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  • confusing advise from a physiotherapist

    today, a friend phoned me to say that she had been discussing my kyphosis and possible spinal fusion op with an aquaintance of hers who is a physiotherapist;

    the friend thinks I am crazy for considering a spinal fusion at my age (37 years). She said it will seriously impede my mobility ( I will be fused T2 to L2) and I should consider very carefully what I want to gain from the operation. And weigh that against the probable outcome.

    I do understand that the outcome of a spinal fusion cannot be accurately predicted or guaranteed.

    I feel REALLY IRRITATED by this 'advice' as the physiotherapist in question does not know me or my back BUT I assume she is a professional professional with experience and has passed this message to me with good reason.

    Can anyone offer any insight as to what she might be getting at? From comments on here, I dont think my mobility will be 'seriously impeded'. Do you just think that she is just trying to convey that my pain might not be completely relieved? I am scared that I am failing to see some horrible consequence of having surgery??

    Thanks

  • #2
    If the surgery goes as planned, your mobility shouldn't be impeded at all.....unless by "mobility" this lady actually means "ability to bend your back"

    I was fused down to L3 as a teenager and never had any noticeable lack of movement at all, I used to go clubbing three times a week during my 20s. I'm now fused T1-L4 and I did a five hour hike yesterday - up and down hills, clambering over gates and through hedges. And take a look at Ti Ed, he goes skiing and he's fused all the way down into his pelvis!

    Comment


    • #3
      Hi Fandango -
      Okay, setting the obvious surgical risks aside, I don't see how fusing your spine from T2-L2 would impede your movement, seriously or otherwise.

      There is very little movement that happens in the thoracic area anyway and you would still have quite a lot of flexibility if your fusion stopped at L2.

      I guess I don't understand what she was getting at. Do you have an orthopedic Dr. you see to monitor your spine? If you don't, that might be a good place to start and not heed advice given by 'professionals' who have not treated you, however well intentioned the advice may have been.
      Julie - 51 yrs old

      Dx'd 1973 - 43* thoracic curve / rotation
      Wore Milwaukee brace 1973 - 1979
      Pre-surgery: 63* thoracic / 52* lumbar curves


      Surgeries: P - March 16, 2009 - Fused T3-S2 with pelvic fixation
      A -April 14, 2009 - Fused L5-S1
      Achieved +70% Correction
      Dr. Khaled Kebaish, (and team) Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore


      Standing x-ray
      New Spine 03/19/2009
      New Spine Lateral 03/19/2009

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by fandango View Post
        Do you just think that she is just trying to convey that my pain might not be completely relieved?
        I think she is trying to convey through her comments that she doesn't have a lick of relevant training and that you should be asking surgeons these questions.
        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


        • #5
          Try not to be too irritated by this. As surgical candidates, we will hear all sorts of expert advise from people who don’t know about scoliosis or kyphosis. Your doing what???? Are you insane?

          That’s why its best to do your research and post....Its your decision and only yours.

          In my case, I came out pretty darn good. I had some complications, but in the end, it was worth it. I recently posted some pics addressing my mobility.

          http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10303

          This is not an emergency. I waited 34 years from my first diagnosis to have surgery. It is a serious surgery, that can have complications and surgery back in the 70s was a different program. Things are much better today.

          T2-L2 is a long fusion. You will need a specialist that has done kyphosis surgeries.

          Ed
          49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
          Pre surgery curves T70,L70
          ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
          Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

          Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
          http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

          My x-rays
          http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

          http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

          Comment


          • #6
            I totally agree with Ed. You're very likely to hear a bunch of negative things from people who know nothing about the surgery. I can't tell you how many people asked me if I was crazy even considering surgery. Even my primary care physician said that. I held off seeing a surgeon for several years because of those comments.

            --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
              Some medical professionals are clueless about scoliosis.

              One doctor told me, 3 years after my revision at 60, that scoliosis surgery is not done on persons older than 19!!! I told him to throw out his outdated books.
              Original scoliosis surgery 1956 T-4 to L-2 ~100 degree thoracic (triple)curves at age 14. NO hardware-lost correction.
              Anterior/posterior revision T-4 to Sacrum in 2002, age 60, by Dr. Boachie-Adjei @Hospital for Special Surgery, NY = 50% correction

              Comment


              • #8
                i wouldnt ever take the word of a "physotherapist"...a scoliosis doctor, surgeon, pain management doctor maybe...but not a "physiotherapist"!

                i think the only thing that might possibly be lost would be arching one's back...aside from ballet, not sure where/who else needs that...? yoga maybe? modern dance?

                best of luck
                jess

                Comment


                • #9
                  You know I was just remembering a friend from many years ago who was having an "elective" thyroid operation. In front of a group of people, someone asked her if it was really necessary. She held up her hand like a traffic cop giving a "stop" sign and said, "It is very necessary." Someone else pressed on and again she said, "It is very necessary."

                  Sometimes we get too explanatory about our decisions when the best answer is short and direct leaving no room for discussion.

                  Just rehearsing for the future,
                  Amy
                  Amy
                  58 yrs old, diagnosed at 31, never braced
                  Measured T-64, L-65 in 2009
                  Measured T-57, L-56 in 2010, different doc
                  2 lumbar levels spondylolisthesis
                  Exercising to correct

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Ignore these comments from 'friends'. They are scared for you and they are uneducated. I am fused T3 to L3 and I have no complaints on mobility. Yes, I can't twist like I used to, but I'm not missing anything. Life is good.
                    __________________________________________
                    Debbe - 50 yrs old

                    Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
                    Told by Dr. my curve would never progress

                    Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
                    Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
                    Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees

                    Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
                    Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degrees

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Thank you all! Lol at Pooka.

                      I don't think the PT has been a very good advert for herself. I've been thinking about it, I would never make a professional judgement on something without the full information (in this case an exam), particularly without being askd!!

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