Recovery time from back surgery differs between individuals and depends on the nature and extent of the surgery. If you’re having a simple discotomy or a small decompression, you should be getting around by the time you leave hospital. You may only need a little help with lifting or reaching. As the surgery gets more complex, the timeline for recovery becomes longer. For example, an extensive decompression can slow you down for a couple of weeks and you may need help with several of your daily activities.