Back Surgery

[Tazman11]

I've been to every kind of doctor / chiropractor / nerve / neurosurgeon / orthopedic surgeon, etc. I've had 10 different pain meds / PT / vicodin / hydocodine / muscle relaxers / THC / heat pads and cold pads. I've had x-rays / MRI / nerve tests = nothing.

The neurosurgeon said I do not need surgery. I have absolutely no problem/pain riding my bike or sitting or standing - just pain when I bend or twist.

I go to the gym every other day. I do all the resistance machines and different stretches and planks. I am not overweight = all the docs say I'm in pretty good shape for my age.

I'm thinking on just not doing anything and just put up with the pain. Some days it's not so bad but some days it's bad. As long as I'm not doing any damage to anything (as the doc said) I'll just leave it alone.

All I wanted to know was will the injection or burning of the nerve work without any bad aftereffects? All I'm really worried about is doing any damage.

Most injections (my experience only. I’m not a doctor) were/are steroids. If they are repairing damaged tissue PRP. Nerve ablation is typically done by a pain doctor. They just burn up the nerves using an ablation technique. Over time the nerves do grow back. For me, the pain lasted 6 weeks and felt like a burn. Didn’t work for me but does for others. The key is having a GOOD / YOUNG pain doctor. Many communities don’t offer much choice or selection. I have been very lucky in this respect.

[short final]

GaryD. We do much the same workout, resistance tubes, stretching, elliptical, with about same result, mixed but overall good.



11 ribs broken off backbone left side, collapsed left lung, shattered pelvis, yada yada. For my situation doc said surgery was high risk and PT would provide equal odds chance of optimum recovery.

She also said that getting old wasn't for the faint-hearted, if I wanted pain manageable mobility that'd I'd have to work at it most every day rest of my life.

I use CBD 20:1 and vaporize pot extract resin rather than smoke.

Several decades later at 72 I'm aging well, full left knee replacement few years back but did the knee PT then eventually back to standard workout, about 1 hr/day.

You're a vet and understand pain for gain trade-off, stay the course, not losing ground for lack of exercise discipline and getting into the wind can continue for many more enjoyable riding years.

Every morning when I take my resistance tubes off the hook I feel like I'm upgrading my "inner harley".

YMMV. best luck, Jim.

[GARYD]

GaryD. We do much the same workout, resistance tubes, stretching, elliptical, with about same result, mixed but overall good.



11 ribs broken off backbone left side, collapsed left lung, shattered pelvis, yada yada. For my situation doc said surgery was high risk and PT would provide equal odds chance of optimum recovery.

She also said that getting old wasn't for the faint-hearted, if I wanted pain manageable mobility that'd I'd have to work at it most every day rest of my life.

I use CBD 20:1 and vaporize pot extract resin rather than smoke.

Several decades later at 72 I'm aging well, full left knee replacement few years back but did the knee PT then eventually back to standard workout, about 1 hr/day.

You're a vet and understand pain for gain trade-off, stay the course, not losing ground for lack of exercise discipline and getting into the wind can continue for many more enjoyable riding years.

Every morning when I take my resistance tubes off the hook I feel like I'm upgrading my "inner harley".

YMMV. best luck, Jim.

Thanks Jim. I finally went to the pain doctor a few weeks ago and had the injections = absolutely nothing. Like you I even tried pot gummies 20mg = absolutely nothing, not even a buzz. $85 down the drain. Last doctor I saw (overall I saw about 5 different doc's in different fields) told me there's nothing more can be done, it's simply old age. I turn 78 next month. At least my back doesn't hurt when I'm sitting or lying down, just when I bend, so riding the TG is not a problem.

I've had my right hip replaced and left shoulder repaired. Broke my neck 3 years ago on my way to the Tail of the Dragon, so I'm kinda used to pain.

Your doc is right, and I still go to the gym (for about 3 hours total) every other day. Maybe if I drink a lot more booze, haven't tried that yet. As long as I can still ride, I'm happy.......hopefully for a least another 10 years.

[bear1953]

in my 68 years of doing many stupid things Im a veteran of back surgeries....back in the early 80s everybody had disc surgery

fast forward to today and I can hardly stand or walk BUT im going in next week for MILD back surgery (google it) mildy invasive lumbar something another

but it opens up the narrowing of the spinal column to take pressure off nerves... its actually outpatient and u in and out in less than 2hrs they say----my hopes are high for good results as the doc says 75% see almost instant results !

Ive had to fight my insurance co for 8 months to get this approved !

Stay tuned !

[ol' school]

Best of luck Wayne!