Starting out...bad back...

[juliansmommy 67]

Hi...I have just made the decision to have the sleeve...I know I am going to have to lose weight and exercise prior to surgery...my hope is once I have the surgery my back gets better...I know it will never be perfect...but is there anyone out there who had surgery and prior had a bad lower back and now feels great?

Just starting my journey to a new me! sent from my iPad

[buckeyefan1985 29]

I had my surgery July 31, 2013 so I'm not that far along. I have had back problems since 1980. I had surgery in 1996 on my lower back, specifically my L4/L5 disk. I have had on and off again issues since then. Post surgery, I feel really good. I am down 20 pounds since day of surgery and 36 pounds since I started my pre-surgery diet. Taking the weight off I know will be a good thing.

[juliansmommy 67]

Thank you for they reply! Fingers crossed!!!! Good luck!!!!

Just starting my journey to a new me! sent from my iPad

[fp9107 121]

In the past I have had issues with my back as well. Since the surgery, it has been much better. I also use the machines at the gym to strengthen it as well. I think it may be a combination of both things that has made it better. I am down 63 pounds since February 19. Good luck.

[Butterthebean 8,146]

Mine was never so serious as to need surgery, but I was plagued by lower back pain on and off for 20 years.

Since losing weight and getting in shape it hasn't bothered me at all. For me, the pain always originated from the glute area and referred the pain to the back. This is more common than people realize. My glutes were simply too tight and too weak to counter balance all that weight. I've lost the weight but I've also corrected that muscular imbalance. I feel great now.

[marfar7 1,528]

Had my big back surgery in 2000 (laminectomy, diskectomy) and 3 RAQZ procedures (roto-routing the scar tissue in my spine) since. Haven't had a RAQZ procedure since 2007 so I'm about due. I was lucky enuf to have hurt my back while on active duty in the Army so they generously pay me forever. Can't imagine trying to survive on disability only after a back injury.

I've now lost almost 100 lbs (between my lapband and sleeve) and feel so much better. It feels good to walk. Can't stay in bed a whole day and feel good. I use a TENS unit daily but it's temporary relief (as in as soon as I take it off, it stops working) as is the heating pad. The worst thing I can do is sit still for very long. Even while I'm playing poker 3x a week, I get up and walk around every 15 minutes or so.

If you can avoid surgery, do so. Mine came with a whole new spectrum of problems. Scar tissue build up is the biggy. And the RAQZ procedures aren't like Christmas day..

But yes, ur back will feel somewhat better when u lose weight. It has to, doesn't it? makes sense that if you take some weight off of it, it'll feel a little better??

Good luck!

[Chelenka 827]

I have stenosis, disc degeneration in the L4 & L 5 and spondolyosis (vertebrae out of alignment front to back). No surgery on my back, yet, but tons of chiropractic and PT. My back and my knees were primarily why I decided to have WLS. I was exhausted from being in pain all the time. I am happy to report great improvement in both areas in terms of symptom relief and ease of movement. I do anticipate I will eventually need surgery on my back and knee replacement but my hope is that losing the weight will help me put that off for many years. Plus it's a lot easier to recover from a major surgery, especially joint replacement, if you aren't 100lbs plus overweight and are physically fit.

pre-surgery weight 325; surgery date 2/28/2013; surgery weight 307; 8 weeks past-op weight 281.4; 12 weeks post-op 274; 4 month post-op 266.2; 5 month post-op 262.6; 6 month post-op 253.2