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  • Trunk Shift

    I know I've mentioned this before but found a bit of new info in doing a search here. I still have a tilt to the left--trunk shift, I think it is called. I saw that term and searched it and found several mention that younger ones had used a brace to help it and it seemed to.
    My doctor at 3 months and a surgeon here who saw me both thought that it was unavoidable and that was as good as I was going to get with all the rotation I had. No one seemed to think it would improve. It probably isn't worse but certainly no better. Some days it looks worse than others for some reason. I tried the lift but found it gave me pain in the left buttock.
    I know I'm way better than I had been but it still just bugs me to pieces every time I look in the mirror. Before the bad stuff was in the back and I couldn't see it! Just curious if there's any older adult who has the trunk shift and may have tried a brace. I know it's probably way too late at this point at almost 11 months. Thanks for any info. Janet
    Janet

    61 years old--57 for surgery

    Diagnosed in 1965 at age of 13--no brace
    Thoracic Curve: 96 degrees to 35 degrees
    Lumbar Curve: 63 degrees to 5 degrees
    Surgery with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis--March 30, 2009
    T-2 to Pelvis, and hopefully all posterior procedure.

    All was posterior along with 2 cages and 6 osteotomies.

  • #2
    I'm with ya Janet. Looks weird in the mirror when I see the belly button off to one side. ugh! I hate to hear that this is not any better for you even after your surgery. sorry about that for you. But, I know exactly wht you're talking about. Weird how that happens. Have to wonder what happens inside when it looks like this on the outside.
    Rita Thompson
    Age 46
    Milwaukee Brace wearer for 3 years in childhood
    Surgery Mar 1st - 95 degree thoracic curve
    Surgery by Dr. Lenke, St. Louis, MO
    Post-surgery curve 25-30 degree

    Comment


    • #3
      I don't understand how a person fused T2 to the pelvis can have a trunk shift. I thought they were due to bending at the point where the fusion ends when the fusion did not go down far enough.

      It sounds like to have a trunk shift with your fusion, there is something pulling your hips to be uneven. Maybe that is some major keelage(?) through your entire trunk or maybe is to some slight uneveness in weighting or your feet? Who knows.

      Good luck.
      Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

      No island of sanity.

      Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
      Answer: Medicine


      "We are all African."

      Comment


      • #4
        Hi Janet,

        I had a significant trunk shift to the right before my surgery (can be seen in my x-ray below). This was thankfully corrected, but I now have a slight shift to the left. It's not very noticeable, but it does bother me. I'll be 2 years post op in May. I know some people say that the shift will often correct itself, but this was not the case for me.

        Shell
        Chemist, 30

        1998- 18 degrees
        2003- 33 degrees
        2005- 37 degrees
        2006- 44 degrees
        May 2007- 47 degrees
        December 2007 - 50 degrees X-ray

        Surgery May 27, 2008
        Fused T1 to L2
        Curve corrected to 15 degrees X-ray

        Comment


        • #5
          Trunk Shift

          I have a trunk shift to the right. Am hoping surgery will correct it. If I wear jackets, it's not noticeable except for the length of my pants. My surgeon indicated that I would not be braced, but I didn't ask about correction of the trunk shift. I'm learning here about a lot of things I never would have thought about on my own. Keep us posted on how it goes for you.
          Glenda
          Age 66 Georgia (63 at time of surgery)
          Bi-lateral laminectomy 2006
          Kyphoscoliosis, approx 38* lumbar scoliosis, stenosis, disk herniations, lower back and hip pain, w/radiating pain, stinging and numbness in legs.
          A/P fusion (T10-S2) 5/17/10 and 5/20/10
          Dr Yoon, Emory Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital, Atlanta, GA
          Pleased with outcome

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Pooka1 View Post
            I don't understand how a person fused T2 to the pelvis can have a trunk shift. I thought they were due to bending at the point where the fusion ends when the fusion did not go down far enough.

            It sounds like to have a trunk shift with your fusion, there is something pulling your hips to be uneven. Maybe that is some major keelage(?) through your entire trunk or maybe is to some slight uneveness in weighting or your feet? Who knows.

            Good luck.
            Nope, one can be fused off balance. Actually, it appears to me that getting the proper balance in some patients is a real art. Remember that this is a multi-dimensional issue. For example, if one has a high shoulder, and the curve is fixed coronally, the derotation may even out the shoulders, but the patient could be left with a significant deformity in the sagittal plane.

            --Linda
            Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
            ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
            Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

            Comment


            • #7
              Oh I absolutely agree this is extremely complex and requires not just extreme technical skill but also a very good, experienced artistic, eye. Actually, some of these corrections completely blow my mind... I would not have guessed surgery could be that good.
              Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

              No island of sanity.

              Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
              Answer: Medicine


              "We are all African."

              Comment


              • #8
                I also had a bad shift to the right prior to surgery and now it is slightly to the left. I am the only one who even notices but if you look at my x ray I cant see it. Very strange.
                Patty 51 years old
                Surgery May 23, 2007(43 Birthday)
                Posterior T3- L4
                Pre surgery curves
                T-53degrees
                L-38degrees
                and a severe side shift to the right.
                Post surgery curves
                Less than 10 degrees
                Surgery April, 2006
                C4 - C6

                Comment

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