Has anyone had back surgery

[DenyP]

My lower back is toast and am due for major back surgery. My lower three disks are gone and I've some nerve damage in my left leg. They are going to open up the vertebrae making room for the nerve roots coming out of the base of my spine, and fuse the back where the disks are ruptured/bulged ("L4-L5, L5-L6 and L6-S1") The surgeon says my back structure will be stronger then ever in 6 months.
Anyone here been through this and can you ride OK?

Thanks

Deny

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Deny,

Well, I've had only 1 disc worked on, due to a ruptured disc after a tae kwon do incident! It was my L5-S1. However, my bones were and still are okay. SO..I only had the simple laminectomy, with NO fusion of the bones. I then had neck surgery some 6 years later, same laminectomy type, no fusion on the C6-C7 joint. So...I have essentially full range of motion and function, can lift weights, run, and ride.

BUT....again, I did NOT have any fusions. The fusions help to stabilize the bones and joints between them, usually due to degeneration/ deterioration of the bones, and the outer cartilege casings of the discs which also may be loosing their grip/stiffness which allows the bones/vertebrae to shift which allows the spinal cord and other nerves that radiate out from it to possibly get pinched, compressed and damaged!

The outer layers of the nerves have the sensory layers...feel/touch, the inner layers are the MOTOR/muscle signal carrying layers. So. some loss of sensation occurs first, but then if the compression continues, then it can damage the inner motor nerves, and that's when folks can loose control of their motor functions...moving legs/arms...that "it just gave out on me" feeling!

The fusions of the lower vertebrae can cause a bit more stiffness in the lower back, but folks can usually still sit because it's their legs and hip joints that flex to allow sitting moreso than the hips flexing. The fusions might prevent or reduce your PELVIC thrusts actions!

T.C.

[benxs1100]

I had a fusion of L4-L5 back in July of 2010. I did manage to get a few short rides in before winter. As of now I felt great until I blew the L3-L4 disk. So all I can suggest to you is to take it easy on yourself until you are fully healed and have done enough therapy to strenghten the muscles in your back. I had to wear a large brace for 6 weeks after surgery and when I finally got to go without I actually struggled to hold my own weight. Fusions are no joke but when done correctly and given proper time to heal and strenghten you should be fine to ride ride ride.

[crazy steve]

Well, I had this surgery (minus the fusions; I needed it, but due to other issues they couldn't/wouldn't do it), and for what it's worth I'd do it again as the alternative was worse. But back surgery seems to be a bit of a crapshoot. You don't say how old you are (and that can make a difference), and how well you 'rehabilitate' will tell the story. DO listen to what they tell you, as the temptation to do things because you feel better can be a bad thing. I had a friend that had the same as what you need, and decided he play golf after surgery. He's now totally disabled and further surgery will be of no benefit.

How well do I ride? Just before the surgery (and before my back finally went all the way bad), I could ride for maybe 2-3 hours at a stretch, more if I didn't mind paying the price later. After, I'm good for about 2 hours max at a time. I can do 4 hours in a day if I take long stretching breaks about every hour, but I won't be worth a damn for a few days. So my days of distance riding are over. But I do OK on short 'day jaunts' as long as I'm careful.

Not exactly encouraging, but I doubt if you have a choice. Once you start pinching the nerves, surgery is the only fix.

Beats the hell out of a cane/wheelchair though...

[natemoen]

My wife has, but she doesnt ride. So that probably isnt much help.

[DenyP]

I'm 60 going on 61. I had a hip replacement several years ago and healed great from that. At this point I really don't have much of a choice as I'm pretty worthless the way I am.

Thanks for the info and yes it is encouraging!

Deny

[lee_dutcher]

my old man had back surgery a few years ago due to a few ruptured disks in lower back from a car accident... he is fine but he has an electric thingy he hooks up to his back with 4 stick pads and it jolts his muscles... dont know what is called. he is on some heavy pain meds still to this day but he says it feel better then it used to be. and he rides a softail and also a volunteer firefighter and he doesnt complain much till he lift heavy items...

[crazy steve]

At this point I really don't have much of a choice as I'm pretty worthless the way I am.

Thanks for the info and yes it is encouraging!

Deny

Yep, it gets to a point where almost anything would be an improvement... When they told me I needed surgery, it was a no-brainer. There's really only three outcomes; it kills you (problems are over), no help (sucks, but sometimes that's the way it goes and that's where you are anyway), or it gets better. Decent odds as far as I was concerned...

Good luck!

[xswilly]

boy you guys aren't that positive about it
and I can understand why
my doc says there is a 70 percent chance that surgery makes you 100 percent

I'm having some back pain currently and saw a doctor yesterday
my MRI is today

hoping there is not surgery in my future

[crazy steve]

I'll add that if you can rig some sort of backrest that can sometimes extend the amount of time you can ride. The downside with a backrest (for me anyway) is it makes it much tougher to get on/off the bike. I rode my brother-in-laws 'wing with a full backrest setup and it helped, but I needed a stepstool to mount/dismount without hurting myself or looking like a crippled idiot.

The other problem is finding one that fits the bike; there's ones available for most newer bikes (and they're not cheap either), but I suspect you'll have to build something for a XS...

[Wildkat]

John had a fusion after his accident in '05. He was still able to ride some distance but usually not without pain. Like was said before, maybe 2 or 3 hours at a time.
He had some pretty significant nerve damage from the accident that contributed greatly to the amount of pain as well.

Kind of what Steve had mentioned already...
John already has a backrest that I made him a few years ago but it didn't offer any support in the lumbar region. My daughter and I made him a temporary lumbar support that he liked so much it's still on there. Really seems to help with the longer rides.
JAT

Best of luck with your surgery and please keep us posted.

[natemoen]

There are the luggage rack/blackest combos out there that have the telescope backrest too. Harder to find though.

[TopCatGr58]

Deny,

Another question is what kind of surgeon are you seeing? An Orthopod, or a NEUROSURGEON? When it comes to the back and the nerves...I highly suggest a neurosurgeon....orthos are good for arms and legs, but the SPINE!
My Swmbo first had lower back surgery by an ORTHO...was not much better and suffered for almost 10 years, then saw and was treated by a neurosurgeon who cleaned out all of the scar tissue and convoluted nerve fibers...and after she was cleaned up, she was out of pain after that! YMMV

Also, surgical techniques and technology has increased/improved in the past 10 years as well. They used to take bone chips from a person's hip for the fusion segments, but now they use donor bone or coral which provides the matrix for the bones to grow into and fuse together. The hardware helps keep the bones in line while they grow/fuse. It takes 4-6 weeks on average for a broken bone to grow, but it has a layer of tissue called the periostium which provides the circulation and such for speedy growth. The fused bones won't have that, so that's part of why it can take a while longer for the vertebrae to properly fuse together.

I had my surgery when I turned 40, so I was a bit younger and contribute that to part of my good recovery. I was riding 12+ hours LDR's just a couple of years later...like from Virginia to Alexandria Bay, NY! I made a custom backrest for mine with my saddlebag rig, and it's adjustable for me or my passenger!




They will usually get you up the same day after surgery to start walking/shuffling across the floor. Getting the muscles moving and working quickly will help the recovery. It also helps to promote the peristalsis so you don't get too locked up in the bowels from all of the pain meds!

Sitting is usually the worse/hardest on your lower back, and so they will limit your sitting time in the beginning, and will probably permit laying down for an hour, then up for an hour...walking and sitting....more walking than sitting. I wasn't permitted to drive my car for 4 weeks or so after surgery. I could NOT do any kind of heavy lifting/pulling/pushing for about a year, and I could feel it IF I tried to.

If you CAN, try to do a lot of walking now before your surgery to try to TONE your stomach and back muscles...the stomach actually supports your back provided they are not too loose/weak or hopefully you don't have a "GUT"!

Good Luck!
T.C.

[STEPPENWOLF]

Deny,
Good luck. I screwed up the L2,3,4,5.I was able to do occupational therapy and was taught how to do everything.Stretching and building up the core muscles(stomach) worked for me,I was lucky.Nerve damage in left leg and foot is always a sleep for lack of better term.I can ride for about 45 minutes before I need a break,functional almost normal,do nothing stronger than motrin now but I know one mistake will put me right back where I was.
Good luck again and keep us posted,friend had back surgery about six years ago...she was perfect after that and happy as a clam.

[DenyP]

Thanks for all of your responses! I have the adjustable back rest/luggage rack. I have never used it as such.
I've struggled with my back for 40 years, but managed to get by till last year. I am 6'2 and 240 pounds so ya, I have a gut, but I have shed 30 lbs and continue to work at it. It is a NEUROSURGEON I am seeing and from what I hear a good one.
I feel much more positive - thanks again folks

Deny