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I'm wondering if it's a given that the lower body will lose size, especially the quads. Would be very appreciative if some could share their experiences with this. Thanks!
Yes. I even managed to grow my legs after a few lower back fusions.I'm wondering if it's a given that the lower body will lose size, especially the quads. Would be very appreciative if some could share their experiences with this. Thanks!
I already don't squat heavy (for years now) and it's forced me to be more creative and I learned in the process that I could have very productive quality workouts without heavy weight. I was just wondering if the actual fusion surgery could somehow interrupt the nerve impulses to the legs. Stuart McGill talks about nerve ablation and how it could negatively affect the athlete. It got me wondering even more for the guys who have had fusions, which is more invasive than say something like discectomy, if they were able to maintain leg size. In actuality it shouldn't be an issue if one doesn't rely on heavy weight but then I suppose there is always the risk of nerves being affected with a surgery like a fusion. I guess one could argue that with any surgery there is a risk of nerves being affected negatively.Yes. I even managed to grow my legs after a few lower back fusions.
I'm wondering why you think your legs WILL lose size? Because you won't be able to squat heavy anymore? (Or you shouldn't be at least)
Well, as long as they don't cut into a nerve by accident then you should be able to train as intensely as before the surgery, possibly even more intense.I already don't squat heavy (for years now) and it's forced me to be more creative and I learned in the process that I could have very productive quality workouts without heavy weight. I was just wondering if the actual fusion surgery could somehow interrupt the nerve impulses to the legs. Stuart McGill talks about nerve ablation and how it could negatively affect the athlete. It got me wondering even more for the guys who have had fusions, which is more invasive than say something like discectomy, if they were able to maintain leg size. In actuality it shouldn't be an issue if one doesn't rely on heavy weight but then I suppose there is always the risk of nerves being affected with a surgery like a fusion. I guess one could argue that with any surgery there is a risk of nerves being affected negatively.
In my own case, I wrestle and I'm wondering if I were to get fused if it could cause me to get slower in addition to losing muscle (the original question).
Once you fuse a level of spine the above and below levels degenerate quicker as they are doing the workload of the fused joints. What once was spread through 5 lumbar joints is now spread through 3 or 4 therefore increasing their workload. You are smart to get a good leg workout and avoid heavy movements. Yes, you can return to your baseline activity but its not always a smart move. Take it day by day and see where you get.
I'm about to get an ALIF by one of the best surgeons in a major US city for this type of stuff. I used to think the same thing but apparently this is not true. He informed me that this is about a 2% chance in the lower lumbar for someone that doesn't have degeneration in other discs. If there is degeneration present in other discs, then this could happen but it would happen no matter what with disc generation.
They told me that same thing. But those numbers would be for all patients not necessary for the average meathead i would bet. Once 2 vertebrae are fused the others are going to have to move a slight amount more to get the same amount of rotation. How much extra wear and tear that will put on the average BB'ers spine would probably depend on how crazy they are. I have know some that had many vertebrae fused over the years and some that only had 2 done. I go to surgeons that deal with pro athletes as if a pro will use them then they may be good enough for e.I'm about to get an ALIF by one of the best surgeons in a major US city for this type of stuff. I used to think the same thing but apparently this is not true. He informed me that this is about a 2% chance in the lower lumbar for someone that doesn't have degeneration in other discs. If there is degeneration present in other discs, then this could happen but it would happen no matter what with disc generation.