I've had 3 detethering surgeries so far, the most recent being about 15 years ago.  Anyway, the recovery wasn't bad.  With my first and second, I had to lie on my abdomen for close to a week while the incision closed.  I think that was mostly because the surgery was newer, and the surgeon wanted to be sure the incision would heal properly.  After the third surgery, though, my surgeon was confident that lying on my back would not do damage to the incision.  I could not bend over until I got my stitches out, and I had some minor pain (maybe a 3/10), but those were the worst parts of the recovery.  Within a week or so after suture removal, I was back to normal activity.

The first one was done at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, California.  The other two were done at Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama.

I've never had spasms related to my spinal cord damage.  I was born with spina bifida (myelomeningocele, L5/S1), but I also have several other conditions.  One of them, joint hypermobility syndrome, does cause spasms, but it is completely unrelated to the SB.  Also, my last detethering was done before the JHS diagnosis.  I know I need another detethering, but no neurosurgeon is willing to do it because of my previous detethering.  Each subsequent detethering increases the risk of paralysis, and since I'm not currently paralyzed, any neuro I approach about the surgery is afraid of a lawsuit.