Need spine surgery but worried about recovery time? You might not need an overnight hospital stay. With spinal anesthesia, many people can go home the same day.
Dr. Kryzanski, a spine surgeon, explains that spinal anesthesia is a safe and effective alternative to general anesthesia for certain back and neck procedures. It numbs the lower half of the body without putting you fully to sleep. That means fewer side effects, less grogginess after surgery and often a faster recovery.
Many of our spine surgery patients are walking within hours and feel ready to recover at home. For the right person, spinal anesthesia can make outpatient spine surgery smoother and less stressful.
How does spinal anesthesia work?
For spine surgeries that take less than 3 hours, spinal anesthesia can be a great option. Our anesthesiologists inject medicine directly into the lower spine, and it starts working fast—usually within 10 minutes. It numbs the back and legs so you won’t feel pain during the procedure.
Unlike general anesthesia, which puts you fully to sleep and often requires a breathing tube and inhaled gases, spinal anesthesia lets you stay relaxed and comfortable while avoiding those extra steps. That means fewer side effects and a smoother recovery for many people.
How does spinal anesthesia benefit patients?
Spinal anesthesia offers several important benefits compared to general anesthesia—especially for people with certain health conditions.
Unlike general anesthesia, spinal anesthesia doesn’t require a breathing tube. That makes it a better choice for people who take medication for high blood pressure, have COPD or smoke. It also means we can often avoid using a urinary catheter during the procedure.
Spinal anesthesia is especially helpful for older adults. It lowers the risk of post-operative confusion, memory issues, and heart or lung complications. For younger people, it often leads to a quicker recovery and same-day discharge.
Fewer side effects, faster recovery and a safer experience—spinal anesthesia can be a smart option for many spine surgery patients.
How does this technique improve post-operative experiences?
Spinal anesthesia doesn't just make surgery safer—it also helps people feel better, faster. Studies show that Tufts Medical Center patients who had spinal anesthesia instead of general anesthesia experienced less pain and recovered more quickly.
On average, these patients reported 20% less pain in the first 24 hours after surgery and needed 33% less narcotic medication. Many also had shorter hospital stays and were able to get back on their feet sooner.
Better pain control. Fewer medications. A smoother recovery. Spinal anesthesia is helping our spine surgery patients heal more comfortably—and often go home the same day.
The bottom line
Spinal anesthesia can reduce recovery time and lower the risk of complications that sometimes come with general anesthesia. At Tufts Medical Center, our anesthesiologists and spine surgeons work closely together to decide if spinal anesthesia is the safest and most effective option for your procedure.
