Exercising following micro discectomy

[Moley RUFC]

I go under the knife next week for a micro discectomy with L5 and L6 discs to be ‘trimmed’.

As a mad HIIT and trail runner I’m interested in hearing different experiences of your own surgery for this and the recovery time and post op rehab fitness ideas. However, I’m looking for specific experiences of returning to exercise as I understand everyone is different. What works for one doesn’t for another…

At the moment I’m thinking that light running is 10-12 weeks away and therefore I’ll be walking, when able, to keep the body active.

[Uncle John]

10 weeks since I had mine done, feeling great with only pins & needles in my foot. Not sure how bad you are but I could hardly walk. I was laid up for 7 months. Prior to that I was cycling 60 miles a week.

Needless to say I’m very unfit after such a long time of inactivity. I have bought an elliptical cross trainer to get back on it, & of course this is zero impact. I certainly will not be running any time soon, got to go pretty easy otherwise it could all go wrong. I don’t want to go back there again!

Edit to add, had my first day in the office last week, I was battered after 10k steps. Legs, feet ached like buggers as just not used to it. it’s a slow process that’s for sure.

Edited by Uncle John on Monday 21st June 14:11

[Moley RUFC]

Uncle John said:

10 weeks since I had mine done, feeling great with only pins & needles in my foot. Not sure how bad you are but I could hardly walk. I was laid up for 7 months. Prior to that I was cycling 60 miles a week.

Needless to say I’m very unfit after such a long time of inactivity. I have bought an elliptical cross trainer to get back on it, & of course this is zero impact. I certainly will not be running any time soon, got to go pretty easy otherwise it could all go wrong. I don’t want to go back there again!

Edit to add, had my first day in the office last week, I was battered after 10k steps. Legs, feet ached like buggers as just not used to it. it’s a slow process that’s for sure.

Edited by Uncle John on Monday 21st June 14:11

Great to here….I’m still walking around 8 miles a week so not too bad albeit painful at night and getting up in the morning so sounds like I have a slight head start I guess.

Good call on the elliptical cross trainer - care to share which one you have?

[Uncle John]

Yep sounds like you’ve a head start which should see you well.

I bought a Kettler CTR3 off of ebay for an absolute song. It was a £900 machine a few years back & got it for £90! Happy with that, no different to the proper gym ones I have used in the past.

[Ranger 6]

I was up and walking the same day, however, not very far. Had a Wallis ligament inserted at the same time.

I think your estimate of 10-12 weeks is about right. I'm not into fitness, and I guess I'm a tad older, but that was about the timescale I had to be 'right' in myself.

[Moley RUFC]

Thanks for the responses so far. I’m normally a fitness freak running a fair distance each week but I’m now thinking that long term other exercises may be better for the back than running. Good to hear about people being able to be up and about same day. That said I’m paying for this privately so I want to make sure my rehab post op is planned correctly.