There are no limits to cycling or golf after a two level TLIF. The weight room is also OK but no more squats or heavy leg presses.
The sports and activities that make me nervous are skiing, running, contact sports like lacrosse, football, soccer, heavy lifting and equestrian events. The reason is impact and falls. Either of these actions imparts an unregulated amount of force (except in running) into the spine and possibly enough to cause a tear of the disc above.
I believe that genetics plays an important part of the original cause of the degeneration of the discs. Due to genetics, the collagen of the annulus wall (see website under anatomy) is more brittle than normal which is the original reason for the degenerative cascade that caused the need for surgery in the first place. That is unless there was such major trauma initially (such as a significant fall) that tore the disc walls.
You want to preserve the disc above (in a two level fusion), so some limitations have to be considered. In skiing, descending blue groomers is not going to impart major trauma. However, if you are hit from behind by a large individual, the unpredictable forces you absorb are uncontrollable. Likewise, horseback riding is fine but being bucked off a horse means you hit the ground unpredictably.
Dr. Corenman
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
