Back Surgery Anybody?

[deleted___account]

Any of you fellas had a major back surgery and are still able to run around out in your boat? Next week their taking out my L2,3,4 discs with some sort of replacement and fusing my 2-3, 3-4,4-5 vertebrate levels. Haven't fished in 2 years, not sure if Ile be able to get back out there and bounce around? Hope so.

 

[Rowdie]

I've never heard of a successful back surgery

 

[deleted___account]

I've never heard of a successful back surgery

Had 1 in 2011. Laminectomy 2-5. Spinal canal smashed shut. Couldn't walk, got me walking again. Unfortunately spine was still mangled.

 

[Davy Crockett]

I had an L 4-5 fusion and doing good now, I wish I'd have let them do 3 too , that was my option but at the time I was a golfer and was on a mission, I wanted to maintain some flexibility . I haven't golfed since the surgery other than a few range balls and that hurts the next day and a few more after that.

 

[Davy Crockett]

I have no problem in a boat , they are a smooth ride. The only things I cant handle is a bobcat and small tire lawnmower. Good luck.

 

[ndfinfan]

God bless...good luck with the surgery and recovery...hopefully you can get back in the boat soon!

 

[AaronJ]

L4/5 and 5/6 fusion here. I still live with chronic back discomfort and some days with alot of spasm; but I still fish as much as ever. I limit myself to occasional Tylenol and Ibuprofen and even more limited Flexeril when the spasms are too much.

Get good seat bases in your boat.

 

[wslayer]

L4- L5 fusion. Been only decent, do a lot of Advil /Tylenol to control the discomfort. Have not missed a day of my home PT since July 12, 2018.
Do a lot of wader fishing and occasionally boat. Sure golf doesn't help matters

 

[Zogman]

L4/5 and 5/6 fusion here. I still live with chronic back discomfort and some days with alot of spasm; but I still fish as much as ever. I limit myself to occasional Tylenol and Ibuprofen and even more limited Flexeril when the spasms are too much.

Get good seat bases in your boat.

Yup, for sure!

 

[Allen]

I've never heard of a successful back surgery

People are selective in what they remember and share. If you've had successful surgery, life goes on and you almost forget about it at times. If the surgery didn't meet your expectations, one probably mentions it a lot to friends and family.

It wasn't until after I had a successful fusion of C4-C7 that I found out I had an awful lot of acquaintances who had similar surgeries in the past. Seriously, it's been well over a year now for me and I don't regret getting it done. Some who complain about the outcome of their surgery are also forgetting just how bad their condition must have been to talk them into it in the first place, much less how bad their situation would probably be if it was a degenerative condition that would have probably continued to progress.

A successful spinal surgery doesn't always mean you will live pain free. In my case it was to help prevent me from being a quadriplegic from "falling off a chair while changing a lightbulb, experiencing an airbag in a 5 mph fender bender, or slipping on the ice while out fishing". While the neck can still get stiff when I do something like shooting pool, every day I've got full control of the appendages is a win.

 

[deleted___account]

It's looking like there's some hope. Appreciate the comments. Nervous af.

 

[Allen Gamble]

Mine wasn't major but it was a L5/S1 diskectomy in 2015. The first 5 years were great and I did everything I used to do as a young kid. That caught up with me the last 5 years though as I've had several injuries that will lay me in bed for a week at a time.

Best advice I can give post surgery is don't rush your recovery and treat your back as if you are in a state of recovery for the rest of your life. Work on your core strength, find a good physical therapist, and never stop doing both of those things. My latest PT probably would've saved me from my first surgery if I'd had met her then, but I'm thankful to have found her last year because she likely is delaying a fusion for me.

As others have said, some days are much worse with spasms and such, but it's a part of life we just learn to work around.

 

[1lessdog]

I have no problem in a boat , they are a smooth ride. The only things I cant handle is a bobcat and small tire lawnmower. Good luck.

After about 2 hrs in a Bobcat and my back is shot for the rest of the day and into the next. When pushing snow and spinning around. It crazy how much a person get thrown around in one. The restraint bar just lock you in at the waist. And back and shoulder go in every direction.