back surgery - recovery time

I have just had a microdiscectomy L5-S1, feeling much better since the surgery 2 weeks ago but still a little electrical (nerve) sensitivity as I guess the swelling reduces. Looks like 3 months off the bike and probably 6 months before I can get back to riding like I want too.

Anyone else been through similar and what was your recovery like?

I used to be a nurse and often thought people were faking or whingers when they went on about the pain - having broken my nose, neck (C2), and other numerous flesh wounds this was no doubt the greatest pain I could imagine, let alone the psychological and emotional impacts.

Still lots of time to get the bike all dressed up

lancek wrote:

I have just had a microdiscectomy L5-S1, feeling much better since the surgery 2 weeks ago but still a little electrical (nerve) sensitivity as I guess the swelling reduces. Looks like 3 months off the bike and probably 6 months before I can get back to riding like I want too.

Anyone else been through similar and what was your recovery like?

I used to be a nurse and often thought people were faking or whingers when they went on about the pain - having broken my nose, neck (C2), and other numerous flesh wounds this was no doubt the greatest pain I could imagine, let alone the psychological and emotional impacts.

Still lots of time to get the bike all dressed up

Just read your post, better late than never eh? I had similar surgery about ten years ago, L5 and L4 if I remember correctly. My surgery/recovery went great, took about six months and I was back to normal(?) I did about 3 months with a physical therapist and still to this day have to do some form of bastardized yoga/stretching/pilates in the mornings, if I skip like a week or so my back hurts and stiffens up. About every 6 months or so I do something that flares up the injury and spend a couple of days hunched over, but all in all it's no big deal. much better than before the surgery when I spent about 2 months laying on the floor with my leg thrown over a couch trying to relieve the pressure on the injury. The doctors said they couldn't operate because of swelling, if I remember correctly. Original injury was from crashing a yz250 FYI.

Firefighter here - just like you, I doubted other folks pain. NOT ANY MORE !

I was on my bike within 2months. Just easy riding nothing extreme.

Just watch your back - I re-injured myself about 3 months after surgery ( seems like you can't pick up a 300lb patient off the floor like you used to )

Speedy recovery to you !

Thanks for the reply guys - its been 10 weeks since surgery and I think I went for my first driving iss daisy ride 2 weeks ago - my back feels great and I am so happy I finally had the surgery - I plan to get back surfing and kitesurfing around February but just crusing - I think that is the biggest thing - this is a realisation that you are not invincible and that things do have limits - and some of those limits pertaining to me may have just been lowered - that said I feel great and really enjoying life again - just need to focus on staying in tip top shape and aware of all hazards!!

Good to hear you're on recovery mode, Lance! My back's buggared from a rollover in a firetruck back in 2003; some days I don't feel it but a lot of the time I'll wake up in agony well before I'm supposed to be up and it can drag on. My dad went thru surgery and he's regretted doing it because now he has peripheral neurpoathy and it's affecting his legs to the point some days he can hardly walk. I've been basically doing exercises in the off season when I can, other than that it's chirpractor and massage. I don't want to go thru what my Dad is.

Thanks guys things continue to improve - although I still have some mild burning and discomfort - I am 95% better than what I was before the surgery and Im back surfing and kitesurfing as well as on the WRR.

I think if you are going to have the surgery you need to have it sooner than later - I know of two people that waited and then to remove the bulge or herniation there was no way to avoid damage to the nerve - and in those situations there is limited chance of recovery.

I still need to loose 20 kgs - I could loose some off the bike but that would be cheating :) - let the road to recovery continue