quote:

Originally posted by JudgeSharpe:
I had back problems for many years. I abused my body and especally my back when I was young, riding rouge horses, driving jeeps too fast, lifting too much weight without using my legs, a little football until my knees gave out, that sort of stuff.
I put of surgery as long as I could and finally could not stand it anylonge and went to the neuro doctor. I wish I had done it years earler. I was off from work seven days and have not had a problem since (with my back). I had mine in late Feb. and was able to hunt, fish, and preform sll of my manly duties (if you know what I mean) by spring. I say go for it.
Remember, the quicker you are up and around the faster you will heal.
Good luck-
by the way 235 ain't in no was bad for a 6'2'' man. just tighten up some when you are able.
Judge Sharpe
And when It is time to have the old ticker worked on ask me about that too. been there and done that.
JS

Thanks Judge-S for the advice, much appreciated.

Eric,

I'd be glad to look at your scan.
I'll PM you with my email and address.

From what you typed in from your MRI scan report, I am already thinking that a fairly straight forward L4-L5 diskectomy (with perhaps some decompression of the spinal canal with laminectomies at that level) will help your pain significantly.

You should not be laid up long from the surgery.
For sure have it done in the off season from hunting (so that you'll be good to go this fall).

Regards,
Garrett

quote:

Originally posted by N. Garrett:

From what you typed in from your MRI scan report, I am already thinking that a fairly straight forward L4-L5 diskectomy (with perhaps some decompression of the spinal canal with laminectomies at that level) will help your pain significantly.

Thanks NG,

This is pretty much exactly what the neuro-surgeon here told me last week, so I feel better now. I'll see if I can get some images to you in the next few days.

My father had his 2nd surgery of L2, L3, and L4 and had a lamenectomy at age 64. He was walking that afternoon and is now walking 5 miles a day with NO pain. He has not hunted, but he had a hard time prior to sitting, standing or being still for long periods due to the leg and back pain.

He is hoping to be able to hunt without any issues this year.

So much here I'm reluctant to add my experience but it's been so remarkable I feel I must.

I suffered a bad L4/5 injury in Jan. 1998. The first nerosurgen described it well and advised surgery would have a 50/50 prognosis. I opted to live with it (as he suggested) for as long as possible. I had periodic episodes of intense pain and numbness to my hip and leg and constant pain of a lesser degree for eight years, during which I saw numerous other specialists for one treatment or another. None did more than mask the worst pain for varying periods.

Finally in Aug. 2006 I reluctantly began treatment with a Chiropractor who touted a "new" treatment. Let me say I've never given much credence to chiropractors, thinking it was basicly hocus-pocus. The treatment included standard "chiropractic manipulation" but centered on something called "spinal decompression." Basicly it's traction but on a computer operated machine. It's hard to explain but PM me if you're interested in details. Along with this was LOTS of water - at least 1/2 gallon per day - not tea, coffee or any other liquid but water. The idea being that the decompression gives the disc' room and the water re-hydrates them. The decompression treatment was followed with what could be termed physical therapy - very simple streching exercises that just maybe would be enough to aleviate the problem themselves. As well as education on very simple things to keep your back healthy.

Sounds too simple to be for real but I'm here to tell you, after eight and one-half years of constant pain and the utter failure of "modern medicine" to do anything about it, I'm pain free for six months now. What's more mid-winter has always been my worst time of the year. Jan. & Feb. without ANY pain has been a real treat. My activities had gradually become curtailed from pain or fear of injury but today I can do things I haven't for years. Basicly, I'm cured!

quote:

Originally posted by oupa:
My activities had gradually become curtailed from pain or fear of injury but today I can do things I haven't for years. Basicly, I'm cured!

Great! I hope your chiropractor gave you stabilization exercises so you can maintain your current status. You'd be surprised how many patients get to avoid surgery if they will just try those "decompression" tables.

quote:

Great! I hope your chiropractor gave you stabilization exercises so you can maintain your current status. You'd be surprised how many patients get to avoid surgery if they will just try those "decompression" tables.

Doc, I did get instruction on maintainence exercises - very simple exercises - that have made an incredeble difference in my life. It wasn't until after releiving this constant pain that I realized how it had affected my entire life! It may not be THE answer for everyone but I have nothing but good to say for it... and I come from a long line of Chiropractor skeptics!

I've got a surgery date now, April 23rd. I look forward to it. I'm having a EMG/NCS this week.

Thanks to everyone who responded.

Before this topic disappears, I was just wondering if anyone could describe their back strengthening exercises for me?

I have been struggling with my back for a year. I have been stretching my hamstrings and gluts, which has helped a lot with my lower back, but I would like to start adding strength, throughout the length of my back.

Any descriptions would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Canuck

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck:
Before this topic disappears, I was just wondering if anyone could describe their back strengthening exercises for me?

I have been struggling with my back for a year. I have been stretching my hamstrings and gluts, which has helped a lot with my lower back, but I would like to start adding strength, throughout the length of my back.

Any descriptions would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Canuck

Hey Canuck,
I was told yesterday that I'll be getting some "intensive" physical therapy after my surgery, so I'm sure they'll show me some back strengthening exercises when I go. I'll post everything they show me.

Did you get your 375R yet?

Thanks

Canuck,
On the back "strengthening" front, it is hard to describe all the exercises you would or should do, without a good PT knowing what the problems with your back are. But basically, you need to be looking at a combination of core strenthening exercises, combined with a variety of stretches, etc. That's why so many people (myself included, I have both severe disc and spinal stenosis issues) have great luck with yoga and pilates type stretches and exercises. I obviously don't know you , but from the pic on your post, you look like guy that has been pretty active, probably played a lot of sports and like most the rest of us, didn't do a whole lot of stretching. I bet your hammies are tighter than a rubber band. You'd be surprised with the relief you will get in your back by just putting in place 20 minutes a day of hamstring and hip stretches. I would recommend finding a good physical therapist that combines traditional therapies with some yoga and pilates type stuff and I bet that just a couple of sessions and them showing you 8 or 9 exercises will do wonders....but stretch those hammies and avoid surgery at all costs unless you have severe neurological deficit and you can't walk.

quote:

Originally posted by Teat Hound:

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck:
Before this topic disappears, I was just wondering if anyone could describe their back strengthening exercises for me?

I have been struggling with my back for a year. I have been stretching my hamstrings and gluts, which has helped a lot with my lower back, but I would like to start adding strength, throughout the length of my back.

Any descriptions would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Canuck

Hey Canuck,
I was told yesterday that I'll be getting some "intensive" physical therapy after my surgery, so I'm sure they'll show me some back strengthening exercises when I go. I'll post everything they show me.

Did you get your 375R yet?

Thanks

Thanks TH!

Nope not yet...things take their time croassing the border!!

Cheers,
Canuck

Thanks EB. I have been pretty diligent with my hams and it has really helped with my lower back. I still get pain in my mid back (between and just below my shoulder blades)...thinking I'll have to dig up my GF's Pilates DVD and give that a whirl.

Cheers,
Canuck

I am curious has anyone any experence with Prolotherapy?
This is where they inject a soloution into the disc area and it causes the ligaments to draw up and thicken strenghting area attaching the two verbate like L4 L5. I was told it was the movement of the two verbra that causes the pain.
At age 44 I was recently told I have DDD and to look at having a artifical disc or fusion. So I am looking for every recourse to advoid the knife.
I just made a appointment to see about this treatment.

David, if you will simply do traction and ROM, flexibility exercises, you can avoid the knife usually.

Buy an inversion table and use it daily. Does wonders.

Update on the teat hound:

Well, I've been off the grid for a few weeks and am now just getting active again. I had my L4-L5-S1 surgery on 4/24. L4, L5 and S1 were fused (6 screws/pins and three rods). A cage replaced what was left of my disk at L4-L5, as the disk was in very bad shape and actually had an almond size piece broken off. My doctor said that he was surprised that I could walk when I came in after looking at my spine during the surgery. The first week after the surgery was very rough, of which the first three days I spent in the hospital were the worst. I felt like I'd been run over by a M1 tank.

But now I have the staples out and am resting at home. I can't really do much other than lay in bed, and I'm pretty much sick of that now.

I want to thank everyone who responded. I start physical therapy in roughly 6 weeks, and I'll you all know of any exercises they show me better maintain my back.

Thanks again

Eric,

Glad to hear you are feeling better.
It will take a good 6 weeks to get your sea-legs back after a multilevel fusion like you had (you might recall I'm a neurosurgeon who does those operations). After 6 weeks you'll be moving around pretty easily, and after 3 months you'll be back to your previous activities, excluding contact sports.

And, misery loves company: I just herniated my L4-5 disc while jogging.
I'm going to try some epidural steroids first, but if no luck, I'm having a friend do my surgery.

There's no way I can hunt like this, and no way I'm going to miss next season either.

Regards,
Garrett

TH, glad to hear you are ok so far. Monitor your wound healing.

N. Garrett, is your herniation central? Posterolateral? Sequestered? Just curious.

Well, due to my back, I missed the latest hog hunt, but I think I'll be okay for fall mule deer hunting.

Take care of your back, men!!!!!

I had my back operation on May 11. I would have to rate it as a smashing success !!! The day after surgery, my pain was probably 300% of the pre operative pain, but I attribute that to the fact that the surgeon had to scrape the exterior of the nerve to remove scar tissue. That still didn't stop me from going out shopping later that day. The next day, I went to a cook out for Mother's day and felt pretty good. Next day, better yet. By last Wednesday, I was feeling almost 100% except for some low back pain. Every day is better and the pain in the hip and leg are completely gone now.

My surgery was a micro diskectomy at L4-L5. There was also some bone spurs and arthritis that he needed to clean up. Instead of a 1" incision, I ended up with a 2" incision. The pain from the incision was nil. I really expected this to hurt more than it did. If anyone needs a good surgeon in the Boston area, let me know, I would be happy to share.

I'm so happy to have my life back !!! Hunting season is looking up for me this year.

Doc,

Didn't see your question until now.
My disc herniation is broad based, superimposed on congenitally short pedicles causing foraminal stenosis.

The first epidural injection helped; I'll get a second one Tuesday. But, bottom line, I think I'm heading for a date with the surgeon.

Garrett

quote:

Originally posted by N. Garrett:

But, bottom line, I think I'm heading for a date with the surgeon.

Garrett

Good luck, NG. I wish you the best!

Hey N.G.,

Do you think, once I get healed up, that it will be okay for me to ride a utility quad around? I'm not talking major trail riding, but cruising along, using the quad to haul my tail and gear up the hills rather than walking up the hills with a big rucksack, like I used to. I guess I'm trying to justify a quad

6 weeks postop, I've lost twenty lbs, my left legs still feels a bit gumby (after a reflex test last week, it got a little more numb). They think I might be hyper reflexive now, so I get another MRI to double check. Other than that, I feel great.

Teat Hound, I had L-4, L-5, S-1 surgery in 2,ooo. After the initial 8 weaks I was feeling better than I had in years. With my back feeling "brand new" again I decided against listining to the doctors advice and push it, a little to far. Now, 7 years later I'm pretty much back in the same shape I was in before the surgery.

This has nothing to due with your last post but as I set here reading this with a numb right leg, aching balls, and very stiff back I can't help but write you a word of advice. Don't let your lack of pain lure you into thinking everything is fine again. Take care of that back.

On the subject of the quad, I can't answer directly because I'm not sure of your condition but in my case it was fine but found If I road more than 30 minutes or so at a time without some walking I would get very stiff.

Update:

On Aug 1st, 2007, I had a follow up c5-C6 fusion to fix a big problem the MD found post-op following my 1st surgery. Only a sore throat after surgery, and a little stiffness in the neck. My MD said that it should be okay for me to shoot rifles again, but warned that I should wait a little longer. So, I'll be handgun hunting this fall, and not to far from the cabin I might add (no hiking around).

I bought a new CZ 375 h&h, as a get well present ( ), but am not going to shoot it until Nov 1st.

To make a long story short, I FINALLY get to start rehab for my back. I'll post any exercises that they show me (per Canuck's request).

In all, no more pain, only slight "warmness" at times in my left foot, which I'm told should get better. The trade-off is well worth it, IMHO. I get to go back to work too, just in time for a CAP inspection!

Thanks to everyone who responded and gave advice.

Hey Eric,

Glad you're doing well.
Sorry I didn't notice your June post about the Quad to ride around in. I think any 4x4 ATV would be fine...the trick is avoiding landing hard are your seat after a bump.

Best thing now is to slowly build up your endurance, and strengthen accessory muscles (abdominal) to help with lumbar support.

As to your neck, I think you'll be find shooting a rifle this season, but I wouldn't fire one with much recoil. 243, 257 Roberts, etc.

My surgery didn't go so well, which is kind of ironic considering I'm a neurosurgeon.
I had a friend who is arguably one of the top (spine) neurosurgeons in the world do my surgery, but I had a recurrence of the herniation within hours of surgery.
I'm doing better now, but it made me feel a bit better about my own complications...and maybe it made me a little more attentive to patients complaints post-op.

Garrett

quote:

Originally posted by N. Garrett:
Hey Eric,

Glad you're doing well.
Sorry I didn't notice your June post about the Quad to ride around in. I think any 4x4 ATV would be fine...the trick is avoiding landing hard are your seat after a bump.

Best thing now is to slowly build up your endurance, and strengthen accessory muscles (abdominal) to help with lumbar support.

As to your neck, I think you'll be find shooting a rifle this season, but I wouldn't fire one with much recoil. 243, 257 Roberts, etc.

My surgery didn't go so well, which is kind of ironic considering I'm a neurosurgeon.
I had a friend who is arguably one of the top (spine) neurosurgeons in the world do my surgery, but I had a recurrence of the herniation within hours of surgery.
I'm doing better now, but it made me feel a bit better about my own complications...and maybe it made me a little more attentive to patients complaints post-op.

Garrett

Thanks NG. Sorry yours didn't go as well as hoped. I really hope you get to feeling better soon. At least you don't have the "deck screws" yet. I now have a new definition of what "laid out" means! Nevertheless, no regrets so far.

I haven't done any "abdominal" exercises yet, to be honest; I'm waiting to start rehab first. The whole lower back still feels tight (for lack of a better term). I did drop from 237lbs (before surgery in April) to 207 (Sept 10th), I hope I can keep it off.

Best of luck,