Back Surgery

[sog982]

Going under the knife for a lower back injury. During this I will be a slug for about two-three months. I'm told i can walk for about a mile a day but NO lifting. After two-three months I can possibly go back to work. Total healing time of six months is what i'm being told.

Personal info:
6'4" / 250lbs
age 37
Lifting since late 80's.

So with that I was wondering if anyone has been down this road?
If so, what to be prepared for;ie mobility, discomfort
How long before they were able to start lifting again?
How long before able to start cycles, which will be new for me?
Any assistance with this will be greatly appreciative.

[FireGuy]

Are they doing a discectomy a laminectomy??

[sog982]

Lower Lumbar Fusion.

[lovbyts]

Lower Lumbar Fusion.

Keep us posted on how it goes. I ruptured L3, L4 and L5. I had surgery on L3 and L4 at the same time and L5 2 years later. They want to do a fusion on me also but I am opting to wait as long as possible.

I went from 5' 8" 210 lbs before the last surgery down to 165 and now back up to 180 but just a little more muscle than before. Im hoping to get up around 190 by summer...

My back is better but I am still in pain 24/7. I have found doing light squats, weighted forward bends, weighted sit-ups is helping. Not nearly as much as I had hopped but it is helping...

[sog982]

Just found out that the surgery will be on the 24th of this month. Let ya know how it goes as soon as i'm able.

[lovbyts]

Just found out that the surgery will be on the 24th of this month. Let ya know how it goes as soon as i'm able.

If it turns out like mine you should be able to post the day of surgery. I felt better immediately. I didnt even use any pain meds for the first week+ just so I could feel it and knew I did not do anything stupid.

[oldschoolfitness]

hey man in 2005 i was setting trusses on a house and the bracing broke. needless to say i fell about 20 ft had a broke back and dislocated c5 c6 vertb. only done surgery on neck plates and screws. It has been almost 5yrs and i still have pain, but i am back in the gym. took almost 2yrs off then went easy for a while and listened to my body. wait until you regain your natural strength before a cycle. i didn't and wasted some cash, but you live and learn. so good luck and careful with the pain meds they can be a s.o.b. to get off. let us know how it goes.

[brokendown]

If you can wait out the surgery ,then I would, my back is fused together at T10 through L1 , something like that, it was done around 1985 after a car wreak .

The disk below that area are now wore out, they take more stress than they normally would due to the stiffness above them.

I did pretty good after the surgery, walking is probably the best thing you can do, I started by making one lap around the outside of my house 4 times a day, spread your walks out, not one long one but several smaller ones.

You may need a cane at first just in case you lose your balance, I was in a upper body cast for about a month , then a removable plastic one for 2 months or so.

You will probably know what to lift and not lift, but I would use the doctors advise as a good guide.

Good luck let us know how your recovery goes.

[oldschoolfitness]

how did the surgery go man? hope you're doing well.

[sog982]

The surgery is complete. Sorry for the delay but sitting was almost impossible. The doctor stated that it was looser than they expected but the surgery went great. I ended up with a couple rods and a lower fusion. As of now I feel good, the muscles are still healing and have to wear a brace for two months.

The incision required 20 staples at the lowest part of my spine. Which were removed yesterday with a positive report on the healing.

Off the meds.

Go back on the 29th for a check-up. I'll get exacts on the progress and post it.

With that I wouldn't put off a back issue. Get it fixed.

Also research your neurosurgeon, which I did and recieved high recommendations for my surgeon.

[lovbyts]

Thanks for the update. Glad to hear you are doing good. With the fusion main thing is to let it heal/fuse....

I hope it all goes well for you and you recover quickly but dont rush it.

[brokendown]

Glad your ok, the discomfort your in will get better each day, just follow what your doctor says, if he wants you to walk everyday then get out and give it a go, its probably the only thing you are aloud to do .

Try to walk on a even surface , if one foot slips a little it can jar your back pretty hard.

Did they cut any bone from your hip to use in the fusion of your back. Thats what they did for mine, and my hip ached pretty bad after the surgery, it caused more pain than my back did.

You may be off the weight training for 6 months, so for now your diet will be important.

[sog982]

Seen the Doc today. Everything is going great. The work was done on the L-5 and the fusion was on the lowest part of my spine.

Seems that my recovery is exceeding their expectations. Doc stated that due to me not putting this off any longer and being in good shape is the reason for the recovery results.

Any changes occur, I will post it.

Thanks for all the support!

[Igifuno]

Wow, I'll be thinking of you on the 24 brutha, good luck. I've slipped a disk a couple times and thankfully avoided surgury. I know how misrable I was so I couldn't even imagine what you're going through.. good luck and let us know how it goes.

Peace,

IG