Glenn, How Is Your Recovery Coming Along?

[Sam]

Glenn, how is your recovery coming along?

 

Been released to do any fishing?

 

I have to have back surgery on the L3 area so I will continue to miss fishing for about two to three more months. 

 

Injury has a direct impact on balance and there is no way a physian will allow me to get into a bass boat or fish from shore.

 

Hope yo are doing well and will be filming new videos in the near future.

[Captain Phil]

2 hours ago, Sam said:

Injury has a direct impact on balance and there is no way a physian will allow me to get into a bass boat or fish from shore.

 

I wish him well.  Two and a half years ago I had major back surgery myself.  Due to severe spinal stenosis, they fused L3, L4, L5 and S1.   I was not able to fish for a year.  Today, I am able to fish by myself, although I am much slower than I was.   Balance is a major issue.  If you force yourself and take your time, it's surprising what you can do.  You will never be the same as before your surgery, but you can do a lot.

[ScottW]

I ditto what @Captain Phil said. I’ve had the same surgeries as his other than the S1 and am able to fish again albeit not like I did before. I’ll take it over not fishing ?

[Mike L]

8 screws, 4 rods, 1 cage, 2 plates and 2 laminectomies.  
For me the first 2 months were the worst, then it starts leveling off depending on what therapy you choose and if you’re committed to it. 
 

The first time I went back fishing after 18 months I was like a little kid. 
 

Just be smart and listen to your body, it’ll tell you what and how much you can do. 

I wish him the best 

 

 

 

Mike

 

 

[papajoe222]

wishing him the best. The P/T is a pain both physically and mentally, but it's the best bet for recovery. I have no idea why it, surgery, affects your balance, but I wear an inflatable PFD all the time now. It paid dividends two weeks ago when I did a header off the stern. Hopefully he's back on the water in no time.

[Glenn]

Hmmm.... is this in reference to my surgery almost exactly 1 year ago?  Because I've recovered 100% and am back at it again!  Same as I was before.  No issues.

 

But I'm feeling kinda bad about it after reading about all you guys and the issues you're having.  Sorry to hear about your health problems.  But take it slow - slower than you want to go - and give your body time to heal.  Hope you'll be back at it again soon!

[WRB]

We are all different in the manner we treat our bodies as teen’s and young adults when a lifetime of damaged can occur. 

It starts with our skin and now we know how to protect it.

When I was a youngster my physical condition was indestructible and damaged my body every way possible, no thought of getting old.

Started gymnastics at 12, my ticket to college. 

Raced everything that was fast enough; boats, cars, motor cycles etc, most ended with in accidents I live with today, sudden stops are damaging.

I survived somehow and live with the shoulder, head and spine surgeries. 

We think we are indestructible as youths, life has a way of changing that outlook, it’s called pain.

If only wisdom could be passed on!

Tom

 

[Captain Phil]

Every person and circumstance is different.   In my case, I was looking at being in a wheel chair for the rest of my life.  This didn't appeal to me, so I did what I had to do.  Some people, including many doctors, will tell you not to have back surgery.  All surgery is risky, back surgery is more so.  Your pain may not get better or it may return.  Many people have back surgery when they are older.  I was first diagnosed in my sixties and waited until I was in my seventies.  Back surgery did alleviate my pain,  it did not make me young again.  Back surgery is a huge cash cow.   TV, Internet, print and bill board ads will promise to fix your back with a laser in one afternoon.  Don't do that!  Before you do anything, find the best surgeon you can and get an MRI.  Then find two more.  If the surgeon is any good, it may take you 6 months to get an appointment.   Only have surgery as a last resort.  I would do it again if I had to, but I was out of options.

[Woody B]

I've been blessed with good health.  My occupation can be hard on a persons body.  I'm 59 and never had any kind of surgery.   I've got a co worker who's 4th back surgery is scheduled later this month.   Thoughts and prayers from Mrs B and myself for everyone dealing with injuries and illness.   

[N Florida Mike]

I have been thinking about this more recently. I was helping unload cases of water for a church picnic the other day and my lower back was having a hard time with it. I can’t stand still on a hard surface for long without it starting to hurt and stiffen up. I’m good for about 4 hours of fishing in my bench seat jon boat . I’ll be a little sore the next day. I reckon mine isn’t as bad as many others. 

All my interests and work has involved hard efforts in the outdoors. I’ve never injured my back to my knowledge, but all the hard work and play  must have done it…

[Captain Phil]

I first started noticing my problem when I was fishing standing up. I was in my fifties and had never had any health issues.  I had never been in a hospital since I had my tonsils taken out at three years old.  My pain was in my backside and down my legs.  It wasn't a sharp pain.   I felt as if I was carrying 1,000 pounds and it would come and go.  It progressed to the point where I had to sit down to fish.  Eventually, I couldn't stand for more than 15 minutes.  What happened in my case was arthritis in my spine was pinching the nerves to my legs.   This narrowing is called spinal stenosis. You can make this better with Ibuprofen.  I took so much of it I caused an ulcer in my stomach.  Spinal injections did not work for me.  Neither did chiropractors or physical therapists.  Losing weight did help some.   Not everyone is going to need the amount of surgery I had.  You may be able to live with your problem.

[Pogues2300]

Glenn just watched a video of you interviewing Mark Zona at a gloomis booth. So cool, he said he was nervous around you! Just a shout out to the cool community you have going here. Thought I’d share that with people I thought it was really great. 

[Miabucman]

Glad to hear that everyone is on the road to recovery.  As some have stated, listen to your body. After jumping out of airplanes for many years in the Army, I am on the (almost) quarterly round of back injections.  Fishing is relaxing but I have to take it easy if I want to fish any longer than four hours.  I try to fish weekday evening tourneys when I can due to limited time.  Just had another injection after I got dumped due to a wake boat swinging by within ten feet of where I was fishing! Cheers

[Darth-Baiter]

i do yoga stretches now.  almost daily.  when i was young, i thought it was all stupid.

 

now?  Namaste!!  some regular easy yoga back stretches do wonders.  i stretch out after every kayak fishing day.  standing on a bass boat i worse in a lot of ways.  i was stretching on the back deck friday.  

[crypt]

I have always said.   "pain reminds you that your still alive"

[Alex from GA]

When you can't walk you do something about it.  '84 bone spurs in the spine; chiseled them off.  Problem fixed.  2020 pain in casting/pitching shoulder, shots don't help anymore; arthritis.  Replaced shoulder; fishing in about 2 months.  Balance after 80 is not like it used to be; don't go near water without PFD.  Still fish several times a week.

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Alex from GA said:

When you can't walk you do something about it.  '84 bone spurs in the spine; chiseled them off.  Problem fixed.  2020 pain in casting/pitching shoulder, shots don't help anymore; arthritis.  Replaced shoulder; fishing in about 2 months.  Balance after 80 is not like it used to be; don't go near water without PFD.  Still fish several times a week.

You sir, are the man 

[flatcreek]

21-23 June I underwent L2-L3-L4-L5-S1 fusion.

after 5 weeks my recovery is progressing well but the  healing process is slow.Like @Captain Phil I was looking at a wheelchair and had no other options at this point.I’m 67 and should’ve had this done 8 years ago but was too hardheaded.Doctor says I should be able to fish in my bass boat again by November which is very encouraging but I understand things will be very different from now on and slow and steady wins the race.Good luck to all of you who suffer from severe back pain.

[Captain Phil]

6 hours ago, flatcreek said:

21-23 June I underwent L2-L3-L4-L5-S1 fusion.

after 5 weeks my recovery is progressing well but the  healing process is slow.Like @Captain Phil I was looking at a wheelchair and had no other options at this point.I’m 67 and should’ve had this done 8 years ago but was too hardheaded.Doctor says I should be able to fish in my bass boat again by November which is very encouraging but I understand things will be very different from now on and slow and steady wins the race.Good luck to all of you who suffer from severe back pain.

 

I sold my bass boat a few years before my back operation and bought a pontoon boat.  The pain of launching and operating a big bass boat was too much for me.  It took some getting used to, but I caught some nice fish from the Pontoon. A year after my operation, I bought my Ranger RT178.  Two and a half years later, I can fish alone comfortably. I am a lot slower than I used to be.  I also fish smaller lakes, where I don't have to deal with crowded boat ramps.  Don't rush.  You can do what you put your mind to, but you don't want to reverse your progress.  It takes time to heal.  You won't do things like you did before. Things will definitely be different.  You will always have some pain, but it won't be anything like you had before your operation.  Before my operation, I was heading downhill fast.  Now I feel like I can accomplish anything.  We'll see.