One year anniversary to back surgery!

I know that I have other things to celebrate this year, like our 2 weddings and our pregnancy, but since you read my post-surgery notes a year ago, I thought it would be a good idea to summarize my year as far as my rehab and integration back into the show.

Reaching the point where I had no choice but to go into surgery, was not an easy thing for me. Quite frankly, I was facing a career ending situation, as I was simply not able to do anything remotely close to the intensity of the Le Reve show, not to mention the terrible back pain I was experiencing...

However, once I took the decision to go for surgery, I made a mental switch, and from having doubts about my career, I went into rehab and goal oriented mode, which for many years was part of how I dealt with various physical challenges, whether highly stressful competitions, or long and frustrating periods of rehab and returning back into shape following an injury. As far as I can remember myself (as a gymnast) I always made a point in taking these situations, where I was limited, into opportunities to improve in other areas that needed to worked on, or skills I wanted to master and simply didn't have enough time in the day to focus on in normal and healthy (relatively speaking) times.

The first month after surgery I didn't do any active rehab at work and simply focused on doing my daily walks at the "fireman's park" in our neighborhood, and doing very slow stretching and spine articulation and range of motion exercises at home, with the goal of maintaining mobility and flexibility of my lower back. Off the record, I think it was one week after surgery when I started doing handstands again... Since I wasn't able or allowed to bend, lift or twist, I found interesting and creative ways to get into the handstand position, (through half a cartwheel), and once I was there (upside down and happy), I felt no pain as my body was completely straight and in an effortless position which I have been exploring throughout my career as a gymnast, and more so in the past 4 years, were I shifted my focus into equilibre (hand balancing) and performance. (If I can stand on my feet, why not stand on my hands...)

After a month of daily walks in the park, and clandestine alternative rehab (my style) I started a more structured rehab at work with our great Health Services team at Le Reve, which includes 3 Athletic trainers (Steve, Mary, and Nick) and Mat, our strength coach (who is also an athletic trainer).

There were two main stages to my rehab at work. For a period of two months, I worked with Steve, Nick and Mary, on general range of motion exercises, some low impact cardio sessions, soft tissue work (massage), and what they call "level one" core training, which is essential in order to progress into the more challenging physical work later on. Like everything that happens at the health services department, every day was logged and recorded. Looking back into my file notes a few days ago, I was impressed by the details which were added on a daily basis, reporting my progress, status, set backs and breakthroughs... The improvement in my range of motion (of my lower back), and my general feeling, was consistently improving almost on a daily basis, and after two months of physical therapy and healing, I progressed into the next stage of my rehab which was work with our strength coach mat (August 1st).

I started my daily trainings with 40 minutes of cardio, followed by closely monitored workouts. I found that by working with Mat on a daily basis (5 days a week for 40 minute long sessions), we were both able to monitor my rehabilitation, my strengthening, and slowly advancing to more complicated and challenging movements. During this time, I slowly started experimenting with more movement and acrobatics (easy stuff at first). As my confidence level increased, I started challenging myself with movements from the show, essentially taking those little calculated risks, which are simply part of rehab when the goal is to return to a highly physically aggressive work environment such as Le Reve.

At this point my hand balancing training at home reached higher level of intensity and variety and included also one arm handstand training and stretching, which not only kept me flexible, but also kept my "sanity", as this weird hobby of mine has already passed the level of just a past time activity; it is now how I identify myself as an artist. If 11 years ago my identity was Yuval - a gymnast and athlete, I am now Yuval the hand balancer and circus performer.

The integration into the show went quite smoothly. I did have a few flare ups of my back, but more from simply pushing myself physically towards our demanding acrobatic acts after not doing them for nearly 7 months, and not because of my back surgery itself. Every stage of the rehab and training was monitored closely with health services, and we were able control the pain level, and bring me towards my first performance on August 28th according to plan. I started with the easier numbers and slowly progressed into the more aggressive and physically challenging numbers in the show.

The Video bellow was taken about a week ago at the "Contortion" class I have been attending once a week for the past 4 months. No, I'm not planning a career as a FAKIR... I joined this class in order to improve my flexibility and technique in handstand. Angelique (the Mongolian teacher) is the head coach of the contortion and hand balancing act at the "O" show (by Cirque du Soleil) and also has a studio in which she teaches this art form. So once a week, on Saturday, I join a group of 7-10 year old girls and do the stretching and hand balancing under her instruction. I was thinking the other day...When these girls reach my age I'll be almost 70 years old...Yikes!

So ya, I'm BACK! Back to 10 shows a week (470 performances per year), back to daily sessions of handstand, and back to my normal/abnormal life as an Las Vegas performer/ acrobat/ and soon father to be.

Cheers,

Yuval



Contortion Class - May 15 2009

Week 3

It's been a little more than 2 weeks and since my back surgery on May 20th

During the second, post surgery, week of healing, I've experienced another slow, yet consistent, improvement in my general feeling and condition.  As expected, I still have some tightness in the area of the lower back due to the stitches made in the muscles, but the good and quite amazing news is that I have no sciatica pain!!!, from which I was suffering during the 3 months leading to the surgery.  Suddenly, sneezing, putting on my shoes, sitting in the car, watching a movie, standing up, taking a shit, etc... are normal actions again.   

I met Dr. Peoples this Monday, (2 weeks post surgery follow up) and he seemed happy with the results, and with the speed in which I have been improving and returning back to normal.  He wants me rest and let my back heal for about 6 weeks, before I start doing "real" rehab.  But since I'm an athlete/performer he is open towards starting to train a little at the LeReve training room, focusing on exercises that do not put any stress on my back, which simply needs to heal from the surgery.  Since stitches are connecting the muscles that were cut in order to reach the area of operation, it is important that I let them heal and not stretch strain them prematurely.  Also, the outer part of the disk needs to heal as well, especially since it can not be sewn...  It is important that I start rehab only after this area heals in order to lower the chances of re-herniation of the disk.

This Thursday, I started coming to the aqua theater for 20 minute sessions with Steve (the head of health services department at our show).  I have to say that he is very conservative with me.  We are doing different rehab and core exercises (mostly laying down), so that I will not bend my back, and stretch the muscles and different tissues which need to heal from the surgical procedure.  When I return home in the evenings, I still go for my walks around the neighborhood.  It feels great and I think is quite beneficial.

The Dr. also gave me a DVD with a video of the whole procedure.  Essentially this video is what Dr. peoples saw while performing the surgery.  Needless to say, it is quite fascinating to watch such a procedure, and even more so knowing that I'm the subject which is being cut on screen...  I have been watching it, and although I can not really understand what's happening most of the time It is still quite informative, and helps me understand what a trauma the body needs to heal from, and perhaps help me with the patience needed in the months of rehab ahead of me.  

Bellow is a short clip from of the surgery...

Surgery

It's been a week since my back surgery on May 20th.

I went through a "microdisectomy" at the L5-S1 disk level , in which the Dr. removed some disk tissue which was herniating towards the left. The surgery was a little longer then anticipated as the doctor found some more stuff which couldn't be seen in the MRI prior to the procedure, such as scar tissue, sort of cyst, and some sort of a bony tissue. I still need to talk to Steve, our head of health services at Le Reve, who attended the surgery, but in general this is the gist of it.

It was the first time I had gone through a surgery that included a general anesthesia, and I have to say that it was quite an experience... I remember being lead into an extremely cold surgery room, and the next thing I know is that I'm slowly waking up... The first thing I saw was a little wooden cross on the wall (it's the Saint Rose hospital after all) and my first words after waking up, were: "where is the star of David...?" Herelle (my wife) and Ruedi (a good friend) were there when I woke up in my delirious/ hilarious state. My mouth was very dry (since I didn't eat or drink since 8 o'clock in the morning). The nurse asked me if I wanted some apple juice, and I shot back, "only if it's organic!!!" Then she said that she will be available on the phone if I needed her, and again I answered with a very non typical me: "can I have your cel phone number...?"

I did thoroughly enjoy the (non organic) apple juice that the nurse gave me.

Another experience was peeing while laying on my back into this little plastic container. I remember that when my father had his surgery on his foot they gave him these biodegradable peeing containers, which for some reason made me think about the environment, and also about the other people which had used this container before me, but never mind... In addition to the new and unconventional peeing position, it was hard to use my abs and back muscles in order control the bladder, and more than a few times during the night I had to go through the not too comfortable experience of peeing out all that industrial apple juice which I had consumed initially.

In the morning Dr. peoples came to talk to me about the surgery, and to see whether I could go home or not. I stood on my feet, and besides the weakness and dizziness that are expected after such a procedure, I felt okay, with no numbness or other strange sensations that could some times follow such a procedure. We left the hospital around 8 in the morning and headed home. Dr. Peoples told me that I should rest at home for 2 weeks, and not do anything besides walking, which would very quickly become a 2 per day walking sessions at the Fireman Memorial Park across the street from our home.

During the first day at home I felt very weak, and also tight in the area of the lower back, which I guess is expected since the Dr. used stitches in order to connect the muscles back to their normal position. (in order to reach the disk, and area between the two vertebra, the he needed to cut through some muscles, and also break a little bone) So for the rest of the day I basically laid down in bed (flat on my back was the best position) and just walked a few times to the bathroom. In the evening I tried to walk outside to get some air and move a little, and realized it wasn't time yet...

I was surprised that I didn't need any pain killers (at least not serious ones) and in the next few days didn't take anything besides 3 or 4 Advils, which I was "consuming by the kilos" (portal) only a few months ago (well this is a bit exaggerated but good for the dramatic effect of this blog), and some supplements such as Omega's 3, and a multivitamins which I have also added into my daily diet.

On the second day I was able to take a longer walk, and essentially have been increasing the volume and intensity of my walks. Yesterday, 5 days after the surgery I found myself having to slow down after I found myself being lead by my Ipod music. I think it was a Janis Joplin song about mushrooms that made me stop and re-pace myself. Since I have been at home all day, I have been going out for walks in the morning, and in the evening, exploring the different walking routes of this nice residential park (The Firefighter Memorial Park) located literally across the street from our home.

I'm slowly and consistently improving. I'm hoping that after my meeting with the doctor next Monday, I'll be able to start the slow rehab at the theater's training room. At this point I believe that I'll be back in the show sometime in August, but until I start the real rehab I won't know for sure, as my body will also have to adjust to the new situation.

For now I'm in high spirits, even able to somewhat enjoy the "hanging out at home" thing.

I have been reading lots of books and magazines, in English, Hebrew, and French... I have been eating very well, as well as sleeping with no real problems. And of course, I'm spending considerable time on the Internet, which I have been doing since 1994, but now I have a wonderful excuse to do so...

More soon...

Jube