I was mid fifties at implant as my handle suggests. I am a working Joe as well, need to keep those bills paid, and all. So, short of referring you to the original iteration of the thread I started which is now in the stickies to find the read deal.......

anticipate really being down about two weeks, depending upon your implant issue. Wife may need to help you for a week if you are a strong guy as I was at one time [my bulk was more muscle then, and I still give it a go [as I like pedalling my bicycle]. My implant included a laminectomy, the removal of bone to make space for insertion of paddle leads. If your implant will be percutaneous leads, then the mid-back insertion point should be a lot more likely to recover more quickly.

With the laminectomy, I had serious business similar to the discectomy/laminectoly/fusion I had at early fifties from the doggone car wreck. Now that earlier surgery was like as if my body had been sawn in two and it was pulling apart at every movement [even the elimination kind]. The laminectomy was less intense, BUT, I still had severe pain for about 10 days, then it tapered off. I will tell you, the pain meds I was on were additional to the usual pain management meds, so there was no way I could work at that time..... I dropped the additional surgery meds by end of week two. Then it was a process to wean off of all pain management meds so I could resume work. That honestly took about three months, very controlled, because it was a lot of meds and doc did not want me to deep six on him.

Really, it depends upon the pain meds you have been using to manage pre implant. Doc knows best. Your family knows. My wife is also my guardian and GUARD, unwilling to let me be stupid as testosterone is prone for me to do. You get the drill. So, allow someone to drive you to work if you are allowed light work. Mandate number one from my wife. Phone home if you begin to drop like a rock thrown into a pond early in the afternoon and you truly cannot handle the pain. Your wife and your body will tell you. That was my wife's Mandate number two. Her third mandate for me was pretty much, translated as don't be macho dumb. Because in my younger days I was known to achieve some things the body should not be able to do.

So, what do I have for you right now? If you have the implant soon remember BLAST and Logroll.... they help in those first weeks. Then, listen to your wife and your body. You will know it too much is too much. Above all, I will send my prayers.

Mark56
Yup