I used to be a gymnast but stopped a few years ago. I never competed but was in advanced classes and such. Right before memorial day I had spinal fusion surgery on my L4, L5 S1 for a grade 4 spondylolithesis. I don’t expect to be back to my normal self, but I’d like to get back into the gym and work on some skills I lost. I don’t expect to throw a back tuck but I’d just like to regain some flexibility and possibly a handspring.

I had a L5 spinal fusion about 3 years ago, I did rehab and when the Dr. said I could get back to normal life, I re-broke my back only a few months later and was undergoing a 2nd L5 fusion only 6 months after the first. This TERRIFIED me, and other than very basic movement and walking, I was too afraid to move at all. I’ve finally gotten past my phobia and I suppose what would be called depression and am now trying to lose all the weight that packed on from what became a solid year of lying in bed with a back brace as well as strengthen my back and core. I mean it hurts to sit up straight for extended time, stand up for any time, do ANYTHING for more than a few minutes and I start to crumble in pain. Can someone please tell me if it’s too late to try and strengthen my back and core? I stay in very constant moderate to severe pain. I don’t want to have a 3rd surgery. I’m only 26. What are the best things I can do? I was an athlete (football through h.s. and then mma as a hobby) so the workouts I’m use to, kill me. I feel like I’m 60 years old. I’m sorry for the length of this question/life story, but it’s consumed my entire mid twenties life. I even get winded and hurt from yoga… I know "no pain, no gain" but I have that constant fear of, " is this a workout pain, or am I in danger of breaking my back again?" Any and every bit of advice is appreciated. I want my life back. I’d like to eventually not have to depend on my Dr.’s medications. I used to be so active, but I’ve been as close to a shut in for 3+ years as one can be. Advice, links, charts, workout routines, anything, please help me. Thank you to any one who took the time to read this entire thing. Your efforts will not be ignored. Thank you. Yours truly – Joshua P.S. I’ve recently joined my local YMCA to try and work out, if nothing else but use their pool. So I have access to most anything in the exercise world. I would like to hear any thoughts on these "Teeter Hangup" type devices. I just looks like it would be SO soothing to reverse all the pressure that stays on my spine. I’m 26 years old, male, 5’10 and from the time of the surgeries I have blown up from 230 lbs to 320 lbs…. diet tips are also VERY welcome… Thank you all so much!

Ok I had spinal fusion surgey for scoliosis 9 months ago and I want to go to Kingz island and ride the roller coasters but I was wondering If I would be allowed to because of all the jerks in the roller coster. Please help thanks in advance

I turn 17 in January, i had my spinal fusion in early august and the doctor said everything is going the way they want it to. but i just wanna know what is goin on with me. i touch my back and it feels almost numb, one of my ribs is sticking out now i have the same pains, and i am th weakest ive ever been in my life, when can i start being free to do whatever i want withiout having to worry about hurting m,yself

I am scheduled to have a second spinal fusion. My family doctor and I decided that I should get a second opinion. The neuro surgeon said that he could not help me. I went back to my orthopedic surgeon, who had by now, found out about the 2nd opinion. He scheduled me for a very painful test, one that he told me I didn’t need, and also instructed me to get my pain medication from my family doctor. I guess his pride was bruised.
It has now been 1 week since the results of the test were sent to him. He hasn’t called me to give me the results, and is now on vacation for 2 weeks.He is one of the best spinal surgeons in indiana. What should I do? I have also refused his advances in the past. This condition has been affecting me for 11 months.

I had my Spinal Fusion Surgery October 15th of last year, and I’m still having terrible pains. Is that normal?
-And also I was wondering if when I’m finished growing, can I have the rods and screws removed. ‘Cause I don’t want them.

Ok so i have a lot of questions. Im a 15 year old Gymnast. And i haven’t done gymnastics in 8 months because i have a stress fracture in the L5 pedicle portion of my back. I worn a brace for 4 months that wasn’t strong enough for me, and it didn’t work. Now i have another brace, with a thigh cuff. Its plastic material with padding, and there is a middle bar going down with a thigh cuff on my right leg. I need the thigh cuff because i have pain down my right leg from the bone touching the nerve and bone touching. My doctor said i have to wear the brace for a total of 3 months, and if that doesn’t work, to get a spinal fusion.

I am talking to my doctor about it tomorrow, because i have a lot of questions. I don’t want to wear this brace, because i already did wear a brace,and i wasted my time. I haven’t done any physical activity in 8 months, and i think that waiting another 3-6 months is pointless. My doctor might allow me to just get surgery instead, because i went to physical therapy for 2 months already.

I was talking to my coach the other day and she is 100% AGAINST surgery. She said i can die from it, get paralyzed, everything.

Now my question is, what should i really know about this spinal fusion?

on a scale of 1 to 10 how painful do you feel from having spinal fusion surgery? is it most painful when you first wake up, or the day after surgery?

I’m a 35 year old male who had a spinal fusion 2 years ago (oct 7th) what kind of exercise can I start doing to strengthen up my back and to lose the belly fat. I have Titanium screws and bars to hold the L5 S1

I had spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis when I was 13 years old. (I am 22 now.) My spine is fused from just below my neck to my lower back, and I have the titanium rods. What I am wondering is…what method could be used to anesthetize me (either local or general) during vaginal child birth?

PS – I’m not pregnant now. But I am getting married soon and just want to plan for the future. Thanks!

the front & back of my neck has metal in it, due to bone disorder.
The spinal fusion was done in 09/27/07. I can’t do any thing I use to, like working, playing sports, and activities with my kids. The pain has me down 24/7. Is this normal after surgery?

hey i’m brittany, i’m 13 years old and i got a spinal fusion two years ago because of extreme scoliosis. i wanted to know if it’d be possible to go back into gymnastics after such a surgery and the minor detail of the metal rods in my back. i asked my doctor but he didnt give a clear answer. do you think its possible?

im 16, i had spinal fusion a month ago for spondylolishthesis. now my left foot hurts ever since the surgery. my nerve roots were compressed and they were tiny. i also had bladder problems before the surgery prompting me to get checked out. now, after the surgery when i was in the hospital, my left leg behind my thigh was sore and kinda hurting now that pain is gone. it hurt to put a sock on my left foot now the pain seems to be on my upper part of my left foot. my heel part is back to normal
also before and after the surgery on my left leg it still twitches

They want to do a minimal invasive surgery on me to fix this and put in screws and plates and clean me out and redo my spinal fusion. I am scheduled for May 9th and very very scared and unsure if i should go ahead with this at all. Does anyone have any advise or knowledge of having this happen to them?

My neurosurgeon has recommended spinal fusion because I have herniated discs at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1. I have tried physical therapy and it did not help. It just made the pain worse. I can’t even hardly move and am in constant pain all of the time despite being on pain meds and muscle relaxers around the clock. I am not working right now. I am trying to move around as much as possible. I can’t hardly sit, stand, or lay down for more than a few minutes at a time. What kind of results have you had with spinal fusion surgeries?