My Aching Back!

[gungywump]

:( Well, after 3months of on and off back pain and missing a bit of work I had an MRI last week. My doctor just called me this morning with the results: Severly herniated disc at the lowest level. Next stop back surgery. :'(

Has anyone gone through this type of thing before?
Any advice? Recovery time? How soon until you could ride again? How long until you regained near full use?
I've been through 6weeks of physical therapy to alleiviate the problem before the MRI. My Doc said that due to the severity and location PT, Chiro, accupuncture and kinesiology is only going to reduce pain and the problem is only fixable through surgery. I don't see the nurologist for a few weeks and I'm kinda bummed out now. Any enlightening anecdotes would be appreciated.
Do you think it's time for me to get a full-suspension bike and stop riding my full-rigid S.S.?

[AA]

Gungy,

I recommend a second opinion. I have not had back surgery but know several people that have, it's not pretty.

I would also try the chiropractor, acupuncture, Witch doctor, voodoo, sacrifice a virgin, anything before surgery.

Good Luck

AA

[CouchingTiger]

Hey, if you are actually able to find a virgin, could you give me a call before you sacrafice her ;)

-Couch

[MMcG]

:( Well, after 3months of on and off back pain and missing a bit of work I had an MRI last week. My doctor just called me this morning with the results: Severly herniated disc at the lowest level. Next stop back surgery. :'(

Has anyone gone through this type of thing before?
Any advice? Recovery time? How soon until you could ride again? How long until you regained near full use?
I've been through 6weeks of physical therapy to alleiviate the problem before the MRI. My Doc said that due to the severity and location PT, Chiro, accupuncture and kinesiology is only going to reduce pain and the problem is only fixable through surgery. I don't see the nurologist for a few weeks and I'm kinda bummed out now. Any enlightening anecdotes would be appreciated.
Do you think it's time for me to get a full-suspension bike and stop riding my full-rigid S.S.?


Gungy, I would get one more opinion before going the surgery route, although they can do amazing things these days with modern surgery techniques.

If you give up your fully-rigid S.S., you could always go the Kona A route and kill two birds with one stone.

Good luck with your back whichever route you take.

Mark

[gungywump]

If you give up your fully-rigid S.S., you could always go the Kona A route and kill two birds with one stone.

Good luck with your back whichever route you take.

Mark


Mark,
The shop has already ordered an A in my size with me in mind and I am definatly getting one but, I think the Dawg is going to get built up first.

[Mt.A TODD]

Get asecond professional opinion Gungy. My chiropractor is a firm believer that back injuries can be fixed without surgery, and surgery can make the problem worse! Defiantly get a full suspension!

[SloMoJo]

Who do I sound like?....

Hell no don't get surgery! Those ******* surgeons only know 2 things....Slice em & bill em! Those *******s surgeons hate chiropractors, thinking they just steal money from them. Greedy bastards have a huge house and 12 dam kids and they want to pork you for your hard earned dough! Hell no!

Find yourself a good physical therapist. One with their own practice, not a dead beat hospital one. Get their advice. I have heard more stories of a good PT rescuing people. I have also heard stories of chiropractors ******* people up too. There are a few good ones out there though.

I would have to be in god dam wheel chair, before I'll go under the knife for christ sakes. Or just ride one of the ****** up recumbent screwy bike things and be done with it.
Oh...the virgin idea can only help. But you have to go to Vermont to find one..good luck buddy. Peace.

Boy, I miss knuckles! :-\

It's the Joyous Holiday Season and I'm running around all elated and whistling zippity do dah out of my backside. Then each time I check this forum I get a dose of reality and slapped in the face with some depressing news.

Anyway Gungy - I've had no experience with back issues to that degree. But, to comment on what many already have, a few years back I crashed on my road bike and suffered some knee problems. They wanted to go in and fix it (even just a ortho). I opted to try Physical Therapy first and it worked. To date it only acts up when I push big gears mulitple days in a row (very never anymore) or if I dunk in mens league hoops too much (that has been a problem lately)

Good luck.

Been a while since some tips..

******

Next time you go to make mashed potatoes, substitute sour cream for milk and throw in a ample amount of horseradish. If you're really feeling saucy...put in some grated parmesan.

Oh..and then go out and ride your bike...regardless of whether you have DH tires or studs, a HT or FS, whether you wear wool socks and polypro or sandwich bags and condems...

If winter ain't your gig then enjoy the mash and watch the Karoake Scene from the Shrek DVD over and over...

[SloMoJo]

Here's a bump.

Good to hear from ya Gungy.
How's the back?

[Big Game]

My advice to you Gungy is to get toally wasted with me tonight at some crappy sports bar while we watch some fat-arse yocals play darts and listen to Guns and Roses. What's that, you don't want to drink? OK, you can be the designated driver.

[EVIL BOTA]

Gungy I feel ur pain man. I have had back problems most of my adult life. (car accident) Definetly get a second opinion. What did the doctor say they had to do?Fuse ur disks together?or some other procedure. I never had to have surgury ,but I do go to the chiropractor a couple times a month. My lower 4 disks or so don't have any space between them like their suppose to. My chiropractor doesn't believe in using medication to help ur back heal.. My point is they all have different philosophys. Hope you work it out. Good luck!

[johnbryanpeters]

Without question get a second opinion. Surgeons always want to surge... I personally believe that chiros have feathers and quack, but then I'm from an AMA family...

My lower back has been questionable since sometime in the seventies; strangely enough, when it acts up I do stretches and lots of situps. The situps are probably not recommended if there's demonstrated physical trauma.

J

[gungywump]

I will post pictures as soon as I can. I am actually busy at work for a change. But, then again the backlog of a months work will do that. Anyway, I have a severe herniation of my l-5 disk. The bad part about mine and the reason a chiropractor won't help is that it bulges dead center into my spinal cavity and blocks 75% of the passage way. Luckily I am experiencing almost no pain/discomfort right now. I have seen 3 doctors/surgeons other than my primary and all agree that my MRI is VERY ugly. I am not going to get fusion. The best doctor I have seen so far recommended a minimally invasive disck surgery to remove foreign particles and stabalize the disk and against fusion. Joe Montana had the same surgery and then went back to football.

Apparently, riding a full suspension bike is less jarring to your back than a full-rigid SS. Who knew?

GW -

Good luck with the surgery.

I hope that the preponderance Big Game has on this forum is not a facade but rather indicative of the man himself. If that is the case he be there for you during this tumultuous time.

At a minimum he should send you a stripper while you are recovering......

[xtrxtlx]

From experience: consult a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine for that second opinion.

[MMcG]

GW -

Good luck with the surgery.

I hope that the preponderance Big Game has on this forum is not a facade but rather indicative of the man himself. If that is the case he be there for you during this tumultuous time.

At a minimum he should send you a stripper while you are recovering......


If Big Game springs for said stripper it is my sincere hope that he will inform me of the occurance and the location so I can be sure to pay Gungy a get well soon visit at precisely that time and location! ;D

So whattya say BG!

[gungywump]

If Big Game is game I'm game too!!

[gungywump]

Alright here come the photos,

This is the bad disk. The black lines it is pushing against are nerves.

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Jan/20031177993374883019066.jpg

[gungywump]

This second one shows the bad disk in relation to a good one. The white void in the center is the nerve path. You can see in the bad disk on the left that is closes off 75% of the pathway.

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Jan/20031177040605337563839.jpg

[gungywump]

This one shows the whole spine and the herniation quite well.

http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Jan/20031178406873320251761.jpg

[gungywump]

Well,
Surgery is scheduled.
I'm getting cut open on Monday the 17th.
Let the countdown to rehab and getting back on a bike start.
I'm hoping I can Mountainbike in about 3mo.

[MMcG]

Well,
Surgery is scheduled.
I'm getting cut open on Monday the 17th.
Let the countdown to rehab and getting back on a bike start.
I'm hoping I can Mountainbike in about 3mo.



Gungy,

Best of luck to you and may the surgery be a complete success. I know that the NEMBA online community, myself included, will be sending good vibes your way for a speedy and successful recovery!

All the best Gungy!

Mark

[SloMoJo]

Yes indeed...
Best wishes Mate.
Speedy recovery and all.

Good timing to do such a thing.
Hell, I might even do the fetal brain transplant I have been pushing off. :)

Looks like they just need to snip the black lump and stitch ya back up. No worries.
Look forward to riding with you in the late spring.

You'll be in my bedside prayers. ;)
"May our dear friend GungyWump heal quickly."

[EVIL BOTA]

Good luck Gungy,

Just work hard on ur recovery proccess and you will be back in no time.


Evil