Jeffoutlaw

Hi there! I'm a 6'4" 265lb Clyde that is having a Discectomy in March and told by the doctor nothing but walking and torso twist exercises for two months after. I'm a fairly active 42 year old father of two young daughters, 3 and 7. Anyone here have back surgery and can give me any advice on how to get back on my road bike after. Thanks in advance

leeinmemphis

I've had 3 back surgeries. Don't pick up anything heavier than a jug of milk for 6-8 weeks. The care you take post surgery will make a huge difference in it's success. I advise you to take it seriously. My 3rd back surgery almost ruined me.

Jeffoutlaw

It's going to be hard when my baby girl says pick me up daddy. I realize that I can't for 2 months though. Thank you for the advice. How long should I wait before getting back in the saddle? Also should I get a bike fit before I start back riding?

FBOATSB

I had a spinal fusion in 2014 and it was six months before my surgeon and physycal therapist agreed to clear me to go back to work. Riding a bike was allowed after a few months but the surgeon said full upright bike only until fully cleared. Everybody's experience will be different. Listen to your doctor and physical therapist.

Jeffoutlaw

Thank you. I will definitely follow the doctor's orders. I've been out of work since January 10th and I'm going crazy being sedentary. Projected date for return to a somewhat normal life is May 15th. Ugh!!!

jadocs

rumrunn6

wow, good luck & best wishes!

cyclist2000

I had back surgery for a herniated disc and pinched sciatic nerve.

My advice: listen to what your doctor says.

good luck and a successful recovery.

Strong Bad

I've had a micro-discectomy on L3-L4 back in 2011, and I was riding within a week. Before my back problems I was also a runner (30 miles a week). The doc told me to never run again, but he said riding was OK.
I've had one back episode since then, but not riding related (I was hefting my grand daughter over boulders in Moab). I changed my riding style a little and never grab the bars and use my back as a fulcrum. So far it's worked.

zjrog

I had a bad bicycle crash in 2011, destroyed my T9 vertebra. I'm fused T7 to T12 ,2 rods and ten screws for my troubles. Physical therapy was a beast, and I did it all and then everything at home I was asked. I am currently pain free. Now, if ONLY I could get over my fear of riding downhill...

My suggestion is follow everything your surgeon says, and your physical therapist..

jpescatore

I had a microdiscectomy 5 years ago, after I think 2 weeks (might have been three) I was OKed for stationary biking, which I did at my local gym. I didn't have Zwift back then, but I would have been racking up those miles on the smart trainer in the basement if I went through it now!

I did tons of walking and hiking - actually bought on of those Fit Bit kinds of things to drive distance up.

The good news: five years later I am sciatica and back pain free and actually doing more miles per year than I did in 2012!

jadocs

On my first discectomy, I re-ruptured it in two weeks, and I wasn't even exercising. That whole debacle resulted in the fusion I have now, so you do need to be careful.

Limper

I don't even know what a discectomy is, what, disc removal? Anyway I have a fusion, L3-S1, and the loooooong time it took to recover was completely worth it. I agree with the previous posters, do what the doc says, endure your PT (pain & torture) and OT (other torture), stretch and whatever. In a year or so you'll be roughhousing with your daughters and they'll be delighted that you're hale & hearty.

HIPCHIP

Don't forget the value of using a stationary trainer with your bike to see where you are at. Better to be at home and be tired than several miles out and unable to ride home. Just tell your Physical Therapist your goals and what you do so they can design your rehab around those activities. Ice will also be your friend! 20 minutes of ice MAX, then at least 40 minutes off to allow the back to warm back up. Stretching and strengthening too are good things. Just remember you have to build back up to where you want to be, it won't happen overnight, but it won't happen at all if you don't do it correctly.

Notso_fastLane

Depending on how long recovery takes, and how much it affects in the long term, you might consider a recumbent, either a bike, or a trike if your balance muscles are affected.

HIPCHIP

You must have had a discectomy when you had your fusion. They remove the cartilage disc between the spine bones and insert a piece of bone, usually from a cadaver, and then screw everything together with a stainless steel plate, then everything basically grows together. That's spinal fusion. I had that done on C5-C6.