World champ Jim Broun: Anyone come back from same surgery?

Jim Broun's neck.

Jim Broun, M55 world champion in short hurdles (and my relay teammate at Lahti), is making progress after undergoing an anterior cervical discectomy and fixation with allografts in mid-June. He writes: “I still have numbness in my hand and it really tingles more when I run. The good news is that the brutal pain that was shooting down my arm and causing the spasms in the neck and back is gone. I am up to 1 to 2 miles a day on the golf course and will know in January if the bone grafts are taking enough to try to hurdle again.” He turns 59 later this month, but he could use an early birthday/Christmas present: “If there is anyone out there who is competing after this surgery,” Jim writes, “I sure would like to talk or exchange emails with them as to how long it took, etc.”

Jim also writes:

I was looking through my medical file today and found these pics on CD as well as the ankle surgery w/screws that were part of my first year in masters track. It’s been a challenge, as I have had the ankle surgery, neck surgery, appendectomy and hernia surgery over the last six years and competed in between.

It’s hell getting old, but I found a saying that guides my journey though life; “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in a pretty, well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of dust, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and declaring WOW What a Ride!”

Please post a comment here, or shoot me a private note that I can forward to Jim.

Let’s get his sorry butt back on track again!

Another view of Jim's innards. (Not taken by TSA at airport.)

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December 1, 2010

6 Responses

  1. MICHAEL DE JESUS - December 1, 2010

    HEY JIM,SOMEONE WILL SOON STEP UP AND GIVE YOU THE INFO YOU SEEK.PUT SKIING ASIDE FOR GOOD AND DON’T RUSH TO GET BACK ON THE TRACK; MEND PROPERLY.

  2. Tom Phillips - December 1, 2010

    Jim,

    That looks real sore! Hope it does the trick. You have a lifetime to get back on track, so return when you’re ready.

    The GB relay squad is waiting for a rematch in Sacramento, though we reckon that the guy on your last leg in Lahti was a bit flaky, with all that baton throwing.

    Don’t do anything hasty. Would be good to see you racing as world class again.

    Tom

  3. Phxdoc - December 1, 2010

    Check this out.. but be very careful!

    http://www.aaos.org/news/aaosnow/nov10/clinical2.asp

  4. Bill Murray - December 2, 2010

    James – slow and steady dude. Hope to see you on the track, sassy and healthy real soon.

  5. Jim Fuqua - December 10, 2010

    I have had the surgery. Only difference is mine was fused c-4 thru c-7. I have had 12 knee surgeries, 4 hernia surgeries. 3 shoulder, 3 elbow, 1 wrist 1 hamstring and two finger surgeries. Believe it or not the neck was the easiest to recover from. 3 weeks after surgery I was driving fence posts. I didn’t even have to wear a neck brace. The surgeon makes a lot of difference. The bone bank was huge also. The mobility in my neck is actually pretty good. Call @256-773-8503 on e-mail.

  6. Carmelita Krofta - August 8, 2012

    Hernia can be best remedied through surgery. Hernia can be also hereditary and there is not much you can do about it. :’,:,

    Warmest wishes http://www.healthmedicinelab.com/warts-on-fingers/

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