Any advice on coming back after a Laminectomy? I have to get screws and coils inserted in the Vertebrae (L2.L3 and L4) to open up the Spinal cord canal and remove a bit of disc that has lodged between the cartilage and Vertabrae. Its not a bone fusion one, which is good and unless something untoward happened, the specialist said he could virtually guarantee 80% improvement! He said no SUP for 6 months!!!!
I will miss the painkillers though!
Not really they've stopped helping and the next level up will stop me from working. Phil, I know that you've had some experience with this though a lot worse than me. I talked to you briefly about it once at OG. Can I PM you about it? I could use some advice from anyone.
. I can't understand why you could'nt flat water paddle after 3 months given that they say you should try to walk the same day you have the operation?
leo, if you need someone to lift the board off the roof and take it down to the water, i can help
and i will take back for you (for only a couple of months)
Every single procedure is different so you need to be guided by your surgeon and your physio who know best. Period !
Leroy, I had something similar 15 yes ago, a discetomy but lower down L5/6. at the time I would swim up to 18 ams a week and recover for it was swimming for everyone else except for me. The neuro reckoned I would over do it and stuff up the procedure by loading up the back. I was restricted to walking....boring.
He was pretty right too, I went back a little early and was getting back pain, so pulled my head in, every time I saw him or the PHYSIO was can I swim yet. I had to wait 3 months, killed me it was over summer 
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But it was worth the wait, went back to swimming for another 10 yrs, missing the water got me into SUP!!!
Good luck with it, I remember the pain and they say childbirth is bad.......it's got nothing on chronic back pain
Greg
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. Usually not so common. Thanks again, I know you're right, Bummer for me though
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and i will take back for you (for only a couple of months) It still could be a while away so I hope I get some surfing done with you over summer, and yes I will still carry my board until the op!!! Talk to you during the week!
. Cheers Leroy
Hey Leroy
I am a PE teacher swell and had a deserting on L4/L5 7 years ago. Had a lot of nerve damage and know where your coming from with the pain and desire to surf. I was out of the surf for nearly a year and it was the reason I began Sup.
Listen to your surgeon and physio and all will be good.
The skin on the disc is one of the slowest healing tissues in our body.
Cheers
Swanie
Select to expand quoteSwanie said...
Hey Leroy
I am a PE teacher swell and had a deserting on L4/L5 7 years ago. Had a lot of nerve damage and know where your coming from with the pain and desire to surf. I was out of the surf for nearly a year and it was the reason I began Sup.
Listen to your surgeon and physio and all will be good.
The skin on the disc is one of the slowest healing tissues in our body.
Cheers
Swanie
Thanks Swanie this is the sort of info I was after. Gees,I hope its not a year out of the surf!! I've watched some of your videos and it seems like you're surfing just fine now!! I might have to do a pilgrimage up your way after the procedure and have recovered to see how the place has changed. Thanks again for the advice.
Hi Leroy,
This weekend is my first time back in the water after an MRI scan revealed i've got a bulging disk pushing on the nerve channel that goes down to my right arm. Massive referred pain down the arm and I had steroid injections directly into my neck to help.
Once you have these neck injuries its a matter of ALWAYS being aware that from now on you have to be careful with everything you do. Make sure you do lots of physio, get into the gym and bulk up your neck and shoulders which support the area. Its easy to forget once the pain goes away that you have this injury.
I'm now always careful when lifting my board, putting my arms above my head or straining my neck upwards. You just have to manage it from now on.
If the doc says no SUP for 6 months then I would set goals to accomplish during this 6 months, especially around your physio and training. I wouldn't risk going out too early!
Rob
Thanks for the great advice. My brother in Law is a Physio who lectures in Pain Management at Lat Trobe uni so I'm getting good avice from him. I've been suurfing for 45 years and supping for the last three. People tell me I have massive shoulder and arm muscles which may have contributed to the problem (Rugby League and Aussie Rules) in fact many people say I resemble an ape. (I choose to disagree with them on this point). 4 years ago I did a half Martathon in 1.09. and have now got to the point that after I km I need a lift home. I'm pretty confident that I'm in good hands and have a fairly good understanding of human physiology. I'm just searching for some one to say "yeah go flat water supping 3 months after the Op!". but no one has yet!!! Thanks again for the advice - no supping for 6 months minimum. Hmmmmm, OH BUGGAH!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Leroy
I did my back back in 2006, jsut standing at the kitchen bench and turned around. Worse pain that I ever experienced. Tried to let the disc go back in naturally (advise from the specialist) but after 4 weeks went in for the op. Had the laminectomy with bone taken out too. Spent the first 10 days flat on my back, then gradually over the next 6 weeks got a lot of strength back, plenty of physio and tried to do all the right things. I was back playing high end sport in around 10 weeks from my op. I still have "pins and needles' sensation in my left leg but it is improving. Once your up and about keep up the excercise and make sure you keep your back moving (worked for me). If you sit in a chair all day it makes it worse. That's why I got into SUP's, it was too hard to go from lying down (surfing) to getting on your feet, also doing yoga a couple of times a week. Just listern to your body and stay positive.
Mark
Select to expand quotehoagie said...
Hi Leroy
I did my back back in 2006, jsut standing at the kitchen bench and turned around. Worse pain that I ever experienced. Tried to let the disc go back in naturally (advise from the specialist) but after 4 weeks went in for the op. Had the laminectomy with bone taken out too. Spent the first 10 days flat on my back, then gradually over the next 6 weeks got a lot of strength back, plenty of physio and tried to do all the right things. I was back playing high end sport in around 10 weeks from my op. I still have "pins and needles' sensation in my left leg but it is improving. Once your up and about keep up the excercise and make sure you keep your back moving (worked for me). If you sit in a chair all day it makes it worse. That's why I got into SUP's, it was too hard to go from lying down (surfing) to getting on your feet, also doing yoga a couple of times a week. Just listern to your body and stay positive.
Mark
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Taa that's more like what I wanted to hear. Cheers Mark
