Itching After Surgery: What’s Normal and What Helped Me After L5-S1 Fusion
I’m about ten days into recovery after my L5-S1 spinal fusion, and while the pain has been tough, the itching has now become my biggest battle. My stomach and back — where the incisions are — both itch like crazy. It’s nonstop and just plain annoying.
If you’re going through surgery recovery and wondering if it’s normal for your incisions to itch this bad — yes, it is. But knowing that doesn’t make it any easier when you’re lying there in bed trying not to scratch or move too much.
The good news? I’ve found a few things that actually help. Here’s what I’ve learned about why your incisions itch, what’s normal, and what you can safely do to calm it down without messing up your healing.
Why Surgery Incisions Itch So Bad During Healing
Itching after surgery is actually a sign your body is doing its job. When your skin and nerves start healing, they release something called histamine, which triggers that itchy sensation. It’s the same thing that happens when you’re bitten by a mosquito — only this time, it’s from the inside out.
I’ve got two incision areas from my L5-S1 fusion — one across my lower belly from the front (just below my belly button) and another on my back where the screws were placed. Both started itching around day 7 and haven’t let up since.
If you had dissolvable stitches or Steri-Strips, that can make things even itchier. As they start breaking down, the surrounding skin gets irritated. The Cleveland Clinic says mild itching is a normal part of recovery, but if you notice increasing redness, drainage, or warmth, call your doctor. Those can be early signs of infection — and you don’t want to risk that.
So while itching is a good sign of healing, it’s also one of the most uncomfortable parts of recovery — especially when you can’t touch or scratch the area at all.
What’s Been Helping Me the Most
I’ll be real with you — I’ve tried a few things to keep my sanity through this phase. The main rule my surgeon gave me was to keep the wounds clean and dry, so that limited what I could use early on. But now that the skin is mostly sealed, I’ve been using a few tricks that really help.
1. Ice Packs and Cooling Relief
The first thing that’s helped me the most is my ice pack wrap. It’s the same one I mentioned in my recovery journal — and I still use it constantly. I rotate two sets of ice packs so I can always keep one ready in the freezer.
👉 REVIX XXL Full Back Ice Pack Wrap
It’s perfect because it covers both my lower back and belly, and the cold helps calm the nerves that make the itching worse. Even my surgeon told me that a little cold therapy is safe and can reduce both swelling and irritation.
2. The Cream That’s Helped the Most
Once my incisions were dry enough, I started looking for something safe to calm the itching around the area. After some research — and reading a lot of product labels — I found one that actually worked for me:
👉 Cortizone-10 Maximum Strength Intensive Healing Itch Relief Cream
This cream has 1% hydrocortisone, which helps stop that deep, burning itch you feel under the skin. I use just a thin layer around the incision (never directly on it), especially before bed when the itching drives me the craziest.
It’s fast-acting and made for irritated, healing skin — even from things like eczema or rashes — so it’s gentle enough for post-surgery areas once you’re cleared by your doctor.
Just remember: always double-check that your incision is fully sealed before using any topical creams. If you still have open spots, drainage, or raw skin, it’s too soon.
Keeping My Skin Protected While It Heals
One thing I’ve learned the hard way is that even small movements can stretch or irritate the incision area — especially in the belly where everything moves when you bend, sit, or even breathe deeply. That’s where using good support gear has made all the difference.
I use a simple bed rail that attaches to my bed and helps me get up or lie down at night without pulling on my stomach muscles. It’s been one of those things I didn’t realize I’d need until I actually had surgery.
👉 Bed Rails for Elderly Adults Safety – Adjustable Bed Assist Rail
For getting up from a chair or the toilet, my walker has been just as helpful — not for walking long distances, but for that extra support so I’m not straining my belly or back.
👉 Drive Medical 2-Button Folding Walker with Wheels
Loose, breathable clothing also helps a lot. Anything that rubs or presses on your incision just makes the itching worse. I stick to soft shirts and sweatpants so nothing touches the area directly.
Keeping the incision area dry and clean has been another huge part of my routine. My surgeon said to avoid creams directly on the wound until my follow-up, so I’ve been using a clean towel to gently pat dry after showers and letting the air do the rest.
What’s Normal (and When It’s Not)
At this point, about 10 days after surgery, I’ve learned to expect a certain level of itchiness. Some itching means the nerves are reconnecting and the skin’s repairing itself. But not all itching is good.
Here’s what I’ve noticed and what’s considered normal versus not:
✅ Normal:
- Light itching and tightness around the incision
- Mild redness that fades daily
- Slight scabbing or dryness
- Occasional twinges or tingling under the skin
🚫 Not Normal:
- Hot, burning, or deep stabbing pain
- Spreading redness or swelling
- Yellowish drainage, bad odor, or moisture coming from the incision
- Skin that feels feverish to the touch
If any of those show up, it’s not “just healing.” It’s time to call your surgeon right away. For me, the itching has been bad, but the skin looks clean and dry — so I know it’s normal healing irritation.
My Day 10 Snapshot: How I’m Really Feeling
At this point in recovery, I’d say I’ve gone from feeling like I got hit by a bus… to feeling like I got hit by a bus last week.The belly pain is still there, but it’s not nearly as sharp as it was during the first few days.
Now my back pain is what I notice most — probably from where the screws and rods were placed. I’m walking short distances every few hours (my doctor wants about one to two miles a day total), and the motion helps.
The itching, though, is still nonstop. My belly incision especially itches the most at night, and sometimes I wake up just trying to resist scratching it. The ice packs and Cortizone-10 cream around the edges have made it tolerable enough that I can at least get a few hours of sleep.
I’m also noticing that the stitches are dissolving and the Steri-Strips are starting to peel a little — which my surgeon said is totally fine by this point. I’m leaving them alone until my two-week follow-up appointment.
Tips for Others Dealing With Post-Surgery Itching
If you’re around the same point in recovery and battling the constant itching, here’s what’s been helping me the most:
- Cool it down. Ice or a cold compress does wonders for calming down nerve irritation.
- Keep it clean and dry. Moisture or sweat makes itching worse.
- Use a safe cream — carefully. Only when your incision is sealed, apply a thin layer of something like Cortizone-10 Maximum Strength Cream around the area.
- Avoid scratching at all costs. Tap or gently press instead if you have to. Scratching can open the skin and set back healing.
- Wear soft clothing. Anything rubbing against your skin just makes it worse.
- Stay patient. Itching is actually a good sign — it means your skin’s repairing and your nerves are reconnecting.
If you’re not sure whether your itch is normal or something more, it’s always better to reach out to your doctor. A quick check can save a lot of trouble later.
The itching has honestly been one of the most frustrating parts of this whole process — not because it’s dangerous, but because it’s constant and out of your control. Every little move, every bit of tight skin, it all reminds you that your body is still healing.
But I try to remind myself that every itch means something good — it means the wounds are closing, the nerves are reconnecting, and my body’s fighting to get stronger again. This part is temporary.
If you’re dealing with this too, know that it’s normal to feel miserable and impatient. Try not to scratch, stay clean, keep it cool, and trust that your body knows what it’s doing. These small, annoying moments are part of a much bigger picture — your recovery.
If you haven’t yet, check out my main article that walks through the full experience of my surgery and what it really felt like to go through:
👉 Living Through L5-S1 Fusion: What Spine Surgery Really Feels Like
And if you want to follow my ongoing updates — I’m posting real, day-by-day progress here:
👉 My Daily Recovery Journal After L5-S1 Fusion Surgery
You can also follow along for short videos, tips, and motivation on our Facebook page and YouTube channel:
👉 SpineRecover Facebook Page
👉 SpineRecover YouTube Channel
If this post helped you in any way, share it with someone else who might be going through the same battle. Healing takes time — but every single day (and every itch) means you’re moving forward.
