Anyone experienced with back surgery?

[Christopher Paul]

Greetings all,

I want try my luck with this vast knowledge bank...

I have been suffering from sciatica for the last 5 years. I had a
couple of epidurals and that helped and little else.
I have no problem when sitting down or riding. I have ridden several
centuries this year and am otherwise healthy. When I have had to
stand for more than a minute, the pain kicks in.

Last week I had a foraminotomy and a laminectomy. I feel like I've
been reborn! No more waking up and reaching for the tylenol.
Now I'm going stir crazy from not riding my bike. Of course I don't
want to screw up a successful surgery, but I'm in agony waiting and
waiting.

Any thoughts as to when the earliest sensible time to get back in the saddle?

By the way, my health provider did everything to discourage me from
getting this procedure. Shame on them! I feel I suffered needlessly
for at least 4 years from listening to bad advise.

[Lyle Bogart]

Hi Christopher,

Congratulations on a successful back surgery! Don't be too harsh on your health provider: research shows that a "successful" outcome (i.e., resolution of back pain, radicular symptoms, restoration of function)  is a 50/50 proposition.

The typical healing time for these things is about 4-6 weeks. Now, in the case of a cyclist, if I were your physical therapist, I'd have you on a stationary bike as soon as you're able. For safety's sake, due to the time course of healing (again 4-6 weeks), I'd caution against actually riding for several more weeks at least--no point buggering things up if something unforeseen occurs! Also, I'd caution against being too aggressive in your exercise in the early stages of healing. There will very likely be some swelling, some pain, perhaps some mild sciatica. Make haste slowly, as they say.

In the long run, however, you should have no issues at all. It's been decades since my multi-level laminectomy (necessitated due to a bike vs. lumber truck encounter) and I've had no problems at all provided I keep myself fit and strong.

Again, congratulations and best of luck!

lyle

-- 
lyle f bogart dpt

156 bradford rd

wiscasset, me 04578

207.882.6494

206.794.6937

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[Christopher Paul]

Lyle,
Thanks for the encouraging words!
Chris

[Tim McNamara]

On Jul 1, 2012, at 6:28 PM, Christopher Paul wrote:
> Greetings all,
>
> I want try my luck with this vast knowledge bank...
>
> I have been suffering from sciatica for the last 5 years. I had a
> couple of epidurals and that helped and little else.
> I have no problem when sitting down or riding. I have ridden several
> centuries this year and am otherwise healthy. When I have had to
> stand for more than a minute, the pain kicks in.
>
> Last week I had a foraminotomy and a laminectomy. I feel like I've
> been reborn! No more waking up and reaching for the tylenol.
> Now I'm going stir crazy from not riding my bike. Of course I don't
> want to screw up a successful surgery, but I'm in agony waiting and
> waiting.
>
> Any thoughts as to when the earliest sensible time to get back in the saddle?

I would say talk to your physical therapist... they did refer you to a physical therapist for post-surgical treatment, yes? If not, I'd suggest that you get a referral. If nothing else the PT can work with you on body mechanics, look at your bike position, improve your core strength, etc.

> By the way, my health provider did everything to discourage me from
> getting this procedure. Shame on them! I feel I suffered needlessly
> for at least 4 years from listening to bad advise.

The stats on back surgery outcomes are quite poor, about 50% of people have an improvement in their pain- the other half get no relief or even worse pain and/or motor losses (leg weakness or paralysis, incontinence, etc.). That's why more conservative approaches are tried first and doctors try to dissuade surgery except in urgent situations (motor impairment, cauda equina syndrome, etc.). I hope that you are among the 50% with a good long-term outcome. Among my friends who've had back surgery so far all have had good results; but among my clients (I am a psychologist) over the past 22 years I have seen hundreds with bad outcomes.

I've been having some S1-L5 type sciatica off and on for several years, worse this spring, and have found physical therapy to be very, very helpful. I have a daily regimen (press-ups, standing back extensions, some strengthening exercises, "slide and glides," etc.) that have dramatically improved my situation. Unfortunately these sorts of things don't work for everybody. I was able to play three gigs in four days (guitar) standing 90-120 minutes straight with zero symptoms. First time in a long time. In addition to the therapy, I took in my guitar and had a consult about ways to splay while avoiding aggravating the underlying problems. I had a rapid response (within the first week after starting treatment) but it can take time; my friend Doug herniated a disk and it was months of PT before he got good relief. 10 years or more later and no further problems, he rides his bikes every day, does brevets, etc.

For people with ongoing daily pain, the absence of that pain is really a remarkable- and possibly life changing- experience. Congratulations!

[Michael Hechmer]

I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on television.  But I was an interfaith hospital chaplain for thirteen years and so got the opportunity to talk to thousands of post surgical patients.  My experience only confirms what has already been written about back surgery.  I can offer two clarifying remarks.  Too early activity often contributes to post surgical complication.  Good PT makes all the difference in the world. Bad PT is a waste of time.  I have needed PT four times in my life for back and shoulder problems.    Two times I spent months working with a therapist who provided no relief, before finding someone who provided great help.  Now, when I, or someone in my family needs PT, we spend a lot of time up front finding out who in the area has real expertise in the afflicted part.  If you know anyone with MS, I'd bet they know who can really help your back.  So, find a good therapist and follow their advice.

Pain is natures way of telling you to stop. The guy who said, "No pain, no gain." was a HS football coach with a third grade education. Good luck.

Michael   

[Christopher Paul]

I want to thank all of those who shared their personal experience. As
a result I don't feel so alone and have some hope and good points to
follow. My spinal cord got nicked in procedure and had to be sewn
up. This wrinkle limits my physical activity in the short run.
Tomorrow I will get the staples removed from my back and I'll ask for
my PT's contact information.

Chris



On Mon, Jul 2, 2012 at 10:17 AM, SteveD <stephe...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Chris,
>
> I'm 56 and had a percutaneous (sp?) disectomy and lower lombar lamenectomy
> done in 1987. I took two to three months out before doing anything to
> strenous, except for mounting my bike on a trainer and riding for about 20
> minutes a night for a few weeks until confident to take the bike out for a
> real ride; I hate "riding" in doors. Caveats to these surgeries, don't plan
> on doing any heavy lifting, and if you have to, use your legs. Every few
> years my back locks up after doing too much yard work or doing something
> stupid like lifting a heavy, and I mean a large, potted plant off our cedar
> deck. When this happens, I make a beeline to the doc for muscle relaxers and
> pain killers, which I take for a few days, and I'm back in action. Again,
> this only happens once every so often, like every 4 to 5 years.
>
> Yeah, I was concerned about having the surgery, but the sciatica is gone and
> I have to be careful lifting. As for bicycling, I commute to work on my
> Atlantis pretty much every day. And last year I rode a bunch of 100Ks and
> the Seattle Century without any discomfort. But, I gave a lot of attention
> to bicycle fit, and that's where keeping the seat just below the handle bars
> comes into play. Stay away from an aggressive, racer riding position. It'll
> kill your back.
>
> So, it's all doable. Initially you have to be patient and let your back
> heal, and start a low-level riding regimen (check with your PT about this),
> and above all else, be very conscious of how you do things with your back.
>
> -Steve DeMont
> Seattle

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[Zack]

I had a discectomy in high school -

I strongly urge you to be rigorous in following your PT routine.  I didn't follow mine, and have had troubles off and on since then.  

Best of luck to you, and take it slow.  You don't want to be screwing with your back.