Hello Everyone,
This is my first post, but I have been reading for many months now. I am a 30year-old female with a 50 degree lumbar curve to the left that has progressed about 1degree a year for the last 7 years. I am scheduled to be fused from T10-L3 in early January by Dr. Gupta at University of Chicago. He seems like a very conservative, thorough surgeon, so my new-found doubts about surgery have nothing to do with being uncertain if it will go well. I believe in him.
What I'm concerned about is why exactly I am doing this. Since I started working with a movement specialist in June, working on my breathing, and progressing to full-on physical therapy to prep for the surgery, my pain has really subsided. It has diminished significantly with sitting or standing for a while, and resting pain (like when I wake up in the morning) is almost entirely gone.
Dr. Gupta and his nurses said there is a 50% chance this surgery will not fix my pain. But he said it will prevent the curve from getting worse and give me a nicer waistline. But I wonder, since PT is going so well, if there is anything I can continue to do, physical therapy wise, to slow the progression? If I can, then the only reason to have this surgery is for aesthetics, and I don't know if that is a good enough reason for me. What am I giving up just for a nicer waistline? It seems like a lot. And there is the chance of developing compensatory curves above and below the fusion. Or flatback (I am really scared of flatback for some reason.)
I've contacted the PTs at Scoliosis Rehab in WI after learning about it on this site. (Thanks!!) I sent them my x-rays and pics and will get their feed back in a few days. I know PT doesn't work for everyone, but I'm wondering if anyone on the forum has had luck with this approach? Specifically in adults. Can it slow progression? I seem to respond pretty well to it. When my current PT told me that my lumbar spine is very flexible, I began to wonder if muscle training could help realign the vertebrate, since they seem to be pretty mobile. Does anyone have any experience with this?
For the younger women/men who had a lumbar fusion, is there any advice you would give some one who is having a REALLY hard time deciding simply because she is scared of losing range of motion? With a T10-L3 fusion, or something similar, how much has changed? I think about gardening, dancing, picking up my cat, having children... it goes on and on. I know I can never know exactly what it will be like, but I would be so grateful to talk to any one who has had a fusion similar to the one I'm considering.
Ok, sorry for such a long post. I appreciate any and all feedback, especially since posts like this come up all the time.
Cristi
30 year old female, 50-55 deg lumbar curve
Scheduled for T10-L3 fusion with Dr. P. Gupta Jan. 3rd
Considering physical therapy options to slow progression.
This is my first post, but I have been reading for many months now. I am a 30year-old female with a 50 degree lumbar curve to the left that has progressed about 1degree a year for the last 7 years. I am scheduled to be fused from T10-L3 in early January by Dr. Gupta at University of Chicago. He seems like a very conservative, thorough surgeon, so my new-found doubts about surgery have nothing to do with being uncertain if it will go well. I believe in him.
What I'm concerned about is why exactly I am doing this. Since I started working with a movement specialist in June, working on my breathing, and progressing to full-on physical therapy to prep for the surgery, my pain has really subsided. It has diminished significantly with sitting or standing for a while, and resting pain (like when I wake up in the morning) is almost entirely gone.
Dr. Gupta and his nurses said there is a 50% chance this surgery will not fix my pain. But he said it will prevent the curve from getting worse and give me a nicer waistline. But I wonder, since PT is going so well, if there is anything I can continue to do, physical therapy wise, to slow the progression? If I can, then the only reason to have this surgery is for aesthetics, and I don't know if that is a good enough reason for me. What am I giving up just for a nicer waistline? It seems like a lot. And there is the chance of developing compensatory curves above and below the fusion. Or flatback (I am really scared of flatback for some reason.)
I've contacted the PTs at Scoliosis Rehab in WI after learning about it on this site. (Thanks!!) I sent them my x-rays and pics and will get their feed back in a few days. I know PT doesn't work for everyone, but I'm wondering if anyone on the forum has had luck with this approach? Specifically in adults. Can it slow progression? I seem to respond pretty well to it. When my current PT told me that my lumbar spine is very flexible, I began to wonder if muscle training could help realign the vertebrate, since they seem to be pretty mobile. Does anyone have any experience with this?
For the younger women/men who had a lumbar fusion, is there any advice you would give some one who is having a REALLY hard time deciding simply because she is scared of losing range of motion? With a T10-L3 fusion, or something similar, how much has changed? I think about gardening, dancing, picking up my cat, having children... it goes on and on. I know I can never know exactly what it will be like, but I would be so grateful to talk to any one who has had a fusion similar to the one I'm considering.
Ok, sorry for such a long post. I appreciate any and all feedback, especially since posts like this come up all the time.
Cristi
30 year old female, 50-55 deg lumbar curve
Scheduled for T10-L3 fusion with Dr. P. Gupta Jan. 3rd
Considering physical therapy options to slow progression.
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