Newbie with a question

[flipe8]

Hi guys. New here and am hoping for some help. I had back surgery(lumbar microdiscectomy) in May and was thinking of trying to get back into Karate if possible. I'm a brown belt in Shotokan, but I have some real concerns about sparring and was wondering if anyone here has had similar work done. If yes, how long before you got back to MA, or did you have to give them up? I was thinking a soft style might be in my future, if Karate is a no-go, but I'm uncertain. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks very much.

[Scotty]

Well although a soft style is a possibility, you could keep the karate going by explaining the situation to your instructor. So you can practise form without needing to go full out in sparring?

[Jiffy]

Best advice I could give you.... speak to your doctor. Partly because he/she knows best and partly because with that sort of surgery, your dojo of choice my request approval from your doctor anyway.

[bushido_man96]

Good advice, Jiffy. If the doctor gives you certain guidelines to follow, then you should talk to the instructor and see if you can work within the guidelines.

[Zorbasan]

even if you do want to go back, you shoudl be able to say to the instructor, i want to get back into it but for these reason I'm not allowed to do any sparring. i doubt he would have a problem with that.

[Brandon Fisher]

I agree talk to your doctor and your instructor. Back problems are nothing to play with and I would think your instructor would take it into consideration.

[Shotokan-kez]

Yes talking to your doctor seems to be the best route and then talking to your instructor. We have a big notice in our dojo that if a karate-ka has any health problems to see a gp to have a full medical. I'm sure you'll be fine, good luck with that.

[MisterRadley]

I agree with everyone so far. Talk to your doctor, then to your instructor.

[Jiffy]

Definately the way to go!!

Prevention always beats cure!

[Akaratechick]

Hi guys. New here and am hoping for some help. I had back surgery(lumbar microdiscectomy) in May and was thinking of trying to get back into Karate if possible.

Let me try to give you the short n skinny.

I had a lumber fusion approximately 8 mo. ago. Complete with hardware and bone graft. A microdiscectomy wouldn't work because my spine was unstable. I would have opted for the micro if possible. Anyway, I asked my ortho in late March if I could go back to class to stretch, we do alot of it. He said yes and by mid April I was back full force. Two things, like everyone said, get an ok from your doctor and LISTEN to your body.

If you are prone to any type of back pain, you need to make sure you strengthen your core, abs, obliques,and so forth. I felt better when I came back to TKD especially with the stretches. I waited until about mid May to spar and no problem, I fell once and was a little sore but nothing else. I have fallen alot since then and been swept too I was a brown belt too so I know how you feel as far as wanting to get back. When I injured my back I was leaving my brown belt test in May of 2004 and my car got hit by a semi-truck and the rest was history. If you have taken any time off at all prior to the surgery then your back and core may need strengthening. There may be some things you will need to relearn but that is ok, brown belt is a great rank for that Good luck and remember Advil and Icy Hot are your friends!!