Loading after neck surgery?

Sorry, no experience. I would ask my Doc. Hope you recover quickly!

I had C3-C4 done in 2011
recovery took a long time but was able to putz around in the loading room
just move slowly because things are not the same as before
are you still wearing a collar to restrict movement?
and are the staples out

Mike

just seen the picture
totally different from mine
went in the front on me

have you started therapy yet ?

You mention a lot of restrictions, might want to consult your doctor or physical therapist.

MWC1974 said:

You mention a lot of restrictions, might want to consult your doctor or physical therapist.

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This.^^^^^

For fun, you should let them know you will be weighing their opinions against those of your fellow reloaders.
Hope recovery goes well for you.

I've had 4 major lower back surgeries but not any in the neck. I would wait till the Dr or therapist gives you a go ahead. Laminectomy is going to be easiest and more likely to fail if you move wrong. I've had one of those fail just getting out of bed 1 week after surgery. At least with a fusion things are anchored so things do not move. My guess is that you will be 6 weeks or so before they allow you to start doing things that require upper extremities activity. Your shoulder and arms can pull a lot on the neck muscles.

Maybe you could request the physical therapist add it to your recovery plan.

AJC1 said:

Maybe you could request the physical therapist add it to your recovery plan.

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Yes, then write off a complete reloading room upgrade as a medical expense.

EricBu said:

Yes, then write off a complete reloading room upgrade as a medical expense.

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Now that's thinking!!!!!!

I had mulit level fusion 18 years ago had c45678 fused I have been in constant pain ever since ,but i deal with it .Pleas let it heal ,do not over do it .I wish you a speedy and pain free recovery.

Mabey you could rig up a foot pedal to operate the press? That should be possible.

Bcwitt said:

Mabey you could rig up a foot pedal to operate the press? That should be possible.

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I had a thread on that because I thought it was the perfect idea. It's not something I've seen but unless one is handy themselves it's probably just as cheap as adding a motor to the Dillon and being fully automated. I imagine it being as easy as a rod a spring and a foot peddle with bracket. If I had a family member who needed it, I'd fabercobble something up.

Sounds like the perfect time to start someone new into reloading. Let them do all the work and you just instruct and supervise. It will be a win win for both.

Tell your PT exactly what you want to do, so they can give you exercises.

Mine was a lot less extensive than yours, 3 months to start loading. Frankly it's the short forward prime stroke on the Dillon that I found most burdensome.

SingleActionAndrew said:

Tell your PT exactly what you want to do, so they can give you exercises.

Mine was a lot less extensive than yours, 3 months to start loading. Frankly it's the short forward prime stroke on the Dillon that I found most burdensome.

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If that was my problem a bench primer is to cheap to hurt very much for.

SingleActionAndrew said:

Tell your PT exactly what you want to do, so they can give you exercises.

Mine was a lot less extensive than yours, 3 months to start loading. Frankly it's the short forward prime stroke on the Dillon that I found most burdensome.

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Sounds like an excellent reason to move to a RL1100 or Super 1050;-)

rdinga said:

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Wow! that's a heck of an operation. Be careful with that.
Definitely ask your PT guy what you can do with your reloading.

I had a tumor removed out of my neck and I know what kind of pain that thing was causing me. All nerve pain probably like yours pre-operation.
So much misery I couldn't even work any more.
Surgeon took it out and it was like I was 20 years younger and zero pain. I hope your recovery is the same.

Be careful of jerking on anything. My surgeon told me that is the worst thing I could do until my vertebrae healed. They took out mussel, bone, and tissue and I had a big void where it was. Nothing to support the vertebrae.
It took a while before I could start doing anything that would effect my neck.

Reloading might be good therapy but shooting isn't.
I was done with shooting anything but a 22 for serveral months.
I eased back into a 38 special, then a light .357 mag and so on. The 41 mag bothered me for a while when I finally got to it about 6 months later. But being careful and not rushing recovery made all the difference.

You may never be able to shoot some full on magnums again but it's a small price to pay for a good recovery.

Good luck to you.

I have had 5 different surgeries and "procedures" (out patient) Yea, they went in on the front for my fusion as well, and I was in a collar as well for about 2 months after.

I was at it pretty quickly after, when you start PT you will see the normal tasks for reloading is not as much at the PT puts you through.

Good luck, mine is better but they did not get me in time, nerve damage for me that is just never going to go away. When it gets bad enough (pain) I have the nerves zapped, then I am good again for a year or so.

AJC1 said:

I had a thread on that because I thought it was the perfect idea. It's not something I've seen but unless one is handy themselves it's probably just as cheap as adding a motor to the Dillon and being fully automated. I imagine it being as easy as a rod a spring and a foot peddle with bracket. If I had a family member who needed it, I'd fabercobble something up.

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Ive seen it done w a hydrulic press also. Would need power in both directions, so a standard shop press wouldnt work.

Bcwitt said:

Ive seen it done w a hydrulic press also. Would need power in both directions, so a standard shop press wouldnt work.

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Foot powered down spring return. Easy day.