Back fusion - feedback needed

[knuckles24]

Hi there folks, has anybody out there had a back fusion done and if so how long did it take for you to get back on the bike, mainly road riding not so much off-road riding.

So if you could give me some idea it would be much appreciated as i am keen to get back on but the mrs is being stuborn and saying i shouldn't ride all season and no way can i stay off the bike the whole of summer. :facepalm:

[DMNTD]

Hi there folks, has anybody out there had a back fusion done and if so how long did it take for you to get back on the bike, mainly road riding not so much off-road riding.

So if you could give me some idea it would be much appreciated as i am keen to get back on but the mrs is being stubborn and saying i shouldn't ride all season and no way can i stay off the bike the whole of summer. :facepalm:

Yep I have had 3 fused with mucho Ti installed and not just for bling either :blink:
It's a hard one to answer as it really depends on what/how many you're having fused.
Personally I'd simply give the dirty bikes away though.

I wouldn't be in too much of a hurry to get back into riding dude, it's waaaaaaaay too serious to fuck around with.
4months+++++

[helenoftroy]

Hi there folks, has anybody out there had a back fusion done and if so how long did it take for you to get back on the bike, mainly road riding not so much off-road riding.

So if you could give me some idea it would be much appreciated as i am keen to get back on but the mrs is being stuborn and saying i shouldn't ride all season and no way can i stay off the bike the whole of summer. :facepalm:

Depends which part of your spine you are having fused(cervical,thoracic,lumbar or sacral)and whether you are being fused with metalware & a bone graft(from your illiac crest/hip) or just a bone-graft

Everyone is different and recovery times vary greatly,only you will know when it feels right to ride again.Don't rely on what your surgeon says -they don't ride and have no idea IMHO!:yes:

All the best!:doctor:

[Edbear]

I had a major op 16th Sept. pics attached. Still in body brace at least until 8th Dec. which is my next appointment with my surgeon, and not allowed to stand up without it on.

I'm hoping to get a gentle ride in by Xmas. I do have Osteoporosis which complicates things a wee bit and am on meds to help with that but that's a long term thing.

[Edbear]

Hit the wrong button without attaching the pics...

This op included a bone graft from my right hip to rebuild the crushed vertebrae

[Smokin]

Shiiit, I'm not going to forget to bend the knees now. Does it have much of an effect on you loosing that much flex from your back?

[Edbear]

Shiiit, I'm not going to forget to bend the knees now. Does it have much of an effect on you loosing that much flex from your back?

It's hard to say exactly at present as I'm still wearing a full torso brace and I'm not allowed, (:innocent: :shutup:), out of bed without it on...

I can certainly feel it in there, it's not painful but weird. I am careful to hold myself correctly and to keep my back straight when reaching down. I'll know a lot more after seeing my surgeon again on the 8th Dec. I'm now pretty much off all painkillers, but I did have to take a couple of Morphine tabs this afternoon as I took the MX5 in for a WoF and then got the groceries.

The brace is becoming a real nuisance! I was in it 12 weeks after the accident and it'll be another 12 weeks since the op when I see my surgeon next! It's irritating and I perspire, soaking my t-shirt and it's not even Summer yet! :bye: So I'm really hoping he'll let me ditch it!

[Smokin]

I didnt know how they fused it, I thought they ground the face of two vertibre so they grew together so the screws and mechanno was a bit of a shock. I'll take the advice from the Doctor and start looking after mine. Thanks for the info.

[DMNTD]

Shiiit, I'm not going to forget to bend the knees now. Does it have much of an effect on you loosing that much flex from your back?

Yes/no/maybe...but I simply take my concrete pills and get the fuck on with 'it' :yes:

[Edbear]

I didnt know how they fused it, I thought they ground the face of two vertibre so they grew together so the screws and mechanno was a bit of a shock. I'll take the advice from the Doctor and start looking after mine. Thanks for the info.


Yes/no/maybe...but I simply take my concrete pills and get the fuck on with 'it' :yes:

The collapse of my spine after removing the brace was unexpected by everyone and attributed to the Osteoporosis so I'm particularly cautious this time... Certainly listen to your Doc! Everything you've got hangs off your back, so if that's weak and broken, you're stuffed!

[Mom]

So I'm really hoping he'll let me ditch it!


The collapse of my spine after removing the brace was unexpected by everyone and attributed to the Osteoporosis so I'm particularly cautious this time... Certainly listen to your Doc! Everything you've got hangs off your back, so if that's weak and broken, you're stuffed!

You take your time Mr Bear! We can do without another visit to the hospital to visit you :lol:

Mind you ketamine makes for an entertaining time :dodge:

Another thing that is good to help out backs is to strengthen your core muscles, that actually helps support the spine as well.

[DMNTD]

Another thing that is good to help out backs is to strengthen your core muscles, that actually helps support the spine as well.
This is bang on...my mono ab has helped no end!


Certainly listen to your Doc! Everything you've got hangs off your back, so if that's weak and broken, you're stuffed!
For sure and I didn't mean to come across as if it is a 'nothing' either, but sadly and frustrating over the years I have met people with what I term as a 'Kiwi's bad back' :facepalm:
My spine was so farked (a technical term) and unique that it took them nearly a decade to come up with the technology to repair/manage its 'repair' and rehabilitation.
I have a certain disposition that simply gets on with Life instead of dwelling in the bollix that has been served up to me by genetics. In fact most people don't even realise my circumstances due to the way I am.
Yes I did say that I do take my 'blue pills and get on with it'...I suppose if I was to be more subtle (:blink: to those that know me) I'd say that I manage it and do not dwell on the cards dealt to me :yes:

[Edbear]

You take your time Mr Bear! We can do without another visit to the hospital to visit you :lol:

Mind you ketamine makes for an entertaining time :dodge:

Another thing that is good to help out backs is to strengthen your core muscles, that actually helps support the spine as well.

Gotta luv that Ketamine! I actually think I enjoyed being half out of it.... :innocent:

Those good ol' core muscles, eh? When I do get the clearance to start the ACC rehab program I'm really going to take advantage of the opportunity to get myself in shape while someone else is paying for it... :yes:


This is bang on...my mono ab has helped no end!
For sure and I didn't mean to come across as if it is a 'nothing' either, but sadly and frustrating over the years I have met people with what I term as a 'Kiwi's bad back' :facepalm:
My spine was so farked (a technical term) and unique that it took them nearly a decade to come up with the technology to repair/manage its 'repair' and rehabilitation.
I have a certain disposition that simply gets on with Life instead of dwelling in the bollix that has been served up to me by genetics. In fact most people don't even realise my circumstances due to the way I am.
Yes I did say that I do take my 'blue pills and get on with it'...I suppose if I was to be more subtle (:blink: to those that know me) I'd say that I manage it and do not dwell on the cards dealt to me :yes:

Well said! Everyone has a "bad back" and there remains a stigma attached that does affect those of us with real problems. You often find as well, that the people who genuinely suffer are stoic and determined not to let it restrict their enjoyment of life any more than absolutely necessary! I've got far too much to do and even while in hospital doped up on drugs I was on the laptop trying to run three businesses, pausing only long enough for the op.

Although I do wonder if the Ketamine helped or hindered in my communications... :blink:

[helenoftroy]

I didnt know how they fused it, I thought they ground the face of two vertibre so they grew together so the screws and mechanno was a bit of a shock. I'll take the advice from the Doctor and start looking after mine. Thanks for the info.

Edbear! thats a classic wedge compression fracture!:(
Often surgeons do what you've described Smokin, and use bone fragments from the hip in the gap,screws,plates and rods are used too.

Most of the patients in the Spinal Unit begin mobilising 48hrs after a spinal fusion

[Edbear]

Edbear! thats a classic wedge compression fracture!:(
Often surgeons do what you've described Smokin, and use bone fragments from the hip in the gap,screws,plates and rods are used too.

Most of the patients in the Spinal Unit begin mobilising 48hrs after a spinal fusion

That's what happened post removal of the body brace. The initial injury was a burst compression fracture and the vertebrae was still reasonably "square" but fragmented. After the brace was removed the spine collapsed forward 32 degrees leading to the wedge compression. I've got a few questions to ask my surgeon on the 8th, just have to remember to write them down as I'm bound to forget... :innocent:

[Okey Dokey]

A picture is worth 1000 words, edbear. That first one you put up made my heart jump! Scary stuff. So glad that the docs could fix you up.

[Edbear]

A picture is worth 1000 words, edbear. That first one you put up made my heart jump! Scary stuff. So glad that the docs could fix you up.

Yeah, our's too! As soon as the Doc saw that he said, "You're not going home, you're going straight to Auckland Hospital!" I was put on strict bed-rest until the op as the spinal cord was being compressed and I could at any moment have become a paraplegic! I count myself a very lucky man! :yes: I was fortunate too, to get one of the best surgeons in the business in Angus Don.