Anyone Go Through Back Surgery?

[Marbles]

Sorry to be late to this thread. Just today I scheduled a C6/7 fusion. The x-ray unfortunately showed the two vertebrae were too close together for an artificial disc. After the last two months of pain, I was ready for surgery tomorrow. PT, massage, dry needling, ice, heat, stretching, meds and a chiropractor didn’t alleviate or fix anything. The doctor was particularly concerned about the nerve and muscle damage in my left arm. Fingers crossed this works and the rehab is relatively easy, but I doubt it can be as bad as the symptoms. I wish I had gone to the neurosurgeon earlier.

Sorry to hear that. Hope surgery goes smoothly and you recover quickly.

 

[fwafwow]

Sorry to hear that. Hope surgery goes smoothly and you recover quickly.

Thank you sir! I actually took it as good news. Now I know the problem, and I’ve got a solution. Better than 2+ months of treating symptoms, so I’m cautiously optimistic. And compared to my recent first colonoscopy, the prep should be much easier!

 

[Shaw]

I had a treestand accident in November of 2009 on the morning of my 42 birthday. Broke my neck at the C3 and C4. They performed surgery to fuse them. Ended up with a plate, 2 rods and 8 screws. The only issue I suffer from it is not being able to turn my head to the left as far as I can the right.

I kept having severe pain and numbness in both legs and feet afterwards and they found out my L5/S1 disc was torn. Insurance wouldn’t cover an artificial disc back then, so I had to have a fusion. It was a very hard recovery. It ended competitive archery for me. To this day, I have very few days that I’m not in some sort of pain from it and at least a couple times a year I get down in my back.

Now my knees are screwed. I’ve had 3 surgeries on them in the last two years. One for a meniscus tear on the left and twice for meniscus tears and ACL reconstruction on my right. I’m still recovering from the second surgery on my right. I’m afraid I’m staring down the barrel of a knee replacement on it.

 

[Scoot]

Where is the research to support your claim?

Something better than a meta-analysis?

Specifically what did you have in mind WRT "better than a meta-analysis"?

 

[Okhotnik]

Hey All -

Wondering if anyone here has had to undergo back surgery? After working out and continued PT looks like I'm going to need a discectomy or disk replacement in my lumbar L5S1... (Still more testing to help with decision). I'm young which is the concerning part (Turn 38 in Sept). Most likely from all the years of Division 1 sports, weights, and active life, and office..... Going to have to forego my Elk hunt this September it think.

Anyway, if you have any experience would really appreciate anything you'd like to share. Procedure, recovery, were you able to get back to active lifestyle... etc. Not the most uplifting subject, feel free to PM me.

I want to get back to posting pics of hunts! Thanks for your help/advice!

Sean

Ive have had two vertebrae fused in my neck and recovery went well, quick recovery. Getting strength back in left arm took a year.

My buddy just had the same back procedure you're contemplating a month ago. I just saw him cutting up trees with a chain saw. Im like you're probably should not do that type of activity so soon after surgery. He advised he felt great and was healing quickly. Really happy he had the procedure. You're young healthy and active, recovery should be very quick recovery for you.

Obviously being cut is always the last option after trying all other methods. Some are able to control through aggressive PT, but when your quality of life decreases and, constant pain ensues. surgery probably your option

 

[Marbles]

Specifically what did you have in mind WRT "better than a meta-analysis"?

I'm reading that as a question as to what a meta-analysis is. Is that correct?

A meta-analysis is a form of research that pools the results of other studies. As such they normally present stronger data than individual studies. However, they are limited by the strength of the studies they analyze. If the people who wrote them did their job correctly, they represent the best available information at the time of writing.

Edit: I linked the meta-analysis in the post you quoted from.

 

[Scoot]

I'm reading that as a question as to what a meta-analysis is. Is that correct?

No. I'm a researcher- I've published meta-analyses and other reviews of literature. I know what a meta-analysis is. It sounds like you're looking for something "better than a meta-analysis" and I'm asking specifically what it is you're asking for.

 

[Scoot]

However, they are limited by the strength of the studies they analyze. If the people who wrote them did their job correctly, they represent the best available information at the time of writing.

It sounds like we're on the same page. Meta-analyses are limited in a number of other ways too. However, all research is, so that shouldn't shock anyone. In fact, all information we use to form any conclusion is limited and empirical study is often less (and/or differently) limited than most of the other forms of information gathering.

I think I misunderstood what you were getting at when you said "Something better than a meta-analysis?"

 

[Marbles]

No. I'm a researcher- I've published meta-analyses and other reviews of literature. I know what a meta-analysis is. It sounds like you're looking for something "better than a meta-analysis" and I'm asking specifically what it is you're asking for.

Ah, I miss understood.

I was asking if the other person had something better than a meta-analysis to support their prior statement as I had a meta-analysis to support my position.

Of course, that does not prove my position to be correct, it is just a convenient anchor when people don't want to get into the details or a good starting point if someone does.

 

[rayporter]

i had the discectomy on l-4, l5 eight months ago and am pretty much pain free now. i really thought they messed me up for good until i went to my chiropractor. he gave me instant relief and in a few weeks i was up out of the wheel chair and walking a mile.
it was a long road and i am still very weak. little things like bending over for 10 minutes will have me on the Tylenol that night, or i wont sleep. have not had any hard stuff for months. some loss of balance but not enough to keep me off a horse. last week i rode for 4 hours a day for 3 days. it did take a few days to recover but i am happy with that.

 

[Southern Heritage]

Im 33 and still putting it off. Ive tried dry needling, PT, pain block epidurals. No real benefits.
So i crawled to the nuro surgeon 3 weeks ago after grabbing a 5gal jug of fluid and literally collapsing in the store. Just crazy fire numbness down my left side.
Got my imaging and was ready for the big day. Woke up that night with 103 fever and screaming at my wife i was dying because of my lower back. Leg was on fire im man enough to say i was tearing up. I take some muscle relaxers and got back to the hospital to find out i have covid. My fever spiked at 104 and i couldnt handle the pain and was admitted to the covid floor. I ran 101+ fever for 13 days. Lost 31 lbs.
after that pain in my back im thinking ill just live through it but realistically ill be at the neurosurgeon in a week or so to get it all worked out. The plan is to fuse L5

 

[fwafwow]

Im 33 and still putting it off. Ive tried dry needling, PT, pain block epidurals. No real benefits.
So i crawled to the nuro surgeon 3 weeks ago after grabbing a 5gal jug of fluid and literally collapsing in the store. Just crazy fire numbness down my left side.
Got my imaging and was ready for the big day. Woke up that night with 103 fever and screaming at my wife i was dying because of my lower back. Leg was on fire im man enough to say i was tearing up. I take some muscle relaxers and got back to the hospital to find out i have covid. My fever spiked at 104 and i couldnt handle the pain and was admitted to the covid floor. I ran 101+ fever for 13 days. Lost 31 lbs.
after that pain in my back im thinking ill just live through it but realistically ill be at the neurosurgeon in a week or so to get it all worked out. The plan is to fuse L5

So sorry - what a bad combination. I hope you're over the Covid stuff and wish you the best of luck with your back.

 

[TexaninSconny]

Im 33 and still putting it off. Ive tried dry needling, PT, pain block epidurals. No real benefits.
So i crawled to the nuro surgeon 3 weeks ago after grabbing a 5gal jug of fluid and literally collapsing in the store. Just crazy fire numbness down my left side.
Got my imaging and was ready for the big day. Woke up that night with 103 fever and screaming at my wife i was dying because of my lower back. Leg was on fire im man enough to say i was tearing up. I take some muscle relaxers and got back to the hospital to find out i have covid. My fever spiked at 104 and i couldnt handle the pain and was admitted to the covid floor. I ran 101+ fever for 13 days. Lost 31 lbs.
after that pain in my back im thinking ill just live through it but realistically ill be at the neurosurgeon in a week or so to get it all worked out. The plan is to fuse L5

My main symptom when I had Covid was pain in my lower back and legs. But it happened to occur right after I had gone for my first 3 mile run in years because I had suffered through major back pain for most of the last decade. So I wrote it off as a major lactic acid build up. But not pain like you had, thankfully.
Then I lost my sense of taste and smell and put two and two together.

I’ve mentioned this on another thread, but my L4/L5 were in bad shape from a mountain bike accident in my mid-20s (I’m 40 now). Most of my 30s I was in pretty bad shape. 10 minutes of bending at the waist and Id have to go lie down from the pain. Would just about crawl out of bed in the mornings. Purchased a high quality bed, went to the chiropractor 3-4 times a week, physical therapy, hired a trainer just to focus on core/work around my lower back limitations...nothing was helping.
My wife really wanted an infrared sauna so I got it for her as an anniversary present. I used it more for a detoxifying benefit (which might be linked to my lower back pain), but I felt like a new man after six months. I had no idea it would help so much. I think it has mainly aided in reducing arthritis that had formed around my discs. Just another option to look at if you want to explore all your options before surgery.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fwafwow]

Sorry to hear that. Hope surgery goes smoothly and you recover quickly.

I had the ACDF surgery yesterday morning. I awoke to immediate pain relief and things have been great so far. No incision pain until today after the drain was removed, and that pain is only a slight irritant. I am on a narcotic, but per doctor’s advice, I will use them constantly until after tomorrow and then move to “as needed”. A piece of the herniated disc had broken off and was wedged against a nerve in the “tunnel” (his term) leading out of the vertebrae.

No driving for ~2 weeks, but most importantly, I should plan on not using a bow or firearm for 3 months, although he said I may be able to accelerate that timeframe, especially because I’m already doing much better than the average patient. Fingers crossed things will continue to go well.

 

[Steve from GA]

Been down the back pain rabbit hole in a big way. Started having very significant lower back pain and tried PT, massage, stretching, you name it for around 1.5 years. Finally got an MRI that showed a badly bulging disc at L4/L5. After supporting my conservative approach up to then, my primary care doctor took one look at my MRI and said I was a strong candidate for surgery. He was surprised I was able to walk okay.

First surgeon I saw was a neurosurgeon who recommended an artificial disc and fusion - I decided I was going to try and avoid that. Fortunately, my primary doctor then recommended I get a 2nd opinion from an orthopedic spinal surgeon. That doctor recommended a minimally invasive hemilaminectomy.

I am around 2 years out from the hemilaminectomy surgery and feel great. Zero pain. I'll always need to be careful, but I think that my back feels about as good as anyone's back at my age. I absolutely recommend avoiding surgery if you can, but if you can't, get at least 2 opinions. Also, Back Mechanic by Dr. Stuart McGill is a tremendously helpful book. No voodoo bullshit, just straight data, anatomy and physics.

For anyone dealing with lower back pain, I'm happy to help. There's no such thing as a clear answer in the back pain world, but I would be glad to share my experiences.

 

[Marbles]

Been down the back pain rabbit hole in a big way. Started having very significant lower back pain and tried PT, massage, stretching, you name it for around 1.5 years. Finally got an MRI that showed a badly bulging disc at L4/L5. After supporting my conservative approach up to then, my primary care doctor took one look at my MRI and said I was a strong candidate for surgery. He was surprised I was able to walk okay.

First surgeon I saw was a neurosurgeon who recommended an artificial disc and fusion - I decided I was going to try and avoid that. Fortunately, my primary doctor then recommended I get a 2nd opinion from an orthopedic spinal surgeon. That doctor recommended a minimally invasive hemilaminectomy.

I am around 2 years out from the hemilaminectomy surgery and feel great. Zero pain. I'll always need to be careful, but I think that my back feels about as good as anyone's back at my age. I absolutely recommend avoiding surgery if you can, but if you can't, get at least 2 opinions. Also, Back Mechanic by Dr. Stuart McGill is a tremendously helpful book. No voodoo bullshit, just straight data, anatomy and physics.

For anyone dealing with lower back pain, I'm happy to help. There's no such thing as a clear answer in the back pain world, but I would be glad to share my experiences.

Thanks, after a little digging Stuart McGill looks like a great resource and I'm adding his clinician focused book to my library (Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance-Sixth Edition).