(661) 282-8584 contactus@ariptcare.com Fax: (661) 727-0005 Español
Book an Appointment

Conditions We Treat  /  Spine Surgery Rehab

After Surgery

Rehab After Back and Neck Surgery in Bakersfield

After spine surgery, rehab rebuilds the strength, movement and confidence you need for daily life, while protecting your spine as it heals.

Request an Evaluation

Physical therapy helps you recover after spine surgery. After a discectomy, laminectomy or fusion, a guided program helps you walk further, move and lift safely, and build the trunk and leg strength that supports your spine. At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, every visit is one-on-one with a licensed physical therapist. Our clinic director is a former Spine Clinical Specialist physical therapist at Kaiser Permanente, and we follow your surgeon's precautions.

Does this sound like you?

✓You've had back or neck surgery, or have it scheduled
✓Sitting, standing or walking for long is still hard
✓You're unsure how to bend, lift or get out of bed safely
✓Your legs or arms feel weak or tire quickly
✓You're afraid of hurting your back again
✓You want to get back to work, driving or activities you enjoy

Common spine surgeries

  • Discectomy or microdiscectomy: removing part of a disc that is pressing on a nerve.
  • Laminectomy: making more room for the nerves in spinal stenosis.
  • Fusion: joining two or more vertebrae to stabilize the spine. Surgeons often set limits on bending, lifting and twisting while the fusion heals.

Why rehab matters

Surgery can relieve pressure on a nerve, but it doesn't rebuild the strength and movement lost before and after the operation. A gradual walking program, trunk and leg strengthening, and learning safe ways to move help you get back to daily life and lower the chance of future problems. Timing and limits depend on your surgery, so rehab always follows your surgeon's plan.

What treatment at ARI looks like

1
A one-on-one evaluation

Your first visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes. We review your surgeon's precautions, check how you walk, sit and move, and test strength and nerve function.

2
Safe movement and strength

A walking plan, gentle trunk and hip exercises that progress over time, and practice getting in and out of bed, the car and chairs safely.

3
Back to daily life

Lifting, carrying, work tasks and activities built back step by step, with a home program to keep your spine strong.

No referral needed to start. In California, you can see a physical therapist directly for up to 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first. Some insurance plans still require a referral for coverage; call us at (661) 282-8584 and we'll help you check.

When to see a doctor first

Call your surgeon or get emergency care if you have:

  • Numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or new trouble controlling your bladder or bowels: get emergency care
  • New or worsening weakness in your legs or arms
  • Fever, or redness, drainage or opening at the incision
  • Calf pain or swelling, chest pain or sudden shortness of breath
  • Severe headache after surgery that is worse when you sit up

Why patients choose ARI

Care at ARI is always one-on-one and in person with a licensed physical therapist at our Bakersfield clinic: 8200 Stockdale Hwy, Suite B2, in the Town & Country Village center next to Trader Joe's. Our clinic director, Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, is a board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.

Spine surgery rehab FAQs

It depends on your surgery and your surgeon. Many people start walking right away and begin outpatient physical therapy within a few weeks. Bring your surgeon's instructions and precautions to your first visit.
After some spine surgeries, especially fusion, surgeons ask you to limit bending, lifting and twisting for a period while the spine heals. Your therapist teaches you how to do daily tasks within those limits.
Yes. Walking is usually one of the first and most important activities after spine surgery. Your therapist will help you build up how far and how often you walk.
For many types of back pain, physical therapy is a recommended first treatment, and many people improve without surgery. If you are considering surgery, a physical therapy evaluation can help you and your doctor decide.

Ready to feel better?

Talk to a licensed physical therapist at ARI, one-on-one. Request an evaluation and we'll get back to you, usually within one business day.

Request an EvaluationCall (661) 282-8584

Sources

  1. Rehabilitation after lumbar disc surgery. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, via PubMed, 2014.
  2. Diskectomy. MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
  3. Spinal Fusion. OrthoInfo, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you have symptoms, a licensed clinician should evaluate you.

Clinically reviewed by Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist · Reviewed September 2026