Aren’t there some spine specialists on here?

You're the type of guy that has surgery on a broken humerus and does push-ups the next day?

 

Pretty much.

 

I've had the only runnin I want to have with back pain. Similar to the fishing story the onyl difference is I fetl it start while driving into the office and just gritted my teeth to get through the day. Drove home and then worked half the night in a chair. By 6am I could barely roll out of bed. That took a week to almost go away and then while reaching to turn a light off it felt like someon stabbed me in the spine and took me to the floor. 3 weeks before I felt ok agian. I didn't do anything out of the ordinary on eitehr of those occassion and I still don't know what caused it. Now I can feel it start and make sure to get out of the chair and move around to prevent it.

Back pain is no joke. Getting my core back in shape seems to have helped in my case.

 

If you don't have a good office chair, get one. Not something you'll find at a big box store. I have a Steelcase and it was the best office furniture money I've ever spent.

 

Don’t make me come down there to provide discipline.

 

I had to get my disc worked on 10 years ago at 26. Could barely walk or stand and still no problems except being fat and lazy. Dr. Sean Keem was the surgeon and to this day the only person I would have do my back.

 

Make sure to check with the Dr about the impacts to your manhood. I have a friend that didn't and the doctor didn't mention it before whatever back surgery they did.

 

Chris, put down the case of water and listen to your body. I am much older than you, 74, and my racing days are long gone. I have had two total shoulder replacements and two total knees done. In May this year my back, L4-L5 decided to stop working. Had awful pain and it radiated down my right leg. Did the injection thing and had a nerve test done. The doc was there when the tech was doing the test and said how's your leg now. I said no different, still numb. His expression changed and he said, let's call the neuro now. If you don't get the nerve freed up it will die and you will NOT get it back.

They did a L4-L5 fusion with some other stuff to free up the nerves. A week of not too pleasant moving around then just a bit sore. I have to wear a brace for 3 months and then we'll see. I can walk and move without pain. No bending or twisting etc. and NO lifting. Doc said I'm in very good health, just wore all my shit out. You will have to make adjustments, the doc knows you are not going to permanently stop living your life. The rest of this year will be your recovery time. When the Covid is gone, I hope by next racing season you'll be ready.

My Ortho once told me "when the scar turns white you're healed, that takes a year." Your results may differ.

P.S. The best surgeons are assholes, mine told me that the only people that approach surgeons as assholes are fighter pilots.

 

That almost sounds exactly like my situation (right leg and everything), only difference is mine is L2+L3.

But he won’t do a fusion, he will rebuild them with that hybrid contraption (TI+my own bone) that has artificial adjustable discs, and should allow me to retain/regain full mobility.

 

Oh yea, speaking of turtle braces... WEAR THAT MOTHERFUCKER!!! Take it from a guy who didn't (and also had to cut PT a couple weeks short because I had to go back to work). It's going to be annoying as hell but it's worth it. Treat your recovery process as if your life depends on you doing it perfectly. You're never going to be the same regardless but everything you do or don't do in accordance with what your surgeon instructs will make huge differences for the rest of your life. Like I said, I didn't wear my turtle brace. I didn't finish PT. And I was out riding dirtbikes within a month of breaking my back. Like I said earlier, I didn't even have surgery but I'm still regretting those choices 10 years later. I imagine since you are having surgery, it is even more critical to adhere to the plan.

 

Will there be 2 legs sticking out of the bottom of the turtle shell or "three". ;-)

 

What?

 

ED

 

Shit, I hadn’t thought about that.

Surely those braces don’t go down to the junk.

 

Yeah, I really need to try to do it right. There’s a big difference between a collarbone and a spine.

They said I should be able to take my turtle shell off to take a shower. But (especially in the beginning), there will be strict stipulations.

Like the shower has to be as quick as possible (<5min), everything I need must be at waist level (shampoo, etc...so I don’t have to bend over to get it), I need to have a mat or non-stick flooring to prevent slipping, don’t tilt my head back far, etc.

It sounds kinda shitty, but we all know how good it feels when you are stuck in some kind of brace, or have been in the hospital, and you finally get to take that shit off and have a shower and shave. It makes a world of difference.

 

Dude I just realized...your gonna be half way to being Wolverine. Make sure they put adamantium in your spine and your like...indestructible.

 

TMI bro...TMI. If your talking about taking a body brace off to shave...thats juts TMI.

 

That took me a second.

I shave in the shower.