bending and twisting

[Debra JGL]

As I'm feeling better, I'm catching myself bending over a bit or twisting. Last night, I was sitting in my rocker (I'm a bit like a granny these days, in my rocker with my lap blanket) and my old cat was trying to get onto my lap with some trouble so I just reached down and scooped her up (she's only about 6lbs). But then I was worried I bent over too much. I also bent over to kiss the kids goodnight and my husband thought I was bending too much. The other thing I did recently is twist a bit to get to the toilet paper (when I was in more pain, i made sure it was in my hands before i sat down). I don't want to do anything wrong to get in the way of fusion this early on. Do any of you have any thoughts? I'm not sure if I should be more careful, or just do what I can as my body allows.

[kennedy]

Did Dr Boachie expain the conasines of bending and twisting your too soon. because my surgeon is Dr Gupta at uc davis in california. He told me if i bent my back to soon after surgery that the metal chold come out of place.

[JenniferG]

Debra, I remember worrying about the same thing. Once the pain goes, it's easy to forget and I bet we all did a little bit of bending and twisting without thinking, in those early weeks, and worried about the consequences.

I think all that titanium and all those screws can probably withstand a little bit of bending and twisting. Just try to keep it at the forefront of your mind, because it's so easy to forget and do what comes naturally.

[TiffanyK]

When I'm sitting I find that I forget about bending more often. I caught myself the other night scooping up one of my cats as I was sitting on the couch. I've been more careful since that time. However, when I saw Dr. Vora last week he had me bend forward about 90 degrees. I figured if he told me to then it was okay for that one time only.

Now, when I'm standing I don't tend to forget about the bending. If something is just out of reach by a little that I tend to do a demi plie (from ballet when I was younger) to grab what I want. Otherwise I have my "grabby stick" with me wherever I go... it's like an extension of my arm now! Oh, and a 3 year old who always wants to be Mommy's helper.

[Shari]

Hi Debra,

I was in the turtle shell brace, so bending and twisting was not an issue. The first few nights at home I took it off to lie down, but I was so paranoid about moving the wrong way in my sleep, I wore it to bed as well. I think we all have the same fears about moving wrong. Don't want to go through that surgery again any time soon.

Take care,
Shari

[Vali]

I recall doing something similar at about the 5-6 week mark and then being really worried about it because i knew about my loose screw at L5/S1. At my next checkup appt, my xrays all looked good, so my worries of having disturbed the fusion were laid to rest. I think that, within reason, if you feel well enough to do certain things, just try it! Your body will definitely let you know if it doesn't like it!

[leahdragonfly]

I was under the impression that the hardware would limit/restrict the amount of BTL that someone could do, am I wrong? I know I will have to be careful, but I imagined that I would feel the brakes go on from the hardware if I tried to bend or twist too much.

Will someone please tell me if this is realistic or not?

I am at T minus 3 weeks now.

[Debra JGL]

Thanks guys. I feel anxious about the fusion working out properly. I did call the Dr.s office and the nurse said I shouldn't bend at my knees at all except for sitting, the bathroom, getting into bed, the car. I've always been very active and so I realize I have to be very aware of what I'm doing. It's so much to go through this surgery I don't want to risk something going wrong now that I could otherwise control. I do wish I were in a brace, I said that all along. I wore one for 4 years as a kid, it would be nothing for me to wear it now especially if I could have some peace of mind. The doctor just didn't think I needed it. I guess I feel worried about my lower curve correcting too (it is left unfused because the doc thinks it has a very good chance of correcting on it's own), though I've been told it can take up to a year to correct (if it's going to). I'm eager to start exercising my torso muscles to strengthen my back, as I see this as the only way to encourage the correction and keep my lower back healthy. But I know I have to resist any temptation to exercise now and just let my upper curve have the time it needs to heal.

[Davis]

I haven't had the surgery yet but I am going to ask my DR to fit me for a brace to wear afterwards because it just makes sense to me.

[mbeckoff]

It depends on the Doctor . Some will , some won't . The Doctors will do will only give braces to the patients who fit a group based on whatever the doctor feels . I have a brace . I have been wearing it from May 4th. Only the last visit has the doctor given me the go head to stop wearing it at home for several hours each day. I never had to wear it to sleep in. Some of his patients have to sleep in it and shower in it. I still can not leave the house without wearing it.

Melissa

[golfnut]

I asked if I would be wearing a brace and was told that Dr. Lenke does not brace his patients because he thinks the back muscles will heal faster without bracing. It makes sense, but I can imagine it would really be easy to forget and move the wrong way without a brace.

[LisaB]

I'm not braced and am told that Dr B is one of the more conservative docs. the new hardware is very strong and I actually feel like I have an internal brace and if I start to move maybe more than I should I feel it and stop. When I lean back in a chair I almost feel like I am sitting against a board. I really think it would take a really major move you're not supposed to do to dislodge something. On the downside I have to use a walker at least until my followup on Oct 25. But I did go out and walk 3/4 of a mile earlier today and I'm not sure I could have made it without the walker and it keeps me really upright. My husband walked the dog while I tagged along with my walker. I'll walk a little 1/4 of a mile this afternoon as he wants to be walking a mile by one month post op which is Tuesday.