"Young" father with spondy and 2 herniated discs
4 years ago my spondylolisthesis became unstable and it has changed my life.
Grade 1 spondylolisthesis at L5 and 2 herniated discs at L4,L5 and L5,S1. All exacerbated by a car accident (T boned by someone running a stop sign on a country road) that destabilized my mostly stable Spondy (I'd known I had this for years from back pain after long distance running and heavy squatting). I was an assistant martial arts instructor, a power lifter, an active husband, father and teacher and a true believer in movement.
After the first 3 epidural injections, the physical therapy and all the lack of movement, I was almost unable to walk, using a walker while teaching, completely unable to run, jump, swim, or lift heavy, much less be a good dad and contributing husband and a depressed mess. Physical therapy for a year promising I was on the verge of recovery (initially encouraging extension for the first half before finally discovering I was more flexion tolerant), two different chiropractors, three different surgeons, each disagreeing on what exactly to do (discectomy, 2 segment fusion, and 3 segment fusion with discectomy) each with no guarantee of improvement. So after second and third opinion, I decided I do not want surgery... yet.
I have made the most progress, especially in the last year, from just reading, watching youtube, AI consulting and experimenting with my body mechanics. It is difficult to focus on as I am a teacher and father of three and life doesn't want to give me a breather, go figure. Going back to the gym has helped tremendously, but I still can't lie flat, lie on my side, drive for very long or even think about jumping and running, much less returning to power lifting and martial arts. I can finally bench press (CAREFULLY) again, lift my kids occasionally, throw a ball and stay in the pool for almost half an hour before the leg and hip pain kicks in. Things are certainly better in my day to day.
It is just so difficult to think what I used to be able to do and I certainly do not appear like I have this condition whatsoever and it understandably confuses most people in my life (especially high school teenagers in the classroom).
Mainly I want to know, has anyone dealt with this before and returned to a moderately normal life WITHOUT surgery? If it is even possible, how can I stabilize my lumbar spine again so I can do martial arts, lift and be active again?
Thank you so much for your time and thoughts. Anyone who is in the thick of it, I feel your pain and my heart goes out to you.