What are the things to pay attention to during the recovery phase after lumbar disc herniation surgery? Many patients often ask me: What to eat after surgery? How long can I participate in physical activities? Usually, there are no special requirements for diet after lumbar disc herniation surgery, but it is important to note that one should not eat foods to which one is easily allergic. We recommend that patients eat more soy products, vegetables and other foods that are easy to digest and can also be used as calcium supplements. It depends on the type of sporting activity how long after the surgery you can participate. For example, swimming can be done three months after surgery, and basketball can be done six weeks to three months after surgery, but for professional basketball, it takes one year after surgery. However, for some strenuous sports activities (such as boxing, combat, etc.), we usually recommend that you wait one year after surgery before participating in such strenuous activities. So the patient has to make a mastery by himself.