How much smoke is too much?

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lemonflavor

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I often read how people with back trouble shouldn't smoke. And I've read from regular individuals that they even stay away from smokers. But I've never really read exactly why this is bad and how much is too much.

I smoke a cigar about every two months. This is one of life's pleasures for me. I'm someone who deals with depression also and this is something I do after I've made it through something major. Money and of course wanting to be healthy keep me from smoking any more than that. I don't inhale, but of course it's absorbed through the mouth, nasal cavities (sp?) and some is breathed in through the air.

This isn't problematic is it?
 
lemonflavor,

We all have our vices and please understand the comments on this board regarding staying away from smokers is not intented as an attack on you or meant to upset you in any way. Well, maybe they're meant to guilt you at least a little bit about smoking. I get guilted by being a little overweight and by drinking caffeine and such, so I guess we can guilt you a little about smoking. Please understand it's not personal though.

It is well documented that people who have had a spinal fusion have a much higher rate of failure to have bone growth, leaving to a failed fusion and need for a completely new revision fusion surgery. Who wants to go through a second fusion? I think this is why so many spineys are afraid of even being around smoking.

There are other health reasons also for why to avoid smoking and second-hand smoke, such as heart disease potential and such, and others on this board can chime in about more of those.

The amount you are smoking or perhaps "puffing" is probably not enough to cause a major problem for your spine. However, if you have had a fusion or will need a fusion, do you really want to risk a fusion revision surgery? Also, cigars can cause oral cancers - my mom got cancer of the salivary gland at the age of 53 and was told this type of cancer is always due to nicotene. She only smoked a couple of cigarettes a day for 6 months when she was 40, but was around second-hand smoke from my father for 15+ years. She had to have the salivary gland removed from the bottom of her mouth, plus a large area of muscle in her neck and lower face since the tumor had already started to spread out. Add on top of that 30 sessions of radiation which left raw, open sores in her cheek, on her tongue, and down her throat for over 3 months.

I don't know if we can really answer your question for how much is too much. You can research some of the studies if you want to find out more. Your decision to smoke is entirely yours, and as I said, none of us are to judge you, but we will help educate you so you can make the best decision for you.
 
I don't take it as judging at all so you can tell it as it is without being concerned about that. Thanks for the info. I need to do more research. My doc said I won't need a fusion for a long time but I'm not so sure the way things are going.
 
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