It takes a week or two, everyone is different tho. Worked on a hospital ward for back surgeries, not had it done on me, no thanks. But everyone heals at their own rate, and everyone experiences pain differently. Do what your doctor says, we had a lot of repeat surgeries because people did not listen. and you do not want to experience a fusion twice....unless you are like the guy that walked out of the ward, two days after surgery having felt absolutely no pain after surgery. but he was one in a million. and it is too late you already have pain.