Weight Training w/ a S5-L1 Fusion

Hi Eric, Mike and enthusiasts,

Let me start off by saying how fantastic your articles are on T-Nation.
The information on the website is truly invaluable. I wish I had known
about it before I had my surgery. Which brings me on to the subject of
my email.

I am now 37 and have been training since my early twenties. In 2004 I
had to undergo surgery due to a herniated disc the likes of which the
surgeon had not seen before. This unfortunately was due to many years of
improper form in the gym and lack of knowledge of which I can blame no
one but myself. Since my surgery I have completely rethought how to
train, with correct form and plenty of core training.

What is constantly going through my head though is how much can I really
push myself in terms of loading weight up. I have been totally
captivated with the idea of compound exercises since reading T-Nation
and it has literally invigorated my training. I have become leaner and
stronger through the use of these exercises including deadlifts and
front squats (I am very nervous about normal squats and any exercise
that compresses the spine with load, not that front squats don’t but it
just feels ‘safer’), however the surgeon, during my rehab mentioned that
as I have one less ‘cushion’ and that the next disc up is now more
susceptible to deterioration that I don’t know just HOW much I should be
pushing myself. Unfortunately the only way I know how is to push to my
absolute limits. I have not felt any pain in my lower back and I can put
that down to my core being strong and correct form it’s just that,
should I really be training like I have no limits?

I sincerely appreciate any thoughts and opinions you may have,
Thankyou for your time,
Carlos

Carlos,
Did you mean L5-S1? As long as you don’t go too heavy on lower back specific compounds, you may be safe to resume your previous lifestyle. That was MAYBE, as I don’t know for sure.

I have lumbar back issues, am not a surgery candidate and am going to have a “bionic implant” procedure done for pain management. It sucks to hurt 24/7. Okay, during my waking hours mostly anyway.

I did indeed, thanks for the correction :slight_smile:

Before the surgery I had the same 24/7 constant pain as you becuase the extruded disc was pushing against my sciatic nerve causing sciatica. Something I wouldn’t wish on anyone :frowning:

As I mentioned earlier I no longer have back pains but reading through the articles regarding squats here on T-Nation and how the joints rotate etc., it makes me wonder how movements such as these affect my spine and sacrum as I no longer have that freedom of movement.