Back surgery inhibit your hobby?

I had L4/L5 diskectomy (SP?) 12 years ago and it was the best thing I've ever done.  Spent years in pain and limited activities before that. Tried all the non-invasive therapies first.  Since I've had it done I'm a new person. I've become a big backpacker.  Have made several 100 mile backapcking trips in the Rockies and I've even gone rappelling (and boy am I afraid of heights!).

 

Good luck with the surgery. I'm sure you'll have a full recovery.

I had two 8 inch titanium rods put in my back 30 years ago. I felt it was going to be the miracle fix and I could get back to life the way I was living it before !! It took too many years and a lot of pain before I realized it was my life style that was the real problem. I started eating right and lost weight( I was 6' 2" and brought it down to 160).  I exercised (and still do) 7 days a week  with leg and arm weights up to 10 lbs and body weights up to 20 lbs for 40 min each day come **** or high water.   I took a hard look at the stress and strain in my life and set about reducing it. I finally realized I had to listened to my physical therapist! 

 

Once I had done this,  I built a 40' by 13' carpet layout with mountains and cities for my grandchildren. I presently  have 5 neighborhood kids who periodically come over to run trains( they like it being on the floor) and am in a club where we meet to run trains every other week on each others layout.

 

I have been having some problems working on my layout lately, but then I turned 85 this spring.

 

stan

I have had some work on my back. But nothing serious yet....

 

I am approaching my next layout with some pause, I don't wish to crawl under the table anymore like I used to. I think the best compromise for me would be the famous HO Scale "Heart of Georgia" converted to O in some form or simply floor running with cable management.

 

Throwing 42,000 pounds several times a week or daily and then driving very large distances for a number of years ruined what I have but I prefer to think with physical therapy and medicine I am working on it.

 

Surgery?

Probably not. Obamacare will simply make it not a viable choice. So I will live with the pain in my own way.

 

I like to think enjoying life and activities such as the hobby despite problems is the victory.

 

Just wondering how a law that does not go into effect until 2014 is having influence on your medical treatment now? Maybe it's your insurance provider choosing the treatment that is best for them ($) rather than you. If you have insurance, and feel surgery is the best path for treatment, fight for it. That's the way the system is set up to work, and has been for many years.

 

BTW- not all disc issues respond well from fusion surgery. I came back from a pretty devastating injury through a lot of physical therapy. But I had to fight with my provider and primary care physician many times to get what was best. Hope you find the solution.

 

Tim

Stan - I hope I'm as active and involved as you when I'm 85 (I'm 47 right now).  Congratulations!

I had a spinal fusion 5 years ago, have 4 titanium coach screws installed to stabilize my lower back. It got rid of severe sciatic pain, but I've never been able to walk for very long without severe lower back pain since. I need to use a walker if I'm on my feet for long, but I just get on with things these days. If you have further problems after surgery, I'm sure you will discover ways to get things done. If you do experience more severe pain after surgery, don't mess around, see a pain specialist.

Yep! Complete back fusion with rods from my lower back to my shoulders. Neck is fused also. No accidents just deteriation, arthiritus, and any other fault you can find. The last surgery did me in. Can't walk without help,and pain  when you don't need it!

On top of that I have been diagnosed with Parkinsons, anyone else want to beat on me??It is a struggle but you do what you can, it may take longer but you try.

Frank

Have not had surgery YET, but my back is a wreck too. 3 disks deteriorated and a ruptured disk finally mostly healed, along with bad arthritis too. I have a duck under railway and it hurts every time I have to do it or stand too long, or walk more than a short distance. I feel sorry for the rest of you too.

Rob

I've had 2 Lumbar Laminectomies (hope I spelled that right).  One 6 years ago and one 5 years ago.  Got rid of the sciatic pain down the leg but I still have pain in the lower back on the right side.  Can't stand in one place too long.  Can't do hardly anything if I'm bent over even slightly.  And if I have to bend over all the way (like to pick up anything off the floor) OOUUUUUUCCCCCHHHHHHHH!!!  But like one of the guys above said, you do what you gotta do.  It doesn't stop me but the next day I pay for it.  But, it could always be worse.  And, it did get rid of the really bad sciatic pain.  That was a real crippler.

 

Good luck and I wish you the best.  Rick

i have had spinal surgery it did not make me perfect once more but i can walk agean.  i was bed ridden for about 6 months.  it has been about 8 years i think ( meds i was on messed up some of my memory) that i have been walking.  like some one said before you will learn new ways to get to do things that you want to do.  i walk with a cane and have a floor layout so i can get around it with most ease.  ( btw i broke my spine in 3 places i have been told i should be dead.)  here is the best advice i can give you live each day like it was your last and when you wake up the next morning thank god for it.  a life lived in fear of pain is a un lived life.  

Yikes everyone.....sounds like many of you have had some REAL bad back problems.  Thanks at least for letting me know I'm not alone.  I wish you all the best. 

No surgery here, but I'm currently struggling with sciatic pain. I've had lower-back issues off and on for a while; the pain would usually go away on its own but this round has been a nasty one. I'm doing exercises and living with it the best I can for now, but it sometimes makes work a struggle(I'm an HVAC technician, so LOTS of bending/kneeling/getting up and down from the floor).

As far as trains, I find that I can't sit for too long on the stool and standing is sometimes worse, so it does cut into my hobby time to an extent.

I  had an L4/L5 microdiskectomy in 93' I was back to work in 3 weeks digging footings with a post hole digger. Not very fast, but at least I was able to keep an eye on the crew. I've had no problems since! My tile guy had the spinal fusion around the same time and took several months (5)to recover. He has a huge scar and lost some range of motion.  

It can't hurt to look into a neurosurgeon vs an orthopedic one. I still got rid of the duck unders though.

Ditto to all of the above!  Except instead of backpacking, I row and sail and bike...

 

Jon 

While I have not had any surgery, work on my layout has been curtailed.  I have had great success with aqua therapy,an hour every other day at a heated indoor pool.  Presently I can stand for reasonable periods and also walk without pain.  I am walking at the mall and am having promising results.  I was able to golf this fall after over 2 years of curtailed presence on the links.  I'm looking forward to returning to the gym soon. 

After Christmas I'll try crawling under my track work and try to finish up.

It's kind of funny because things started out with sore knees and the possibility of replacement surgery--not now--and severe and debilitating muscular pain from hip to ankle are almost gone now.  I am hopeful that my lumbar problems will continue to improve (as is my doctor).

Good luck

 

Norm Rish