Woodworking after spinal surgery (fusion)?

[John Kananis]

Has anyone here had a spinal fusion? (L5 to S1)...I injured myself 5 months ago (bottom 3 discs) and although the 2 top ones are recovering, there seems to be nothing left of the 3rd disc. Needless to say, I'm almost useless in the shop. I spoke with 2 surgeons already and speaking to a 3rd next month. Was hoping for disc replacement (I understand they do it in Europe) but I'm told it's not done here (USA) in the location that I have a problem. My poor wife has been my pack mule and I'm not liking it.

Edit: I'm trying to figure out my level of functionality after the fusion.

[Larry Frank]

I had spinal fusion in 2003 and took a bit to recover. I am still enjoying my shop and woodworking. I had no choice as several of the disks were not functional. Yes, you will need to be careful after surgery. If you want more info, please send me a message.

My dog also has had spinal surgery after rupturing a disk and is doing fine now.

[John Kananis]

I'll listen to anyone that's gone through this. One never really expects something like this to happen to them.

[Keith Pitman]

I have had long term lower back issues since the mid-90’s with recurring pain even after two relatively minor diskectomies. I had a fusion in 2015 and I have been much more stable. I still suffer from sciatica with occasional muscle spasms in the back of my thighs, but I’m able to do most things without pain or limits. I do get tired after standing for long periods, but that could be age versus a back issue.

[Thomas Wilson]

I had two cervical disks removed and fused in 2009. I think they used cadaver bone for the spacer but am not sure. I also have a titanium spider looking thing screwed into the vertebrae which makes the joint rigid. The surgeon who operated pioneered doing the surgery using a microscope. Before the surgery, I worried about loss of flexibility but it has not been much of a problem.

I had little bone spurs (spinal stenosis) that were like needles into the nerve branch exiting the vertebrae. The result was severe pain, numbness in several fingers, and weakness in the arm. The surgery eliminated the pain almost completely. Some numbness and weakness remain. The nerve branch was damaged according to the surgeon. He came by the recovery room immediately after I was conscious to see if I had movement in my arm.

I had a very long, conservative recovery process with some physical therapy involved, but now, I am able to work in the shop without much limitation. My age is more a problem than my neck. Today, I will be milling several 2x12 and 2x10 oak boards 12’ long into 2x4 strips. This is excessive but I have to get it done. I need some full 12’ lengths for handrail. The rest can be crosscut before milling. After this project I am going to build something really small, like jewelry boxes.

I hope your surgery works out well, at least as well as mine. For the most part, I think my experience is too long ago and too different to be helpful. The main take away from my experience was that my situation was really bad and now it is ok.

[Brian Runau]

Man do I feel right at home in this thread. In December 1977 a drunk driver ran a red light and t-boned me in my drivers door. I was 21 home on x-mas break from school. Broke C1 & C2 pulled four nerves from the left side of the spinal column due to the whiplash. All my ribs on the left side were broken and lung was collapsed. Four major muscles in my right shoulder are there, but don't receive the nerve impulses, so they are non functional. I've done pretty good over the years, some constant tingling in my left hand and left foot.

Did pretty good until 50, then some PT helped etc... Last two years been struggling with stiffness in my right neck due to arthritis growing around where the nerve goes through the joint. Chiropractic helped before this, but can't do it anymore. I had a cervical rhizotomy (radio frequency) procedure @ 6 months ago to deaden the nerve and this helped. Biggest thing for me is 3-4 times per week I must do my PT exercises to keep my shoulder moving and muscles stretched out.

Still do everything I used to do, but as I age my strength is decreasing, and I would love to get in the gym, but not sure how this would aggravate my stiffness?

Oh well, all part of aging. I tell everyone I am doing great, if it wasn't for genetics and car accidents that weren't my fault I would be aging great!

Brian

[Jim Becker]

John, I cannot provide you specific guidance relative to the spinal fusion thing and how it will affect you directly...no experience...but "thinking logically", a lot of the challenge will be around materials movement and management. That means "working smart" and using things like mobile surfaces to move things around and to minimize the need to do a lot of bending that would place stress where it shouldn't go. It's not dissimilar to what many of us learn to do as we become, um...more mature...and have to adapt accordingly. But most importantly, talk to your physician(s) about both recovery and "life after surgery" so you understand clearly what you need to be concerned about.

[Al Weber]

About 6 years ago I had a fusion of L5 to S1. Cadaver bone grafts were used in the surgery. I was back in the shop within probably 3-4 months but with limitations on lifting but I don't remember the limits. My only recovery orders were to walk as much as possible which I did religiously. I recommend you use a neurosurgeon rather than an orthopedic surgeon.

Procedures continue to improve for these types of prcedures so you just need to find a board certified neurosurgeon and check his background and references. Shouldn't be too difficult in NJ.

[Bruce Mack]

I had an L4-5 laminectomy and fusion for symptoms of pain radiating to the right leg in 2014. I was 70 years old. The recovery was slow because of my poor conditioning, but not much pain. While I have other issues affecting my walking, only in the last 2-3 months have I had recurrent radiating pain. It is in a different distribution from that of 2014, implying pinching at another level. Woodworking and occasional lifting (40 pound bags of birdseed, cat litter) have not been a problem. My forward bending is more limited because of the fusion.
It is my understanding that surgery to relieve radiographically defined nerve compression with associated neurological symptoms is more successful than surgery for just localized back pain. It's sort of like burnt wood on a rip cut. Could be misaligned fence, too slow a feed rate, blade misalignment....the better you exclude other possibilities, the better the result.

[Larry Frank]

One of the issues after having spinal fusion is the wear on the vertebrae adjacent to the fusion. Those areas will be taking up for the mobility loss of the fusion. It is a good idea to protect them from overuse or strain.

All spine fusions are likely a bit different with different causes and outcomes. Listen to your doctor and physical therapist.

[Mike Congiusti]

John,

I had spinal stenoisis surgery in 2013 from L2 - L5 by Dr. Patrick Roth. I see you are in NJ. He's located Oradell in northern NJ. Here is the link https://njbrainspine.com/ . I have 3 herniated disc that have now fused themselves. I actualy lost 1 1/2 inches in height over the past 5 years. After the surgery I had some back pain but after PT it was a lot better. Coming up to 10 years post surgery and I have good and bad days. As long as I keep up with the back exercises he gave me along with my PT I doing great. He is one great Dr. I had 5 other opinions before I found him.

Good luck with your decision.

Mike

[John Kananis]

Thanks to everyone that replied. This isn't an easy pill to swallow.

[Kevin Jenness]

I second what Jim Becker said. You may well have some deficit after the surgery and making material handling easier will help you get back in the shop. Machines and transfer carts at the same height and/or an adjustable height hydraulic cart are worth looking at. The best investment I have made in that direction was a Crazy Horse dolly. https://westoakstudios.com/events/crazy-horse-dolly/ Power feeds on some machines may help as well. Good luck with whatever happens.

[Bob McBreen]

IMO the result will depend on the shape you are in before the surgery along with how hard you are willing to work on your rehab. I have had six surgeries at L5-S1, including two fusions. I developed a staph infection from the first surgery and the rest of the surgeries were trying to fix the damage. I have other medical conditions that also complicated things.

I am 63 and work in the shop every day without any big issues related to my spine. I am religious about staying in shape, doing my exercises & walking.

Good luck & I hope that it is a huge success.

[John Kananis]

Thanks to all for sharing your success and challenges.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

John,

In our 40's and 50's my wife and I skied a lot, as in season passes, on the slopes every Saturday and Sunday, when my work schedule would allow which was a majority of the weekends and holidays. Our ski instructor was a USFS fire dispatcher who took comp time instead of O/T pay and collected on it during the ski season typically Dec.-Apr. Chuck, one summer, paragliding with an emergency room physician had his parachute collapse dropping him an estimated 40' landing on his ass. He broke, I forget, how many bones in his spine, had surgery, two rods, multiple fusions, and screws for 12 months before they took the rods out. He was back skiing in his usual enviable form the next year. Several years later, he retired, moved to a skiing area in Montana and skis today as far as I know.

I broke my back, a compression fracture of L2, in 2001. My surgeon elected to try to see if I would heal without surgery. I am an estimated 8mm shorter than prior to the accident. I wore a custom back brace for 4 months, returning to work after 10 weeks off. I slept on the floor on a 3" foam pad for 14 months because sleeping in a bed gave me severe back pain. Now I sleep in bed on a hard mattress, I have to sleep on one side or the other. The only pain I suffer is a slight ache when storm fronts are coming through the area. I suspect arthritis has set into that portion of my back. I quit skiing the year after breaking my back only because I realized how time consuming and expensive it had become.

In my mid70's now, I am able to do whatever I want, desire or have the energy to do. I do watch twisting while bent over as I have had a disc herniate while remove clothes from the drier. It went back in place a few days later. During that period, I was in pain.

In short, these types of things are very individual.

A word of advice, select a surgeon who has a lot of experience and ask for recommendations from your primary care provider.

Good luck!

[Eric Arnsdorff]

This is a timely discussion for me as well. I'm 52 and I'm one of those people who do Crossfit as a hobby (I'm part owner of a CF gym). I have been struggling with what I thought was a shoulder issue but turns out it is an issue with C5/C6 in my neck (zero neck pain but plenty of other pains). I will have a steroid injection in a few weeks. I'm crossing my fingers this will last for long periods. But I could be in a similar situation soon if not and these thoughts are going through my head about how to both stay in shape and stay in the shop.

I will add that I have a friend that is extremely athletic and had to have cervical fusion in her early 40s. She surfs, mountain bikes and everything in between. Not to mention runs like a jack rabbit being chased. I'm banking on it not being a major long term issue.

I'll also add my wife has beaten stage 4 cancer (that's quite a story) and I find it hard to complain too much to her knowing what she went through (ok I still do some). There are definitely worse things.