Recovering/conditioning/supplementing after surgery ???

[SleeperSTL]

Id like to start by saying this is one of the most informative sites I have ever seen on the web... You guys really know your stuff..

and thats why I am hoping you can help me....

Im 30 yrs old and used to be a commercial driver for Anheuser Busch until Feb 02 when I was involved in an incident that resulted in the hernaition of two disc and cracking the L4 vertebre. They started with microdiscectomies at 2 levels to try and releive the pessure I had on the #5 nerve root that affected my left leg. It didnt work and the L4-L5 disc ruptured completely 2 months after the procedure in which they went back in and fused me up from L4 to L5 and L5 to S1...
due to all of the years driving, not really taking care of myself, the incident, and the surgeries I am in the worst shape of my life and scared about what could happen if I do NOT strengthen my foundation...I have been told that the only way I can prevent further injury later is to condition myself with some emphasis on the abs and back...
I dont know where to start ...the excerises the therapists gave me really seem remedial and I get bored. I know I have to start somewhere and it just seems they want the insurance payments and are not really worried about my well being. I have several pieces of equipment downstairs and just need a little guidance on where to start doing things for myself and taking control of my life again...I have an 18 month old daughter that was born during all of this and I would like to be able to be her DAD and have her look up to me. Ive had many months since she was born that I wasnt even able to carry her or pick her up..and I hope you all can imagine what that feels like to a guy.
I know I need to lose a few lbs...Im 6'4" and weigh 234...I have absolutely NO muscle definition or strength whatsoever right now..I dont even think I could complete 20 push ups right now. Alot of it has to do with my confidence being shot due to my back.
Along this ride the past 2 yrs we found through xrays and tests that I was only born with one kidney and it has some effect on the testes in which the dr says that only one "works correctly" or something about absence of VAS...
My test level came back 204 and the urologist started me on Androderm patches..
after reading everything here Im scared ****less about the negative aspects and shutting down normal production...I thought this was gonna be a benefit to healing the muscles they cut through and help me actually start to feel like a man again.
I dont know Im lost...and until finding your site Ive tried talking to my Dr about "sports medicine" and he seems to support it.
Im willing to do whatever it takes to build muscle mass and condition myself for mine and my daughters future but Im not as informed as many of you.
anyone willing to help with some suggestions on supplementation, what to ask for from the DR, and a beginners work out would be highly appreciated.
My name is Rob and my email address is nilges1225@yahoo.com
I have been reading this site for hrs now and feel really grateful that a friend passed it on to me.
Thanks in advance for the help and guideance.
Rob

[RiNgMaSteR]

I would be very careful once you start training your back. I would stick to exercises like pulldowns, hyperextensions, and some machine work. Dont want to risk injuring yourslef more with deadlifts etc. As for your program though, i would try a full body routine 2 times a week. Look in the workout program sticky to fine a good one. But remember to be very careful with your back exercises. I would also to cardio 4 to 5 times a week to get yourslef back in shape. Good luck.

[SleeperSTL]

thanks I appreciate the advice....I may have been a little eager to post after I read through alot of the site....Im sure if I sit here and keep reading some more Ill definitly get all the answers I need to get started.
I was hoping that someone may have an interest in PT that they could give me more resources or references to what they think is best...its really hard to train or lift with a bad back...its weird to think that I need to get stronger to avoid furher injury but what it takes to get stronger is risky itself...really really confusing... thanks for the help

[Kane Fan]

if you have some of your back fused
the best thing to do is talk to your doctor and a physical therapist and ask them if any lifts are off limits or need to be modified
before you get that info it is really unsafe to start lifting
you can do cardio pretty safely I think

[kmax]

I would definitely listen to a PT and be careful with a fused disk.
My chiro does not want me to do hyperextensions because he claims they are not good for disks.

[2xm]

My father has the same problem as you with his lower back (although i don't think it is as sever) when we go to the gym he doesn't do any deadlifts and no hyperextensions but he does do some light seated rows for lower back