Any Lineman with spinal surgeries?

[mn_lineman]

I am a 28 year old Journeyman working for a utility and a IBEW member. I recently had a spinal fusion and am ready to go back to work in about 2-3 weeks. have been off and on light duty for one year. this was not a work injury although work did help it along. I am looking to hear from anyone else in my situation. I know many lineman with laminectomies and diskectomies but none with full fusions. I plan on working my ass off to do it right and retire as a lineman and need some tips from anyone in my position. I also want to tell you all that you need to take care of your bodies, even at a young age!!!!. we are not invincible, it CAN happen to you. The companies we work for, especially union, do not want us hurt. Take the extra time to do it right and safe, especially in the bucket, no leaning out, get in position, or use tools. Electricity is not the only life changing hazard we work with, take care of yourselves.
-John

[never_forget_our_brothers]

PM me when you get a chance.

[Edge]

I am a 28 year old Journeyman working for a utility and a IBEW member. I recently had a spinal fusion and am ready to go back to work in about 2-3 weeks. have been off and on light duty for one year. this was not a work injury although work did help it along. I am looking to hear from anyone else in my situation. I know many lineman with laminectomies and diskectomies but none with full fusions. I plan on working my ass off to do it right and retire as a lineman and need some tips from anyone in my position. I also want to tell you all that you need to take care of your bodies, even at a young age!!!!. we are not invincible, it CAN happen to you. The companies we work for, especially union, do not want us hurt. Take the extra time to do it right and safe, especially in the bucket, no leaning out, get in position, or use tools. Electricity is not the only life changing hazard we work with, take care of yourselves.
-John



yeah kiddo... it is a mutha fukka though...

had lumbar surgery in the 80's still climbing...

you just got to push it to another level...

pain just gets in the way.... ignore it....

you got work to do...

Edge

[never_forget_our_brothers]

yeah kiddo... it is a mutha fukka though...

had lumbar surgery in the 80's still climbing...

you just got to push it to another level...

pain just gets in the way.... ignore it....

you got work to do...

Edge

It really depends. If the situation is dire enough he could do more damage than good. I have to chew up 4-6 Percocet 10's a day, 2 Flexeril 10mg's, 2 Klonopin 2mg, 1 Effexor 37.5mg just to function and I still have a pain level of 6-7 WITH the meds. I tried working through it but after taking 4 muscle relaxers and 2 pain pills BEFORE lunch I gave it up and the docs shut me down. Just dont try to be macho and rush yourself back as it can cost you your career. I miss it everyday and its more than likely gone from me forever after seeing the Neurosurgeon this past Thursday.

I'm getting a Myelogram w/Lumbar Puncture and CT-Scan on the 7th to go along with my MRI to make sure my spinal cord is still ok. It swells bad enough to push on discs and nerves and causes severe pain in my lower back, severe muscle spasms in my right side of my neck up to my ear, burning sensation inside my shoulder (feels like boiling water is in there and cant get out) and even my first 3 fingers on my right hand twitch and shake at times. I would be putting lives in danger if I went back and couldnt live with that...

[wtdoor67]

Like one old hand told me once. I never knew a lineman that didn't have a bad back.

[BigClive]

And there's nothing quite like a sore back to make you realise what has been straining it in the first place. I do my best to lift and move things sensibly, but all it takes is one silly moment of lifting something awkwardly, leaning too far or "heroic" stunts and off you go again. Not really surprising when you consider how much load the spine takes.

[nutbuster]

I had my spine fused at L5-S1 about ten years ago. At first they said I was done with linework. Do what the doctor and therapist tell you and keep at it. I've got to stretch every morning and throughout the day, but it's a small price to pay. I never had any problems until the day I fell off the back of the truck. Now it's a constant reminder. Fortunately, and with alot of hard work, I was able to come back to do linework. Many aren't so lucky. Most doc's will tell you that after the 1st fusion you'll have another within ten years because of all the extra strain put on the other discs. They've made a ton of advances in med. and keep improving the procedures. Good luck and take care of it.

[Trbl639]

I had a Laminectomy at the L5-S1 in Oct 2006,was off 3 months and went back and climbed the first day back...............sometimes it was a pain, others not...I did have to start taking smaller steps when coming down the wood, instead of the long ones I used to..........Just work through it, and if it gets too bad, slack off some, most guys, if they know you got problems with your back will help ya out, kinda take some of your slack.......................that is of course, when ya feel good and ain't hurting, your busting your ass.........

Retired in March 2009, have my good days and my bad days.........mostly cause my sciatic nerve was damaged when the disc ruptured(before the surgery), still got degenerative disc disease, but i made it 38 1/2 years in the trade before I retired, and still hook em, just a little slower than I used too.......

[RDawgs]

Yes, had mine about 7 yrs. ago, Disk decompression and some spurs removed, doing really good. took a long time 2 heal, but back at it building line. I still ache some days but better then the wheel chair I was in. Work Safe!