OT. Back Surgery? Options

[michaelmoo]

Has anyone here had back surgery? I have two collapsed disk (thanks to an 18 wheeler at 55mph) and have done the back injections, physical therapy for 7+ months and tomorrow I have an appointment with my Doc who gave me until last Friday to start showing signs of improvement before talking surgery. Well on Friday at therapy I read my review that they are sending the doctor. It said, “his progress has plateaued”. So I’m sure I’m going t hear about surgery. Just wanted to know if any one has had it and how they are know.

(Plus was the discogram really as bad as I have read)

[jasons]

I have 3 fused vertabrae. Got some sweet Ti in my spine. How many people can brag about that upgrade? Anyways, I broke my back in a mountain biking accident. I had a head on collision with another guy. We met in a corner at the bottom of 2 downhill sections. We were each going about 25 mph so it was effectively a 50 mph collision. I fractured one vert. real bad. So bad I thank someone everyday that I don't have to lug myself into a wheelchair in the morning. So much for my problems.

Honestly, my surgery sucked. I can't paint a pretty picture for you, I wish I could. Your procedure probably isn't as invasive as mine. Do they go through your chest or straight to your back? Mine, they went through my chest. They removed a piece of one rib then collapsed my lung. Then they push my heart out of the way to gain access to the trouble vert. At which point, they use their version of a dremmel tool and proceed to grind out the broken part of the vert. Once the vert. is "hogged out" they stick a piece of cadaver bone in the hole. Then they bolt it to the surrounding verts. with a plate of Ti and some screws.

My recovery was 10 days in the hospital. I had some minor complications. I had 4 or 5 tubes coming out of various holes and orifices. At home I was on the couch for about 6 weeks more. I didn't feel completely recovered for about 1 year.

The upside, I have few problems now and I consider myself lucky. Sorry, I can't tell you it was so much fun and I hate going to the dentist more. The truth is it sucked but I have almost no side effects. Worst thing for me is sitting in crappy chairs or bleachers, then I get real achey. Othewise, I can lift stuff work on stuff, go to the gym with almost no problems.