There’s no rushing nerve heal. My neurosurgeon didn’t think I needed PT at all.

Walk as much as you can but not so much you aggravate the pain. Slow down your walking pace.

My weight...

I had that symptom and still do in my left leg. I’m pretty sure it’s related to the nerve impingement that’s affecting your foot. The calve muscles just aren’t getting electrical signal. It took...

Snowboarded two days Sun/Mon after exactly one year off snow and 8 months post Coflex surgery. It was hard at first but I finished strong.

Since the surgery I’ve always had a painful knot on...

Went on a 5 day vacation with just a soft pack. Lots of walking, buses, trains, planes, and ferrys. My back was really sore after a couple days but not in a bad way. After a couple days rest the...

Portland has many public pools. There are other options?

Don't be a hero. Pain is bad.

I could ski when I could barely walk and wouldn’t even think about running. So I’m way ahead in that respect. I need more rotational stability before I’m comfortable thinking about skiing. Thanks

Almost 4 months out for me. Feel great. I started doing straight leg dead lift with 20 or 30 pounds. It's really affective at getting where i need strength. I can walk fast now and almost run at...

Years ago the doc told me that "spasms" and sore back were all accumulative injuries of a more severe problem developing. Makes sense. Mine were getting more and more frequent over the years. Be...

Yeah, I may try to find a physio and pay for a couple visits.

3 mo follow up today. Got a perfectly vague answer about what I can do. Basically everything in moderation... Although he did echo some of grinch recommendations and thought compression type...

I been there. Hope turns to despair. I'm an upbeat person and can't imagine going through this stuff if with tendency to depression. I'm not really working that hard. It just sounds like it. If...

It kinda is. I been sitting around for 6 months and missed an epic year of skiing. I'm anxious to get back in the game. In 2016 I won a championship in golf when I could barely walk and I haven't...

Four mile walk yesterday. Six miles today in less than two hours. Weak but stable throughout.

Doing squats is really helping stabilize my core. I need to be careful with that but it’s...

10 weeks post laminectomy/coflex device. I'm basically pain free. The little knot/strain is 90% gone. Swimming helps that.

I've started doing squats with no weight and it was a struggle at...

The strain in my lower right back is almost healed. I only feel it a little at the end of a 45 minute swim. Even did some butterfly at the end. Thats anaerobic for me. If I can continue...

2 mo update:

The sciatic pain is gone which was reason for the surgery. 100% success with that so far.

Swimming has really helped balance my strength and I'm noticeably weaker doing my...

I still have occasional very mild short lived sciatica in both legs. It's scary thinking it might come back. As far as new pain, my right butt has a little bit of pain that I didn't have prior. ...

Thanks for the tip

I got an intervertebral device (Coflex) on top of laminectomy for my mostly stenosis. It's worth looking into if the pain becomes too depressing. It's such a relief to able to...

I spent two years doing voodoo. I knew something was wrong but the system requires it. I could point to the spot on my spine where the chronic pain was. No more pain there after surgery.

My...

Now that I am swimming again I have to say that for basic core strength and balance not many things beat swimming. Long slow swim with my waterproof ipod is relaxing. For years I had sharp low back...

After electric crack last night lower leg stayed tingly and calf muscles got tight. Calf stretch was painful.

This morning I went for a walk to test whether the nerves are waking up. It...

I did mention to the doc a lot of benign painless clicking near the surgery site and he immediately waved that off as normal.


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Yesterday I added sitting thigh curls with 15 pounds to my weights. It felt pretty good and maybe I did 40 reps. 2x20. During yesterday’s workout I felt the top of my gluteus along the lower spine...

I’m tired morning after swimming. Feel good though. Glad I have it back. It’s so efficient and low impact. Combine with some weights and flexibility and I’m in a good place.


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Thanks. It sounds like a lot but it really isn't. Maybe an hour and a half. Will try a walk tomorrow.

I started back on the stretching/strength stuff today per grinch. Down dog, cobra, up dog, the hand leg extended thing, planks. Also did my weights. Finished up with mile swim. Swim felt great....

Definitely. I haven't been able to navigate ski chatter for years and don't plan on starting. Just go slow.

/\Good stuff! I was doing some of those exercises pre-surgery but they weren't helping. It was frustrating. Good idea to go back to those now as they will probably work. It's hard to do those...

Thanks for the tips and suggestions. I don't do shoulder press anymore. Too much strain. I've been doing weights since week three post-op and was in pretty good strength shape before the surgery...

Five week follow up:

Clear for weight training with no spine compression or twisting

Clear for swimming

Clear for cycling

My numb lower leg "should" get better and 5 weeks is "nothing"...

Lower leg started having pins and needles, mild spasms, and a weird vibration feeling. Hoping that’s a good sign for nerve function returning.


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30 minute spin went well. Can’t remember the last time I had good sweat. Maybe a year... After 20 minutes some aerobic balance came back and it was a good crank for ten minutes. Weight routine...

I’m doing a lot of walking. The lower leg is getting better (sometimes). It just feels so weak. I know that I need to keep trying to walk and exercise those muscles to train, prevent fibrosis and...

One month post surgery. Left Lower leg still numb but no real pain. I think this is called Radiculopathy. The nerves aren’t talking to the muscle so they just don’t work. It can get better or...

Today, I had probably the best (3 mile) walk in 3+ years. Still some weakness in my calf but mostly on flat surfaces. Virtually no back pain. Yesterday I went to the gym and did an almost a complete...

Thanks. Golf is a luxury I miss but I had largely stopped playing to stay functional for other things...like walking and ski which I could still do. Had I been able to stay functional I probably...

Nothing notable on my first follow up. PA recommends take it easy a couple more weeks so no serious rehab. Stationary bike, walking, careful with even lite weights. No twisting mostly due to the...

Thanks Moose, I'm on my third box of Dulcolax in ten days. It definitely helps and let that be a warning to anybody that needs to use Oxy and the like. Plan ahead! Still a struggle if you don't...

Longer walk yesterday and lot of sitting. My leg pain is 90% gone. I have low back weakness but the nerve pain is mostly gone. Only a week out of surgery. I did take a couple norco this morning...

Went for a short walk today. I’m weak and tired but did not have the creeping numbness in my leg.

I also need to stop taking the Norco. It’s been one week on it. Last night I started having...

Thanks. Right now is not much worse than pre-op so I’m almost on house money.


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A couple rough days after the numbing agent wore off. Mild fever with severe nerve pain. Spoke with the surgeon who said normal. That’s all I needed to a hear. Today is four days post op and...

Thanks. Setback today. Went for a walk and move around the house. Feels like spasms. Ouch.. Laying still now.


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Tried skipping a pain pill. Bad idea. Back on schedule.


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I don’t remember writing those posts from post op yesterday. Modern anesthesia is such a miracle. I’m usually not a serial poster so apology. Thanks for the notes of support. It helps and so many...

Oh yeah I know they are probably acting but it still helps. I'm a funny guy though! Neuro pretty quiet and he's not even there till I'm gone. Saw him for less than a minute in prep. I'm ok with...

Thanks. I’m really surprised how fast it game together. Appt. Thursday, EKG Friday, Blood test Saturday.
Table Tuesday.

The team made it fun. The nurses and docs were engaging and laughing...

Too early to declare victory. Hydrocodone is good drug. Drink lots of water.


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Meds wearing off but pain minimal.


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