@heyjoe415
I had L3-L5 laminectomy and decompression with fusion/hardware to stabilize my spine. I had severe central stenosis, especially at L4-L5, compressing/fully blocking my spinal cord (causing neurogenic claudication pain/weakness/numbness in lower back, hips, buttocks and legs/feet). No amount of core exercises would open this up (I have a congenitally narrow spinal canal, too).

My surgery was a success and my 2 week follow up appointment was Thursday and they said I was doing really well compared to most at this point and I am off narcotics. I have some pain when stepping up onto stairs and certain movements but hopeful about the full recovery reduction of symptoms that affected my quality of life (I am 55).

I used to be able to do splits/and bend completely flat well past my feet (extremely flexible up until my late 40’s when my spine issues started). I did not have my one and only child until I was 40 and my son was big (almost 10 pounds and 22” long…he is only 15 now and over 6 feet tall and still growing!) and think the added weight at the front of my torso impacted my lumbar spine curve.

My surgeon told me I might lose about 15% flexion in my spine but I don’t mind because I was in so much pain I could barely bend/twist. I have pretty good movement for 2 weeks post op and hopeful about further mobility. Like you, I want to get PT to strengthen my core and upper/lower body. I have lost a lot of muscle mass and strength with cervical myelopathy injury to spinal cord and lumbar stenosis/claudication. I will find out at my 6 week post op appointment when I would be able to start PT.

Keep up the great work on your fitness level and core strength! You motivate others that they can do it, too!