you should be told not to lift anything over 5 pds. take there advice, as for work it depends i have a heavy lifting job so it took 3 months. but the surgen messed up and i had to have aposterior revision done which is alot more painful. you should see if you can get a hospital bed oes wonders milk shakes thoat will be soar for about a week, a cane so you don't fall when you do all that walking. this is really not a bad surgery mimimum pain ,good to go in a week but don't if you over do it you could mess it up. just take your time no dish washing and no vaccuming. hope all works for you i am still having a bad time due to more herniations t6-7, t7-8 with compromise all lumber herniated with l4-5 stenonic and no one will touch me too dangerous.. so be very careful and good luck