Hi all, just had some back surgery last week.

Fusion of L4-L5. An ALIF, they went in from the front.

Would like to hear from anyone who has had this op or know of someone who has and what kind of recovery time or regime they did to get back on the water.

Lot of rest for the first 4 weeks, then start to build up some strength.

any help would be appreciated.

thanks J

Sorry I don't have any advice on recovery from the specific surgery, but have had back issues for years with 3 prolapses (which is why I sup and can't surf ). From my experience over the past 11 years with it, I have found Pilates helpful when things are acute, but yoga by far the best for mobility. Swimming meant to be the go after surgery I hear, too. Look into getting yourself a good exercise physio who sups or understands it so they can get you on specific exercises once you clear the first/basic hurdles. Good luck getting back on the water.

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Tang said..
Sorry I don't have any advice on recovery from the specific surgery, but have had back issues for years with 3 prolapses (which is why I sup and can't surf ). From my experience over the past 11 years with it, I have found Pilates helpful when things are acute, but yoga by far the best for mobility. Swimming meant to be the go after surgery I hear, too. Look into getting yourself a good exercise physio who sups or understands it so they can get you on specific exercises once you clear the first/basic hurdles. Good luck getting back on the water.

Hey thanks Tang For the reply.

great suggestions, have done a bit of yoga and Pilates over the years to help when the sciatica pain was bad. Will def take it up again.

Swimming is also one I'll be back into, doc has ruled it out for the first month. Was about the only thing I could do after stopping windsurfing and supping.

cheers J

Just avoid boards that are too short it's the fore and aft movement that nails the back . Paddle in still water to build up the core strength and another good tip is to stand tall and straight and try to tense your stomach and suck up your nuts (I know it sounds bad) but it in engages your core when you paddle..... Try it on land first and you will see what I mean.

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Piros said..
Just avoid boards that are too short it's the fore and aft movement that nails the back . Paddle in still water to build up the core strength and another good tip is to stand tall and straight and try to tense your stomach and suck up your nuts (I know it sounds bad) but it in engages your core when you paddle..... Try it on land first and you will see what I mean.

Hi Piros,

i got got a touring board which will be used for at first to build up my strength on the flats when I get the ok.

Also, I think I'll never be able or want to bend enough to be able to suck on my nuts But I think I know what your getting at.

cheers J

I agree with Piros on paddling and in general on board length. But I also think that front to back tippiness is the main game there, and is due to nose and tail volume/plan shape and not just length (eg I had a psh 9'2" WR that was far less stable than my SB 8'5").

Paddling technique is also critical for your back. I must be a nut, because when I see most paddling instructional videos and the fast paddlers I consider their technique to be great for power but TERRIBLE for your back. You need to engage your core and stay as upright and forward-facing as possible, which includes your feet through your hips and to your shoulders - paddling in a hybrid or surf stance loads up your body badly if youve been injured. I think it's worth easing back into it and working on technique first.

The saddest thing to me is the un-learning of years of surfing technique to protect your back, and it's the hardest thing to do. Readjusting your lines on wave, letting a lip break without belting it, not pulling into that almost makeable barrel, and being cautious all go against the grain, but are necessary evils. You can rail against it, but chances are you'll get hurt a little or a lot. Mind you, I really do enjoy those "f--k it all" surfs when it's so good and so tempting you can't help yourself.

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Jaime said..

I think I'll never be able or want to bend enough to be able to suck on my nuts

If you could do that, you'd never need to leave the house!

Jamie,
Im recovering from a Facet joint injury in my lower back and all I can say is let it rest and when you do get back in the water keep up good technique. Dave Kalama the legend from Imagine Surf has a few tips here

Hi Jamie

I had a similar operation except they replaced my L5 S1 disc with an artificial disc. They also came in from the front.
A year out of surgery and I'm getting back to a normal life.

My recovery was pretty much hydro therapy for the first couple of months and then a lot of swimming and stretching.
I went for my first surf post surgery at easter but did feel confident a few months prior to this. copped a bit of a flogging because the swell was up, but pulled up fine the next day. Have surfed quite a few times since with only a few minor niggles. I haven't paddled a lot because I find the twisting uncomfortable. Not so bad just cruising in flat water. I have kited once with no problems and will slowly get back into it this summer.

So I think its just a matter of taking your time and slowly building your confidence. Swimming is definitely a winner with me.

All the best

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captainkaos said...
Hi Jamie

I had a similar operation except they replaced my L5 S1 disc with an artificial disc. They also came in from the front.
A year out of surgery and I'm getting back to a normal life.

My recovery was pretty much hydro therapy for the first couple of months and then a lot of swimming and stretching.
I went for my first surf post surgery at easter but did feel confident a few months prior to this. copped a bit of a flogging because the swell was up, but pulled up fine the next day. Have surfed quite a few times since with only a few minor niggles. I haven't paddled a lot because I find the twisting uncomfortable. Not so bad just cruising in flat water. I have kited once with no problems and will slowly get back into it this summer.

So I think its just a matter of taking your time and slowly building your confidence. Swimming is definitely a winner with me.

All the best

hi mate may I ask why you had your disc replaced ????? Iv'e had I few dramas with my back in that same area as you have had, and still sorta sitting in no mans land as far a medical opinion's go

Hey Captain
Was your surgery done in Perth ? if so by who

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fester said..
Hey Captain
Was your surgery done in Perth ? if so by who

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tortise said..

captainkaos said...
Hi Jamie

I had a similar operation except they replaced my L5 S1 disc with an artificial disc. They also came in from the front.
A year out of surgery and I'm getting back to a normal life.

My recovery was pretty much hydro therapy for the first couple of months and then a lot of swimming and stretching.
I went for my first surf post surgery at easter but did feel confident a few months prior to this. copped a bit of a flogging because the swell was up, but pulled up fine the next day. Have surfed quite a few times since with only a few minor niggles. I haven't paddled a lot because I find the twisting uncomfortable. Not so bad just cruising in flat water. I have kited once with no problems and will slowly get back into it this summer.

So I think its just a matter of taking your time and slowly building your confidence. Swimming is definitely a winner with me.

All the best

hi mate may I ask why you had your disc replaced ????? Iv'e had I few dramas with my back in that same area as you have had, and still sorta sitting in no mans land as far a medical opinion's go

hey all, have been dealing with lower back dramas for awhile, about 8 years, recently after trying osteo, physio, and chiro, and also having to rely on pain killers, i tried bowen therapy. i cannot say enough. no pain, full movement no problem bending over in the packing the dishwasher sorta pose. two sessions and happy days.

A bad back thread with SUP. It could end up as long as the Girly pics thread.

Unfortunately my back has worsened considerably over the last 18 months to the stage I'm not paddling SUP much at the moment. I've started prone surfing again and that has helped a little. During the week I came across the "Foundation Technique" I still need to show my chiro but it's something worth looking at.

Interestingly it seems that a lot of the "older" competitive racers are getting back problems. While SUP is good for the core, lots of serious paddling possibly isn't good as you get older. Pilates and Yoga and lots of pre and post stretching seems to be the go.

I'll try that technique of yours Piros......"suck up the nuts"

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captainkaos said..
Hi Jamie

I had a similar operation except they replaced my L5 S1 disc with an artificial disc. They also came in from the front.
A year out of surgery and I'm getting back to a normal life.

My recovery was pretty much hydro therapy for the first couple of months and then a lot of swimming and stretching.
I went for my first surf post surgery at easter but did feel confident a few months prior to this. copped a bit of a flogging because the swell was up, but pulled up fine the next day. Have surfed quite a few times since with only a few minor niggles. I haven't paddled a lot because I find the twisting uncomfortable. Not so bad just cruising in flat water. I have kited once with no problems and will slowly get back into it this summer.

So I think its just a matter of taking your time and slowly building your confidence. Swimming is definitely a winner with me.

All the best

Hi captain, thanks for the reply.
I was hoping for an answer from someone who had gone thru a similar procedure, glad to hear your back into surfing again even though it took a year.

Thanks also to Tang, Piros and the others for the input.

Guess I've still got a way to go as far as recovery time. Will do as has been said, swim and strengthen core muscles.

To the others that have back probs, it took me a long process of seeing chiro's, physios, cortisone injection, pain killers anti inflammatories, acupuncture and a couple of months off all work.

Getting the MRI and a referral to a specialist from my doc was what I should have done first last year. The specialist picked it up straight away off the scans, explained the procedure and let me go away and decide.

It's nearly three weeks since the op. I'm pretty much off the pain killers, get no sciatic pains, which were severe, walking several km's a day and can't wait to hit the pool.

Hope this helps any back sufferers.
J

Hi Guys

Yes I tried everything suggested as well before going the surgery path. 18 months of it. At times it felt great, usually when not being very active and you think its all good until you do something enjoyable.

I think all the non invasive stuff helps for prevention to build muscles and to maintain a healthy spine, but if the disc is badly damaged / degenerated, it is unlikely to recover. every case is different of course and im no doctor, this is just what I have learnt through my experience. My mri pretty much told the story and the three surgeons I saw said the same thing. Life can be pretty tough when you lose your income and cant do the things you enjoy. Depression is often a big part of the whole ordeal and if your feeling like shiz its best to talk it through with someone

Jamie I rekon physically could have got back in the water much earlier, but I had a few issues with confidence. I read a story about a weight lifter who had a similar op and got back into it so I was probably stressing over nothing. The surgeon rekons if I had a car accident and the lower part of my spine was severely stressed the natural discs above would be more likely to get damaged than the one that was replaced??

Fester. Yes it was done here. Please PM me and I can give you details of the guys I saw.

Tortise. Happy to have a chat if you pm me also.


The positive thing is that its only a hurdle in the journey of life. Although it sounds bad there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Good luck with the recovery. Sounds like your well on the way to getting back to normality

After a work accident i damaged l4 l5 and l5 S! this meant no feeling in my left leg from toes to hip and right leg toes to top of knee for circa 7 months.

I was advised I would not walk again.

I have had 2 x laminectomies and 1 required a spinal nerve recompression which pretty much got me walking again.

I used Melbourne based surgeon Gary Speck and was very happy with the result

The key rehab for me was lots of walking up to 16km per day and hydro therapy .

Paddling on flat water was also good but min 6 months after the op.

Paddle length for me was critical and modified paddle technique to minimise loading.

As others like Tang have said the key issue is surf within your limits!

I still have a numb left foot so I need to get into surf stance early and hope the front foot is solid on the board when taking the drop.

Its a challenge but you get used to it.

Everything in moderation

Best of luck you will do what every you want to with time and patience.

The best person to ask for timeframes is always going to be your surgeon at your review. He or she was the one 'inside' your body and is going to know first hand how well the surgery went. ALIF is fairly new as it has become more popular in the last 15 or so years, but is really growing in popularity. If i could offer any advice it will be pacing (a graded return to exercise), deep core training (not situps and crunches but more pilates style exercises) and when you do get back into the water a graded progression in board length, getting shorter. Combined movements of rotation and bending forwards will be the worry, which is fairly similar to surfing, but as I said if you progress through and surf with fins in the water as your strength builds you can see how you progress! I'd highly advise going and seeing a physio for your rehab to offer more advice as well. Your surgeon possibly has their own favourite physio they deal with :)