Recovery after lumbar microdiscectomy: first days to six weeks and beyond

The dates come from one NHS trust's neurosurgery leaflet and a Hull aftercare leaflet, so they are typical rather than universal. Your own plan may differ depending on how much disc was removed, whether the nerve covering was disturbed and your job.

The NHS says sciatica generally eases within a few weeks to a few months, even without surgery, so the leg pain after an operation may not vanish overnight. Think of the first six weeks as protection and gradual loading rather than a race.

North Bristol says the wound is closed with paper strips, left for seven to ten days. The Hull leaflet advises keeping the wound dry until clips or stitches are out, showering rather than bathing at first, and watching for leaking, redness or swelling.

Hull says it is normal to have some pain and discomfort as you recover and that medicines may help you get moving rather than staying still. Lower back soreness settles over days and weeks. Leg symptoms often improve quickly but numbness or tingling can persist; tell your team if it worsens.

North Bristol gives around two to three weeks for driving and two to four weeks for light work. GOV.UK says to ask your doctor if unsure and to tell DVLA if you cannot drive three months after an operation, and Hull advises checking that your insurance covers you. Be able to turn, look and stop abruptly without pain before driving.

Sitting is guided by comfort. Hull says there is no perfect sitting posture, so build tolerance gradually and take breaks on long journeys. North Bristol says avoid sitting for prolonged periods in the first week.

• Walk little and often and build the distance up slowly.

• Bend at the knees rather than the back when picking things up.

• Avoid reaching, twisting and lifting items held at arm's length.

North Bristol says to avoid heavy lifting, such as a full kettle, for up to six weeks and says physiotherapy is only recommended after six weeks. Before that, walking is the exercise. Sport and gym work come back in steps that your surgeon or physiotherapist sets, and no source retrieved gives dates for individual sports.

Follow-up is usually through the spinal nurse team or clinic, with physiotherapy after about six weeks. Ask who to contact in working hours if a problem arises and what the out-of-hours route is.

• Constant pain that gets worse, new or worsening numbness, muscle weakness or a change in bladder function: contact the spinal team or GP, per North Bristol.

• Numbness around the bottom or genitals, being unable to pee, or loss of bladder or bowel control: 999 or A&E, per the NHS.

• Fluid or bleeding outside the dressing, or spreading redness: contact the hospital.

• Calf swelling, chest pain or breathlessness: 999.