On October 12th of last year I herniated 3 disks…the C6/C7 was herniated 6mm. My right arm was 80% paralyzed. Ive had 2 surgical epidurals with pretty good results. I still have some residual weakness and numbness but Im doing much better. Doc says no more surfing, swimming, paddling or outrigger…EVER!!!
Has anybody had a similar injury and been restored to health and the surf? If so, I’d sure like to know how you did it.
Sorry to hear that AF, how about getting a 2nd, 3rd and 4th opinion.
If it’s still no go, become a surf photographer with a 800mm lens
I’ve sent you a PM. The best medicine is ‘‘Tincture of Time.’’ Hicksey may be correct. A second opinion sure can’t hurt.
Yeah, sorry to hear that.
If there really was no way for me to surf, I’d buy a small ULDB- ultra light displacement boat- like a Santa Cruz 27 or Olson 30 or Hobie 33. In the right conditions they surf. Guaranteed hoot fest.
But of course I’d rather hear about a recovery. Get those second and third opinions.
Hello,
Have a look at the thread: Re: [shifty] bad back…
It isn’t necessarily easy, but with good advice, knowledge and persistance there are still waves to be had. I have had 2 herniated discs and in the above thread offer some ideas. You will find contributions from other’s as well which you may find helpful.
Bob
Hi:
1st: sorry for my english-spanglsih.
Two years ago I was deposited of urgency in the hospital: Extremely painful hernia in the L5-S1. The doctor said to me that I’ll never surf after the operation (discetomia=disk out)… I was depressed during a time, but, today, usually go to the beach -I live in Cádiz, Spain- and practice my poor surfing without problems, jajaja!!; in fact I have no pains, I´ve slimmed and feel very well, thankfully.
My herniate disk wasn’t a problem: I must keep in mind this, and do carefully anything!!
the location of the problem is different, ok, but actually there are many ways to have a optimal quality of life, even practising surf! with a little caution, of course.
You must ask for a second opinion, and study all the differents posibilities. Well, best regards and good surf, friend!!
I don’t know of a surfer but I do know a golfer who went to:
these guys fixed him up pretty well. They are known for doing top athletes as well.
ain’t cheap but then again, what price good health…
Hi: This url is great!!
My operation was similar to a wood work, jajajaj!! Bye!
sending the healing vibe ,am I.
feel the force
allow your self healing.
pray for the doctor
pray for the worse broken
float in water
if you cant swim just float.
perhaps at lourdes…
…ambrose…
other healing spots are O.K. too
get the nurse to touch a healing spot.
sorry to hear about this.google laser spine institute,this is the procedures that i wish were around a few years ago when a family member had L5 disk matter removed.lots of progress since then and methods what i mentioned above is only one.but i don’t follow it much since in a way it no longer applies.at the time i was looking for the best solutions.you did not mention your age or your overall health.the mind is a powerful healer that being said it is easy for me to say this as i am not in your state of being.my family member was very active in ocean sports and it changed life as she knew it[but the quality of life is back now[with reservations] but it was a process]…the thought of re injury was always in the back of her mind.was hard to see her go thru this and i was cautious to suggest any encouragements until she cleared her mind of those thoughts.risk is the word that comes to mind you measure them and make calculated decisions and goals to achieve the desired results.take things slow but set goals small at first nothing happens overnight,consult a sports physical doctor about what you want to achieve.if your overweight first goal is to drop as much weight as possible ,[read books on nutrition and how they affect the body’s healing abilities] weightloss to get the pressure off the spine and work on core exercises,pool swimming for overall strength and stretching routine a log or diary to track everything good and bad ,and as you progress it is a good reminder of where you began when you hit a hard spot.there are many paths to take and these are only suggestions and again seek out people with knowledge on each goal you need to achieve. the hardest is to change your mind set and begin the journey and except without prejudice where it takes you, find your fortune aloha…
I had three bulged/herniated discs about 4 years ago in the low back (S1, L4, L5) something like that. Pain was so bad for several months there were days I wasn’t sure I would be able to make it from the office to my car after work. Trying to drive home was painful, sleeping was impossible. I went to four different back specialists, including a renowned doctor at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. Two of them instantly said surgery is the only option after spending all of about 5 minutes with me. Most people I talked to that had back surgery say don’t do it.
I went to another doctor who offered the range of options from Epidurals to surgery. One of the doctors gave me some steroids to take for a week (a Medrol Pack?). I think it was Prednisone. It helped, but did not resolve anything. Then I went to another specialist who suggested to take another shot at the Medrol Pack if it helped. Not too long after taking the second round of steriods the pain resolved and I’ve had no recurrent problems, although I don’t try lifting anything too heavy anymore.
There’s another camp that say the herniated disc results from lack of water intake (dehydration), which causes the disc to shrink up and move out of place. The remedy is more water on a regular basis.
This surgery may be as good as it sounds, however, I would be very cautious. Get advice from someone reputable that you trust. Looking at their stats - 7% reported no change or things got worse (of course I could have reported 93% feeling better) - you just don’t want to be among the 7%. The visual analog scale is a pretty coarse measure - “better” could mean a lot of things.
I recall a phsyio telling me that a few years back, there was a treatment that involved injecting some substance (could have been a pawpaw extract). Initially it worked wonders then over the years serious problems developed. The laser treatment may be as good as it sounds, however, you still need to read and look at physical/psychological rehab. Learn from and about your back.
Bob
“7% reported no change or things got worse”
Regarding that. That percentage is extremely good. Most patients don’t come away from surgery w/ a 93% satisfaction rate. I work in the medical industry. Although, I’m not a surgeon, I work w/ them on a regular basis and provide studies (national and international) with post-op patient satisfaction. I would definately do your research and find a highly recommended surgeon. I see a lot of hacks out there. Remember, the guys who graduated at the bottom of their class are still called doctor. I work in sports med not spine, so unfortunately I can’t help you w/ any recommendations.
Sorry to hear about your injury, prayers and good vibes sent your way.
G’day Aquafiend,
Below are acouple of pictures of what are now holding me together.
After about twelve years of mind altering pain and stints out of the surf I finally got to see someone who thought they could help me.
Double disc replacement with the pro-disc.
I still have some pain but not like before, and I’m back doing 3 hr surfs and running jumping etc.
I spent six months out of the surf and gradually built my water time back up.
They also didn’t think I’d ever surf again, but i did have age and ahigh level of fitness on my side before the surgery.
If you want to know anything about what I had done just PM me and I tell you what I know.
Regards
Daren
I had three bulged/herniated discs about 4 years ago in the low back (S1, L4, L5) something like that. Pain was so bad for several months there were days I wasn’t sure I would be able to make it from the office to my car after work. Trying to drive home was painful, sleeping was impossible. I went to four different back specialists, including a renowned doctor at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. Two of them instantly said surgery is the only option after spending all of about 5 minutes with me. Most people I talked to that had back surgery say don’t do it.
I went to another doctor who offered the range of options from Epidurals to surgery. One of the doctors gave me some steroids to take for a week (a Medrol Pack?). I think it was Prednisone. It helped, but did not resolve anything. Then I went to another specialist who suggested to take another shot at the Medrol Pack if it helped. Not too long after taking the second round of steriods the pain resolved and I’ve had no recurrent problems, although I don’t try lifting anything too heavy anymore.
There’s another camp that say the herniated disc results from lack of water intake (dehydration), which causes the disc to shrink up and move out of place. The remedy is more water on a regular basis.
With all due respect, I’m sure that you would have gone in with your x-rays and MRI (s). I’ve been through the same situation, and with the imaging it’s usually obvious what is going on with the degenerative disks, although it my not be what you wanted to hear. My Doctors looked at the MRI for about 5 minute as well.
I’m sure any Doctor would spend enough time to answer any of your questions that you had brought with you.
Usually as well, visits are first steps in carefully choosing what is best for your situation.
By all means, avoid spinal surgery at all costs, unless the information presents that as the best option. It’s elective surgery. Your internist should be a good source for filtering the information from the specialist. If not, get with a better Doctor who you can talk straight with, and make sure they understand what surfing is. Everyone’s situation is completely unique.
Around 2000 I started having problems with my neck. I didn’t pay much attention to it, but I had numbness in my left hand especially the forefinger for several years. By the time I had it checked, the numbness was in my whole left arm and surfing would cause a lot of pain.
I learned that I had 2 herniated cervical disks.
I had c5, c6 and c7 fused. After about 3 to 6 months out of the water I was able to surf and the nerve damage is almost 100% gone.
I would check on fusion, but I would also research the new materials that are out there as an option to a solid fusion like I have. I chose to use bones from a bone bank for my operation. With 3 bad disks you’ll be fusing a larger area. It would be better to have a flexible insert instead of bone. Otherwise over time the disks above and below the fused are will have too much stress and they will start to get damaged. I think there are 2 or 3 new things being tested now that allow for some flexibility.
I’ve surfed waves with 12 foot faces since my operation. I usually have to go home and rest after a hard day of surf and getting pounded. Makes surfing before work harder, but I can still surf.
Get it fixed or you will could become a quad or paraplegic. If you’re in Hawaii, I can give you the name of the neurosurgeon who fixed me up.
the hardest is to change your mind set and begin the journey and except without prejudice where it takes you, find your fortune
Hard words, but good words. And absolutely, inescapably true.
I’m so sorry to hear about your injury. My prayers and all the very best sent your way.
Had a herniated disk in the S1 region that had blown out 15.2mm.
The pain specialist at Scripps green tried steroids and pain meds for about a month but nothing improved in fact I ballooned up 40 pounds from the roids and the feeding frenzy they spawned.
I was then referred to a surgeon who sent me in for an MRI.
One look at the MRI and the surgeon offered me three choices.
Some shot that he said works with small bulges, Pain meds to manage the pain or surgery.
I took the surgery in August and the pain relief was instant.
I was out of the water for two months drinking beer and walking the beach for exercise.
At the two month mark I was going nuts so I started swimming on small days just to be in the water.
I then got the bright idea to make a rigid belly board,fish style board and happily kicked my way into a few small ones.
At three months the doctor released me to do what I wanted with the advise if it hurts don’t do it.
I stand up much slower don’t have near the leg strength and have two left feet more often then not but I am back in the water.
Use surgery as a last resort!
In my case I was in such bad shape getting out of bed to walk to the bathroom was a half hour ordeal and I was starting to eat aleeve and vicodin like candy.
The surgeon said I would probably never heal on my own and I have seen anough people going through life with intense life altering back pain to know if I could swing the Surgery I could lead a fairly normal life.
Everyday is a little better then the day before until of course my medical bills started showing up = (.
Good luck life is fragile handle with a prayer.
Hey AF, I’ve had recurring disk problems for the last few years, inspired I believe by breaking my tailbone snowboarding a while back. Not as bad as yours but 2 years ago I spent about 8 months in regular blinding pain from a recurrance. I was offered surgery but refused it. Physio was very helpfull although it will take a long time and doesn’t provide instant results. I also took an arthritis medication similar to Vioxx but I can’t remember exactly what it was. It provided the best relief of any medication, I could take prescription painkillers like candy and they did nothing to relieve pain.
best thing is to keep moving and when you are ready for it start stretching/yoga and building your core strength, again it takes time but was the only acceptable option for me. I still sometimes have minor recurrances that can last a week or two but they are almost always brought on by compression injuries. (i know I shouldn’t hit park jumps snowboarding but it’s just soooo fun)
best of luck and patience.
don’t stop moving, your mental health is critical to improving your physical health.
Check out the Texas Back Institute. My dad had 2 herniated disks and they fixed him up. He was in agony for 6 or 7 years, but now he feels fine.