I am dissappointed

[babyboomer16]

I am 2 months post op. and am still not walking very good. At least without pain and bending over. I was fused from Pelvic to T8 abnd some other stuff was done down in the L3/4 L4/5 AREA. The xrays look good according to the Dr. I live in So.Dak. and a Dr. Haft did my surgery. He was suppose to specialize in spinal deformities. I was bent over pretty bad . But don't know the numbers. I live 200 mi. from my Dr. And accually have seen a Dr. (surgeon) here that helped Dr. Haft. but won't see Dr. Haft till my 3rd month for some reason. The other surgeon is an orthapedic surgeon and is in an outreach program and comes to my home town. Has anyone got any ideas why this is taking so long to walk right? When the xrays look good? I was thinking saggital imbalance -until they said the xrays were good. OK I will be waiting for a response or just some support. As I need it. Thanks--boomer

[LindaRacine]

Hi Boomer...

If you're bent over at 2 months postop, that is definitely not a good thing, but I'm not sure what you can do about it. If the xrays that were taken are digital, I'd be happy to get them to someone for another opinion.

--Linda

[babyboomer16]

Hi Boomer...

If you're bent over at 2 months postop, that is definitely not a good thing, but I'm not sure what you can do about it. If the xrays that were taken are digital, I'd be happy to get them to someone for another opinion.

--Linda

I don't think they're digital-but I'm not sure what you mean by digital. Probably not the besy quality, as they were taken at a very small home town hospital. And I know that that same surgeon has complained about the quality of the xrays. I am not bent clear over- but I lean when I walk. And the further I walk the worse it is. I am 58yrs. old female. I am hoping this is a muscle problem,and physical therapy will clear it up. I can't do physical therapy till 6 mo. But its frustrating as heck. I can't take anymore surgeries. What would they do if its saggital imbalance ? I have had so many surgries in the past twenty yrs. that my body has been through too much I think. And pain managment is a hard thing with me because of tolerance. Ohmy-I am just going to try and be patient and say lots of prayers. Thanks- boomer

[LindaRacine]

Hi Boomer...

Was it your surgeon who told you no PT until 6 months postop? I'm not a medical professional, but it seems to me that if PT has a chance of working to get you standing up straight again, it would have to happen before the fusion hardens.

--Linda

[loves to skate]

Hi Boomer...

Was it your surgeon who told you no PT until 6 months postop? I'm not a medical professional, but it seems to me that if PT has a chance of working to get you standing up straight again, it would have to happen before the fusion hardens.

--Linda

Linda,
Is it possible that boomer's problem is tightness in the quads rather than a problem with her back? PT for stretching the quads I think would be helpful.
Sally

[LindaRacine]

Linda,
Is it possible that boomer's problem is tightness in the quads rather than a problem with her back? PT for stretching the quads I think would be helpful.
Sally

Definitely possible.

Boomer, were you leaning forward before your surgery?

[babyboomer16]

Accually, before surgery I was leaning off to the right quite a bit and then a little bit forward. My scoliosis was pushing me to the right--like my right ribs hitting my right hip bone. But then as I said a little forward also. Now I really want to lean forward the longer I am up and around walking. It may be a muscle thing. But why can;t I start some therapy then. Perhaps when I see the surgeon in two weeks that comes to my town.(the one that helped the specialist), I can find out more. I just know that the last xrays Aug. 18th said all was alright. But it was done with xrays in a small hospital and pretty dated machine.

[naptown78]

Just something to think about. My orig surgeon told me my xrays were okay, in fact, PERFECT, each visit after my first surgery. I was leaning forward and in terrible pain. I ended up changing surgeons after a year and was diagnosed with a sagittal imbalance. Ask your surgeon to show you your C7 plumb line. There should be a straight line from C7 to just in front of the sacrum. Mine was 14cm forward and I ended up having to have a revision. If your surgeon won't show you, or help you don't feel bad about getting another opinion. I did, and it was the best thing I ever did. :-))

[babyboomer16]

Sounds so much alike!

naptown78.....this sounds just exactly what I have going on. But my main surgeon is always out of town when I call. I talk to his nurse and that's all. But of course I will see him in Oct. Untill then I see an outreach surgeon that travels to my home town. He assisted with the surgery. I have seen him twice since the surgery. He said he was going to talk to my other surgeon(the spine deformity specialist) that acually preformed the surgery, but can't get hold of him either. I would think they would be more concerned than they are. I am 12 weeks out. And I am sruggling bad. Thanks for the info. I am going to ask about it the 17th when I see the sugeon that comes here . I hope I didn't confuse you all about the surgeons. We live about 250 mi. from where I had this done. But the surgeon that assisted comes here once a month with an outreach program. I don't think I have done anything that would cause this. babyboomer16

[naptown78]

I hope you can get the help you need...I know how frustrating it is when your doctors aren't as helpful as they could be. Good luck :-))

[jsully]

Hi,
I am 3 months post op and am bending forward when I walk. My X-Rays look great too.I can push myself to stand up and walk straight but it is VERY difficult and causes my shoulders to tighten up badly and causes pain. My Dr wants me to do hip flexor streching. I have been in PT since 6 weeks. In fact my insurance may be cutting me off. I would definately ask if you can start. I have improved since therapy but not completely. I bend over more when in pain. I can take a pain pill then stand up straighter. I am back at work and it hurts pretty bad in my shoulders today. I am very concerned Linda thinks this is so terrible. I had a long fusion and figure that my body needs time to adjust??????? Good luck and send some my way too.
Janet
PS I am 13 weeks out.

[jsully]

I am exteremely worried too now. Do you all think we will be "stuck" like this forever?? Thinking I made a BIG mistake.

[Back-out]

One thing that's really standing out to me, is the fact that surgeons of dissatisfied patients almost uniformly defend themselves by pointing to their "perfect" Xrays. Makes it seem like the patients are imagining their pain! As if to say, "Hey, how COULD you be uncomfortable with such great results"?

I guess it shows that within limits, Xrays can show almost what one wants - with this sagittal imbalance business, anyhow.

One very bright surgeon I saw looked at my Xrays which apparently showed a pretty nice sagittal line. Before I could even explain that I'd "Cheated" on my posture (standing up straighter than was natural, by supporting myself in various ways - not really meaning to cheat so much as to be comfortable).

"I can see, this isn't your natural stance", he said wincing slightly. When he had me submit to yet another set of Xrays at his facility, he specified that I was to stand with my knees together.

Wow, did that hurt! And those Xrays came out showing MUCH more imbalance, with a marked forward pitch. The earlier ones had me compensating by bending my knees a lot - one way of allowing myself to walk and stand with less pain.

If the "inaccurate" Xrays had been done by a surgeon showing his handiwork, my natural (bad) sagittal curve would have looked much straighter - significantly camouflaging my CONGENITAL flat back.

[jrnyc]

to Boomer and Janet...
i am so sorry that you are both suffering! and hoping that it is just early...with healing...and that things will get better...for both of you!

jess

[jsully]

I was making myself stand up straight. Maybe I should stand "natural" next time. However, my Dr is not unconcerned, he is very concerned. That is whay he has kept continuing my PT so long. He also said I can call him at any time. I have his personal number. He is aware of the problem and has suggested exercises for me. I saw him 2 weeks ago and don't think I should bother him yet because I am over emotional. I don't know, what do you all think?
Janet