The Time Has Come To Fix My Back
 

the time is here. after a year and a half of trying various solutions to help my back problems, on Monday I'll be going under the knife for major surgery.

I forget the medical name of the procedure, but they will be removing the back portion of my L4-L5 vertebrae to open up space for my spinal nerve as well as clean up of the nerve openings in the specific layer. They will then use rods to fuse the vertebrae together permanently.

Over the past 9 months they have done a couple MRIs which show the spinal nerve opening is getting smaller and smaller due to a bad disk and the vertebrae shifting to pinch the nerve.

This whole thing actually started about 40 years ago when helping a friend of mine build a garage. after years of gradual decline, it's finally got the point of needing repair. (I'll be sending him the bill...the heck with statute of limitations :D )

I'll likely be away from the site here for about a week while recuperating. 3 or 4 days in the hospital and then resting at home, but don't know that I'll have enough mobility to get around much. we'll just have to see.

The worst part is no motorcycles for about 6 months. We'll see if I can stay off them for that long. I'll be pushing to ride sooner than the doctor probably wants me to. I NEED more IBA certifications! :D

Good luck with the surgery. :tup:
I hope all goes well.

It's been about 25 years since i went under the knife and has held up well. The disk right above the one i had surgery on had disappeared years ago so spine is bone to bone now. I'll have problems with it every once and a while but only last a day or two when it does bother me. The Dr told to hold off on any surgery unless it completely disables me. What's crazy is when i had an MRI, the Dr that diagnosed it thought I had them fused already. It would probably be a good thing if they did fuse together. lol

from what I'm learning, with arthritis, it can actually cause the bones to grow together. there are some YT videos which explain some about it. it's not unlike two pieces of bone growing back together after a break.

Good luck with the surgery. I know about wanting to get back to living after my foot rebuild. It also ends up taking longer to heal when you sneak that bit of living in. Do what the doc says, but push him on releasing you.

Good Luck with the surgery, and, as stated above, heal up 100% in order to be able to enjoy a ride for many years to come.



...Of which he will then invoke the "friend of mine" payment plan, of $1 per month for 250K months...:lmao:

You can still look at bikes and shop for bikes and all that, right? Perfect time to buy at least… at least two new bikes while you’re on the mend.

I'm currently out of action with my 4th week of right side sciatic pain after a particular lower spinal disk decided to give me the slip...


Finally managing to stand up straight.


Don't think I'm at surgery levels of back injury, but I can only sympathize from a somewhat similar situation.


Hope your surgery and recovery goes well Sport Rider...

He already called me and told me you can't get blood from a turnip. :D

So… what new bike did you find to buy?

Saving up for my van's diesel injector pump rebuild at the moment...
No new clunkers still have 3 bikes to work on...


If I was buying a new bike it would be a CFMoto 450MT...Maybe 2025.

Hope all goes well with the surgery brother. Yep get that back in tip top shape we have the SCAR to ride.

My wife found out this spring that her patella is fused to the femur with arthritis on her left leg. It's slowed her down a lot for awhile, but she's going strong after cortisone and a brace.

Best of luck

Getting old. Not for wussies. Good luck.

it's been two long weeks, but things are holding up pretty well. The recovery after surgery was painful, but only lasted for about 3 days before I was able to move off the oxy and settle in to taking Tylenol. the original pain in my back seems to be relieved, but right now replaced by the pain from the screw/rod implants. I expect/hope that will ease up after perhaps a month and things can start moving back to "normal". I know it'll be about 6 months before I'm back to regular activities though, including riding.

I've decided while I'm out of riding, I'm going to be selling off the Intruder and the Goldwing. I'm keeping the KLR. It's just too much fun and easy to ride. I have a friend who said he'd do some riding with it from time to time to keep it "fresh", My older son volunteered to do the same, so hopefully it will get some decent exercise while I'm not in the saddle.

For now, I'll just spend some time dreaming about what road bike I'll buy next. I want something in the sport touring line being large enough for my wife and I to do day trips, but no long-distance touring for her. I'll be using it for Iron Butt rides though. Thinking perhaps an FJR.