has anyone come back after a 2nd back surgery?

**PirateJon** · Posted On: 8/16/2007 1:47pm

So.. yeah. Shitty times. Waiting on a consult with the awesome doc that did my first but that's not till October 3rd. Popping pain pills and considering doing max deadlifts just to spite my asshole spine.

but yeah. Any have to do this **** twice and still be able to lift/train/walk? Just curious.

**Tom Kagan** · Posted On: 8/16/2007 3:28pm

I'm not sure what you are looking for besides encouragement.

Yes, it's possible.

If Joe Montana can go from two ruptured disks in his lower back and his doctor suggesting he might want to give up football all the way back to the starting lineup in 55 days after his back surgery, yes, it's possible.

As long as you have a an experienced surgeon executing a a good technical procedure for the right diagnosis, yes, it's possible.

If you are dedicated and push the physical therapist, yes, it's possible.

Good luck.

**PirateJon** · Posted On: 8/17/2007 7:59am

Originally Posted by Tom Kagan

I'm not sure what you are looking for besides encouragement.

that was all. Good to know

**Coach Josh** · Posted On: 8/17/2007 8:03am

As a young lad I broke my back at L5 and come back to attain my BB. So anything is possible but as aways please consult your doctor.

**ellroy** · Posted On: 8/21/2007 4:37am

Hey there; hope it goes ok for you. I'm waiting for a spinal fusion L4/L5 so I don't know what the future holds and if I can get back to karate but I'm fed up eating painkillers and ruining my liver so I feel I've no choice. I'd be interested to know how you get on. I posted a few weeks back to see if anyone had went through similar to me but had the **** scared out of me by all the negativity from posters who "knew someone who knew someone" who had it done. So much for encouragement! Anyway, good luck and lets keep each other posted.

**Matt Stone** · Posted On: 8/21/2007 5:24am

In 1990, I spent 3 - 4 days on my back, unable to turn over, move, twist, or even wipe my own ass...

In 1990, I went to my HMO general practice doctor, who told me (a massage therapy student at the time) that I had a "muscle spasm" in my back and didn't need any further treatment beyond anti-inflammatories/muscle relaxants.

In 1990, I discovered I had at least one fractured vertebrae (L4/5) by having x-rays taken by previous doctor viewed briefly by a friend's boss, an orthopedic/sports medicine doc.

In 1995, after rejoining the Army, I spent nearly a week unable to walk properly, stand fully erect, twist, etc.

In 2000, I was finally diagnosed by Army doctors as having "decreased intervertebral space" indicative of disk herniation. After subsequent MRI studies, it was determined that I had two herniated disks (L4 & 5), both of which herniate inward toward the spinal cord (hence the amazingly painful discomfort which had been my near constant companion for nigh on 10 years by this point). I also had one dessicated disk (T2 or 3ish), degenerative joint disease, and arthritis.

All the while, I was practicing martial arts, and after 2002 started doing kettlebell workouts to develop my core strength.

I've continued to do this, amping up my workouts to a point where conditioned Soldiers refuse to go to the gym with me. I've pursued higher black belts, got certified in Army Combatives Level 1 and 2 (two very physically demanding courses), and continue to lift and train on my own.

Don't let the docs hold you back. Certainly, be wise about how you approach your training, but only YOU know your body the way you do - the docs base what they tell you (as I'm sure you already know) off what some cadaver told a doc about physiology in general terms.

Good luck. Don't give up. Make the pain your friend; accept it, realize it's not going away, and move beyond it. You'll do okay in time.