Many postoperative lumbar spine patients have pain, numbness, and soreness in the lumbar hip and lower extremities three to five days after surgery, and these symptoms are often similar to the preoperative symptoms, or there are no such symptoms before surgery, and even the symptoms appear on the healthy side before surgery, either to a lesser extent than before surgery or to a greater extent than before surgery, and the patients consult their doctors, who generally explain them as “postoperative reactions. Patients are deeply confused and anxious about this “recurrence of symptoms” and worry that the surgery has failed or not done well and that the doctor is hiding the condition. In fact, the reasons for residual symptoms or “recurrence” after lumbar spine surgery are complex, how to reduce or avoid such situations, and how to deal with them after they appear, the following will be a brief answer. I. Why do “symptoms recur” after surgery? Many patients are eager to go to work, take care of themselves, and do housework too early after surgery, which are important reasons for “recurrent symptoms”. Generally speaking, there are two main reasons for this: 1) Nerve root edema Mostly occurs within one week after surgery, with a peak of 24-72 hours. 2) Residual blood and fluid in the wound and deep muscle damage. Excessive postoperative activity or premature lumbar back muscle exercise may lead to increased blood and fluid accumulation and strain on the wound. Especially for patients with abnormal coagulation (such as long-term oral aspirin and other anticoagulant drugs), too much activity too early after surgery or too much back exercise too early may lead to rebleeding and aggravate the “recurrent” symptoms. However, excessive braking may cause re-adhesion of the nerve root. Therefore, formal rehabilitation guidance is needed (refer to our rehabilitation program). How to prevent “recurrent symptoms”? In the short term after surgery (especially within 4 weeks), it is not advisable to move too much too early and to ensure the necessary bed time, which can effectively control the “recurrence of symptoms”. Especially for patients with open window and internal fixation surgery, because the surgery is traumatic to the muscles and bony structures of the low back, it is necessary to strictly follow the rehabilitation requirements within 4 weeks after surgery to avoid unnecessary pain. At present, many hospitals in China, for different purposes, give patients either too conservative or very aggressive postoperative rehabilitation advice. Either patients are required to be absolutely bedridden for three months, or they are told that they can move freely and go to work in three or two days after minimally invasive surgery. Therefore, patients with lumbar spine surgery should focus on rest and recuperation within 4 weeks, and strictly follow our rehabilitation advice to prevent “recurrence of symptoms”, taking into account their actual situation. Third, what should I do if I have “recurring symptoms” after surgery? In case of “recurrent symptoms”, first of all, we should limit the activities, suspend the exercise of low back muscles and increase the time of bed rest. There is a natural process of “recurrent symptoms”, and it takes time for the symptoms to be relieved, ranging from a few days to several months. If the symptoms are more serious, some anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs can be taken for a short time under the guidance of the doctor to relieve the symptoms. There are few patients who recover satisfactorily after surgery, but not all patients are so lucky. The post-operative recovery process may be long and tortuous for some patients, but it is generally in a good direction. Even if there are “recurring symptoms”, there is no need to be overly anxious and nervous, so adjust your attitude, be more patient and give your body enough time to recover. The reasons for residual symptoms or “recurrence” after lumbar spine surgery are complex. If the symptoms cannot be relieved by prolonged bed rest or continue to worsen progressively, it is necessary to communicate with the doctor in charge and conduct further review if necessary for timely treatment. In conclusion, although lumbar spine surgery is a routine operation in spine surgery, the recovery process is a systematic project and postoperative rehabilitation is of great importance. We should be fully aware of and psychologically prepared for “recurrent symptoms” after surgery, and it is advisable to take more bed rest for a short period of time (4-6 weeks) after surgery, and rehabilitation exercises should be done gradually and according to ability. If the “recurrent symptoms” cannot be relieved, it is necessary to communicate with the doctor in charge in a timely manner.