My neck is causing me the worst problem post op than anything else. My neck/head is not lining up straight, it leans forward and I look like a turkey! My surgeon didn't seem concerned, just showed me an exercise to do, but I'm concerned. Anyone else have this problem? I try to hold it straight but it hurts! Should I use warm compresses? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Neck problem post op
Laurie
Age 57
Posterior fusion w/thoracoplasty T2-L3 Oct 1, 2010
Thoracic curve corrected from 61* to 16*
Lumbar curve, unknown measurement
Disfiguring back hump GONE!!
Dr Munish Gupta
UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CATags: None
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Laurie
You could have slept wrong. I had some issues, then rolled up a towel into a 2.5” dia roll to place under my neck for sleeping on my back. This will help extend and establish support for the lordosis in your neck. Do not use a pillow.
I did go to my Chiro at 8 months for my neck, with my surgeons permission. You are not fused yet, so wouldn’t recommend this right now.....
A little heat will help.
Ed49 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
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Ed,
Do you think pillows are the culprit? I was propped up on pillows for my almost 3 weeks in the hospital, and I lay on my back quite a bit in bed on a pillow. How else do I watch tv? It makes sense...I like your small towel roll idea. I will try it.Laurie
Age 57
Posterior fusion w/thoracoplasty T2-L3 Oct 1, 2010
Thoracic curve corrected from 61* to 16*
Lumbar curve, unknown measurement
Disfiguring back hump GONE!!
Dr Munish Gupta
UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA
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I have been reading about quite a few people complaining about having a sore neck, mobility in their neck and saying their necks kinda protrude forward after they've had fusion surgery. What exactly is causing this to happen and how often does this generally happen and of course, is it temporary or permanent?Son 14 y/o diagnosed January 20th. 2011 with 110* Curve
Halo Traction & 1st. surgery on March 22nd. 2011
Spinal Fusion on April 19th. 2011
Dr. Krajbich @ Shriners Childrens Hospital, Portland Oregon
http://tinyurl.com/Elias-Before
http://tinyurl.com/Elias-After
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Laurie
Many of my neck issues I can blame from sleeping wrong.
The main thing is maintaining a neutral or straight position with the neck. If you fall asleep with your neck bent to the side 30 degrees, it creates inflammation in the neck.
Soft down pillows are the trick. The mold easily into the shape and height that is needed. Some cheaper soft pillows are not quite soft enough, just run them over with the car 50 times and they will be perfect! LOL
Macys sometimes has the good super soft ones.
The towel concept I have been using for many years now. Usually when my neck acts up.
Ed49 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
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Elisa
These neck issues (leaning forward) are usually complaints from people with kyphosis.
If you look at a sagittal x-ray of someone with kyphosis, the spine curves forward, and the neck has to try to compensate for this.
The kyphosis surgeries are toughies.......I don’t like saying this, but its true.
Normal “average” kyphosis runs about 35 degrees. These numbers will vary, as the whole package needs to be balanced. In the side view, you have cervical and lumbar lordosis, with kyphosis in the thoracic area.
Google kyphosis and select images and start looking at various x-rays. It will help understand this disorder.
Ed49 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
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Careful with the pillows!!!
http://drlloydhey.blogspot.com/2009/...ry-severe.html
Woman was perfectly normal 3 wks ago walking 3 miles per day and using both arms and hands without difficulty.
Three wks ago she slept on a pillow much thicker than usual, and then developed progressive neck and arm pain, then numbness, then clumsiness in both arms and legs. The clumsiness was so bad she could not sign her name or open her own buttons. Her walking became so bad that she came to my clinic yesterday in wheelchair only able to take a few clumsy steps w assistance.
MRI cervical spine done urgently yesterday showed large disc herniation crushing spinal cord at C56, w a "flash lesion" in the spinal cord t that level, which suggests spinal cord bruising or injury.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."
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Okay, will do Ed, thanks. The chiro did mention kyphosis when he looked at my son's back and I've been reading a bit about it as well. I'm just worried that if he gets his back issues dealt with then he'll have neck issues to deal with. I have neck issues on and off and honestly they're more painful and annoying than any back issues I've had and I have put my back out a few times over the years.
I cannot wait for him to be seen by a spine specialist b/c the suspense is killing me.Son 14 y/o diagnosed January 20th. 2011 with 110* Curve
Halo Traction & 1st. surgery on March 22nd. 2011
Spinal Fusion on April 19th. 2011
Dr. Krajbich @ Shriners Childrens Hospital, Portland Oregon
http://tinyurl.com/Elias-Before
http://tinyurl.com/Elias-After
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Originally posted by Elisa View PostI have neck issues on and off and honestly they're more painful and annoying than any back issues I've had and I have put my back out a few times over the years.
When do you go down to Shriners?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."
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Originally posted by Pooka1 View PostWell, step one would be stop falling, neck first, on paint cans. I predict your neck problems will improve greatly.
When do you go down to Shriners?
I haven't gotten an actual date yet but I've been in contact with the office in Burnaby via emails and the gal there sounds positive and says "onward!" so I'm taking/hoping that it is fairly soon. The gentlemen I met with on Tuesday said he didn't think the big cushy bus made runs to Portland in December b/c of the holidays etc. and did mention January.
I'm still getting all the required paperwork together. I need a copy of his health certificate which will be ready in a few days and then of course I need to get all the passport info ready.
If you must know, I put my back out a few years ago b/c I was running across the mall parking lot b/c it was windy and rainy out and I tripped on my own shoelace. I had some really nasty scrapes and bruises on the palms of both hands as well as my right elbow and knee and I fell with such force my watch flew off. A very nice man stopped and scraped me off the pavement and handed me back my watch.Last edited by Elisa; 11-26-2010, 06:39 PM.Son 14 y/o diagnosed January 20th. 2011 with 110* Curve
Halo Traction & 1st. surgery on March 22nd. 2011
Spinal Fusion on April 19th. 2011
Dr. Krajbich @ Shriners Childrens Hospital, Portland Oregon
http://tinyurl.com/Elias-Before
http://tinyurl.com/Elias-After
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I don't have kyphosis. I am sleeping with the very same memory foam pillow as before my surgery. I have been freaking out a bit because my neck is so far forward now and I hope its not permanent! I tried hanging my head backward over my bed yesterday in hopes of moving and stretching my neck muscles but all I did was cause more pain. I'm so frustrated!Laurie
Age 57
Posterior fusion w/thoracoplasty T2-L3 Oct 1, 2010
Thoracic curve corrected from 61* to 16*
Lumbar curve, unknown measurement
Disfiguring back hump GONE!!
Dr Munish Gupta
UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA
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Laurie,
There is a recent thread from Ryy that questions this problem. I posted on it, so it will be near the top. Several people have had this "syndrome" or commented: JenM....Hdugger has some interesting comments.
Hope it subsides and readjusts quickly. Take care.
Ed,
Did you have kyphosis or any neck issues before your surgery? When you say "neck issues", what were your symptoms? I know you have bolts sticking out of the sides of your neck. I've seen some of your "Frankie" pictures.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
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Laurie, I have the same neck issue that you have described. At my 4 week post op my ortho gave me some exercises to do as well. I remain concerned about the situation and will re-evaluate with my ortho at my next visit.Chris, Austin, TX
age:58
80 degree thoracic/36 degree lumbar curves
Surgery 8/2/10, Anterior Cervical Decompression/Fusion
C4/5, C5/6, C6/7
New Surgery date 10/25/2010, T-2 to Pelvis, posterior
Dr. Matthew Geck, Seton Spine and Scoliosis Center
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