Grasschopper

Ok so I had a thread about a herniated L4-L5 disc...it was pointed out in that thread and then by my doctor that we were really talking about my L5-S1 disc...thus the corrected title. Anyway I got a second opinion on the MRI and the second doctor was a bit more grave than the first...saying it was the largest herniated disc he has ever seen and that I had no option other than surgery...this was 2 weeks ago. So last Friday (Sept 3rd) I had a laminectomy/discectomy to remove the HUGE (caps and huge was how the first neurosurgeon put it in his report) bulge in my L5-S1 disc. I came home on Saturday and am really feeling pretty good. All the pain and numbness is gone in my left leg and the pain in my back is lessening each day (as well as my flexibility increasing).

Interestingly my surgeon hasn't really given me much guidance in regards to recovery saying that due to the uniqueness of my case...the fact that the disc was this bad but I was still functional...there was no "book" to go by for my recovery, and that I should take it easy and let pain be my guide. I am off work for 2 weeks and have a 6 week follow up with him scheduled. I have been doing a good bit of walking and am wondering about returning to cycling although I think I am still looking at least 3 weeks out from surgery.

All in all this experience has been an odd one and I guess I am an odd case...some of you probably knew that already. I can't wait to get back on the bike though.

Any tips on returning to the bike?

Kylerk

When I had mine 2 years ago the biggest factor in limiting my post-surgical activities was that they asked me to refrain from anything that would involve a twisting of the torso until I healed internally to a certain degree. This is the reason why they probably told you that you cannot drive for at least 2 weeks, because when you are sitting in the car and looking for traffic, etc. you pivot/twist at the lower spine. And you make similar movements when you are sitting on a bike.

In one of your upcoming follow-up visits to the surgeon, when he thinks you are ready he is going to write out a prescription for you for Physical Therapy. I would wait until that happens because on your first visit to PT the therapist is going to evaluate you for things like - range of motion, flexibility, etc. and he/she will ask you what your expectations are. You should tell the therapist of your desire to get back on the bike as soon as possible and ask him/her what your realistic goals should be and ask him/her to guide your therapy in that direction.

Good Luck! and I hope you're feeling better soon.

RUOkie

Ok first things first. Do not get right back on the bike. You still have a tear in your annulus fibrosis, so a recurrent disc is a possibility. In general you should avoid lumbar flexion (bending forward at the spine) for 6 weeks. So in practical terms that is staying out of the drops. I usually advise using a hybrid for a few weeks, but no riding at all until completely pain free.

bonz50

i have a pretty good herniation of the same vertebra, though my ortho did not recommend surgery until it was a last resort... I have an epidural cortisone shot about once per year to mitigate swelling and pain... some day though I suspect that surgery will happen, hopefully a long ways out in the future... best of luck bro!!

adam_mac84

Search out your pt on www.apta.org (find a therapist) https://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?...daptsearch.cfm... locate a clinic with certified spine therapists... some of the things you can look out for (that are good)...

OCS (orthopedic clinical specialist). CMT (certified manual therapist). FAAOMPT (the best, fellowship of american academy of orthpedic physical therapists), makenzie certified (not as good for post operative), sports physical therapy specialist (SPTS, good for return to sport, less for the post operative portion).

Remember, physical therapists are all educated similarly. It is what they have done after schooling that makes them specialists in particular areas. For example, all of my post graduate focus has been on geriatric orthopedic, neurologic and brain injury treatments. I know plenty enough about the other areas of the body, but are not my clinical treatment specialties at this time. (i got the doctoral level book knowledge, but less of the hands on at this point)

It may not be the closest, but you will get the best out there (you looked for the best surgeon didn't you?)

Where was your disk herniated? Posterior? Posteriolateral? Anterior? Things that will need to be considered in your return to bicycling which is primarily a flexed spinal position activity and can be aggravating to people with disk problems (or the potential for). Your PT will help you get your body in shape for

DScott

Good news! I remember your situation, and am glad it worked out well. Good job on following through!

The only suggestion I can offer is to take your time in recovery. There's no rush, you have the rest of your life to ride your bike.

If it were me, I'd keep walking, avoid anything that would put a strain on the low back, and let things heal up. No harm in waiting until after you've seen the doc to start cycling again. Do your best to get in touch with a good rehab PT, hopefully one with some sports medicine experience.

Cheers!

Nachoman

Glad to hear your recovering nicely at this early stage. Keep us posted on your progress.

calamarichris

Glad to hear the surgery helped. Take it slow & easy, and consider trying yoga.

I had two surgeries about 2 years ago, and my surgeon, doctor and two other former sufferers all said the same thing, "Your back will never be 100% again."

To h311 with that! Thanks to yoga, and the awareness of my spine & breathing it gave me, my back is better & stronger now than it was when I was in my 20's, and perhaps better than it's ever been in my whole life!

I had a hard time concentrating on my posture, breathing and spinal elongation with a bunch of fit, hot, scantily-clad & sweaty women in the yoga studio, so I got this DVD:


Now I just go to yoga in lieu of strip clubs. (Much cheaper and there are fewer nicotene patches & caesarian scars.)

Low J.

I had my L4-L5 done a few years back. It was about a full year before I got enough strength and flexibility back to do rigorous exercise but I'm so glad I did it because the pain diminished tremendously afterward.

cyclist2000

I had the L4-L5 also, about 7 years ago.

1) Do what the doctor says
2) When you are ok'ed to ride take it easy. It will come back quickly.

TnDiamondback

I had the same surgery when I was 31, 53 now and as strong as ever, I do what I please, I bowl competively, ride road and mtb, dirt bikes, atvs, take care of 5 acres of yard.
Take care and caution now and live long and strong later.

Grasschopper

Well I went for my first post surgery bike ride yesterday. I took it REALLY easy, especially on hills but the weather was just too perfect not to get out. I haven't gotten clearance from my doctor to do so yet but at my release he said to let pain be my guide and I had very little discomfort while riding and none after so I think it was probably ok. I haven't taken any of the narcotic pain meds they gave me in a few days and didn't even take Tylenol yesterday or this morning.

7.2 miles in 40 min for my first ride...I'm going to do another one similar today if the rain holds off and just build from there. I hope to be doing a lot of 10-15 mile rides for the next couple of months until the weather turns cold.

SanDiegoSteve

Sorry to dredge up an old thread.

I had a laminectomy/discectomy to my L5-S1 last Wednesday morning. Right away I regained control of my foot (not 100%, but a lot better). Pain and numbness are improved too.

5 days into recovery, I know I have a long path. Would love to hear an update on how you are doing.

I had about 2 months of odd pains that turned out to be likely disk related. Then, while doing PT, the disk went all the way leaving me with about 50% loss of muscle control in my right leg, a lot of pain and plenty of numbness. The Dr.'s were all concerned about potential permanent nerve damage without the surgery. So here I sit, waiting for the "procedure" spot to heal, but otherwise feeling a lot better.

Please do let us know how you are getting on. And any words about the recover would be great. The mental part is the hardest so far.

kv501

Not trying to pee in your Cheerios, but it looks like he hasn't been on the forums since May of last year.

Hope you heal up and good to hear you are doing better. I got hit by a vehicle on a local highway last July, torn labrum and some other ligaments in my shoulder. Had surgery in November of last year and I'm just now starting to feel better. Stick with PT and do exactly what they tell you.

qcpmsame 

I an speak to the back surgeries in the L4-L5, L5-S1 disks. I had injured the L5-S1 in 1989 but didn't want to have surgery and I lost use of my right leg, I used a cane and had a dragging foot for the next decade or so. In 2002 the left leg was going numb so I had little choice and had a laminectomy that lasted 1 year and then another that lasted 3 days. I had a 2 level PLIF, using an autologus graft rather than cadaver bone, that fused the two levels and I had titanium cages around the grafts, titanium plates along both sides that were secured with Ti screws. I could use the right and left leg in the recovery room. I wore that support/brace for 6 weeks then just eased back in to work as an engineer and was racing motocross after 6 months.

The PT was helpful in getting back up and in training the right leg, again. Fasciectomies did absolutely no good, one series made things worse as far as the pain was concerned. Don't push things at all, it won't help you in your recovery to use the HTFU way of doing things, that is askicng to have the PLIF like I had. P.M. me if you want to discuss the recovery and how things were/are with my back. Riding a conventional DF bike does not hurt my spine at all, the surgeons warned me away form a recumbent when I asked about one before and after the surgery. Best of luck on your recovery, I hope things go well for you and that you can ride again.

Bill