How long will it take to recover after surgery?
Recovery will vary for each individual, will depend in a large part on whether there is permanent damage from the syrinx, and in some cases can take years [Ed Note – I still feel like I am getting better and stronger 5 years after my surgery]. What many people don’t realize is that even with a successful surgery, the syrinx may take up to a year to collapse and may not go away completely. In addition, many people will have had symptoms for years before surgery, so while some things will improve quickly, others may take years to improve. Often recovery can be a series of ups and downs, with long periods of improvements punctuated by temporary setbacks.
The LAP-BAND surgery is performed laparoscopically and is typically done as an outpatient in a day surgery setting. This laproscopic procedure takes about one hour to perform under general anesthesia. Patients begin drinking liquids and are walking within one to two hours after surgery. It takes most patients about a week to return to work and a month to six weeks to resume exercising. In the case of open surgery or if there are complications, recovery may take longer.
If gastric banding is performed laparoscopically, patients typically spend less than 24 hours in the hospital. It takes most patients from four to seven days to return to work and a month to six weeks to resume exercising. In the case of open surgery or if there are complications, recovery may take longer.
