Has anyone had back surgery out there?

Interesting questions especially related to whether or not swimming causes back problems. I do not believe it does directly but if you don't cross train, and develop land legs, then there is some truth to the weakness that develops in your back and may make you more susceptible to injury, especially if you have a weak core. Then with falls, or any genetic history of spondy or osteopenia/osteoporosis (higher incident in swimmers), we may be more susceptible to back injuries. My history is that I quit swimming at 16, not a really good swimmer then, and no college swimming was available for me. I began running and cycling and a little of swimming at age 22 (have never not exercised in the last 30 years) and then I fell down a flight of stairs at age 28 . 3 days of bed rest, back to running and biking, occassional swimming over the next 12 years. Began swimming competitively at age 39 and at age 41 or so, began developing what I would now call the neuropathic symtoms of a compressed disc. In and out of PT for the last 12 years, stopped running, biked more, swam even more and became faster than I had ever swum. Then decided to try triathlons and began running again. this is what probably tipped me over into the very sever neuropathic pain, numbness in my left foot for the past two months and shooting and burning pain down both legs. An MRI 5 years ago showed some compression (diagnosis is spinal stenosis) but the one 5 months ago showed significant progression. I had consults with ortho and neuro surgeons; both protocols are no aerobic exercise or PT for 3 months. The neuro requires a body brace while up for 3 months, the ortho is more relaxed with it. Their big question or more accurately, caution to me was that I would probably never return to competition, doing flip turns or diving from the blocks. I guess time will tell in how I am able to go through the rehab/recovery process. It is interesting to me that Robin was back in the water after two weeks. Did you have fusion and screws or just a laminectomy? I am thinking the fusion and screws may add a different dimension to all of this. Lastly, I agree, I am hoping to get some data out there in our swimming world on recovery after some of these things we are going through because I do believe we are a different patient than the normal out of shape patient going through procedures like this. But the docs have no literature or studies on our population!

Interesting questions especially related to whether or not swimming causes back problems. I do not believe it does directly but if you don't cross train, and develop land legs, then there is some truth to the weakness that develops in your back and may make you more susceptible to injury, especially if you have a weak core. Then with falls, or any genetic history of spondy or osteopenia/osteoporosis (higher incident in swimmers), we may be more susceptible to back injuries. My history is that I quit swimming at 16, not a really good swimmer then, and no college swimming was available for me. I began running and cycling and a little of swimming at age 22 (have never not exercised in the last 30 years) and then I fell down a flight of stairs at age 28 . 3 days of bed rest, back to running and biking, occassional swimming over the next 12 years. Began swimming competitively at age 39 and at age 41 or so, began developing what I would now call the neuropathic symtoms of a compressed disc. In and out of PT for the last 12 years, stopped running, biked more, swam even more and became faster than I had ever swum. Then decided to try triathlons and began running again. this is what probably tipped me over into the very sever neuropathic pain, numbness in my left foot for the past two months and shooting and burning pain down both legs. An MRI 5 years ago showed some compression (diagnosis is spinal stenosis) but the one 5 months ago showed significant progression. I had consults with ortho and neuro surgeons; both protocols are no aerobic exercise or PT for 3 months. The neuro requires a body brace while up for 3 months, the ortho is more relaxed with it. Their big question or more accurately, caution to me was that I would probably never return to competition, doing flip turns or diving from the blocks. I guess time will tell in how I am able to go through the rehab/recovery process. It is interesting to me that Robin was back in the water after two weeks. Did you have fusion and screws or just a laminectomy? I am thinking the fusion and screws may add a different dimension to all of this. Lastly, I agree, I am hoping to get some data out there in our swimming world on recovery after some of these things we are going through because I do believe we are a different patient than the normal out of shape patient going through procedures like this. But the docs have no literature or studies on our population!