I’m looking for Triathletes that have had a micro-discectomy and what your return to competition was like.
here’s my history. L5/S1 severe disc herniation. On 12/12/2012 Had a micro-discectomy done, 10 days later I got the stomach flu and reherniated the disc, had a revision surgery done on 1/14/2013. I was basically told that if there is a third herniation they will want to fuse my back. Problem with that is I already have a L4/L5 Annular tear so if they fuse L5/S1, they will also need to fuse L4/L5 in the near future because of increased stress from the 1 level fusion. My race history is 30+ short course and 70.3 events. Upcoming schedule was IM70.3 STG on may 4th, USAT AG Championships on Aug 11th, and Xterra Long course on Oct 10th. has anyone had a similar experience and give me some realistic advice?
I’ve had 3 of those surgeries in the same spot…L4/L5. First one was in 2002 after a motocross injury. I was young and stupid and kept racing then had two more surgeries in 2008. I started swimming in 2009/2010 and then started doing triathlon’s from there. I raced my first Ironman (Arizona) last year. Now I’m racing mountain bikes XC because I’m burnt out of triathlons for now.
The key is stretching, swimming, and core exercises. You need to have all those little muscles supporting your spine area or you’re screwed.
You’ll be fine if you take the recovery seriously and ease into things slowly and let it heal properly through proper physical therapy and swimming. The last thing you should be focused on is racing right now…take a year off dude. If you go too fast you’ll be fused up and walking like skeletor before you know it…your choice. Good luck
Hey there I’m your hope for a great recovery! I had the very first PAD(percutaneous automated discectomy is what I know it by) done at St. Vincents in Indianapolis in 1985 post clinical release. L4/L5 were bulging and things were starting to get better, horrible sciatic pain, but improving slowly with ultrasound, light PT and rest. Then…oddly…one of the diagnostic tests made it worse. The mileogram and subsequent dye made me so sick I threw up non-stop for 24 hours, violent body wrenching pukes. This made this horribly worse, so much so that they ordered a new MRI and I had ruptured both discs. Immediately went in for PAD and when I awoke in post-op I felt SO much better. Unfortunately I have permanent nerve damage that has resulted in some foot drop, but it’s manageable. I only ride and swim now, no running.
My 2 cents is bag the tri game indefinitely until you get this resolved. I can tell you foot drop and permanent sciatic nerve damage is a big deal. I said ‘manageable’ b/c I have learned to live with it and hey, I can still ride and swim so life is awfully good.
I had a L4/L5 microdiscectomy in July. The first thing I asked by neurosurgeon (who is a friend of mine) is “When can I run again?”. He said “Never.” His opinion was that repeated trauma from running places you at risk for recurrent herniation. Another neurosurgeon I asked said maybe with cushioned shoes on a treadmill or soft surfaces. My leg numbness and sciatica took three months to go away, and back pain took 6 months. My doctor didn’t release me to PT or exercise for three months. Initially he said 3 weeks, then 1 month, then 2 months, then 3 months. I didn’t find PT helpful, but found a Pilates instructor who had worked with a number of professional athletes with rehabbing injuries, and she designed a stretching and core strengthening routine which was quite helpful. In your case, I would hold off on competition this year. The herniation has to be replaced by scar tissue, which takes 6-12 months to heal. You risk recurrent herniation during that time. I’m now back on the bike, swimming, and have some Hokas ready to break in. Good luck.
I have a very very similar deal. Basically blew all the insides out of L5/S1 7 years ago. L4 5 is not great either showing moderate degeneration. L5 / S1 now shows severe degeneration.
As stated above EVERYONE WILL HANDLE THIS DIFFERENTLY! In my case I was a pure runner all my life, back couldn’t take that so switched to SBR. I just can’t handle that either. As of today I’m only swimming. The bike sure looks pretty hanging on the wall!
I have had 2 microdiscectomies on the same L5/S1 vertabrae in the past 7 years (2006 and 2009) and have about 50% of the disc remaining. My realistic advice if you want to still participate in triathlon is to take your time and work on your core strength/fitness as stated earlier. My doctor also told me that the next time will be a fusion and to quit running after my second surgery. That’s when I started getting serious about my weight and core strength. Jump forward three years, I switched running style from heel strike to mid/forefoot landing, focused on my core strength and stretching, and lost additional weight to all lower the impact on my spine. I have now been doing triathlons for 2 years, I still run full distance (just did full Mary two weeks ago), and plan to do a HIM this summer. So it can be done you just need to be focused on your core and fitness and ease back into it. Also I really don’t see a fusion as the end of the world, other than than the obvious loss of flexibility. I am going to do a tattoo of a zipper over the surgical scars if I have to go back a 3rd time.
Echo the advice already suggested. Everybody is different I have had two surgeries, both l4/l5. First one was a central disc herniation in 1993. Doctor advised no running and to minimize impact. Focused on strengthening core and went back to running etc. Thought everything was behind me and was surprised at the need for a second surgery in 2011 (l4/l5). Permanent foot drop on the left. As the other poster mentioned, not the worst thing in the world, but somewhat limiting. That said, would not have change much between the two surgeries but will heed doctors advice going forward.