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Originally Posted by tmdanseur
Hi. so i cant tall you how much i can relate to what you are going through, like so much in common, i also love to dance (like you, hip hop)its my life and i really enjoyed running, and all of a sudden seems like i cant do the things i felt more happy and complete doing.
I was also diagnosed with spondylolisthesis, supposedly the lowest level. and it has changed my life and i hate it. The first dr. told me that since i was so active and i wanted to continue dancing i needed the surgery and that i could be doing what usedt to be my normal life in about 4 months, it scared me sure, but i wanted to do it right away because i cant do without dancing.
But then, i went with another dr. and he told me that surgery wasnt necessary and risky,and that even if i had it, most likely, i would not be dancing after. He also said, that in most cases you never really end up well after those types of surgery, and that sooner or later i would need another surgery because another vertebra would slip.
I felt devastaded. After i had physiotherapy, and the dr. who gave it to me, told me that i did'nt have anything like spondylolisthesis, that it was just an injury for over-excercising, and that if i took good care of myself in some months i would be dancing and running again.
I feel so confused, of course i want to believe what the last dr. told me, but it seems kind of unrealistic. But i decided to stay positive (even if its hard), and wait and if im not dancing in months, i would do anything to convince my mom to get the surgery, because i want to do anything possible to know i tried all there was to dance again.
If you get the surgery i hope you end up well, and that you can be able to do everything you used to, and it would mean a lot if you please let me know. The best of luck to you, and remember to keep your mind positive, even when it seems impossible (it helps).
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Hey tmdanseur,
I just read your response! I got a spinal fusion surgery (L5-S1, with screws in L4 also) at the end of July in 2009! Praise God, I am doing very well now, thank you! It has been almost eight full months since my surgery and I feel great! No more pain!
I completely understand where you are coming from though, with not being able to do without dancing. In september, it was so hard for me to have to watch a dance-off at an event at school without being able to jump in there and participate! It had been almost exactly two months after my surgery so I was not allowed to dance yet and I was still wearing my back brace. In November, my doctor allowed me to remove my brace and finally cleared me to dance again but just told me not to do anything too wild like lifting people up over my head (luckily you don't have to do much of that in hip hop)! I also started physical therapy in late November to regain back my flexibility and my strength in my left foot (which thank God has come back so much).
Tmdanseur, even though people tell you things like three months and four months, just remember that the time will pass by regardless. Do not focus on the time because it will come. Your body needs to heal. Now at eight months, I have already coreographed a new stroll or dance which I started creating in November (4 months post surgery), and I dance at social events and dances but I also remember to take care of myself, take it step by step, and to take rest breaks in between. I am back to walking very fast, but I have not yet started running. I'm actually thinking of taking up swimming this month! Its full body cardio without too much stress on the body!
What really helped me to recover quickly was first of all the prayers of family and friends. Also walking more and more is important. After surgery, they told me to get up and walk around every 45 minutes. I would get up and walk back and forth for about four or five minutes at a time or so. The more you get up and walk around, the more your body gets used to it and begins to heal.
As for my decision to have the surgery, I had seen an orthopaedic doctor who then referred me to a neurosurgeon who had me take xrays, a CAT scan, and an MRI which showed that I had needed surgery (I had grade III spondylosisthesis), not to mention I could barely walk ten feet without nerve pain in my legs or stand bending over a sink to brush my teeth without a suspender brace my dad had bought me. This neurosurgeon also performed my spinal fusion surgery. Now after my spinal fusion, I feel so much better (no pain and more stability!), but we need to do whatever it is that works for us. I don't know whether you pray or not, but if you do, please ask God for guidance on what to do, and then go to a doctor who can discuss with you about whether you would be a good candidate for the surgery or whether you could benefit through another means. Take your mom with you if you can. My dad went with me to many of my appointments which was good because we could talk about it afterwards and I didn't feel like no one knew what was going on.
Best of luck danseur, and also I agree with you about staying positive because you're right, it does help. God Bless you and keep believing! Keep us posted if you can!
P.J.