Getting old takes all the fun out of it.

In 2001 I ruptured a disc in my lower back, career diesel-heavy equipment tech. They were very nice also to tell me I had two herniated discs also, one above and one below the blowout. At 34 my "heavy" part of the job description was over. They wanted to fuse my lower four together and I said I'd wait. Fought alot of downs with it and cut alot of activity that resulted in pain out of my program. Took a teaching job, easier to talk about it all day than actually do it, wish I had figured that out earlier!
Took eight years to get back into shape enough to ride again. This summer I was stronger and could ride with only the normal pain of a wore out 43yr old with two bad knees also. Three weeks ago I had another blow out, worst since 01. Didn't even do anything just happened. Doc said my back had naturally fused two verts and I had broke that fusion and lost the rigidity, gee wonder why I wanted to eat a bullet for the pain. Schools about ready to start so surgery will have to wait untill next June. I can function ok but can't even carry a gallon of milk, same as last time.
Doc. couldnt believe I was riding again but said after they fuse me together with cool titanium lag screws the tips of the lags point toward my spinal cord. He said if I ever crashed bad I could shove one of those screws into my spinal cord, that would be bad....... Anyone out there had that procedure done to advise? I'm at peace with never riding again if thats the way its needs to be as I have a family that relies on me. Thanks in advance, Scott

I have spondylolisthesis of the 4th lumbar and have been fighting pain all my life. However, my back hurts even when I don't ride so I live with it the best I can. The best thing for me is to stretch as much as possible. If I were you I wouldn't want to take much risk.

Pain is one of my best friends, he will always be there for me

I was diagnosed with a spondy of L5-S1 years ago. The discomfort and the weakness in my legs( lifting leg up on kickstarter,etc.) got so bad I hardly rode the last two years..... Which really sucks when you own two of the coolest off-road tracks in the Northwest! (Eddieville & Starvation Ridge)

I finally went to my general doc last year and said we've got to find out what's wrong. I had tried everything. Excercise,physical therapy, accupuncture,inversion table, streching, abstinence...( oops, not that one) pain injections ( twice in two different areas) , nothing helped. The x-rays last fall showed the spondy, but nothing else. The MRI however, showed a bilateral pars defect ( the two facets that hold each vertabrae to the next were both broke) the only thing holding my spine in place were the muscle tension and spinal cord. When I got tired, the vertabrae moved, pinched the nerves, and I was done.

The first surgeon I went to ordered more tests, more cat scans, pain shots, etc.He didn't think the pars defect was the problem. I wasn't getting a warm & fuzzy feeling with him so my general doc sent me to his surgeon that had operated on him and his wife.
Right off the bat I was impressed with the second surgeon. He shows me the MRI and points out the broken facets where even I could see them. Asks me what I tried and when I got done simply said " None of that helped did it?

He showed me the " H " shaped brace and the four 3" screws that went thru the corners that secure the two vertabrae along with the circular ring jack with 2 thumbscrews to adjust the gap betwen the two vertabrae.
One expensive, but pain-free addition was 2 vials of synthetic bone instead of a painful scraping of the hip or pelvis. He said I would not be pain-free, because he was srewing the 3" screws into bone, etc. , etc. , but there would no longer be nerve pinching. In the Adventist hospital on Wenesday morning, headed home Thursday morning. He said light duty for 3 months, no racing for 6 months.
It's been 6 months and my general doc was right, surgeon wrong. I'm not ready to race yet, ( was hoping to race in the 24hrs of Starvation Ridge). The back joint is solid and pain free, the issue is the back muscles they disturbed to get to the spine. As I get tired working in the day, my back starts to ache. Next morning I'm good again.
The back is getting stronger all the time, but it's still got a ways to go. If I hit a sharp hit sitting, it still stings, but I can feel the improvement each time I ride. Rode Gifford Pinchot several weeks ago and it was a cakewalk. G-outs and spikes are what I have to be careful of.

Sorry for the long-winded explanation. The points I would like to make are: get at least a second opinion, make sure the surgeon knows your lifestyle and what you do, talk to people that have had the same procedure done by your surgeon. While I was in pre-op waiting for my turn this nice hospital employee came up and gave me her card and said if I had any question or problems afterward to call her. I must have looked puzzled because she then added " I had the same surgery 2 years ago in the same spot with your surgeon. I went home the next day and back to work in a week" I was quite happy to hear that.

The only problem I have with my surgery is that I didn't do it years ago......but then my course marshall had his back fused 20 years ago after a Washougal crash crushed 3 vertabrae and he ended up 1 1/2" shorter. Hmmmm, I ended up a 1/2" taller, maybe I'm glad I didn't get it done sooner!!!

Scott

Steve, thanks for the encouragement! Scott, I very much appreciate the detailed description.This is the feedback from my wining I was looking for. My number one hobby is riding bikes and I have a bad back so I doubted I was alone being we are getting to be vintage!
First question I have is who/were did your surgery? Being we are just next door that is a plus. I want to tuff it out through the school year and have it done when school gets out. Standing kills me but I have a stool in the front of my class and stay mobile going back and forth. Got brave last night and went for a ride, on my Kawi KE100,! Look like a badass on that at 6'2" and 270! Needed some wind and two stroke smell.
Your experience pre-surgery is an exact course of events as mine was. Injections worked for maybe a couple of hours, not worth that experience. 13 months of physical terrorists- they made it worse. It took me eight years from my "blowout" to get riding again and dammit I dont want to stop, heck I haven't even got to go to your place yet! CJ was trying to rope me into a relay race? at your place next year. Thanks again for your feedback, Scott

I'm such as pussy. After reading what you guys are and have gone thru I feel like such a wimp. Doing some emergency plumbing here at the house this past spring, I strained my lower back. (An early 80's H20 skiing crash started it all for me) I've been nursing it now for 5 months. No moto, very litttle golf, no prolonged sitting/crouching but overall much better now than then.

I really really feel for you guys that have severe issues w/ yall's back. I have had a small taste of the pain and discomfort and wouldn't wish it on anyone. It does sucks getting older. It takes so much longer to recuperate.

Scott, hope you get to feeling better and can soon enjoy a pain free and active lifestyle.

Rick

Rick, I remember when you did that. Not to ruin your evening but I had the "warning shots" a few times before the big blowout. If it is still bothering you after this long I would seek further medical advice. I think in such a mechanical way that if it lasts longer than the common cold somethings broke that needs fixed! I never got that warn fuzzy feeling with the three neurosurgeons I saw between 2002-2003 to be confident to let any of them cut on me. I tried to relate it to them in my thinking. I did/do Caterpillar injection pump rebuilds, stock and performance. I have customers from all over the world because thats what I do-very well. Not to brag because I'll never win some golden wrench for fixing outdated injection pumps that most people could care less about! I know how they work and how to fix them, thats the type/confidence of a surgeon I want to go to. To feel confident we need to hear "Oh ya Ive done alot of those and here is my references"
BTW Rick, hows the project?

Jordi Kellog in Portland is the surgeon that worked on me.He pops right up if you do a google search.

Got to love my general doc. Broke his back on a streetbike 20+ years ago, tried ultimate fighting till he blew out a knee ( at 55+), finally bought a roadbike after 20+ years and promptly overran a corner going too fast ( didn't get hurt that time). He looks at life as taking good enough care of your body to do all the things you want, without denying yourself the experiences.

Who cares about dying with a perfectly healthy body. I want to get all the goody out of mine I can.

Scott..wow....sorry to hear this you're in my prayers

I'll be 59 in November - so I feel your pain. I blew my knee out in 2006 and had to have surgery on it. My doctor told me to quit riding dirt bikes, so when my wife asked me what he said, I told her he said I needed to buy an electric start dirt bike - so I did. I believe you don't quit doing things because you get old, you get old because you quit doing things.

Hahaha I love your "electric start" response, High-Side!

Well it was almost true - he actually told me he didn't want me to ride my kick start dirt bike any more as that could damage my repaired knee, but it was alright to ride my electric start street bikes.

Dammit Scott, what rotten luck after so many years off the bikes. I can't offer much advice regarding back surgeries and the like, but can feel your misery at the thought of not riding....period. At 56, when I broke my left foot last October acting not my age on a bike I wasn't familiar with (my bro's), I can still feel the stiffness and limited movement now - but it aint and hasn't stopped me from MX'ing.

Had a guy that works for me just recently return from a medical leave to have one of his bulging discs "shaved" arthroscopically with a laser. Quick turn around time of maybe 3 weeks or so and he's doing fine, on his feet all day long. For you, I would recommend getting done what needs to be done for quality of life with or without the Husky, but if it were me I would still sneak a ride now and then with high quality rear shocks, a spring-loaded seat modification, and a full back brace.
Ride it like you stole it, but for God's sake don't dump it!

Mark

thankfully i'm still a young pup (only 49). i have back issues that pop up if i don't ride a bicycle somewhat regularly, but as long as i strengthen and stretch it by pedaling once a week or so, they stay away.

I'd have to be pretty messed up to quit riding tho. 7 weeks after a compound femur fracture, i was back in the dirt. just being real sure to not fall over, and brought along a collapsible cane cuz i couldn't walk w/o assistance.

On hold for the time being. Back issues (see above - still a little leary of repeated crouching, bending and prolonged sitting). Been hotter than hades out in the shop (110 degrees out there up to the last week and a half). My puppy dog (my best friend) got run over on my watch (broke my frigg'n heart). Picked up an acoustic guitar and am trying to teach myself how to play it.

Excuses, excuses, excuses. I know. I'll be back out there this fall when it cools down some to wrap things up.

Oh man...sorry about your best friend. They do tend to become firmly lodged into our hearts and souls and leave a huge void when they're gone.

My sympathies for the loss of your dog Schimmelaw. Very sad to hear.

Rick,
They tear at the heartstrings, I wept along side my 9 year old little girl last June when we had to put our horse down, same blubbering 270lb'r when I had to put MY male 7yr. old Golden Retriever down last Sept. I say MY because he went to work with me everyday of his life. I always said, usually in front of them, that he is smarter than most of my friends and more loyal! Never borrows tools, well there was that one hammer he chewed the handle off of!
Rick I hope you feel better soon and your popularity increases for the positive in your house, aren't you out numbered with girls?

Started out 5 to 1. Down to 4 to 1.

My beautiful wife felt/saw my pain (50 yr old grown man crying like like a 2 yr old baby girl) w/ the loss of Crash1 and MADE me get another puppy. She couldn't take me He is part of the reason why I haven't been out in the shop lately. Training, breakinging in and getting to know one another the last couple of months. Would never replace Crash1 but Crash2 certainly helps.

Sorry for the hijak.

Hey yall, it's Rick's youngest Madii (15 y.o.)

Just wanted/needed to put my two-sense in and say that Dad's doing good and although his message above may seem like he doesn't like Jack (Crash2) he loves him. They play all the time and go on walks every night. I swear he treats that dog better than he does me! Jack is Dad and me's baby, Mom says that he just takes to us like water.

We will always remember Crash (Maxx) as our first puppy and he could never be replaced but having someone else to love and care for doesn't hurt either(:

Oh and btw Dad.... HACK HACK HACK HACK HACK HACK YOU HAVE JUST BEEN HACKED !!