Advice for Coming back after a Laminectomy

Enable JavaScript to get the best experience.

Create new topic

Search Subscribed Active Create new topic

> 10 years ago

Stand Up Paddle Foiling Board Talk & Reviews Wing Foiling

Leroy13

VIC

1174 posts

Leroy13

VIC, 1174 posts

11 Sep 2011 9:36am

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?

matt18

VIC

534 posts

matt18

VIC, 534 posts

11 Sep 2011 10:03am

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)

nosuchthing

15 posts

nosuchthing

15 posts

11 Sep 2011 10:04am

Every single procedure is different so you need to be guided by your surgeon and your physio who know best. Period !

chrispychru

QLD

7932 posts

chrispychru

QLD, 7932 posts

11 Sep 2011 12:19pm

in case you fall and twist badly or maybe better safe than sorry imo

ShireSUP

NSW

982 posts

ShireSUP

NSW, 982 posts

11 Sep 2011 2:13pm

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

.

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

Leroy13

VIC

1174 posts

Leroy13

VIC, 1174 posts

11 Sep 2011 9:10pm

ShireSUP said...

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

Thanks for the advice Greg. I've got to say that people really do underestimate the sheer unrelenting nature of mechanically related lower back pain. Being a PE teacher makes it really tough some days. As I said to the Neurosurgeon I don't care if I'm still bent over, I just want as much of the pain to be gone as possible.
The tough part is that I'm making really good progress surfing on the PSH Paddler, hopefully I won't lose too much over the 6 months recuperation. Like you, the Doc has said get a good pair of walking shoes and stick to that. If I get 10 years I'd be wrapped. Thanks again for the positive information.

Leroy13

VIC

1174 posts

Leroy13

VIC, 1174 posts

11 Sep 2011 9:13pm

chrispychru said...

in case you fall and twist badly or maybe better safe than sorry imo

Thanks Chris! Hey that sounds like common sense

. Usually not so common. Thanks again, I know you're right, Bummer for me though

Leroy13

VIC

1174 posts

Leroy13

VIC, 1174 posts

11 Sep 2011 9:17pm

matt18 said...

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)

Hey Matty, you might regret saying that!

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 Leo

Leroy13

VIC

1174 posts

Leroy13

VIC, 1174 posts

11 Sep 2011 9:20pm

nosuchthing said...

Every single procedure is different so you need to be guided by your surgeon and your physio who know best. Period !

Thanks Jimmy I'll take you're advice. Everyone seems to be saying the same thing.

. Cheers Leroy

Swanie

QLD

1372 posts

Swanie

QLD, 1372 posts

11 Sep 2011 9:40pm

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

Leroy13

VIC

1174 posts

Leroy13

VIC, 1174 posts

11 Sep 2011 11:40pm

Swanie 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.

DirectX

240 posts

DirectX

WA, 240 posts

11 Sep 2011 10:22pm

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

Leroy13

VIC

1174 posts

Leroy13

VIC, 1174 posts

12 Sep 2011 8:14am

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!!!!!!!!!!

hoagie

VIC

284 posts

hoagie

VIC, 284 posts

12 Sep 2011 2:56pm

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

Leroy13

VIC

1174 posts

Leroy13

VIC, 1174 posts

12 Sep 2011 3:12pm

hoagie 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

Leroy13

VIC

1174 posts

Leroy13

VIC, 1174 posts

12 Sep 2011 3:13pm

Please Register, or first...

Topics Reply