i had a question about swimming and recovering from back surgery. i just wanted some input from anyone that is in or has been in my position. i am 30 and had a microdiscectomy in december 2007 on l4/l5. i was a competitive swimmer until college and that's when the back problems started. ok so enough with the boring stuff, i have finished therapy after about 9 months and i began swimming again. my questions are more related to fears about rehernaition as i am not really sure how my back got messed up so bad in the 1st place. do i need to be worried about reherniation by swimming hard or doing flip turns, or really anything i used to take for granted in the pool? i have had some back spasms this past week on my 'good side' so i am beginning to worry a bit. its been tough because i literally think about every step or movement i make on dry land because i dont want to end up back on that operating table. as you could imagine its stressful :)
any input is appreciated.
Swimming is often recommended after back surgery, especially for those with otherwise sedentary lifestyles. I started swimming daily at surgeon's insistence ("Swim!") about a month after open partial discectomy and laminectomy (L5-S1). Previously I was an occasional recreational swimmer, open water only, so my experience does not match any of those described thus far in the thread. Some reasonable steps:
1. Ask your surgeon and physical therapist.
2. Be reasonable. Even microsurgery is a major bodily intrusion affecting nerves, blood supply, skin wounds, and so forth. These tissues restore at different rates. The functional unit of the joint also needs to restore. If a nerve has been compressed, it needs time to return to normal.
3. I had muscle spasms from time to time for about 2 years post surgery. Stretch, be reasonable, etc.
4. Professional athletes get better therapy and have faster recovery times as a result. Some surgeons don't understand the kind of swimming you do; what is swimming to them might be noodling to forumites.
5. Every case is individual.
Swimming technique has changed over past ten years, and less stressful approaches might be available. A general strengthening program should also be helpful (30 is not 22!), one that addresses opposing muscle groups. Open turns work. Essentially, you are conducting an experiment of one. Most important here is making adjustments so that you will have a happy back and are able to enjoy life, including swimming, until you are 110.
(Yes, you will be able to do flip turns, but not 12 hours after surgery.)
:)
Swimming is often recommended after back surgery, especially for those with otherwise sedentary lifestyles. I started swimming daily at surgeon's insistence ("Swim!") about a month after open partial discectomy and laminectomy (L5-S1). Previously I was an occasional recreational swimmer, open water only, so my experience does not match any of those described thus far in the thread. Some reasonable steps:
1. Ask your surgeon and physical therapist.
2. Be reasonable. Even microsurgery is a major bodily intrusion affecting nerves, blood supply, skin wounds, and so forth. These tissues restore at different rates. The functional unit of the joint also needs to restore. If a nerve has been compressed, it needs time to return to normal.
3. I had muscle spasms from time to time for about 2 years post surgery. Stretch, be reasonable, etc.
4. Professional athletes get better therapy and have faster recovery times as a result. Some surgeons don't understand the kind of swimming you do; what is swimming to them might be noodling to forumites.
5. Every case is individual.
Swimming technique has changed over past ten years, and less stressful approaches might be available. A general strengthening program should also be helpful (30 is not 22!), one that addresses opposing muscle groups. Open turns work. Essentially, you are conducting an experiment of one. Most important here is making adjustments so that you will have a happy back and are able to enjoy life, including swimming, until you are 110.
(Yes, you will be able to do flip turns, but not 12 hours after surgery.)
:)
