I am having a laminectomy and fusion with pedigle screws in a week for severe disc compression and radiating pain down both legs. I have been told that diving and doing flip turns in the future may not be possible and I would like to hear of other's experiences.:confused
just take it slow after surgery. Flips turns and dives are only important at meets.
I had to re invent myself after lower back problems and stop running. I picked up swimming and I am not looking back (no pun intended). I also spend alot of time on the bicycle.
I just listen to my back and do what I can. I'm sure you will be able to swim well if you take it slow at first.
Always listen to your doctor.
My daughter had the 2nd and third vertibrae compressed and was in severe pain they were both repaired and screwed they took bone from her hip, everything went well, and recovery went well, she did swim but did not do flip turns but 2 years later someone went through a red light and side swiped her again and she had to have the third vertabrea reconnected and screwed up again and a nother bone graft. She has recovered again and is back swimming front crawl. But she drives very carefully when she drives in Richmond BC. She has been side swiped three times there by drivers going through red lights and hitting her car. It is very dangerous to drive in Richmond BC.
Our coaches son had major back surgery when he was a young boy and his back was fused spent months in a striker bed. He had a very long recovery and became a great swimmer and represented Canada in the Olympics as a waterpolo player.
I have a lower back problem and have learnt to dive differently in order to take some pressure off my spine.I tend to dive up more and out less.I start higher and come down with more velocity.I tuck my feet in to help get the up down motion rather than straight out which I find causes more problems.For this to work and not lose much ground you must streamline well when you hit the water.The timing is important.My dive is still more effective than most in my age group.I only really dive at meets but I practice the session prior and build each dive carefully.I take an easier dive in 400+ races.The risk isn't worth it.I touch turn in warm ups /drills etc to minimise flips.
