Just had my second discectomy at 48. first one was at 25. I am a long time basketball playing junkie, obviously not at the level of Mr. Simmons. I can tell you that unequivocally the pain I was in prior to the surgeries was the worst I've had in my life. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I am wishing him a full and functional recovery. Playing basketball is not the only thing in life. I would hate to see him suffer with back pain beyond his basketball career.
What caused this? I fear i might be in line for surgery soon, been having re-occurring back pain for years now and it never gets better. Just goes away for a while and then punches me square in the nose as I'm going about my day.
You’re lucky to get relief and a discectomy.. I’m 25, had a laminectomy at 23, which “failed” at 6 weeks post ops.. my nerves have been on fire ever since. Never playing basketball again, only leave the bed when laying down becomes too painful.
@@AttainTheGrain the initial injury was caused by me coming down with a rebound and landing very flat footed. sent a significant jolt all the way up my back. that ultimately led me to the first surgery. the second one if i'm being honest is likely from 20 more years of basketball and not enough stretching. dr warned me at the time of my first that i need to stretch more. i did not heed the warning.
Seeing that you don't mention physical therapy and that you later mention merely stretching, I hazard that you neglected knowledgeable physical therapy. I suggest Stuart McGill as well as Aaron Horschig for direction on how physical therapy does at least two main things to prevent and treat lumbar back pain. One, it can reverse "gluteal amnesia" and properly activate the posterior chain's other muscles. Two, it builds core strength that stabilizes the spine to offset the spinal laxity that attends a disc herniation's aftermath, which is typically a disc bulge.
I am 36 and have had two discectomies on the lower three discs. I have been in lots of pain the last few weeks so just had another MRI. This video hits very close to home. I have herniations again with the loss of space and fluids in the discs. My doctor mentioned a fusion and disc replacement but said on three levels the outcome isn’t always great. So for now I am going to try and pain manage and hopefully get some relief that way. Back pain is the absolute worst. I couldn’t imagine playing in the nba with these issues. Some days I don’t want to even get out of bed.
constant neck pain. 3 cervical herniations, stenosis, bone spurs in the neck. Wasnt an nba player but forced me to give up rec league sports. People dont understand how awful that pain is. The pain consumes your entire mind-to the point many of us would rather die quickly and swiftly. The basics become difficult, let alone being able to play sports at any level.
Dude, I’m in the same boat. I had a microdiscectomy at L4-L5 only for it to fail and required a fusion three months later. My ass was already kicked and the fusion was brutal. BRUTAL. The back spasms I dealt with during recovery was absolute torture. And here I am possibly facing it again with my L3-L4. I had the MRI a week ago that confirmed everything. I meet with my surgeon in three weeks to discuss our approach. March 28 will be one year since the previous fusion. Unreal. Good luck to you.
I feel for you I really do. And to think Ben Simmons will lie about that kind of pain to get out of his contract with the sixers… what a narcissistic asshole.
After years of playing basketball and 20+ years doing industrial maintenance. My back acts up every six months to where you can barely sit up. It hurts so bad let me tell you. Pain isn't a strong enough word lol
I herniated my back years ago. Went thru the same reoccurring issues. Hard to walk , didn’t want to sit because of how hard it was to stand back up. Started working on Strengthening and lengthening my back with some diet changes ( Added more water content and less dry foods) changed my life.
I’m seeing a complete dearth of empathy in these comments. Friendly reminder that these health issues can happen to anyone, and nobody *deserves* back issues. Wishing him a speedy recovery and big shoutout to Dr. Sutterer for combining so many educational media in this video. We are truly blessed beyond measure for this content. Med students pay hundreds thousands for lectures of this caliber.
I wish him well in his recovery and don't wish injury on anyone. With that out of the way...as long as he comes out of this being able to live his life more or less normally...he still will have made himself well over $100 million pretending to care about being a basketball player. When healthy, he didn't care to improve himself or listen to those on his team who wanted him to just work on getting better. In fact...when asked about how he could improve...he was defensive and told people that he's good enough despite the fact that he was being paid as if he would get better. He didn't care enough about the game and his job such compared to those of us who hustle our asses off to get better and keep a job that makes 1/1000th of what he gets paid to dribble a basketball. Should I care about a 100 millionaire that did the bare minimum to justify his salary? Not a bit. It is obviously also the team's fault that gave him that kind of contract with that much money but they did it in good faith and Ben burned them for it. Don't feel sorry for him. Save your empathy for those who deserve it.
Empathy has been lost because of how his career has been up until this point. Nobody is wishing injuries upon this dude. It's just looked like simmons only wanted to take his check and not play basketball. Genuinely at this rate, he will not get another contract in the NBA.
@@thatguyjoe3649 I mean tbf, he's been claiming injury and mental health for years (injury makes him lose confidence in ability, mentality will change) and all the evidence adds up to him being serious. You don't go from a hyper athletic, All Defense team point-forward who was getting buckets easily (withouth a jumpshot), to some complete bum who doesn't understand the game. Man had everything, and its a shame its turning out this way. Hope to see him dazzle us with amazing playmaking once again.
I’m about the same age as Simmons and I have always been a hater towards him. With that said, I also have disc herniations in my back and they have definitely hindered my athleticism and mobility. This gives me more perspective on what Ben has been going through. It’s no joke!
As someone who is not an athlete but who has numerous bulged discs, cervical,, thoracic and lumbar degenerative arthritis and already had c5-c7 ACDF, I feel for Ben Simmons! Back pain and nerve impingement is a horrible thing for anyone let alone a professional athlete to deal with. I hope he can get it treated and still be able to play. As a 76ers fan, I wish him the best.
Kinda makes this all sad because if a guy with millions of dollars with the best doctors can’t fix his back then the rest of us, well most of us are in trouble lol
I feel your pain bro…. Same issue for me and i had a footdrop too at the beginning… thankfully with a proper recovery plan i can do almost everything i could before the injury… and no I didn’t undergo surgery
Suffering like this for years is debilitating … glad I choose a different route than prescribed pain pills . Only took me a year on that junk to realize it made nerve pain worse over time and I needed more potent shit to take to deal with it ..I made my own program and can function most days but not to the degree I could before my back injury .pain can be a blessing to some a motivator but others get broken by it .
Ive been suffering with this in 2 discs for 28 years in L4 L5, I was too young for surgery 18 years ago i wonder when i will be too old for surgery, ill be 50 soon, and im so much worse than i was 18 years ago, and am better off dead at this point. My pelvic floor, numbness in my hip, sciatic pain from my back to my foot, and now my knee is fucking up. Thanks canadian medical system. Ive lost just about everything due to this. I wish i was nba rich person. And before anyone says it on me, i have done everything, every physio, pelvic specialist, epidurals, disc injections, pelvic floor manipulation ( guess how that works) i have given up.
i agree. I'm canadian and the system here is an absolute joke. They will completely reject or prolong surgery. it's so bad. There's no pain management. Doctors are burnt out and don't care at all.
@robgronkowski947 i was seeing a pelvic floor specialist for 3 years, and ran out of money, about 2 years ago. Ive had just about every kind previously to that, so much so i should have went into the field. I always get to a plateau and cant get past certain things. She was amazing but its hard to have pain, and then the physio is super painful, and the treatments are super painful. I have so much scar tissue, that my pelvic floor is like a rock, well it was, i made alot of progress, but im feeling sorry, for myself and need to get back to work. It can be such a mental burden, i was the guy everyone came to, to help them move, or lift a fridge upstairs. I did warehousing for a lot of years, and sports, i was super active, and i can't do much of anything now. Being broke doesn't help, if it wasnt for my mom i would be on the streets most likely.
Let me explain this: if you have never experienced a ruptured disc and to where it is touching a spinal branch then don't say anything. That is one injury that I never want to experience again. I'd rather be paralyzed
I would love to have a video on Tyler Herro. Could you piece together what’s going on with the physiology behind having a platelet rich injection into his foot? Is this a chronic condition that could limit his career?
@chill0314 You don't need to show pain to have something wrong physically. Bone, muscle, and tissue deterioration is something that has to be seen under an X-ray and other kinds of scans. Physicals don't have those machines handy for a thorough check.
No joke. Neck and especially back injuries or problems, that need surgery? Are the worst. Those surgeries are the *most* to be non acceptable or to be called off, by the patients themselves due to its risk of furthering more pains or injuries in the future after said surgeries.
Does anyone remember when most of the internet was claiming he was faking this injury to get out of playing? People really tried to argue this was "minor surgery" knowing absolutely nothing about back injuries apparently. This is truly the best and smartest country
Even if he was injured he was laughing on the bench and acting like an idiot. He showed no sense of urgency about coming back. He does NOT care about winning he just wants to take his money. Has he ever missed a paycheck?
Yeah this is just a bad take, it was always something with Simmons, which is why no one gave him the benefit of the doubt. We have the proof and now people are understanding. This is how things go in the world.
I'm still claiming he's faking his injury to get out of playing. He's having MINIMAL INVASIVE surgery for the second time. Minimal invasive. And the doctors don't even know what nerve is causing the trouble. And with this surgery Simmons gets out of playing next season - with full salary, of course.
@@leo_wentzel No, we don't have the proof. This minimal invasive surgery and the doctors don't even know which nerve they're operating on. And they never will because Simmons is making this all up. This back injury is as fake as his mental illness.
As a life long Sixers fan and someone that suffers from the same injury, I really feel for him. I can’t imagine playing NBA level basketball with that back. For normal people like me, physical therapy is enough for me to get through day to day activities.
I had my first fusion when I was 33. I’m still active 7 years later and 2 more fusions added to that. I have had patients who had MIS’s done 20 years ago, never had an issue till they moved the wrong way. I’ve also had patients who were stupid right after their surgery and reherniated a month after. Spine surgery doesn’t mean the end of your fun. Most certainly not, I still ski
Thank you for all the informative information Dr. Sutterer, as a fan of Ben Simmons as an NBA athlete it was interesting to learn more about the type of surgery he is about to go through. I wish him a good recovery and hopefully a successful return to where he can atleast enjoy playing basketball again if he chooses too.
I remember TJ Ford having career threatening back issues growing up. I don't know if it was the same issue, but the back is NOT something to be played with.
I had this and its one of the worse pains I experienced at its peak, took several years of different treatments and physical therapy to make it go away. The severe sciatica pain is terrible.
Michael Porter, Jr had three back surgeries and seems to be playing pretty well. He seems to love the game in a way Simmons never has. Perhaps that’s why Simmons has missed o much time and is on a downward trajectory. Simmons doesn’t seem to want to come back.
my neighbor when I lived by Philly played football for the Eagles as an offensive lineman and had to have the same type of back surgery . he had to retire at age 25 or 26 . luckily for him he had a backup plan and got his real estate license and worked with his wife selling houses . they moved a few years after but he was a nice guy who took me to the Eagles training camp in the 90’s , I met Bill Walsh , Buddy Ryan , most of the Eagles offensive line and other coaches and staffers . I also jogged with Randall Cunningham and got his autograph too lol was a fun day for a 13 year old kid 😎
I learned so much from this video! I love your content and watch it regularly, but this might be the most I’ve learned from one standalone video! What causes these disc herniations? Is it that he did a particular motion that was harmful over time, or do these tend to be more acute issues?
I don’t even have any injuries but just coming back to the gym and lower back pains really limit my movements to the point where I feel like I’m on the brink of paralysis
This is the worst type of injury. Nobody understands how much pain you’re in. Some days the pain is manageable yet other days it’s excruciating. Some people think you’re just faking since there’s no cast or brace. For me, prolotherpy helped to strengthen the ligaments in the lower back and pelvis. Then a chiropractor to help create more space in between the lumbar discs and then physiotherapy to help retrain and strengthen the lower back muscles. I hope this can help others too.
I had a microdiscectomy at L4/5 (and foraminectomy for access) on one side; felt good for a few weeks, then my foot dropped. About three months after the first surgery, I had a second. Fighting off a third now about a year later. My NBA career is DEFINITELY over 🥺
Ben Simmons is such a huge contrast to Michael Porter Jr. MPJ has had 3 surgeries [one of them major]. He had people saying he'd never play, and yet he's become a key contributor on a championship team and one with a chance at more rings. He deserves so much credit for his mental and physical toughness to work all the way back from those surgeries and [knocking on wood] he seems to have turned a corner on it.
In the future could they grow the disk material to replace the damaged material or stimulate the growth of new disk material. Thank you for your videos.
These are silent injuries people do not know about, nor understand and they wonder why that player isn't playing at the high level they used to. Dwight Howard had back injuries throughout his career and he just wasn't the same.
In 2024, encountering such problems for a professional athlete indicates incredible incompetence within the medical and athletic departments of the franchise where the athlete played. This isn't just an injury; it's a consequence of postural issues and poor coordination, which could have been addressed with appropriate training if identified early enough.
Had a 2 level spinal fusion and discectomy (PLF) 5 years ago from stress fractures of the pars s1-l5-l4 from boxing training, once injured you will never be the same (and always experience some pain) although i can still do everything as before, but not at the level or frequency, i am sure with the right perseverance and if the healing process goes well he may be able to return but would need to be managed by the PT's and is likely to affect his playing time
L5-S1 herniation problem ten years ago. Pain has subsided but nerve irritation in my left foot and toes drives me nuts. Always worse at night when trying to sleep. I try massage and flex the toes for relief. Flexing seems to give me temporary relief allowing sleep. Will walk to grave with this condition 🙇🏼
Maybe not. I have dealt with it for 20 years. It likely will improve as you age. Try lipoic acid, nerve flossing and a lot of mild stretching. Don’t give up I almost did bu hang in there.
i have an impractical theoretical question: what would happen if you pushed against the hernia for a long period, like weeks or months? would the annulus eventually heal over, with the pulp in its original position? i realise some sort of procedure would exist if it was possible to do a repair ... but i'm constantly reminded nobody ever discusses this. i have weird fantasies of someone being suspended at a weird angle in a frame, with a rod firmly poking into their spine for six months. i need relief from this burden
I doubt he'll ever return to form because he doesn't seem to mentally want it, even if he recovers just fine. It's unfortunate, he could have become a great player.
I don't know why this brought back my biomechanics classes. I'm gonna ignore the first surgery for the sake of argument but could it be something related to his natural body alignment? Instead of unloading forces "evenly" between the body and the disc, maybe there's an atrophy in a muscle, ligament, or even facet joint that, given his career as an elite athlete, accentuates a miniscule anatomical anomaly that people who don't perform at that level simply don't get because there isn't enough stress generated? Maybe he has a 2° Cobb lumbar scoliosis but at his level it's enough to cause bigger issues. Just a thought exercise btw, no need to tear me a new one.
I assume a lot of people watching this have back issues. I just want to give a perspective: MRI 2020: Herniated Disc awful pain really really awful. Cant walk, cant sit etc. Three years of trying everything. A rollercoaster of pain. Physio, Lifting, Walking, Stretching, harder mattress... MRI 2023: Herniated Disc (still), doctor said my body started the process of fusing the vertibrae itself and he could do fusion surgery to speed up the process. My pain level? Moderate. Moderate pain every now and then. Flare Ups last maybe 2-3 days and dont stop me from walking or sitting. What I'm trying to say is: Three years later the MRI looks worse, but my pain levels are very moderate. And probably lower than average at most days. I have to say I changed a lot in my life to get there. I truly needed to brainwash myself into understanding that only I can get this right with my own actions. And that ten years of neglect can't be turned around in six weeks. But this is just my story and every story is individual. Understand that this is a marathon, with out without surgery and you probably need to change many aspects of your life.
When these things heal, they do so with granulation tissue, not annular fibers. Not as strong, stats say he is more likely to cause a re-opening of a previous herniation.
the pain is enough to make you unable to sit or walk you lie there i had to go to thrapie cause aint no way im doing a surgery cause back surgerys are so risky
What about running up and down the court and stinking up the stadium. Ben Simmons is a fraud. He always seems to get up and down the court just fine. I have never seen him wince. And funny how he always seems to be "injured" after he has a bad game. Screw this guy.
i have an extra vertabrae (i believe) or extra bone in some part of my back is that a benefit or the opposite or no impact? i always been able to jump higher, farther, faster than most is it because of the extra bone?
When I see this, I think of McGill's big three exercise. I know it's not as simple but it is something that can help get someone on the right track. When I feel sharp pain in my lower back I try to remind myself to engage my core to better keep the load off the spine.
Always wish athletes the best! As a spine rep for 15 years we know that these procedures are bandaids. My college football career at UW ended due to a back injury hence my journey into medical device sales. Again wish him the best but the clock is ticking for his spinal fusion. Genetics are a bitch!
Not necessarily. Lumbar total disc replacement is possible if his facet joints are otherwise healthy. The FDA approved devices are total trash with CroCo in them, but good devices are available in Europe.
@@ginzo666 I hope you are right! I have seen lots of cervical artificial discs be implanted but very few lumbar discs and they were all investigational. When those go wrong they can go very wrong. For another 200 max deal I would risk it, but wealth cannot buy you health.
@@jjwalker8682 I've had one for 5 years. It's still perfect. No clue if they're ever going to ever go for FDA approval. The next generation beyond these viscoelastic implants will be 3D printed devices to match patient anatomy.
@@jjwalker8682 i agree with you. People dont understand how risky these surgeries are. When they work-its great but when they don't its very very scary and its not low. There's so many cases where the surgeries dont workout in these kind of cases.
I have had thoracic back pain due to impingement for years , my back can spasm so badly that it gets hard to breath , over the last few years the nerve issues have moved down my back , and now I have lovely flair ups of sciatica . AT least Ben is getting treatment , my doctors have just put me on pain meds and used steroid injections into my back like it's a pin cushion , they said they will do more when my issues become worse , the problem is , it's been over 15 years never getting better just gradually getting worse , I am just not to the point of not being able to move, and I am used to the pain, so I can still function, so my docs think why rock the boat ,I am managing .
Great video once again :) Could you (or someone else in the comments) explain if there is any other cause for a nerve impingiment? For example if you do the test of laying on your back and lifting your leg in a straight position and even tilting your head forwards and you get pain in your back or even radiating in the leg. Can muscle spasms in the back or something else cause that or is it a sign of disc hernia/bulge?
I have had two surgeries. Second replaced all of the disc in my neck I have three plates a strut and a rod system that relieved all paralysis and pain custom-made by the greatest neurosurgeon in the world. Who does your work makes all the difference in the world some doctors truly care about the outcomes others only care about how many outcomes they can finish to buy more worldly Goods.
Michael Porter's success exposes Ben Simmons. I'll say it again: I don't think Simmons was ever hurt. He and his agents contrived his back injury just like they contrived his mental illness.
"Simmons' lack of competitiveness in some crucial games has raised questions about his character as a basketball player. While many top picks succumb to the NBA star lifestyle and emerge as average competitors, it's rare to see that at the collegiate level. ... "Simmons has displayed an apathy for defense, contact and delivering winning plays in crucial moments. Those troubling revelations in Simmons' game are cause for concern among decision-makers on lottery teams with whom we've had contact."
Surgeons recommend avoiding surgery until old age because of possible complications. The exception is if you are an athlete and your career relies on your health.
Herniated two discs in my back years ago. Never got surgery but had to give up what was causing the pain (in my case boxing). That’s kinda what it usually boils down to, unfortunately: are you willing to give up what’s causing you pain? You learn quickly that being healthy and happy supersedes all else. IMO Ben should retire and enjoy his youth while he still has it. He made it a lot further as a pro athlete than anyone here in the comments hating on him.
His 1st back "injury" happened when he took a year off to sulk and get traded to the nets without playing a game for the whole season. I guess he injured it while sitting for long hours hunched over his pc? 🤔
Feeling sorry for Ben. Definitely feel bad he had to deal with all the social media hate over the last few years. Praying he gets back to full health at some point.
The crazy part is I was gonna clown him until I realized back injuries aren’t a joke and the hate he’s getting is crazy but I’m sure if any of our fav players had this injury then we’d be more understanding 🤷🏽♂️
Dr this is not a joke...those close to Simmons have confirmed he has a gaming addiction. He was even seen online playing Call of Duty for 24 hours straight the day before his team the Nets had a playoff game. All of his sitting and likely bad posture had caused these injuries and his addiction is why they are not healing.
Forget Ben. If you guys love his defense, check out this other guy who can guard as well if not better: Rudy Gobert. Soon to be a 4x DPOY, all Ben does better than gobert is pass. And literally nobody talks about rudy. Super underrated and underappreciated.
At least he's already gotten paid. Whether he returns or not won't ruin him financially. If his career is, more or less, over, he really shouldn't have given out all of those fines when he sat out against the 76ers. Hopefully, his back heals well and he can at least go about his day normally and pain-free.
Bring on a psychologist to connect these physical symptoms to mental health. Dude missed some shots, stopped shooting, then lost his mind. That Tinashe curse hitting hard.
Just had my second discectomy at 48. first one was at 25. I am a long time basketball playing junkie, obviously not at the level of Mr. Simmons. I can tell you that unequivocally the pain I was in prior to the surgeries was the worst I've had in my life. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I am wishing him a full and functional recovery. Playing basketball is not the only thing in life. I would hate to see him suffer with back pain beyond his basketball career.
What caused this? I fear i might be in line for surgery soon, been having re-occurring back pain for years now and it never gets better. Just goes away for a while and then punches me square in the nose as I'm going about my day.
You’re lucky to get relief and a discectomy.. I’m 25, had a laminectomy at 23, which “failed” at 6 weeks post ops.. my nerves have been on fire ever since. Never playing basketball again, only leave the bed when laying down becomes too painful.
@@AttainTheGrain the initial injury was caused by me coming down with a rebound and landing very flat footed. sent a significant jolt all the way up my back. that ultimately led me to the first surgery. the second one if i'm being honest is likely from 20 more years of basketball and not enough stretching. dr warned me at the time of my first that i need to stretch more. i did not heed the warning.
Seeing that you don't mention physical therapy and that you later mention merely stretching, I hazard that you neglected knowledgeable physical therapy. I suggest Stuart McGill as well as Aaron Horschig for direction on how physical therapy does at least two main things to prevent and treat lumbar back pain. One, it can reverse "gluteal amnesia" and properly activate the posterior chain's other muscles. Two, it builds core strength that stabilizes the spine to offset the spinal laxity that attends a disc herniation's aftermath, which is typically a disc bulge.
@@oasean i did try physical therapy as well. unfortunately i got no relief from my symptoms.
I am 36 and have had two discectomies on the lower three discs. I have been in lots of pain the last few weeks so just had another MRI. This video hits very close to home. I have herniations again with the loss of space and fluids in the discs.
My doctor mentioned a fusion and disc replacement but said on three levels the outcome isn’t always great. So for now I am going to try and pain manage and hopefully get some relief that way.
Back pain is the absolute worst. I couldn’t imagine playing in the nba with these issues. Some days I don’t want to even get out of bed.
constant neck pain. 3 cervical herniations, stenosis, bone spurs in the neck. Wasnt an nba player but forced me to give up rec league sports. People dont understand how awful that pain is. The pain consumes your entire mind-to the point many of us would rather die quickly and swiftly. The basics become difficult, let alone being able to play sports at any level.
Dude, I’m in the same boat. I had a microdiscectomy at L4-L5 only for it to fail and required a fusion three months later. My ass was already kicked and the fusion was brutal. BRUTAL. The back spasms I dealt with during recovery was absolute torture. And here I am possibly facing it again with my L3-L4. I had the MRI a week ago that confirmed everything. I meet with my surgeon in three weeks to discuss our approach. March 28 will be one year since the previous fusion. Unreal. Good luck to you.
I feel for you I really do. And to think Ben Simmons will lie about that kind of pain to get out of his contract with the sixers… what a narcissistic asshole.
what did you choose to do?
After years of playing basketball and 20+ years doing industrial maintenance. My back acts up every six months to where you can barely sit up. It hurts so bad let me tell you. Pain isn't a strong enough word lol
Dwight Howard had the same issue yet he didn’t laugh it off and act like he didn’t care about the team.
@@baldeagle4710 he's not acting. It's a sincere heartfelt feeling 😂
@@baldeagle4710Howard is also a all time great center Ben is just a bust at this point. Howard still showed clear evidence of terrible back problems
@@DasFlippityFlopa bust does not lead the nba in steals casual
@@snagzzy2k418 yeah your right, I’m sure every team bens been on is super glad they had him 🤡 goofy mf
I herniated my back years ago. Went thru the same reoccurring issues. Hard to walk , didn’t want to sit because of how hard it was to stand back up. Started working on Strengthening and lengthening my back with some diet changes ( Added more water content and less dry foods) changed my life.
How you doing now?
I’m seeing a complete dearth of empathy in these comments. Friendly reminder that these health issues can happen to anyone, and nobody *deserves* back issues. Wishing him a speedy recovery and big shoutout to Dr. Sutterer for combining so many educational media in this video. We are truly blessed beyond measure for this content. Med students pay hundreds thousands for lectures of this caliber.
I wish him well in his recovery and don't wish injury on anyone. With that out of the way...as long as he comes out of this being able to live his life more or less normally...he still will have made himself well over $100 million pretending to care about being a basketball player. When healthy, he didn't care to improve himself or listen to those on his team who wanted him to just work on getting better. In fact...when asked about how he could improve...he was defensive and told people that he's good enough despite the fact that he was being paid as if he would get better. He didn't care enough about the game and his job such compared to those of us who hustle our asses off to get better and keep a job that makes 1/1000th of what he gets paid to dribble a basketball. Should I care about a 100 millionaire that did the bare minimum to justify his salary? Not a bit. It is obviously also the team's fault that gave him that kind of contract with that much money but they did it in good faith and Ben burned them for it. Don't feel sorry for him. Save your empathy for those who deserve it.
Empathy has been lost because of how his career has been up until this point. Nobody is wishing injuries upon this dude. It's just looked like simmons only wanted to take his check and not play basketball. Genuinely at this rate, he will not get another contract in the NBA.
Even if not for his injury he didn't have work ethic, his career would go on wrong path
These health issues just prevent him from playing a game. Don’t be so dramatic.
@@thatguyjoe3649 I mean tbf, he's been claiming injury and mental health for years (injury makes him lose confidence in ability, mentality will change) and all the evidence adds up to him being serious.
You don't go from a hyper athletic, All Defense team point-forward who was getting buckets easily (withouth a jumpshot), to some complete bum who doesn't understand the game.
Man had everything, and its a shame its turning out this way. Hope to see him dazzle us with amazing playmaking once again.
I’m about the same age as Simmons and I have always been a hater towards him. With that said, I also have disc herniations in my back and they have definitely hindered my athleticism and mobility. This gives me more perspective on what Ben has been going through. It’s no joke!
As someone who is not an athlete but who has numerous bulged discs, cervical,, thoracic and lumbar degenerative arthritis and already had c5-c7 ACDF, I feel for Ben Simmons! Back pain and nerve impingement is a horrible thing for anyone let alone a professional athlete to deal with. I hope he can get it treated and still be able to play. As a 76ers fan, I wish him the best.
Ben is actually enjoying all that money he got
I would feel bad if the dude wasn’t so unprofessional before his back problems
difference is you didnt get paid insane millions of dollars for not doing your job
What a positive thing to see about Ben, I hope your feeling better yourself. Go 76ers!
@@westbrick6393 dressed to the 9's on the bench
I have the same thing in my neck and nerve pain is no joke! Ben Simmons should be left alone, i know it aint easy what his going through
Kinda makes this all sad because if a guy with millions of dollars with the best doctors can’t fix his back then the rest of us, well most of us are in trouble lol
@@nyteowl8069good point
This is a great breakdown.
I’ve been waiting this video. Can you add a video going over the impact of scar tissue on these types of surgeries?
You teach so much while being entertaining. One of my favorite channels on any platform. Appreciate you and your effort on every video
I don't think Michael Porter Jr. Is quite the same had he not had those injuries and that's something to consider.
If porter never had those injuries he’d b Jayson Tatum fr
@@mayankpunjabi1052 but taller with a more efficient jumper
MPJ would've been a top 3 pick
In an interview MPJ says he never fully recovered and plays at 80%.
I feel for Ben, back injuries are no joke!
3:14 ''if you have an L4 or L5 disk herniation...''
Me watching this while in bed from ridiculous radiculopathy in L4, and on Naproxen 😭😭
God bless you, I hope your pain subsidies
@@anthonymatson966thanks mate, i really appreciate your kind words. I hope you have a great day and take care.
I feel your pain bro…. Same issue for me and i had a footdrop too at the beginning… thankfully with a proper recovery plan i can do almost everything i could before the injury… and no I didn’t undergo surgery
Suffering like this for years is debilitating … glad I choose a different route than prescribed pain pills . Only took me a year on that junk to realize it made nerve pain worse over time and I needed more potent shit to take to deal with it ..I made my own program and can function most days but not to the degree I could before my back injury .pain can be a blessing to some a motivator but others get broken by it .
Ive been suffering with this in 2 discs for 28 years in L4 L5, I was too young for surgery 18 years ago i wonder when i will be too old for surgery, ill be 50 soon, and im so much worse than i was 18 years ago, and am better off dead at this point. My pelvic floor, numbness in my hip, sciatic pain from my back to my foot, and now my knee is fucking up. Thanks canadian medical system. Ive lost just about everything due to this. I wish i was nba rich person. And before anyone says it on me, i have done everything, every physio, pelvic specialist, epidurals, disc injections, pelvic floor manipulation ( guess how that works) i have given up.
i agree. I'm canadian and the system here is an absolute joke. They will completely reject or prolong surgery. it's so bad. There's no pain management. Doctors are burnt out and don't care at all.
Don't give up melian
@@RestoreYourPeace im trying
ever try working with a physical therapist?
@robgronkowski947 i was seeing a pelvic floor specialist for 3 years, and ran out of money, about 2 years ago. Ive had just about every kind previously to that, so much so i should have went into the field. I always get to a plateau and cant get past certain things. She was amazing but its hard to have pain, and then the physio is super painful, and the treatments are super painful. I have so much scar tissue, that my pelvic floor is like a rock, well it was, i made alot of progress, but im feeling sorry, for myself and need to get back to work. It can be such a mental burden, i was the guy everyone came to, to help them move, or lift a fridge upstairs. I did warehousing for a lot of years, and sports, i was super active, and i can't do much of anything now. Being broke doesn't help, if it wasnt for my mom i would be on the streets most likely.
I love this account. So informative.
I’ve had this injury for 2 years. I was dying. Finally with proper PT the pain went away in 3 months.
Let me explain this: if you have never experienced a ruptured disc and to where it is touching a spinal branch then don't say anything. That is one injury that I never want to experience again. I'd rather be paralyzed
How are you doing now?
Doctor, could you do a video on disc replacement? I haven't heard about many cases of that in the sports world; have you?
I would love to have a video on Tyler Herro. Could you piece together what’s going on with the physiology behind having a platelet rich injection into his foot? Is this a chronic condition that could limit his career?
Wonder how he passed his physical when he got traded to the Nets
I believe the Nets waived the physical tests because both Seth Curry and Ben Simmons were injured when they were traded to Brooklyn
There are some transactions where I wonder if all consideration happened above the table. Pure speculation but I can't help wondering.
He failed it and the Nets traded for him anyway.
Because he wasn't hurt.
@chill0314 You don't need to show pain to have something wrong physically. Bone, muscle, and tissue deterioration is something that has to be seen under an X-ray and other kinds of scans. Physicals don't have those machines handy for a thorough check.
This is a scary injury.
No joke. Neck and especially back injuries or problems, that need surgery? Are the worst. Those surgeries are the *most* to be non acceptable or to be called off, by the patients themselves due to its risk of furthering more pains or injuries in the future after said surgeries.
Lolololololol yeah it’s cause he’s injured. Lololol
Back injury makes player retire early in there career ask larry bird
Does anyone remember when most of the internet was claiming he was faking this injury to get out of playing? People really tried to argue this was "minor surgery" knowing absolutely nothing about back injuries apparently. This is truly the best and smartest country
Even if he was injured he was laughing on the bench and acting like an idiot. He showed no sense of urgency about coming back. He does NOT care about winning he just wants to take his money. Has he ever missed a paycheck?
Yeah this is just a bad take, it was always something with Simmons, which is why no one gave him the benefit of the doubt. We have the proof and now people are understanding. This is how things go in the world.
@@baldeagle4710this was your take on ben still after watching this video, that's ridiculous
I'm still claiming he's faking his injury to get out of playing. He's having MINIMAL INVASIVE surgery for the second time. Minimal invasive. And the doctors don't even know what nerve is causing the trouble. And with this surgery Simmons gets out of playing next season - with full salary, of course.
@@leo_wentzel No, we don't have the proof. This minimal invasive surgery and the doctors don't even know which nerve they're operating on. And they never will because Simmons is making this all up. This back injury is as fake as his mental illness.
As a life long Sixers fan and someone that suffers from the same injury, I really feel for him. I can’t imagine playing NBA level basketball with that back. For normal people like me, physical therapy is enough for me to get through day to day activities.
I had my first fusion when I was 33. I’m still active 7 years later and 2 more fusions added to that. I have had patients who had MIS’s done 20 years ago, never had an issue till they moved the wrong way. I’ve also had patients who were stupid right after their surgery and reherniated a month after. Spine surgery doesn’t mean the end of your fun. Most certainly not, I still ski
Thank you for all the informative information Dr. Sutterer, as a fan of Ben Simmons as an NBA athlete it was interesting to learn more about the type of surgery he is about to go through. I wish him a good recovery and hopefully a successful return to where he can atleast enjoy playing basketball again if he chooses too.
I remember TJ Ford having career threatening back issues growing up. I don't know if it was the same issue, but the back is NOT something to be played with.
I had this and its one of the worse pains I experienced at its peak, took several years of different treatments and physical therapy to make it go away. The severe sciatica pain is terrible.
Michael Porter, Jr had three back surgeries and seems to be playing pretty well. He seems to love the game in a way Simmons never has. Perhaps that’s why Simmons has missed o much time and is on a downward trajectory. Simmons doesn’t seem to want to come back.
my neighbor when I lived by Philly played football for the Eagles as an offensive lineman and had to have the same type of back surgery . he had to retire at age 25 or 26 . luckily for him he had a backup plan and got his real estate license and worked with his wife selling houses . they moved a few years after but he was a nice guy who took me to the Eagles training camp in the 90’s , I met Bill Walsh , Buddy Ryan , most of the Eagles offensive line and other coaches and staffers . I also jogged with Randall Cunningham and got his autograph too lol was a fun day for a 13 year old kid 😎
I learned so much from this video! I love your content and watch it regularly, but this might be the most I’ve learned from one standalone video! What causes these disc herniations? Is it that he did a particular motion that was harmful over time, or do these tend to be more acute issues?
I don’t even have any injuries but just coming back to the gym and lower back pains really limit my movements to the point where I feel like I’m on the brink of paralysis
This is the worst type of injury. Nobody understands how much pain you’re in. Some days the pain is manageable yet other days it’s excruciating. Some people think you’re just faking since there’s no cast or brace.
For me, prolotherpy helped to strengthen the ligaments in the lower back and pelvis. Then a chiropractor to help create more space in between the lumbar discs and then physiotherapy to help retrain and strengthen the lower back muscles.
I hope this can help others too.
I had a microdiscectomy at L4/5 (and foraminectomy for access) on one side; felt good for a few weeks, then my foot dropped. About three months after the first surgery, I had a second. Fighting off a third now about a year later. My NBA career is DEFINITELY over 🥺
Ben Simmons is such a huge contrast to Michael Porter Jr. MPJ has had 3 surgeries [one of them major]. He had people saying he'd never play, and yet he's become a key contributor on a championship team and one with a chance at more rings. He deserves so much credit for his mental and physical toughness to work all the way back from those surgeries and [knocking on wood] he seems to have turned a corner on it.
In the future could they grow the disk material to replace the damaged material or stimulate the growth of new disk material. Thank you for your videos.
Is this the same case to what happened with Larry Johnson? Was a beast in Charlotte but can barely move at the end of his NY days.
He'll be back. His villain story is not over.
These are silent injuries people do not know about, nor understand and they wonder why that player isn't playing at the high level they used to. Dwight Howard had back injuries throughout his career and he just wasn't the same.
Bro 😂😂😂 what happened to the knickers jersey on the background skeleton mannequin 😊😂😂 after 3:34
It really seems like back surgery has worse outcomes than most other surgeries. I've never seen someone fully recover from back surgery.
Incoming summer workout pics
In 2024, encountering such problems for a professional athlete indicates incredible incompetence within the medical and athletic departments of the franchise where the athlete played. This isn't just an injury; it's a consequence of postural issues and poor coordination, which could have been addressed with appropriate training if identified early enough.
Had a 2 level spinal fusion and discectomy (PLF) 5 years ago from stress fractures of the pars s1-l5-l4 from boxing training, once injured you will never be the same (and always experience some pain) although i can still do everything as before, but not at the level or frequency, i am sure with the right perseverance and if the healing process goes well he may be able to return but would need to be managed by the PT's and is likely to affect his playing time
L5-S1 herniation problem ten years ago. Pain has subsided but nerve irritation in my left foot and toes drives me nuts. Always worse at night when trying to sleep. I try massage and flex the toes for relief. Flexing seems to give me temporary relief allowing sleep. Will walk to grave with this condition 🙇🏼
Maybe not. I have dealt with it for 20 years. It likely will improve as you age. Try lipoic acid, nerve flossing and a lot of mild stretching. Don’t give up I almost did bu hang in there.
Everyday, yesterday was the end of Ben Simmons.
I'm still stunned he was able to get traded without this being brought up, it's almost like he hid it to get out of Philly
Dr. Brian is awesome
Don’t worry he’ll be back strong for the offseason, just like a fit Zion
He just needs the RingDinger
Loo
😂😂😂some won’t get it.
Underrated comment!!
No brah, only women with tight shirts and big melons get ring dingers.
LOL
i have an impractical theoretical question: what would happen if you pushed against the hernia for a long period, like weeks or months? would the annulus eventually heal over, with the pulp in its original position? i realise some sort of procedure would exist if it was possible to do a repair ... but i'm constantly reminded nobody ever discusses this. i have weird fantasies of someone being suspended at a weird angle in a frame, with a rod firmly poking into their spine for six months. i need relief from this burden
He's been done since 2021..
scottie Pippen suffered from the same issue in his later days with the bulls and portland
Brilliant job explaining this to us normal people. 👏
Hey doc, could the Failed Back Surgery Syndrome had a role in this?
I doubt he'll ever return to form because he doesn't seem to mentally want it, even if he recovers just fine. It's unfortunate, he could have become a great player.
Responding to the title of the video… “Yup”.
I doubt he’s going to play anymore. I would be surprise any team would want a player with such a medical history.
I don't know why this brought back my biomechanics classes. I'm gonna ignore the first surgery for the sake of argument but could it be something related to his natural body alignment? Instead of unloading forces "evenly" between the body and the disc, maybe there's an atrophy in a muscle, ligament, or even facet joint that, given his career as an elite athlete, accentuates a miniscule anatomical anomaly that people who don't perform at that level simply don't get because there isn't enough stress generated? Maybe he has a 2° Cobb lumbar scoliosis but at his level it's enough to cause bigger issues.
Just a thought exercise btw, no need to tear me a new one.
I assume a lot of people watching this have back issues. I just want to give a perspective:
MRI 2020: Herniated Disc awful pain really really awful. Cant walk, cant sit etc.
Three years of trying everything. A rollercoaster of pain. Physio, Lifting, Walking, Stretching, harder mattress...
MRI 2023: Herniated Disc (still), doctor said my body started the process of fusing the vertibrae itself and he could do fusion surgery to speed up the process. My pain level? Moderate. Moderate pain every now and then. Flare Ups last maybe 2-3 days and dont stop me from walking or sitting.
What I'm trying to say is: Three years later the MRI looks worse, but my pain levels are very moderate. And probably lower than average at most days. I have to say I changed a lot in my life to get there. I truly needed to brainwash myself into understanding that only I can get this right with my own actions. And that ten years of neglect can't be turned around in six weeks.
But this is just my story and every story is individual. Understand that this is a marathon, with out without surgery and you probably need to change many aspects of your life.
Been there. That pain is painful.
When these things heal, they do so with granulation tissue, not annular fibers. Not as strong, stats say he is more likely to cause a re-opening of a previous herniation.
the pain is enough to make you unable to sit or walk you lie there i had to go to thrapie cause aint no way im doing a surgery cause back surgerys are so risky
What about running up and down the court and stinking up the stadium. Ben Simmons is a fraud. He always seems to get up and down the court just fine. I have never seen him wince. And funny how he always seems to be "injured" after he has a bad game. Screw this guy.
Probably on pain killers while he plays. More common than you may think.
nice anatomy break down on this one. he should have used pliability like tom brady
i have an extra vertabrae (i believe) or extra bone in some part of my back is that a benefit or the opposite or no impact? i always been able to jump higher, farther, faster than most is it because of the extra bone?
The integrity of the disc will forever be weakened. Another danger is scar tissue forming that once again irritate the nerve.
When I see this, I think of McGill's big three exercise. I know it's not as simple but it is something that can help get someone on the right track. When I feel sharp pain in my lower back I try to remind myself to engage my core to better keep the load off the spine.
I had sciatica and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy…
This is so cool to see as a chiropractic student
Always wish athletes the best! As a spine rep for 15 years we know that these procedures are bandaids. My college football career at UW ended due to a back injury hence my journey into medical device sales. Again wish him the best but the clock is ticking for his spinal fusion. Genetics are a bitch!
Not necessarily. Lumbar total disc replacement is possible if his facet joints are otherwise healthy. The FDA approved devices are total trash with CroCo in them, but good devices are available in Europe.
@@ginzo666 I hope you are right! I have seen lots of cervical artificial discs be implanted but very few lumbar discs and they were all investigational. When those go wrong they can go very wrong. For another 200 max deal I would risk it, but wealth cannot buy you health.
@@jjwalker8682 I've had one for 5 years. It's still perfect. No clue if they're ever going to ever go for FDA approval. The next generation beyond these viscoelastic implants will be 3D printed devices to match patient anatomy.
@@jjwalker8682 i agree with you. People dont understand how risky these surgeries are. When they work-its great but when they don't its very very scary and its not low. There's so many cases where the surgeries dont workout in these kind of cases.
what were michael porter jr’s second and third surgery (i know the first was a discectomy)? can anyone say? what do you think doc sutterer?
I have had thoracic back pain due to impingement for years , my back can spasm so badly that it gets hard to breath , over the last few years the nerve issues have moved down my back , and now I have lovely flair ups of sciatica .
AT least Ben is getting treatment , my doctors have just put me on pain meds and used steroid injections into my back like it's a pin cushion , they said they will do more when my issues become worse , the problem is , it's been over 15 years never getting better just gradually getting worse , I am just not to the point of not being able to move, and I am used to the pain, so I can still function, so my docs think why rock the boat ,I am managing .
Great video once again :) Could you (or someone else in the comments) explain if there is any other cause for a nerve impingiment? For example if you do the test of laying on your back and lifting your leg in a straight position and even tilting your head forwards and you get pain in your back or even radiating in the leg. Can muscle spasms in the back or something else cause that or is it a sign of disc hernia/bulge?
I have had two surgeries. Second replaced all of the disc in my neck I have three plates a strut and a rod system that relieved all paralysis and pain custom-made by the greatest neurosurgeon in the world. Who does your work makes all the difference in the world some doctors truly care about the outcomes others only care about how many outcomes they can finish to buy more worldly Goods.
Michael Porter Jr. survived this and his doing very well at Denver, I think Simmons will not overcome this because of his attitude towards the game.
Michael Porter's success exposes Ben Simmons. I'll say it again: I don't think Simmons was ever hurt. He and his agents contrived his back injury just like they contrived his mental illness.
Porter has a jump shot and doesn't have to rely solely on athleticism. Once Ben Simmons athleticism is gone he has nothing
Doc he was finished when the Hawks won game 7
Lower back nerve impingement and still giving you 6/8/6 in the best league in the world is actually unbelievable. edit... in 24 minutes per game.
The greatest thief of our generation
"Simmons' lack of competitiveness in some crucial games has raised questions about his character as a basketball player. While many top picks succumb to the NBA star lifestyle and emerge as average competitors, it's rare to see that at the collegiate level. ...
"Simmons has displayed an apathy for defense, contact and delivering winning plays in crucial moments. Those troubling revelations in Simmons' game are cause for concern among decision-makers on lottery teams with whom we've had contact."
Ski mask and all.
yeah a thief for having debilitating back problems
Worst than Chandler Parsons?
What is wrong with you dude?
Surgeons recommend avoiding surgery until old age because of possible complications. The exception is if you are an athlete and your career relies on your health.
Herniated two discs in my back years ago. Never got surgery but had to give up what was causing the pain (in my case boxing). That’s kinda what it usually boils down to, unfortunately: are you willing to give up what’s causing you pain? You learn quickly that being healthy and happy supersedes all else. IMO Ben should retire and enjoy his youth while he still has it. He made it a lot further as a pro athlete than anyone here in the comments hating on him.
If I was Ben Simmons I’ll go to Dr. McGill to address the biomechanics problems could lead to his back pain issues.
And to think people were worried about MPJ’s back
Trae Young really put a clamp on Ben
no nba team is touching ben simmons, not even with a ten foot clown pole.
His 1st back "injury" happened when he took a year off to sulk and get traded to the nets without playing a game for the whole season. I guess he injured it while sitting for long hours hunched over his pc? 🤔
Maybe he was sitting out bc he was in pain, and diagnosis was not perfect at the start. Wish him well
Herniated disc is a debilitating injury. In an interview he said it got so bad he was unable to walk up stairs.
Feeling sorry for Ben. Definitely feel bad he had to deal with all the social media hate over the last few years. Praying he gets back to full health at some point.
Man I really wish you were my anatomy professor, mine barely spoke English😂
Thank you Dr., now I know why Ben Simmons has had no jumpshot over the last couple of years.
The crazy part is I was gonna clown him until I realized back injuries aren’t a joke and the hate he’s getting is crazy but I’m sure if any of our fav players had this injury then we’d be more understanding 🤷🏽♂️
I feel bad for the guy. A back injury is no joke
I don't know about the disc in the back my herniated disc are in my neck it hurts but I know the back is much worse.
Dr this is not a joke...those close to Simmons have confirmed he has a gaming addiction. He was even seen online playing Call of Duty for 24 hours straight the day before his team the Nets had a playoff game. All of his sitting and likely bad posture had caused these injuries and his addiction is why they are not healing.
Lmao I was gonna believe y till u said 24 hours straight
@@MattGarcyaDC it's recorded by a guy streaming, they literally showed Simmons' gamer ID as proof, you can google it
What is the recovery time?
Forget Ben. If you guys love his defense, check out this other guy who can guard as well if not better: Rudy Gobert. Soon to be a 4x DPOY, all Ben does better than gobert is pass. And literally nobody talks about rudy. Super underrated and underappreciated.
So he wasn't lying about being injured.
His back is fine, the real problems are inside his skull
Wow this is almost literally me. Very educational.
Yes you are very educational.
At least he's already gotten paid. Whether he returns or not won't ruin him financially. If his career is, more or less, over, he really shouldn't have given out all of those fines when he sat out against the 76ers. Hopefully, his back heals well and he can at least go about his day normally and pain-free.
😊
Bring on a psychologist to connect these physical symptoms to mental health. Dude missed some shots, stopped shooting, then lost his mind. That Tinashe curse hitting hard.
Quick question for everyone, as someone seen at one point the expression of physical pain on the face of Ben Simmons
kills your fast twitch for sure