Returning to work will depend on a lot of factors including the type of surgery you have, the tasks you need to perform at work, and the amount of pain medications you need after surgery. In general, if your pain is well controlled, you can return to a light duty job within a week or two after your surgery. You will have to follow all the precautions that Dr. Codsi gives to you while you are working. If you need to return to work early, try to limit your hours the first week or two so you do not push yourself too much. It is better to overestimate your time off work and make arrangements with your job prior to surgery. You do not want to compromise your surgery results just because your job cannot live without you for a few days.