Patient journey — the spine surgery process

What to expect from the first consultation through to full recovery? This page lays out the surgical patient journey in 15 steps: booking, work-up, surgery, hospital stay, rehabilitation and follow-up.

Does your path lead to non-surgical or surgical treatment?

Most spine problems do not require surgery — for around 90% of patients, the treatment path ends with targeted non-surgical therapy, not in the operating room. This page is for those whose shared clinical decision pointed towards the surgical route — for non-surgical patient pathway details, see the Non-Surgical Treatment page. If you are still in the diagnostic phase, that is where the first step begins.

Phase 1

Booking and consultation

Outpatient spine surgical consultation

The first step is a specialist consultation, during which we perform a physical and neurological examination, review your existing imaging (MRI, CT, X-ray) and request further investigations if needed. On this basis we establish the diagnosis and discuss the treatment options — including the non-surgical path.

Consultations can be booked through the online booking system: online.bhc.hu

Surgical decision and booking

If the shared decision points to surgery, we discuss in detail the type of procedure, the expected outcome, the risks and the recovery time. The surgical booking is then arranged through the Budai Egészségközpont coordination team.

Surgical booking

Budai Egészségközpont — Private Hospital Coordination

E-mail: [email protected]

Cost estimate

Detailed cost information for the surgery is provided by Budai Egészségközpont, depending on the type and complexity of the procedure. The estimate itemises the surgical and anaesthesia fees, the hospital stay, the cost of the implants used, and the first postoperative follow-up appointment.

Source of detailed costs

The current Budai Egészségközpont price list — depending on the procedure and the implants used
A personalised, itemised quote following the booking
Details can be clarified at the consultation and during booking. The current spine surgery price list is available at: bhc.hu/arlista/spine-surgery

Phase 2

Preoperative preparation

Preoperative work-up

An anaesthesia consultation and laboratory tests are required before surgery. These can all be completed at Budai Egészségközpont in a single visit. The anaesthesiologist assesses your general health and discusses the type of anaesthesia.

Required examinations

Blood tests
ECG
Chest X-ray
MRSA screening
Anaesthesia consultation
Current MRI report (no older than 3 months)

Days before surgery

What to do before surgery

Stop anticoagulant medication as instructed by the anaesthesiologist (typically 2–7 days before surgery)
No food for 6 hours and no fluids for 2 hours before surgery
On the morning of surgery, your usual medications can be taken with a sip of water (unless the anaesthesiologist directs otherwise)
Personal items: comfortable, loose clothing for going home, slippers, ID documents, copies of medical records

Please notify us in time if

Any acute illness (fever, cold, infection) develops before surgery
You have any medication or material allergies
You have previously had a surgical or anaesthetic complication

Phase 3

Day of surgery

Admission and preparation

On the morning of surgery, you arrive at the inpatient unit at Budai Egészségközpont. The nursing team takes the medical history and prepares the surgical site. Before surgery, I visit you personally on the ward.

The procedure

Surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. The duration typically ranges from 45 minutes to several hours — you will receive a precise estimate at the consultation.

Waking up and the first hours

After surgery, you spend a short time in the recovery room where your condition is monitored, or you are transferred straight back to your hospital room. If needed, intensive care monitoring is also available — the anaesthesiologist decides on its necessity based on your general health condition and the surgical load. The nursing team provides regular pain management. Most patients can already sit up and stand with assistance on the day of surgery.

Phase 4

Hospital stay

Length of stay

The length of the hospital stay depends on the type of procedure. For smaller interventions (e.g. discectomy), two days may be sufficient. For more complex procedures (e.g. stabilization, fusion), a hospital stay of 3–5 days is typical.

During the hospital days

Regular pain management and nursing supervision
Mobilization with the support of a physiotherapist — sitting up, standing, walking
Wound dressing and condition checks
Detailed pre-discharge briefing on what to do at home
Discharge summary and medication recommendations

Phase 5

Recovery — the first two weeks

Recovery at home

The first two weeks after surgery are the wound-healing period. The main goals at this stage are rest and gradual mobilization.

During the first two weeks

Short walks several times a day — walking aids healing
Avoid lifting (over 5 kg), bending and twisting movements
Take prescribed painkillers as needed
Keep the wound dry — showering only with the doctor's permission
Driving is not recommended
In case of any problem (fever, increasing pain, wound discharge), report immediately

First follow-up — 2 weeks

Two weeks after surgery, we see you for a follow-up at Budai Egészségközpont. We check wound healing, remove sutures if needed, and assess the early recovery. If everything is going well, we begin to gradually increase the load you can take.

Phase 6

Recovery — weeks 2 to 6

Gradual return

From week 2 onwards, daily activity can gradually be increased. Starting physiotherapy in this period is essential for lasting results.

Between weeks 2 and 6

Start physiotherapy — a personalised programme with the physiotherapist
Gradually increase walking (in time and distance)
Office work can typically resume from week 4
Driving typically from weeks 3–6 (depending on the procedure)
Heavy physical work and sport are not yet permitted
Avoid prolonged sitting (max 30–45 minutes, then take a break)

Second follow-up — 6 weeks

Six weeks after surgery, we conduct a second follow-up. We assess the progress of recovery and request follow-up imaging (X-ray) if needed. Based on the results, we refine the recommendations for further activity loading.

Phase 7

Full recovery — from week 6

Return to full activity

From week 6 — depending on the follow-up findings — you can gradually return to your previous activity level. The total recovery time depends on the type of procedure.

Typical recovery times

Discectomy (disc herniation): 4–6 weeks
Decompression (stenosis): 4–8 weeks
Stabilization, fusion (TLIF, MI-TLIF, ALIF): 3–6 months for partial fusion, 6–12 months for full bony remodelling
Return to sport: typically from 3 months (depending on the procedure)

Further follow-ups

After stabilization and fusion procedures, we conduct further follow-ups to monitor bony fusion — typically at months 3 and 6, then annually as needed. Follow-ups are conducted at Budai Egészségközpont.

The full patient journey at a glance

Consultation + MRI
Surgical decision, booking
Cost estimate
Preoperative work-up
Pre-surgery preparation
Admission and preparation
The procedure
Waking up and first hours
Hospital stay
Recovery at home
First follow-up — 2 weeks
Start physiotherapy
Second follow-up — 6 weeks
Full recovery
Further follow-ups

Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Zsolt Szövérfi PhD Spine Surgeon · Orthopaedic and Trauma Specialist · Full profile Last updated: April 2026