I just had back surgery and I am affraid I will not be able to lift weights or at least moderately heavy weights again. Just curious if anybody has any experience with this and if I should be discouraged or not. I am 20 years old and lifting is the only thing that seems to keep me sane sometimes and without I don't know what I can do. Oh yeah, I hurt my back playing football, and I proceded to have a hemilaminectomy and a discectomy. That is where they remove part of your bone from your back and the ruptured portion of the disc. I'd appreciate any advice or personal experience. thanks.
-Coby

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Chronic back pain for 6 years
Epidurals, PT, occasional relief
Hurt back severely during college football
Ruptured L5 S1 and nerve damage
Hemilaminectomy/Discectomy on 2-20-03
Pain is getting better every week
Residual numbness and pain in foot, butt, calf
Rehabing at new PT and getting better
Still have numbness and occasional pain in leg

Holy cow... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif That's a drag. Sorry to hear it. I don't have any experience with an injury like that, but it's probably best to heed the doc's advice on this one. Chances are, only time will tell how close to 100% you'll be down the line. Good luck, man.

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Keep your body lean, your blood clean and your mind sharp. -Rollins

I am also twenty years old and had laminectomy and diskectomy to remove my disk 6 weeks ago. I also hurt my back lifting weights. I am recovering well I no longer have any pain down my legs and am beginning to lift and run again. I am working with a physical therapist, who is trying to get me back so that I can play college football this fall. So there is hope. I may not squat anymore. Especially front squats or the level of weight that I was at, but things will improve they already are for me