Back surgery was the only new option presented by the orthopedic when telling me that I’ve achieved “maximum medical improvement” in May. I was punched in the stomach that day knowing that some drunk driver caused permanent injuries. At that point, I would swallow everything that I had been through with the hope of 100% recovery. Everything became different that day forward. I’ve made my decision after several months of seeking opinions and thinking it over.

I’ve had the same routine since a few weeks after receiving that news:  run, DDP Yoga sessions, Orangetheory fitness, almost daily rehab work, core strength training and cryotherapy.  I have increased the amount of time spent in each of these areas while also attempting to build a new skill in swimming.  All of this has worked.  I’m feeling better in August than July and considerably different than back in the spring.  Getting stronger is taking the pain away.

My ongoing progress made the surgery decision an easy one.  I have mulled it over for many weeks just to make sure my opinion would not waver, but I finished this chapter of the book and ready to move on.  I’ve had some consultations regarding surgery and the theme is the same.  It goes something like “you’re young and in shape, the surgery will only give you limited improvement and probably not be worth the recovery pain.”  I believe that.  Before receiving a surgeon’s opinion, I’ve asked several folks in the medical field their opinions as well as others who have had back surgery.  I’ve been told it won’t be worth it and that one back surgery leads to multiple surgeries during the course of my lifetime.  Now, that’s not to say that I would not consider it if my condition worsened.  I’m 44 right now and don’t want to have a cadence of surgeries every 5-7 years. 

I could have explored surgery much earlier.  In fact, it was initially presented as an option five months after the accident.  At that point, I wanted to maximize every opportunity to get better without it.  Before making the decision, I’ve done the following to get better without surgery:

• 109 chiropractor appointments
  • Each appoint has involved an spinal adjustment, IFC treatment and traction therapy
  • Each appointment over a 3 month period included the above treatments plus spinal decompression therapy and cervical decompression therapy
• 34 in-office physical therapy appointments
  • My PT evaluates me and then teaches me new rehab movements to do at home
  • He coaches me on these movements to ensure proper form
  • He sends me videos that remind me how to do these movements at home
• Almost daily rehab work at home with movements taught by my PT since mid-July 2018.
• Dry needling therapy
• 143 cryotherapy sessions
• Many sessions hanging upside-down on an inversion table
• Upgraded my bed to a Sleep Number to increase my support
  • Changed my pillow 3 times before finding the right one
• Purchased an ab dolly for back stretching movements
• Wore a back brace with ice packs nearly every day for 6 months
• Wore the Dr. Ho compression belt at home for 1 hour a day for several months
• Wore the Copper Fit compression belt for 3-4 hours a day for several months
• Tried a sensory deprivation tank, scheduled sessions every few months
• Tried my first massage EVER.  This led to several others but had to cut back due to expense.
• Purchased many fitness items to increase my core strength, including:
  • Bosu ball
  • Hyper bench
  • Various resistance bands and straps
  • Additional kettle bells of various weights
• Had a total of 3 epidural injections
• Took 0 pain pills

Everything on this list added value.  It all helped me get better, although expensive and time consuming.  Some things were more effective than others, but I think I am on the right track now.  Why would I want bolts, screws and plates holding my body together permanently? You can’t put that toothpaste back in the tube. Surgery changes everything. But what if I make every muscle the supports my back stronger? That’s what I’ve been doing since May and will continue to do.

I still see my PT once a month and my chiropractor one a month.  I’ll keep doing what I’ve been doing since May as I’ve never felt better.  I’ll always consider other natural methods or workouts to add to the routine.

I’m back to competing in 5k and 10k races.  I believe the placebo effect on my mind has provided healing to my back.  My spirits have been boosted by channeling my competitive drive through racing.  I’m back.

It’s not going to stop there.  I am returning to Manitou Springs in a few weeks with full intent of competing the incline 8 minutes faster than I did in June.  I’m planning to run at least two half marathons in 2020.  I can’t do more than a 10k now, but my improvement trajectory says that I’ll be ready by then.  I will decrease my current 5k and 10k times by 15% in 2020.  I have other goals that I am crafting and writing down.  I will eventually, one day qualify for the Boston Marathon.  My best time was not even close to being a qualifier.  I didn’t think I could ever qualify before the accident. I was selling myself short.  The struggle of returning from this injury has shown me that I have the will power and capability to make it happen, if I want to make it happen.  I will need to shave almost 45 minutes off of my best marathon time to qualify.  This won’t happen in 2020 or 2021, but it will happen over the next 5 ½ years.  My body won’t be ready to train for a qualifying race for a few more years, but my goal is to qualify before turning 50 on June 1, 2025.  I can’t wait to read this post the day I do.

I’m going to do all of that without surgery.  Or pain pills.

Work hard play hard,

Unstoppable Beast