Spine Surgery/Cycling

BigLights

Hello,

I'm booked in for surgery on 2 or possibly 3 (tbc on Monday) of my discs, reasonbly substantial job by the sounds of it.

Does anyone have any experience in this? Ie, how long before i'm back on the bike? I'm assuming at least a couple of months as the surgeon said i'd be 3-4 weeks living like a hermit.

jds_1981

No idea I'm afraid, just don't watch any youtube videos of disc surgrey beforehand...

warreng

I had a double microdiscectomy and a laminectomy on the 2nd July 2002

Never really recovered.






















The backs fine - it's the beer and curry habit that's finished me

warreng

But not to be flippant about it, it does depend

I'd been in a bad way for 2 years and couldn't even stand up in the shower never mind ride a bike

I was off work for 10 weeks and still felt delicate for another 8 weeks. I had loads of post-op physio and still do the exercises to this day. My operation was meant to be one disc and to take 45 mins but was 2 discs and a re-boring and last 4 hours so I suspect my recovery time was longer. But then I've heard of people taking off the bike for 4 weeks and then pretty much back to normal

BigLights

Very interesting WarrenG. That sounds like what i'm headed for, and indeed can't wait to hopefully alleviate the agony that is my current situation. I've been having 'episodes' since 2008, but this past 8 months have been disastrous so it's time for some intervention.

Amazingly and rather satisfyingly, the surgeon, musculo consultants, everyone have all said that cycling is great (as long as the bike is fitted).

warreng

Yeah - touch wood, I've not had any issues in the last 12 years with the cycling. I've knocked golf and squash on the head though

You'll probably be different but the whole thing freaked me out - going from a fairly healthy and active 20-something who'd never an operation of any kind to a complete invalid. I remember slowly padding down the street shortly after the op and having a woman on a zimmerframe scalping me.

warreng

I've not once regretted having had the operation.

Good luck on Monday. Be sure to try out all their pain relief.

Clever Pun

Aroogah on lfgss has had something similar

andy9964

I had a c5-c6 (neck) disc fusion back in '97. I was back on my MTB in about 7 weeks, the more upright position probably helped, rather than a more prone roadie position. I still get the occasional ache on 15+ miles, but nothing bad enough to make me stop - riding a Cannondale Synapse now.
I do have some movement limitations, but it was so long ago I rarely notice. I am, however, in a much better position than pre surgery
Obviously, if your surgery is different to mine, the effects will be different too
If you're given painkillers to take home, and told not to drink while on them, DONT. Tried it once, half a can of Stones and I vomited my insides out

Good luck with it

warreng

Andy9964 wrote:

I had a c5-c6 (neck) disc fusion back in '97. I was back on my MTB in about 7 weeks, the more upright position probably helped, rather than a more prone roadie position. I still get the occasional ache on 15+ miles, but nothing bad enough to make me stop - riding a Cannondale Synapse now.
I do have some movement limitations, but it was so long ago I rarely notice. I am, however, in a much better position than pre surgery
Obviously, if your surgery is different to mine, the effects will be different too
If you're given painkillers to take home, and told not to drink while on them, DONT. Tried it once, half a can of Stones and I vomited my insides out

Good luck with it

Really? I found morphine and Jacob's Creek a wonderful experience. Not sure I recall my doctor clearing that though...


*always follow your doctor's advice obviously*

BigLights

yeah I doubt i'll be at the pub binge drinking for a while.....I'll be chilling at home for some time by the looks of it. Oh well.

Thanks for sharing your experiences - all very encouraging! I cannot wait to get this overwith - got 6 weeks to wait, which will be the longest 6 weeks of my life until the 6 weeks after that comes round!