Any weight lifters or crossfitters here had spinal fusion?

jaded082 · October 2016

I'd love to meet other weightlifters who have had spinal fusion.
I had a spinal 360 fusion of the L5-S1 in June of this year. I had spinal stenosis and had herniated it twice in the past year and a half. Was in so much pain, I was in tears turning over in bed at night.
I'm so much better after my surgery, but the surgery itself was very hard mentally. I was in the best shape of my life before and since I feel like I've lost 70% of my muscle tone, plus put on almost 15lbs. It's been really hard getting back into the swing of working out again, when I have been so limited over the past 4 month of healing. What use to be a habit (almost addiction), is now hard again. Diet is horrible and I so badly want to get back into the shape I was before.

My main question is, how limited are you with your heavy lifting? Bending and lifting?
I really want to go back to crossfit, but never go back to super heavy lifting there. Just to maintain tone.

Lofteren · October 2016

I haven't had a fusion but I am a neurophysiologist who works primarily in spine surgery.

The main concern in lifting with a fusion is herniation of the discs above and below the fusion since the flexion and extension of the fused joint must be absorbed by them. This is particularly true of L5-S1 fusions because the S2 level is not mobile, making all of the stress lie on L4.

I think training is a good idea but Crossfit wouldn't be my recommendation. Dynamic movements such as jumps and olympic lifts cause exponentially more stress on joints than static lifts. It would be best to train with weights in a slow, controlled fashion, utilize bodyweight movements whenever possible and use whatever methods of cardio you prefer. It will also be very, very important to maintain outstanding hip mobility and flexibility so that any bending can be done while maintaining a neutral spine; this will minimize the stress put on the L4 disc.

kshama2001 · October 2016

I know a yoga teacher with spinal fusion. He was a mess before he discovered yoga, which helped him tremendously mentally and physically.

ROBOTFOOD · October 2016

I've had 2 spinal fusion's (scoliosis) 59% s curve. First was in 2004 and 2nd was 2014. The fist one was more major. Multi level. The other was from a messed up disk below the first fusion. It kind of deteriorated over 10yrs. I was a kid for the first, so I basically did nothing for a year. But for the one in 2014, I worked closely with a PT that specializes in Athletes. And about 4-5mo later, I was able to do whatever I wanted. Including Powerlifting, snowboarding, wakeboarding, running etc. I've always stayed very active my whole life. There is definitely some risks involved. But I try to be careful. I'm limited in touching my toes and arching my lower back. Until I built up my back and core strength, it got sore alot. Not anymore. I also foam roll and stretch a lot.

The cool thing is that i gained 2in of height overnight!

Packerjohn · October 2016

I have had a bunch of mobility issues. As @ROBOTFOOD suggested find a physical therapist that works with athletes, show them your scans, let them evaluate you and let them suggest what you should or should not be doing. I found a guy with 20+years as a therapist, Certified Strength and Condition Specialist, works with pro and Olympic athletes (the mother lode

). I drive a total of 6 hours to work with him 3-4 times a year. For me, well worth it.

Best of luck.

RoxieDawn · October 2016

My husband had fusion 15 years a go. He has limitations, he modifies certain lifts as needed. He is also 56, so age to is a factor. He is not big into jumping around and doing things that certainly bring on any discomfit or make him move or stretch strangely effecting the integrity of any exercise he does..

Any weight lifters or crossfitters here had spinal fusion?

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