This may be a reach, but does anyone anyone here drive after major spine surgery?

Glad to hear the surgery was successful. Healing is the hardest part. Seems to take about a year till everything settles down completely. I’ve had back pain since about 15 years old. Degenerative Disc disease since 25 years old. No natural arch in lower back. They call it Flat back. No natural shock absorption. Discs get pounded like a pogo stick, instead of like a Bow. Eventually bulging disc’s became 3 herniated. One healed itself. At 35 I had L4-L5 removed. Most common surgery. Surprised you still have L4-L5. That’s good. It’s supposedly the most stressed disc while sitting. Something you can have checked by X-ray or MRI. Pain will be the telltale. Avoid hard shocks, like jumping, running, letting the air ride seat bottom out. Avoid heavy lifting. Be easy on what you have left. Might just last a long time. Good riding Truck is most important. You might just be surprised. Driving my Truck actually adjusts and aligns my back when I’m in pain. Totally different situation than you, except that I was told my thin degenerated discs would only get more compressed and cause disability if I kept Driving. I’m 59 now, still waiting on the doomed predictions to happen.

 

I have simular issue with my experience in truck. I had 2 bulging disc and had just finished my 3rd shot in my back a month or so ago. I have found that my Volvo Seat helps align my back and I fill better driving all day than I do sitting at home in my recliner half the day when off. If I take more than a week off it starts to hurt more and then I know I am ready to go back out.

 

I wear one of those all the time now,( except sleeping),,in all my years, back issues were practically universal. Just about everyone has had back trouble. It's the way we are designed. My old man, had debilitating back issues, but he carried 2 bundles of shingles up a ladder. Many of his construction buddies too, and most had some sort of back surgery, and NONE worked. If anything, it made things worse. Ex-gfs dad, almost couldn't move, had several operations, BY THE BEST,,,each one with the promise of relief, every operation made it worse. RC makes a good point, trucks today are not the cause of back trouble, like in the past, where we all got our bad backs from. It's more the sedentary lifestyle that's the culprit. Not sure what to tell you, frequent stops help, but sometimes that's just not possible, back brace keeps you from slouching, but the bottom line, this is the job we chose, knowing full well the downsides, and if you think it's bad now, wait until you get older. I'm known for the "wet blanket" treatment here, but I almost guarantee, that will come BACK,,,to haunt you, regardless of the job, it's how our system works. To be honest, as long as you don't have to fingerprint anything( hand unload) a trucking job today might be okay for someone with a bad back. A nice seat is a worthwhile investment too. Good luck.

 

Had L4 & L5 fused about 23 years ago and operated on 5 more times since then. Driving doesn't bother me. Walking is an experience though.