I also got into the pool at 3 weeks---but I had the MIS surgery, the incision is smaller and it healed very quickly. i love the pool--you can jump around and walk really fast with no ill effects. But, I don't do much swimming--just walking and bouncing mostly. I do use a kick board and have lately (5 weeks) begun to kick for the length of the pool and back. But, I have no stamina---so, not as much fun as when you do it effortlessly.