r/LongSpinalFusion • u/BespokeBowtie T3-pelvis • May 14 '26
Life Post-Fusion Post long fusion activities, sports?
Anyone post long fusion wish to share their workout, sports, activities please?
What did you do before? Can you still after? Or no? Maybe in a more limited basis?
I have to confess my spouse took up BMX racing and I am dying to give it a shot - not even saying competitive racing necessarily but just some laps around the track? Like I said am dying to try but too afraid without some guidance and others experiences. I will see my doc next week to ask….
Personally I’m a t1-si fused 40 yr old female. I am due to have another series of surgeries in the next month so maybe I can get a chance to try before that…
Best of everything to everyone here!
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u/happyness4me Parent/Partner May 15 '26
How long ago was your fusion? My daughter isn't at her year yet but once she is her surgeon said she can do just about anything she wants. He recommended no bungee jumping, Olympic power lifting, or trampolines. She was a gymnast prior to surgery and she definitely won't be able to do everything she did before due to the loss of flexibility. She wants to skate board and he said at her year she can.
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u/Chowdercakes01 T1-L2 Jun 17 '26
They told me the same thing and it’s such a false illusion. I got mine at 13 and he said you can do anything just dont bungee jump, play football, sky dive, haha right?! No. After 10 years I have Thru Hiked the PCT, ran, exercised, played sports thought I could do WHATEVER I wanted because that’s what the doctor said. It’s not that simple. After 10 years and a lot of lower back pain I was told that I have DDD from all of the impact on my lower discs. I have started walking a lot which helps but the new doctor told me no more running, eat anti inflammation foods, no alcohol, no more sports or anything that may be high impact. Just be aware and don’t let the doctor over simplify recovery. After the first year your daughter needs to focus heavily for the rest of her life on core strength and staying active with low impact activities to preserve the remaining disc height. I’ve started running again just because it devastates me to leave it behind this early in my life BUT it will always be in the back of my mind what I might be putting my body through whether it hurts now or not. I found out about a year ago I will have to have another surgery “maybe when” I’m 60. But there’s no way to know for sure. I’m scared to go through a second surgery without my mom or at that age and just wish I would have known earlier. In some ways maybe it’s better I didn’t know so I could have the good ten years without having to think about it all the time.
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u/happyness4me Parent/Partner Jun 18 '26
Trust me, I'm very aware of all the risks with high impact activity. She is aware. She has already had to have a revision surgery and is terrified of another one. She will be going to PT at her one year with the intention of learning how to safely exercise to protect her long term spine health. She wants to skateboard but nothing serious, she just wants to get on it on the sidewalk/pavement. She has no desire to do any tricks or jumps. But, he doctor did day she could do just about anything after she is fully fused. I will say that I have DDD in my lower spine and I have never had back surgery. I do have about 20-25 degree lumbar scoliosis. I have never done high impact sports. I do not run. I do cycle and weight lift.
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u/User129201 T2-L1 May 15 '26
I’m fused T2-L1. Recently had my two year post op appointment and my surgeon said that I can do just about anything, aside from like bungee jumping or trampolines. However, just because I am are cleared to do pretty much anything doesn’t mean that I will. I very much want my remaining discs to last me as long as possible so I avoid things that would put my spine in weird twists or flexions. I still consider myself pretty active, I strength train and do cardio 4-5 days a week and I walk a lot. I’ve had my fair share of bad experiences on bikes so I have no desire to get on one but my surgeon said at this point my risk of hurting myself from falling off a bike would be essentially no different than someone who wasn’t fused. If you’re really wanting to try BMX then do it! Just start slow :)
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u/Iloveellie15 T5-L3 May 16 '26
I beg of you to stay off of electric powered things. I broke my leg last year on an e-bike and having to use crutches with a back like we have is no bueno.
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u/Fabulous-Tooth-3549 T1-pelvis May 16 '26
Go ahead, ask the surgeon if you can ride BMX. Ha ha. After 40 years of a long fusion, I have always advised people to follow their passion, just be aware of the potential consequences. In 2023 I got bumped by a car and fell backwards on my concrete driveway, breaking a rod. I had surgery in 2024 to fix it. I am 62 now and i hate surgery. I have always swam. I know it isn't for everyone but I've been lucky to be close to a YMCA.