You can resume all normal activities as you feel comfortable doing them.
Full recovery after this surgery can take six months to a year. How long it takes a patient to recover depends on the severity of the surgery and on their progress in rehabilitation. If spinal fusion is done, recovery often takes longer than it does for other procedures.
Hot compresses and hot showers can help to alleviate some pain. Also, using ice before and after exercise can also help to ease pain. However there are also some therapies that can really help you get rid of pain. Dorn therapy I think is the best to try.