Can't stand up straight at seven wks! Its me again:(

[babyboomer16]

Hi, I have been on here before. I am one month and three weeks post op. The fusion is from my pelvic to T8. At first I thought all was fine. Slowly the pain increased and I started bending forward when walking. And it is very painful to pull myself up. I have called my surgeon(the nurse) and she talked with the assistant surgeon as the other specialist surgeon is out of town. Anyway, I had xrays taken last Wed. and all looks good. So the assistant surgeon that saw the xrays doesn't know what to think. He put me on a metro pack of steroids. And said no physical therapy yet on account they may get too rough. So I was just wondering if anyone has had this problem. I got scoliosis from a former back surgery. I have been a chronic pain patient for years from many problems. Also have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis in my hips. Any tips would be appreciated. I am trying not to do too much. "Hugs" to all that have been through this. babyboomer P.S. I bend right in the middle and the pain is there and also in my lower back. Very painful.

[jsully]

I am 10 weeks post op and still lean forward while walking. I've been going to PT for 4 weeks now without a lot of improvement yet. The therapist told me last week when I asked about it to constantly remind myself to stand up straight. He said put post its everywhere, which I haven't done. It is much harder to walk standing upright. I wonder if I will ever look "normal".
Janet

[naptown78]

Leaning forward

After my first scoliosis surgery in '08 I wasn't able to stand upright right after my surgery and it was very very painful for me for months. I went to physical therapy at around 4 months to work on getting upright because I was scared I wasn't going to be able to go back to work, I was still using a cane at that time to get around. The therapy helped in that I strenghened my glutes, and back muscles and was able to discard the cane but I still walked leaning forward for the next almost year and a half. My situation ended up being worse case scenario, I had a sagittal imbalance from the beginning and had to have revision surgery this past March. I now stand and walk perfectly straight. I debated on bringing this up as I didn't want to scare anyone. Everyone's situation is different, and hopefully yours is just muscle weakness which can be remedied with time and physical therapy. If not, this may be something to explore with your surgeon. Good luck!!!!!

[jsully]

How did you find out you had a sagittal imbalance?
Janet

[LindaRacine]

Babyboomer...

That doesn't sound good on several fronts. First, I think all steroids inhibit fusion. Second, if you're leaning forward, there has to be a reason. Is there any chance you can post or send a copy of the xrays?

--Linda