Cervical fusion.

I've got C6-7 fusion.  It ended my football career between my junior and senior years in high school, but no other probs.

Mark

I had aC4-5 anterior cervical fusion in 1992 which at the age of 245 ended my career as a firefighter.  It took several years for all of the lingering pain, stiffness and depression to lift.  It only took about 4 months before I felt like I could really do everything physically that I could do before the injury.   That being said I curtailed many of the sports that I enjoyed prior to the injury due to fear of another cervical injury or damaging of the adjacent discs...such as rock climbing and mountain biking.  This many years later I still have intermittent bouts of soreness but no loss of range of motion and I have gone back to mountain biking at least.  I think I could have done much better earlier had I worked harder at physical therapy and psychological rehabilitation.  The effect of becoming partially disabled and loss of career were devastating to me.  People who do not have back issues do not fully appreciate the effects of these injuries for the most part. 

 For the past 5 years I have been dealing with degenerative disc disease in my lumbar spine along with 3 bulging discs in the lumbar region.  This has been very frustrating and painful.  Short story version, I have almost completely curtailed all activities that aggravate this condition such as prolonged driving, working at a conventional desk and physical labor which involves lifting or bending.  I made the decision a few months ago to get into doing triathlons in an effort to get in shape and change my outlook on my physical problems.  Biking running and swimming along with stretching seem to have really helped my back and I am feeling better than ever now.  Very glad I have found this sport!!!