|
|
Location: Middle TN | I found an old post on spinal stenosis – but none of it really covered what I’m dealing with. Hope ya’ll don’t mind me starting a new with something most any equestrian and especially barrel racers have dealt with.
A car accident 5 months ago has past mega wrenched my back and neck. Already had L4-L5 bulge, degenerative disc and a good dose of arthritis already present – I had my bad days of course - but I was actually pretty physically active, worked out almost daily that included core exercises and of course rode pretty much daily. Had my boy ready to run and we were set for a run that coming up weekend. Ain’t that how it goes??? So now an MRI, CT scan, physical therapy and 3 epidurals later and I’m being told my next step is discectomy and fusion:/ The nerve pain is almost unbearable and surgery at this point with the post-surgery pain would be welcomed. I’m on Celebrex, 2 pain pills and gabapentin daily. My go to remedies for years - stretching, peppermint and hemp oil, cold pack, heating pad and good ole Epsom salt soaks don’t touch it.
So - would you have the surgery? I am getting a 2nd opinion next week. I’m scared that I won’t be very mobile with a fusion and or bust screws and rods barrel racing. Is there anyone out there in BHW land racing with fusion at or near the L4-L5 region? Has anyone tried the spinal decompression?
Please don’t tell me to suck it up and just get back on the horse – at 25 I would have and did but at 52 that ain’t gonna happen. I’m lucky to put my shoes on and sit at a desk all day for work and that don't even happen some days.
Thank you for any insight you may have. Just looking for a little hope that I may still get to do what I love. God bless.
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1207
 
| All I can tell you is that my x had a spinal fusion of the lower back and he was back riding and roping in 5/6 months. He also later started barrel racing but he was always on an ole reliable horse. But he did get dumped when he first went back to riding and roping. Surgery held. He has had pain in his lower back the older he got but was still able to ride. |
|
| |
|
SHOOT IT
Posts: 1170
Location: TEXAS | I'm not going to be much help, because I'm not going to say yes or no to surgery, but I understand what you're going through. I've had back problems for years. I've gone to 3 spinal surgeons and they all say I need surgery (one even told me if I didn't have the surgery, I wouldn't be able to walk in 10 years without the help of a walker....and that was probably 10 years ago). I just refuse to have the surgery, so I deal with the pain. Some days are better than others. I did quit barrel racing....but I DIDN'T quit riding. But I will say that the reasons for quitting barrel racing had little to do with my back issues...it was just a personal decision to quit so I could spend more time with (non barrel racing) family. I refuse to quit riding, so I do whatever I can to deal with the pain. One thing that has helped me is an inversion table. It's not a fix-all, but it does help. Good luck with whatever you decide. I know what you are going through; I struggled with the decision about surgery for years. |
|
| |
|
Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| A customer of ours wrenched his back last winter. They tried injections, PT etc and it wasn’t moving the issue (which I believe was a slipped disc). The next step in the US was a fusion, which they were finding a wide variety of results on.
His folks happened to run into the husband of a patient in the Dominican Republic (I think?) whose wife was there having back surgery, a God thing for sure that brought them together. The doctor is based out of Tennessee but the disc replacement procedure he uses is not approved here so he flies patients to the carribean for surgery, has a townhouse to put them up in, etc. the cost is less than that of a new pickup truck, but it is not covered by insurance.
Our friend had the surgery, is doing wonderful. During recovery he had to really remind himself to follow dr’s orders because he felt so good he wanted to overdo it.
If this is of interest to anyone who wants to connect with the doctor for more information - send me a message and I will get the information for you. |
|
| |
|
Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
 
Location: OH. IO | I broke my back and neck in 2001.I had the lumbar fusion in L4L5,and a fusion in my neck as well.22months later I was back to work.I had a VERY physical job so there was no returning before that.I would personally recommend the surgery,I would also recommend a bone density scan.Im saying that because I now have severe osteoporosis,so,along with my fusions,I'm now being very careful with myself and my bones.I didn't want to live on pain pills,and I didn't want to deal with that much pain everyday,.I had no choice on my surgeries,but I would do it again if needed. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 499
Location: ARKANSAS | I am 61 years old and in 2015 i had spinal fusion of L-4 and L-5 and i was back riding in 6 weeks. I was back running barrels a few months after that....but YES on the surgery....I woud highly reccommend it...it is gonna be rough the first couple of weeks afterwards but after that it is smooth sailing....i also have spinal fusion of C6 and C7 In my neck, none of this bothers me....so dont let anyone discourage you fromhaving it done.... |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 395
| Been going thru the same thing the last few months, (bulging discs in neck and lower back) mine is from all those years of wear and tear of heavy lifting, etc. working with the horses. Went to a ortho (pretty much scare the **** out of me) so I decided to try a chiropractor, which I am still going to 3 times a week. Chiro told me she wont even touch my back as far as adjusting it, instead she has been doing hydro therapy along with laser therapy.
It has helped me, but I have my days where I doubt I can ever climb back in the saddle let alone barrel race. I don't want to have surgery, as I have heard too many horror stories. |
|
| |
|
Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | free1109 - 2018-11-02 7:28 PM
Been going thru the same thing the last few months, (bulging discs in neck and lower back) mine is from all those years of wear and tear of heavy lifting, etc. working with the horses. Went to a ortho (pretty much scare the **** out of me) so I decided to try a chiropractor, which I am still going to 3 times a week. Chiro told me she wont even touch my back as far as adjusting it, instead she has been doing hydro therapy along with laser therapy.
It has helped me, but I have my days where I doubt I can ever climb back in the saddle let alone barrel race. I don't want to have surgery, as I have heard too many horror stories.
we have always been told DONT EVER HAVE BACK SURGERY,but I'm so glad I did.Take into consideration your quality of life,and how much better your life can be. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 395
| Jake16:
Yes, that has been ingrained in my brain for forever, never to have surgery, just worried I will come out not being able to walk, or do what I can now. Just scary to me. |
|
| |
|
Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | free1109 - 2018-11-03 7:36 AM
Jake16:
Yes, that has been ingrained in my brain for forever, never to have surgery, just worried I will come out not being able to walk, or do what I can now. Just scary to me.
Trust me,I understand,when I woke up from surgery,I thought,"oh my gosh,what did I do," but a month later,I was in much better shape then before the surgery.As the years went in,I could do everything and more than I thought was possible.And I never had any lack of motion . |
|
| |
|
Location: Middle TN | YES! This is the kind of real information I was looking for. I almost teared up when I read that it is possible to have the surgery and go back to racing – I know each is different but still it’s possible. The stigma that still plagues the back surgery conversation is the reason I reached out here on BHW. Those that I have spoken to - one person says yes then the next says no – but most have never spent any kind of real time with or on a horse. Yes, I tried Chiropractor and made it worse – so rock and hard place for sure.
I certainly don’t want to spend the rest of my life in this much pain daily and or tethered to a pain clinic. Oh yeah, and not be able to ride a horse – heck I can’t even ride the lawnmower at this point.
Thank you all for your input – I really appreciate each of you taking time out of your day. I will come back and update a few weeks after the surgery is done. God bless.
 |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 395
| Good Luck!!!
I too have been thinking a lot of looking into surgery, altho thankfully my days have been better, but not so sure how long that will last. I am going to go to another orthopedic and get another opinion, as I wasn't too fond of the one I originally went to.
|
|
| |
|
 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Best of luck  |
|
| |
|
Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| in 2002 i had a spinal fusion and went back to riding shortly there after. in 2004 i had a fusion in my neck c4 c5 and was fine shortly. well in 2016 i woke up one night in horrific pain and went threw the shots and all the stuff, could not hardly lift my left leg they told me i needed surgery again, because i had an unstable slipped disc on l-3 I told them no. i went to a naturopathic doctor and got colchicine iv injections after the second i threw the pain pills away. every few months i go get one and now it seems i can go further and further between them. pain almost completely gone except if i staand still for long periods of time, no problems lifting my left leg. |
|
| |
|
My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | daisycake123 - 2018-11-06 2:20 PM
in 2002 i had a spinal fusion and went back to riding shortly there after. in 2004 i had a fusion in my neck c4 c5 and was fine shortly. well in 2016 i woke up one night in horrific pain and went threw the shots and all the stuff, could not hardly lift my left leg they told me i needed surgery again, because i had an unstable slipped disc on l-3 I told them no. i went to a naturopathic doctor and got colchicine iv injections after the second i threw the pain pills away. every few months i go get one and now it seems i can go further and further between them. pain almost completely gone except if i staand still for long periods of time, no problems lifting my left leg.
What kind of injection is that? Sean has had a lot of injections but I'm not sure what colchicine is. . . |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1343
Location: Oklahoma | I am 64 years old. I broke my lower back - getting thrown off a bucking horse - when I was 40. I had a very conservative doctor and did NOT have surgery. I now have arthritis in my lumbar area from that injury and it does bother me at times. That being said, I have been a medical transcriptionist for 35 years and I type these op reports of diskectomy and fusion nearly daily. I would say "go for it!" Just from the medical records I have typed, the success rate of this surgery is excellent. Wish you the best of luck. |
|
| |
|
Location: Middle TN | shaunar - 2018-11-07 7:13 AM
I am 64 years old. I broke my lower back - getting thrown off a bucking horse - when I was 40. I had a very conservative doctor and did NOT have surgery. I now have arthritis in my lumbar area from that injury and it does bother me at times. That being said, I have been a medical transcriptionist for 35 years and I type these op reports of diskectomy and fusion nearly daily. I would say "go for it!" Just from the medical records I have typed, the success rate of this surgery is excellent. Wish you the best of luck.
Thank you for sharing Shaunar! These stories give me hope... It's amazing what we will endure to ride a horse.
  |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 9
Location: East Tennessee | Hi, any updates on this thread? I'm in the same boat. |
|
| |
|
My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Bump |
|
| |
|
| Shackingbarrelracer, I am reading your post for probably the fourth time this year. I wonder how you are doing. I'm in the same boat you talk about and I wonder how you got along, if you had a surgery, if you are riding again. Please update us. To others reading this, what has been your experience with back surgery? It's the scariest thought ever to me. I've been through it once and it's not pleasant, but the outcome was good. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 194
Location: Pittsburg, Texas 75686 | I can's say it enough....the BIG thing on any surgery and especially back surgery is the doctor. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1207
| I just worry about finding the "right" doctor to do the surgery. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 6
|  I had my back fused a little over a year ago. L5-S1.... I don't barrel race anymore but I trail ride. I'm over 200lbs and 5'11" and self conscious about getting back into the sport. I think with some physical conditioning I could get back to it. Best of luck! If you have any questions about the procedure let me know!
|
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1600
Location: Shawnee OK | I had my L5-S1 fused 9 years ago I am 40 so I was young when I had it done and am riding nearly every day and am competing too. I know my limits, I lift 50 pound feed bags. Do physical therapy but work with them and tell them what you want to do. My therapist was great! I brought my saddle in and we did therapy with it. At the time I had a bumper pull trailer and we did therapy on what would simulate hooking up a trailer. He even (against dr knowing)taught me how to lift the feed bags. The only time my back bothers me is if I stand still in one spot for a long period of time and its more pressure than hurt or if I am on concrete for extended periods of time or I gain weight ( I battle that constantly). But as far as riding it does not bother me. Actually the more I ride the better I feel. My surgeon did tell me I would never ride again, I believe they tell you that because that is what medical tells them. I believe it depends on the person and how active you were before the injury and surgery and how active you want to be after the surgery. Best of luck to you!!!! |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 900
Location: TExas | I had 3 parts fused 7yrs ago when I was 28. Still ride everyday. Run barrels. My doctor was absolutely amazing. He works on a lot of people who ride, rodeo and such. So he understood what we do. |
|
| |
|
Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | Bump |
|
| |
Barrel racing with lower back fusion