Returning to Work
After open back surgery, patients first stay in the hospital for 4-5 days. This stay is necessary because the patient is often on a high dose of painkillers, and the wound needs to be redressed carefully to prevent infection. After returning home, patients cannot return to work for 4-6 weeks, or longer if the job is physically strenuous. It may take months to as long as a year to return to full mobility. This is because the large wound and damage to the muscle and bone must heal fully to prevent further injury, and because extended time on painkillers is often necessary.
The recovery time after laser herniated disc surgery is much shorter. Patients generally return home the day of the surgery. The next day, physical therapy starts. In about a week, most patients are able to return to work; those with very physical jobs will need to wait until they have fully recovered, however. Full recovery usually occurs in about 6 weeks, and at that time patients can go about all their normal physical activities with no restrictions.
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So, he's now out for 6 weeks, at the absolutely least if it's laser surgery. If it's open back, I doubt he'll ever fight.
