Welcome to the forum irishbrads.
Different people experience different symptoms however with DDD it would seem that without effective treatment the long term prospect is for symptoms to worsen over time. The rate at which this happens will vary on the individual and their lifestyle.
Time and time again the advice to me has been to manage the symptoms build your strength with regular core training and don't do anything too stupid in the gym. Ultimately when things get intolerable there is the option of fusion (that was the option given to me by at least two consultants).
So it seems it's down to lifestyle choices here - tune down the activity and if and when things get really bad there is the option of surgery based on the sound advice of an experienced consultant.
Where are you at on this journey?
I think one thing that has changed in recent years is the real option of disc replacement but there is a limited window for this as the degeneration process advances.
You also have to weigh this up against opinion - many consultants are not pro ADR and there are different reasons for this based on experience in their specialist fields.
For me the decision point was when my legs began to function less efficiently affecting my knees and then my right ankle and realised something needed to be done. I opted for disc replacement - it's been a week and a half since my surgery.
Questions over recovery time didn't seem so important in making the decision but of course are a concern as like you I want to get back to work as soon as possible (next week if I can) but something had to get done. Summer is a great time for down time as business slows down in most sectors.
As far as return to sports activities, you'd expect it to get better than where you are right now but don't let the recovery time put you off your decision. We all recover at different rates depending on our physical state and age. Assuming a complication free surgery, the fitter and healthier you are, the chances of a quicker recovery will be greater.
All the best with your decision!
|