back surgery and flying

caliginousface

caliginousface

Frank N. Beans
hey all, i just got the results from my MRI and to make a long long story short i have herniated disc caused by an injury and a malformed vertebra. the options for my pain treatment are cortizone shots or fusing the vertebra together. i can sit in the plane, but during a 4 hour xc i was getting pain uncomfortable. the sweet thing is i'm 19.

when i sit in class i usually have to change positions a lot to keep it from getting too bad, but its bearable. i am to try swimming to help build muscle in the abdominal and back regions to try and lift some stress of the herniated disc.

the boiling question is lets say i have surgery because the pain is just too much, how many employers will be willing to hire me?

the doc was saying how they'll probably not want to hire me because of the liability, and i can see that. why hire a young guy with back problems already when we can hire someone else without?
 
hmm..

i just wanted to say think carefully before you actually have the surgery.

my dad had a herniated disc...i think about 7mm and he was in BIG pain...the doctor suggested surgery but he didn't do it...after laying down and wearing the brace, being off from work for about 3 months, the disc went back to almost normal and he is now just fine.

a friend of mine had the surgery and he is in pain still...it has been about 6 months after the surgery and he still has substantial pain...he says that the pain is less than before but he is still in pain.

my work involves seeing a lot of people getting back surgeries...during my 3 years of employement, i haven't seen anyone get better after the back surgery. I handle about 150 injured workers.

I have heard of some people recovering fast and getting better after the surgery...but that is VERY few.

I don't know how severe your situation is, but try wearing the braces and relaxing for some time and see how you feel.

forget about flying now...I think you should get better regardless of your flying career.

maybe you should call AME and find out how the back surgery might have influence on your flying career in the long run.

get better.
 
^^^^ What he said.
I work in the medical field and am involved in surgical cases of the spine. I have been a part of pain management for back pain too. I have suffered from it too. It can be the worst pain ever. Doctors and hospitals make a lot of money from those who suffer back problems. Sometimes surgery is warranted but I doubt to the degree that the high number of procedures suggests.
Before you go the surgical route take a look at any book by Dr. John Sarno, M.D.
He has an entirely different outlook on the causes of back pain and the remedies. Once the surgery is done you can't go back. No pun intended.
 
My dad had a herniated disk (sp) and was in pain for a month or so after his surgery. Even after 9 years, he'll still get some pain when he golfs, usually around the 16th hole!

Avoid the surgery at all costs bud!
 
I also have back problems. Im 6'2, have 2 sprained lumbar, 18 degrees of scoliosis, and just an overall crummy back. I constantly move aroudn in seats too.

The thing i learned from my doctor and phsyical therapist is not to strengthen your back, as it'll lead to more pain and more injuries possibly, but strengthen your stomach muscles. Take the work out of your lower back, and put it on your stomach which is alot easier to condition.

I agree, avoid surgery at all costs, unless you're forced to. Once you screw your back up (unfortunately) you're done for life. Can never get it back to brand new. Best thing is learn to live with it, and learn to deal with it in different scenarios. For example, lifting stuff, playing sports, sitting down, and running. Each and every time you move, hold your stomach in to help relieve the load off your back. Trust me, it'll help!:rawk:
 
after my first physical therapy period i knew i would have pain for life, but that was a year and a half ago, and we never knew the problem until today because no one would grant me an MRI. the chiropractor said he would write a report for me

he told me to lay off high impact sports, no more soccer, running, or roller hockey. swimming and biking (road) look like my options now, and it makes me sad. i'm learning to deal with it since it's been with me for nearly two years, but i hate it. well it's not bad enough to where i cant walk, so i'm sure i wont be needing surgery anytime soon, but i'll probably try the cortisone shot and see if that works.

i can't stop flying now! it's not that i can't, i just don't want to. i've flown with it since i've started flying, it just gets uncomfortable during the longer flights. if it gets worse i'll definitely layoff for a while.

thanks for all your responses!
 
On the other hand, I'm sorry I didn't have my back surgery much earlier. It also depends on what =kind= of back surgery.

That's not relevant to the employment issue since I don't fly for a living, but just wanted to post a different experience. Didn't make a difference in my personal flying, except that I was far more comfortable.
 
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