Known for his exuberant and hard-working personality, Anthony “Boobie” Dixon continues to be a fan favorite for the teams he played for, including the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills. “Boobie” was a record setting running back at Mississippi State University and is considered one of the school’s all-time greats.
Dixon underwent an XLIF® procedure in May of 2016 with Dr. Graham Calvert in Jackson, Mississippi. Dixon trained incredibly hard post-surgery and approached every day with enthusiasm. Remarkably, Dixon returned to football. He was one of the showcase players in the NFL’s developmental Spring League in 2017. One thing is clear when you talk to Boobie Dixon, back surgery was only the beginning for him and he will keep “grinding” into the future!
How did your back pain affect you emotionally?
After my tryout with the Dolphins, I could just tell I wasn’t myself. I was out there competing and my body was shutting down on me. I felt like I was doing myself a disservice. I decided I needed to talk to someone and get this handled.
What did it mean for you to be able to play in the Spring League post-surgery?
It meant the world! I was getting a chance to do what I love. That’s the only thing I could ask for.
How did you prepare yourself for your spine surgery?
I really didn’t have to do much! Just tell myself mentally that I was going to grind to get back when it’s done. I knew I was going to have to work hard and I did. I also talked to people about the surgery to get a good idea of what it would be like.
Can you describe the feeling post-surgery?
Rehab was very challenging. Especially with me trying to get back to playing ball. It was tough, but I can’t say it was worse than I expected. Once I got through that initial pain of surgery I was rolling!
Any words of advice for those who are apprehensive about spine surgery?
Be prepared mentally! Be ready to be active after surgery and get back to being yourself. Go to the gym, work hard. If they do, they will feel amazing like I do! This surgery gave me my life back!
To learn more about the XLIF procedure, click here.