Training question after back surgery

Shawn_Sinclair
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Snowmass Village, CO US
Edited Date/Time 7/4/2018 11:29am
Hey guys not sure this is the right place to post this if not let me know. Im almost 4 months out of low back fusion/cage surgery deal and I was cleared to start training on the road bike a month ago. Obviously started slow ramped training up as I went no issues or pain until last week I went for a bigger ride. Went from 20 miles consistent 1500 vert no pain or problems. Then went for 30 miles and 3000 vert and I have serious low back muscle pain for the last week. Trying to work through it a couple of 15 mile rides and doing cryo therapy kinda coming around but not really. Just wondering if any of you guys been through the same issues and how to work through it. Im sick of doctors and hospitals seems like im always there. Im hoping to be cleared to ride in 7 weeks and I don't want to screw that up but I don't want to stop training either its all I got after doing nothing for months. Any training remedies or thoughts is much appreciated. All I've been given for advice is from my boys who are saying don't stop riding just push through the pain. Thanks Shawn
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Kyle_McNab
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7/1/2018 3:46pm
Man I hope you feel better soon. I’ve been dealing with a bulging disc for 5months and also found I have mild scoliosis. Nothing really helping with pt chiro accunputure and I am sick and tired of being in doctors office multiple times a week like you. Might get surgery if this goes on longer. Hope someone can give you some insight
elementmx
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NY US
7/1/2018 3:55pm
hang up the boots man.

moto is the best sport/activity in the world but our bodies just aren't built to sustain the impacts that are guaranteed to happen.

you've already jacked up your back and know what its like to be laid up like that. do you really wanna risk spending the rest of your life laid up in a wheelchair? theres a wide world outside of moto. nothing can ever replace riding/racing but the risk and consequences of even a small mistake at the track are tremendous.

hard to put in perspective when you're young, but think about it.

Shawn_Sinclair
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7/1/2018 4:01pm
I'll never hang up riding. Cant its part of me and my daughters riding well now and into it. My racing days are over but just to be able to ride with my girl is driving my rehab. Docs say I will be 90% once the bone fuses. I have good feeling back in my feet. I'll be smart with my riding and starting really slow. No more one upping with the boys thats for sure.
Doddy
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Everett, WA US
7/1/2018 4:18pm Edited Date/Time 7/1/2018 4:24pm
Kyle_McNab wrote:
Man I hope you feel better soon. I’ve been dealing with a bulging disc for 5months and also found I have mild scoliosis. Nothing really helping...
Man I hope you feel better soon. I’ve been dealing with a bulging disc for 5months and also found I have mild scoliosis. Nothing really helping with pt chiro accunputure and I am sick and tired of being in doctors office multiple times a week like you. Might get surgery if this goes on longer. Hope someone can give you some insight
I was dealing with 2 slipped/bulging discs for about 15 years that pretty much kept me off a bike. Opted out of surgery, did some chiropractic, traction, core building, and Graston to break up scar tissue that developed over time from being messed up. I started doing this a year and a half -2 years ago. I am in the least amount of pain since I can remember and I can ride longer and better than...well since I can remember. Been riding strong for about a year now though.

PT,multiple Chiropractors, and thousands of dollars wasted that covered up symptoms at best. Once I found a good Chiro and worked my ass off I got results without surgery and It couldn't have gone better. It's a shame I didn't get put in this direction earlier on. Avoid surgery at all costs if you can in my opinion. I really hope someone can learn from what I went through because(while it may not be as bad as some of your guys injuries) it really sucked and my life was terrible. I couldn't even work for long periods of time and almost gave up all together. I firmly believe surgery would have messed me up worse.

With that said, I ride, race, jump, and take my lumps like everyone else for the most part. Sometimes I need to ice, but that's pretty much it.

Note: Majority of doctors and "specialists" I have seen did not help and if I had listen to some would have ruined me for life. See more than one doctor and get as many opinions and facts as you can. If it sounds like B.S. In my experience it usually is.

OP: Don't give sh!t up until you know you can't do it yourself or don't want to. Also, don't push it to hard to come back too soon. Just my opinion. That's all I got.

The Shop

Kyle_McNab
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Crofton, MD US
7/1/2018 4:22pm
Kyle_McNab wrote:
Man I hope you feel better soon. I’ve been dealing with a bulging disc for 5months and also found I have mild scoliosis. Nothing really helping...
Man I hope you feel better soon. I’ve been dealing with a bulging disc for 5months and also found I have mild scoliosis. Nothing really helping with pt chiro accunputure and I am sick and tired of being in doctors office multiple times a week like you. Might get surgery if this goes on longer. Hope someone can give you some insight
Doddy wrote:
I was dealing with 2 slipped/bulging discs for about 15 years that pretty much kept me off a bike. Opted out of surgery, did some chiropractic...
I was dealing with 2 slipped/bulging discs for about 15 years that pretty much kept me off a bike. Opted out of surgery, did some chiropractic, traction, core building, and Graston to break up scar tissue that developed over time from being messed up. I started doing this a year and a half -2 years ago. I am in the least amount of pain since I can remember and I can ride longer and better than...well since I can remember. Been riding strong for about a year now though.

PT,multiple Chiropractors, and thousands of dollars wasted that covered up symptoms at best. Once I found a good Chiro and worked my ass off I got results without surgery and It couldn't have gone better. It's a shame I didn't get put in this direction earlier on. Avoid surgery at all costs if you can in my opinion. I really hope someone can learn from what I went through because(while it may not be as bad as some of your guys injuries) it really sucked and my life was terrible. I couldn't even work for long periods of time and almost gave up all together. I firmly believe surgery would have messed me up worse.

With that said, I ride, race, jump, and take my lumps like everyone else for the most part. Sometimes I need to ice, but that's pretty much it.

Note: Majority of doctors and "specialists" I have seen did not help and if I had listen to some would have ruined me for life. See more than one doctor and get as many opinions and facts as you can. If it sounds like B.S. In my experience it usually is.

OP: Don't give sh!t up until you know you can't do it yourself or don't want to. Also, don't push it to hard to come back too soon. Just my opinion. That's all I got.
Yeah I don’t want surgery. But idk I think it’s my scoliosis that’s making it such a long recovery it don’t know if it’s the disc. It’s been since February I’ve been outta work so i need to find something soon.
Kyle_McNab
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Crofton, MD US
7/1/2018 4:28pm
elementmx wrote:
hang up the boots man. moto is the best sport/activity in the world but our bodies just aren't built to sustain the impacts that are guaranteed...
hang up the boots man.

moto is the best sport/activity in the world but our bodies just aren't built to sustain the impacts that are guaranteed to happen.

you've already jacked up your back and know what its like to be laid up like that. do you really wanna risk spending the rest of your life laid up in a wheelchair? theres a wide world outside of moto. nothing can ever replace riding/racing but the risk and consequences of even a small mistake at the track are tremendous.

hard to put in perspective when you're young, but think about it.

How aBout you just keep your shit opinion to your self if your gonna be negative. When you’re laid up for months you want nothing more to get back to doing the things that keep you sane
Doddy
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Everett, WA US
7/1/2018 4:31pm
Kyle_McNab wrote:
Man I hope you feel better soon. I’ve been dealing with a bulging disc for 5months and also found I have mild scoliosis. Nothing really helping...
Man I hope you feel better soon. I’ve been dealing with a bulging disc for 5months and also found I have mild scoliosis. Nothing really helping with pt chiro accunputure and I am sick and tired of being in doctors office multiple times a week like you. Might get surgery if this goes on longer. Hope someone can give you some insight
Doddy wrote:
I was dealing with 2 slipped/bulging discs for about 15 years that pretty much kept me off a bike. Opted out of surgery, did some chiropractic...
I was dealing with 2 slipped/bulging discs for about 15 years that pretty much kept me off a bike. Opted out of surgery, did some chiropractic, traction, core building, and Graston to break up scar tissue that developed over time from being messed up. I started doing this a year and a half -2 years ago. I am in the least amount of pain since I can remember and I can ride longer and better than...well since I can remember. Been riding strong for about a year now though.

PT,multiple Chiropractors, and thousands of dollars wasted that covered up symptoms at best. Once I found a good Chiro and worked my ass off I got results without surgery and It couldn't have gone better. It's a shame I didn't get put in this direction earlier on. Avoid surgery at all costs if you can in my opinion. I really hope someone can learn from what I went through because(while it may not be as bad as some of your guys injuries) it really sucked and my life was terrible. I couldn't even work for long periods of time and almost gave up all together. I firmly believe surgery would have messed me up worse.

With that said, I ride, race, jump, and take my lumps like everyone else for the most part. Sometimes I need to ice, but that's pretty much it.

Note: Majority of doctors and "specialists" I have seen did not help and if I had listen to some would have ruined me for life. See more than one doctor and get as many opinions and facts as you can. If it sounds like B.S. In my experience it usually is.

OP: Don't give sh!t up until you know you can't do it yourself or don't want to. Also, don't push it to hard to come back too soon. Just my opinion. That's all I got.
Kyle_McNab wrote:
Yeah I don’t want surgery. But idk I think it’s my scoliosis that’s making it such a long recovery it don’t know if it’s the disc...
Yeah I don’t want surgery. But idk I think it’s my scoliosis that’s making it such a long recovery it don’t know if it’s the disc. It’s been since February I’ve been outta work so i need to find something soon.
My brother had(has?) scoliosis and it absolutely effect how long he would heal or recover. It took him 30 pounds of muscle or so to get him normal if I can even call it that? He seems good, but he's still building. Preventative maintenance I guess. Back injuries have not been kind to my family.
Shawn_Sinclair
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Snowmass Village, CO US
7/1/2018 4:35pm
Avoid surgery at all cost. I didn't have a choice. Don't break your back its not worth it trust me. I went to Dr Corenman at Steadman the best in the country and I am really stoked with the results so far. I will say after a surgery like this at least for me your not thinking about riding hard or getting after it you just want to ride. It drives me the training keeps me fit and I think Im a better person and dad because of riding. Theres no question that getting back on the bike is going to be slow go. I certainly can't imagine going down right now. baby steps and something to work up to. On a good note im all titanium now so at least im light.
Kyle_McNab
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7/1/2018 4:36pm
Doddy wrote:
I was dealing with 2 slipped/bulging discs for about 15 years that pretty much kept me off a bike. Opted out of surgery, did some chiropractic...
I was dealing with 2 slipped/bulging discs for about 15 years that pretty much kept me off a bike. Opted out of surgery, did some chiropractic, traction, core building, and Graston to break up scar tissue that developed over time from being messed up. I started doing this a year and a half -2 years ago. I am in the least amount of pain since I can remember and I can ride longer and better than...well since I can remember. Been riding strong for about a year now though.

PT,multiple Chiropractors, and thousands of dollars wasted that covered up symptoms at best. Once I found a good Chiro and worked my ass off I got results without surgery and It couldn't have gone better. It's a shame I didn't get put in this direction earlier on. Avoid surgery at all costs if you can in my opinion. I really hope someone can learn from what I went through because(while it may not be as bad as some of your guys injuries) it really sucked and my life was terrible. I couldn't even work for long periods of time and almost gave up all together. I firmly believe surgery would have messed me up worse.

With that said, I ride, race, jump, and take my lumps like everyone else for the most part. Sometimes I need to ice, but that's pretty much it.

Note: Majority of doctors and "specialists" I have seen did not help and if I had listen to some would have ruined me for life. See more than one doctor and get as many opinions and facts as you can. If it sounds like B.S. In my experience it usually is.

OP: Don't give sh!t up until you know you can't do it yourself or don't want to. Also, don't push it to hard to come back too soon. Just my opinion. That's all I got.
Kyle_McNab wrote:
Yeah I don’t want surgery. But idk I think it’s my scoliosis that’s making it such a long recovery it don’t know if it’s the disc...
Yeah I don’t want surgery. But idk I think it’s my scoliosis that’s making it such a long recovery it don’t know if it’s the disc. It’s been since February I’ve been outta work so i need to find something soon.
Doddy wrote:
My brother had(has?) scoliosis and it absolutely effect how long he would heal or recover. It took him 30 pounds of muscle or so to get...
My brother had(has?) scoliosis and it absolutely effect how long he would heal or recover. It took him 30 pounds of muscle or so to get him normal if I can even call it that? He seems good, but he's still building. Preventative maintenance I guess. Back injuries have not been kind to my family.
Yeah it really pisses me off man. Honestly would be way better off if I didn’t have it. probably close to 100% by now. Honestly getting close to doing surgery it’s difficult to sit 30 mins at a time
Shawn_Sinclair
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7/1/2018 4:43pm
The best thing for everyone is you can't stretch enough. I just lay on the ground stretching all night while hanging out. And building the core muscles as much as possible. But if you've had chronic back issues we've all heard these statements before. Its so true though
Doddy
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7/1/2018 4:48pm
Kyle_McNab wrote:
Yeah it really pisses me off man. Honestly would be way better off if I didn’t have it. probably close to 100% by now. Honestly getting...
Yeah it really pisses me off man. Honestly would be way better off if I didn’t have it. probably close to 100% by now. Honestly getting close to doing surgery it’s difficult to sit 30 mins at a time
I hear you. At one point I couldn't sit...at all, but now...................just don't lose hope and all that cliche sh!t. Best wishes.
Kyle_McNab
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7/1/2018 5:12pm
The best thing for everyone is you can't stretch enough. I just lay on the ground stretching all night while hanging out. And building the core...
The best thing for everyone is you can't stretch enough. I just lay on the ground stretching all night while hanging out. And building the core muscles as much as possible. But if you've had chronic back issues we've all heard these statements before. Its so true though
For sure I’ve been doing core workouts twice a day everyday. Hope you keep progressing.
Kyle_McNab
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7/1/2018 5:18pm
Kyle_McNab wrote:
Yeah it really pisses me off man. Honestly would be way better off if I didn’t have it. probably close to 100% by now. Honestly getting...
Yeah it really pisses me off man. Honestly would be way better off if I didn’t have it. probably close to 100% by now. Honestly getting close to doing surgery it’s difficult to sit 30 mins at a time
Doddy wrote:
I hear you. At one point I couldn't sit...at all, but now...................just don't lose hope and all that cliche sh!t. Best wishes.
It’s really tough to stay positive Backs are definitely more complicated compared to other injury’s. I’m 23 so my patience isn’t to good lol Having a good mindset probably helps the healing process tho
Doddy
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7/1/2018 5:45pm
The best thing for everyone is you can't stretch enough. I just lay on the ground stretching all night while hanging out. And building the core...
The best thing for everyone is you can't stretch enough. I just lay on the ground stretching all night while hanging out. And building the core muscles as much as possible. But if you've had chronic back issues we've all heard these statements before. Its so true though
Kyle_McNab wrote:
For sure I’ve been doing core workouts twice a day everyday. Hope you keep progressing.
Stretching seems underrated.
Kyle_McNab
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7/1/2018 5:47pm
The best thing for everyone is you can't stretch enough. I just lay on the ground stretching all night while hanging out. And building the core...
The best thing for everyone is you can't stretch enough. I just lay on the ground stretching all night while hanging out. And building the core muscles as much as possible. But if you've had chronic back issues we've all heard these statements before. Its so true though
Kyle_McNab wrote:
For sure I’ve been doing core workouts twice a day everyday. Hope you keep progressing.
Doddy wrote:
Stretching seems underrated.
What stretches do you do. I know cat camel and childs pose that’s really it
Bramlett321
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7/1/2018 5:57pm
I'll never hang up riding. Cant its part of me and my daughters riding well now and into it. My racing days are over but just...
I'll never hang up riding. Cant its part of me and my daughters riding well now and into it. My racing days are over but just to be able to ride with my girl is driving my rehab. Docs say I will be 90% once the bone fuses. I have good feeling back in my feet. I'll be smart with my riding and starting really slow. No more one upping with the boys thats for sure.
I am somewhat in your shoes as I’ve had a disc replacement at my L5/S1 and recently I have a fractured L2 from pulling a JMart, or JMart pulled a Stephen. But I think you’re experiencing firsts, the first pain from riding again, the first pain from pushing it to the next level and so on and so on!!! Brother what you have to be very careful of is knowing when to stop and not saying to yourself, I can push through. Moto isn’t going anywhere friend so recover completely before you screw the pooch and have a life full of regret. Have been under the bavk knife three times and I sure hate to see you go back through it.

Kyle_McNab
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7/1/2018 6:01pm
I'll never hang up riding. Cant its part of me and my daughters riding well now and into it. My racing days are over but just...
I'll never hang up riding. Cant its part of me and my daughters riding well now and into it. My racing days are over but just to be able to ride with my girl is driving my rehab. Docs say I will be 90% once the bone fuses. I have good feeling back in my feet. I'll be smart with my riding and starting really slow. No more one upping with the boys thats for sure.
I am somewhat in your shoes as I’ve had a disc replacement at my L5/S1 and recently I have a fractured L2 from pulling a JMart...
I am somewhat in your shoes as I’ve had a disc replacement at my L5/S1 and recently I have a fractured L2 from pulling a JMart, or JMart pulled a Stephen. But I think you’re experiencing firsts, the first pain from riding again, the first pain from pushing it to the next level and so on and so on!!! Brother what you have to be very careful of is knowing when to stop and not saying to yourself, I can push through. Moto isn’t going anywhere friend so recover completely before you screw the pooch and have a life full of regret. Have been under the bavk knife three times and I sure hate to see you go back through it.

Hope you have a full recovery . Was you disc herniated? Because doc kinda act my bulge isn’t a big deal
7/1/2018 6:06pm
How old are all you guys and what weight? l'm 59 and weigh 90kg's, l'm just having issues with trapped nerves from a worn out spine. l've raced for 45 years ...... can't stop now!
Shawn_Sinclair
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7/1/2018 6:16pm
I've been careful doing everything they told me to. I was told to ride the bike to get strong and build core. I don't think I've messed with anything surgery wise. I feel fine when pedaling the bike its just after im done and trying to walk around normal its sore as hell. Just arrogating the muscles in the back and glutes I guess. The 3 weeks of rides building up to the bigger one felt fine and recovery was nothing. Just can't seem to shake the soreness of the bigger ride. Its been a week and im still sore. I figured its best to keep riding shorter rides to build the muscles. The rides feel good. walking around after not so much sore low back and glutes
Doddy
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7/1/2018 6:19pm Edited Date/Time 7/1/2018 6:21pm
Kyle_McNab wrote:
For sure I’ve been doing core workouts twice a day everyday. Hope you keep progressing.
Doddy wrote:
Stretching seems underrated.
Kyle_McNab wrote:
What stretches do you do. I know cat camel and childs pose that’s really it
I honestly don't know all the names sadly and I do a variety. I do the arm stretching and normal ones plus some yoga ones.I use a few different size exercise balls and use them to bend over backwards. Rolling into arching out lower back. My 3 year old helped keep me stable once I got there(an anti roll ball helps when starting and when your feeling weak). For how much I work(construction) and bend over on a daily basis it is important to do these the most or if not longer than I do bending over forward palm touching the ground. Here are my main ones that I don't know names of. #1/2(not as far as the picture below), 5, 7(6=yeah right haha), 10,15, 20, 23,24.
Shawn_Sinclair
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7/1/2018 6:24pm
I do a lot of these but I can't do any bending lifting or twisting. planks and spine neutral stuff. lots of ball exercises
Doddy
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7/1/2018 6:51pm
I do a lot of these but I can't do any bending lifting or twisting. planks and spine neutral stuff. lots of ball exercises
Sounds like your on the right track. Everyone is different, but these ones do a lot of me. I am getting a lot more range of motion back, but man...that for me is taking a long time. Patients has it's rewards though. Good luck with your recovery.

For what it's worth....once back on the bike I started riding trails and racing some offroad races to get endurance and some core strength back before going on a track. That seemed to help on the riding side of things once the recovery was finally going good.
moore433
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Denton, TX US
7/2/2018 8:05am
If all done right, you can ride after fusion, I personally am not risking anymore damage to my back after 2 different lower back fusions and now 4 vertebrae in my neck fused.
But Christian Craig did it and well over half his back is fused now..
Good luck with whatever you decide..
Bramlett321
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7/2/2018 8:38am
Kyle_McNab wrote:
Hope you have a full recovery . Was you disc herniated? Because doc kinda act my bulge isn’t a big deal
Yeah my neurologist at the Texas Back Institute said I had the worst L5/S1 rupture he'd ever seen, now was he being over dramatic lol, who knows.
Kyle_McNab
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7/2/2018 9:53am
Kyle_McNab wrote:
Hope you have a full recovery . Was you disc herniated? Because doc kinda act my bulge isn’t a big deal
Yeah my neurologist at the Texas Back Institute said I had the worst L5/S1 rupture he'd ever seen, now was he being over dramatic lol, who...
Yeah my neurologist at the Texas Back Institute said I had the worst L5/S1 rupture he'd ever seen, now was he being over dramatic lol, who knows.
Did you feel improvement after surgery? Hope your doing well these days
Kyle_McNab
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7/2/2018 9:57am
moore433 wrote:
If all done right, you can ride after fusion, I personally am not risking anymore damage to my back after 2 different lower back fusions and...
If all done right, you can ride after fusion, I personally am not risking anymore damage to my back after 2 different lower back fusions and now 4 vertebrae in my neck fused.
But Christian Craig did it and well over half his back is fused now..
Good luck with whatever you decide..
Sorry to hear that. I’ve been contemplating surgery for fusion because of my scoliosis in my low back . Everyone saying avoid surgery but I tried of managing the problem
Bramlett321
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7/2/2018 9:59am
Kyle_McNab wrote:
Did you feel improvement after surgery? Hope your doing well these days
yeah once the artificial disc was put in and healed up, I was 100% and stronger than ever. No residual effects I mean I was so happy that life was getting back to normal. I raced rode mtb, all of it and no issues. My insurance didn't cover that but TBI or the state of Texas was doing a clinical study on this procedure so it was all free. I didn't pay one red cent, even my food, hotels, gas back and forth from Texarkana to Dallas for 7 years of the study. I was a very luck SOB.

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