Can I Lift Weights After Spinal Fusion Surgery?: 3 MUST FOLLOW RULES

Exercising after a significant back injury, operation, or flare-up can be very scary. You don't want to do anything that could worsen your pain or end up putting you back under the knife and having another operation that could have been prevented.

There are two extremes you want to make sure you don't follow.

One: Eliminate exercise altogether out of fear.

Two: Go all in with exercise and assume all exercise is created equal.

Instead, I want you to take a more educated, less painful approach to exercise so you are left feeling confident in your body and on track to living free from chronic pain and fear.

So if you find yourself trying to navigate exercise after a major back operation or recent injury, make sure you follow these 3 rules no matter what you do!

[jyeshtanaresh]

I went through spinal fusion l5 s1(open screws titanium rods used in the surgery ) in the year 2022 oct 13, i started doing exercises from 5th month onwards pushups, squats, walking plank other exercises also to strengthen my spine . From 6th month onwards i started riding bike also .now one year completed 30 push ups, 30 squats 5 min plank, kegel exercises helps me so much in strengthening my spine .even carrying 30 kg weights also, comfortably doing agricultural activities also for iam very much interested in coconut trees cultivation.above all iam able to do my job as fireman in fire department.but some times i feel there is little pain or feeling strain, some weakness there at surgery spot .may be it is common for every one who go through spinal fusion .i never thought that i would be this much successful.only exercises and diet especially milk, eggs, mutton dry fruits, fruits helped me a lot for recovering quickly.thanks to almighty god jesus who helped me recovered well and thanks to my surgeon LV RAMBABU(angel sent from above)from senteny hospital, vijayawada, Andra Pradesh, India.

[marinaaquino]

Advice given to me I’m 11 weeks post op L5S1 fusion surgery . NO ONE SHOULD BE DOING EXCERCISES UNTIL YOU ARE FULLY FUSED in other words starting to exercise without your doctor giving you the ok is not OK . Because if you start and not properly healed and fused you can mess up your back get pain and may need future surgery . SO BE AWARE good advice on this channel is not always the correct advice for you .

[Velsius]

Thank you for what you are doing. It is not easy to find quality workouts designed for people with spinal fusion. Can't wait to try it out. :)

[brittanysuppes]

You are so creative and knowledgeable. Ty for this. Haven't had a fusion.. considered it..

[daym]

I'm really thankful to you Sir to have a channel dedicated to the spine.
I'm assuming these 3 rules holds true for a person like me who has a rehernation( post operation foot drop)with a pain in the right side of the hip?

[marclarden]

I'm glad I have found this video.

Can you do Motocross or Snowboard after having Fusion Surgery on L5/S1? Thanks.

[meggiehoule]

I have had a fusion from T11-L3 for 5 years now and your exercises have been the best I've tried to keep my back healthy and also diminish flares and spasm entirely. To anyone considering his workout program, just do it, you'll thank yourself later :)

[fibromyalgiajourney-denisebowe]

Amazing advice! Thank you so much. I'm 5 mo post op tlif l4 l5

[KandeShack]

I’m having ALIF back surgery a week from today! Terrified but have the best Neurosurgeon around. So know I’m in good hands. Will definitely listen to what he tells me.

[MWGTRYO]

Had a L5 S1 fusion done on 26 May. 7 Weeks and just happy that Iam able to move. Bottom right screw moved and pinched sciatic nerve.
Redid operation 48 hours after first.
So far so good. Do feel sorry for myself....back at work though.
Good to listen to you. 63 Years old. Removed systs as well.
My tailbone has actual disks between vertebrae. Apparently a normal deviation.😊

[tomhuyck]

There are very few exercises that truly focus on the lower back. I eased (very gradually) into the MedX core lumbar machine. Almost miraculous.

[vbfgefw]

Awesome thanks! Hey, where did you get that large painting? Thanks!!

[pletcherscott]

I am a drummer that plays a pretty extreme style of music and I appreciate this video- I also weight train but I am a professional musician and was hoping for a faster recovery time. I’m getting a fusion in my neck and have lost the functionality of my right arm. It’s been a damn nightmare and this came out of nowhere. People who haven’t been through this have no idea how debilitating this is.

[runningbeard]

I had spinal fusion with Harriongtons in 1997 at 25... it was a 9.5 hour surgery if that is any indication of how serious it was.
There are two things that I can offer as advice as a now 51 year old... IF you've had extensive fusion:

1. These are the BIG NO's....
NO sudden or excess twisting (yoga), NO absolutely NO bar squating, NO deadlifting, NO heavy overhead pressing, NO bent rows... esssentially NO hinging exercises (RDLs). NO martial arts. NO high impact running or jumping.

I say these things knowing full well that if you're a man in your 20s or 30s, you are going to be stupid and do these things anyway...
CONGRATULATIONS then... this is what your prize will be:
1. Spinal Stenosis! 2. Bulging discs! 3. Chronic Sciatic pain! 4. Bone Spurs and Arthritis!
... and since you're already fused, the only medical response to this will be to fuse you COMPLETELY... in hopes that helps...

Hope isn't lost though.
Personally? I did martial arts Muay Thai... until the pain from the twisting forced me to quit. I did squat, but threw my back out twice and so quit. I ran 2000 miles a year for many years, and completed 7 marathons, even Boston, though that probably was too much for my situation. I tried yoga, and threw my back out while doing it... all this is to say, that I do have the above problems mentions (stenosis, etc.), but I'm managed to improve my sitation rather dramatically, ironically enough, by lifting weights.

I now emphasize a variety of pulldown exercises and pull-ups, along with rear delt, ab cable crunches, pullovers, etc.
All of these excercises, done with heavy weight, light weight and everything inbetween, has made the constant sciatic pain subside dramatically! We're talking quality of life stuff.

SO... from my personal experience, building the strength and muscle in your lats, traps, rear delts, abs, etc. over time... will offload the pressure on your lower back... it took a few months of twice a week emphasis on those exercises, but it's been near miraculous.

[cassanthemum]

Thanks for this. I'm 60 years old (gramma) and had an SI Fusion last November after an accident at work a year and a half ago. I'm still having some pain but not like I was and want to get back to weight lifting and such.

[Musicislife]

I got a full back spinal fusion when I was 16 in the 1990s. I had no advice about any of this or any physical therapy after I left the hospital.

I’m now in m 40s and the nerve damage is pretty severe and I’m in bad pain every day. I’m now researching stretches and exercises. After my surgery and to this day I can’t run without bad pain. Even walking, I have to rest after about 20 minutes.

This video had me in tears because I really needed to hear this encouragement. ❤️❤️

[Cindy-ybgu]

What do you suggest for lower body…I need a hip replacement now! I suppose leg curl/extensions…machines as functional exercises would engage my hip? Calf raises…try and see what doesn’t make it hurt. You think? And then focus on core/upper body

[papotaino]

Go into back surgery Aug.2nd retired boxer athlete turn trainer for 38 years . I've Herd so many horror stories on recovery I'm 68 now I've had a lifeful of fitness starting at 7 years old. I just need to stay relatively active in fitness.Thank you for your video.

[williamthrasher]

Vet here partially tore my spinal chord in 2021 and had a fusion in the t4-t6 and I’m still having pain. Anyone else had a similar type injury and fixed this way? I’ve had more pain after surgery then I ever had during

[garrusvakarian]

I was fused a month ago t4 to l1. Thank you for this video.