A 49-year-old member asked:
i need to fly a week after spinal surgery (discetomy). am i at serious risk?
3 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Richard Pollardanswered
Anesthesiology 30 years experience
Serious no, but.: But your surgeon will not want you to sit straight up for a period after the operation for fear of re-rupturing the disk. Please check with your surgeon as to when they feel it is safe to fly.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Edward Hellmananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 29 years experience
no: It is not so much that you are at serious risk by flying in a plane even immediately after having surgery, but it is just that the prolonged sitting, standing, walking may increase your soreness beyond what a typical patient may experince if they are able to take it easy after surgery. Thank you.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Brian Chimentianswered
Sports Medicine 27 years experience
Fly: Talk to your doctor about the risks for deep venous thrombosis. Flying as well as major surgery can both put you at risk for blood clots.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 34-year-old member asked:
How soon after spinal surgery (discetomy) can I fly?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Will Mooreheadanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 52 years experience
Immediately: Minimally invasive discectomy allows the mass majority of patients to go home the same day of surgery. There is no contraindications to flying within the 1st 24 hours. As an antidote, a patient of mine underwent a mis discectomy and flew to hawaii that evening for vacation.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Last updated Sep 28, 2016
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