectomy ⁠ How long these restrictions typically last (6–12 weeks for discectomy, 12+ weeks for fusion) ⁠ What's actually happening to your disc and why it needs time to heal ⁠ How fusion is different — what a cage is, how bone graft works, and what pseudarthrosis means ⁠ The fear of movement after surgery and how it can hold you back ⁠ When and how to gradually reintroduce bending, lifting and twisting ⁠ Why these rules aren't forever — and how life after surgery can be better than before ⁠ Carol's experience of living in fear of her body and learning to trust it again If you're facing spine surgery, recovering from one, or supporting someone who is — this one's for you. Like, subscribe, and leave a comment with any topics you'd like us to cover. This episode came from a viewer question — keep them coming. --- Joel Proskewitz is the founder of Vertera, a mobile app built to support spine surgery patients through every stage of their journey — education, exercise, tracking, and community. Start your free trial at https://verterahealth.com/download