Hi, my name is Sam. Good to know ya.

What exactly did you have done?

Yep, I have an inversion table. Minor relief.

Paul K, what I see on the lateral view is a bulging disc posterior L4 and L5. There could be a spur forming on the L4, not much to go on here.

I would be leary on locking it all up, get a second or third opinion. Seems to me just a disc clean out and if there is a spur clean that off and your good to go.

Last I heard there is about a 80% failure rate 6-8 yrs after surgery, you feeling lucky.

Update:

I had L4, L5 & S1 fused in June. L4 & L5 disc was removed & replaced with spacers & cadaver bone. L5 & S1 just held together with titanium rods (as were L4 -L5). At week 8 I was pain free & medication free. YES!!!

Then I started creaking. Screw in S1 had broken. Went back under the knife, replaced screws in L4 & L5 with larger ones, added one next to the busted one in S1, & fused L5-S1 with spacers & cadaver bone.

I've never recovered. Back still hurts, damn near ended up addicted to Oxycodone, chiropractor & physical therapist frustrated, nerve block injections failed, so I'm stuck with it.

I am fairly sure that if they had fused L5 to S1 when they first went in, I'd be in great shape. People constantly tell me I "Must've done too much" but no, because L5-S1 was as strong (or not) as it was ever going to be.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I was constantly told "Don't compare yourself to anyone else".

So don't compare yourself to me!

Happy New Year.

Paul.

sorry to read this Paul. Chronic pain is a tremendously difficult hand to be dealt. Wish there was something that could be said or done to fix it.:(

I would find the number One doctor in this field and get his/her oppinion as to how you can be repaired.
Take the time and get yourself well.

Can anyone list back strengthening exercises they've been told to do?

well this can most likely be fixed with supplementation
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youngevity osteo fx is what i have seen work
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Ok. I skipped past the other responses so apologies if something is repeated. I had similar issues.

Numbers - from someone who paid out millions in work comp back surgeries (not me) it seems there is a 1/3 chance of no change, more pain or improvement from the surgery. That means it is the LAST option.

What worked best for me was walking. I trained for a 1/2 marathon walk this summer. My back has never been better. A lot of core support is built up walking.

Good luck. Backs are the worst.

Larry

It's not necessarily back exercises. Core in general is best. That means abs and back. Stability Exercises are key. Some of the better ones is both the front and side planks.

Google Dr. Stuart McGill and then buy his book(s). He lays out a rational set of physical models to explain lower back forces, and suggests movements to both do and (equally importantly) not do ever again. Worthy of highlighting, he BANS any sit-ups or GHDs, ever., and you'll agree after you've read his studies on the intra-disc pressures they generate. His work is gaining more attention every day.

Look at Tiger Woods- all the $$ in the world and Planet Earth's best surgeons at his disposal... they've gone in three times and he's still sitting on the sidelines. He said he'd just like to get back to where he can play with his kids- returning to golf isn't even being contemplated right now.

I mostly do crunches, planks, and Pilates based mat stuff (leg raise type of stuff)