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  • Something is wrong with me ...

    Something's going on .
    A couple of weeks ago, I started feeling a pain mid-way up my back on the right side by the spine, radiating around to the front ribs. I thought it was a muscle spasm at first. It mainly hurt at night, really bad, like a stabbing knife, whenever I moved my right arm or tried to turn over. All night long, any time I moved. Had me in tears sometimes. Then I thought it might be nerve pain since it followed the rib cage around. In the morning, it pretty much goes away except with certain movements.

    So it's been getting worse, not better. Hurts more at night.
    And now I notice my ribs look different on the left side. It's like the 9th or 10th rib is bowing out a lot farther than the ones above or below it. It doesn't hurt, but the corresponding level on the other side sure does when I lie down.

    I have an appointment tomorrow morning to see what's going on.
    I hope they don't have to re-do the whole darn thing. I hope the rotation isn't coming back.
    (Or maybe I should just be hoping that if there IS something wrong, they can fix it.)

    Attaching my pre- and post-op xrays, finally.
    I guess I'll find out what's changed tomorrow morning.


    download-1_2.jpg ju0003_2.jpg Julie xray_2.jpg
    Last edited by BadKitty; 12-21-2010, 11:07 PM.
    Juliet, age 57
    37˚ lumbar and 35˚ thoracic with rotation
    Diagnosed at age 11 and untreated.
    Total degeneration of disc at L4-5, spondylolisthesis at L4, L5 sacralized.
    Surgery on 10/26/10
    Dr. Matthew Geck, Seton Spine & Scoliosis, Center, Austin, TX.
    University Medical Center @ Brackenridge Hospital.
    Posterior fusion of T11-S1, part minimally invasive; TLIF at L4-5.

  • #2
    Please let us know what happens.

    Melissa

    Comment


    • #3
      similar pain...I empathsize

      Hi Juliet,

      Our curves and fusions are similar. I have also experienced (on and off) a pain in my lower ribs that radiates around to the front of my rib cage. For me, it feels like my muscles and ribs want to go one way (the old way) and my rods want them to go the other way (a twisting sensation). My pain however, is on my previously concave side (left side). Did you spine curve to the right (it appears so in your x-rays)? And your pain is on the right side (your previously convex side)? I wonder if you could have pulled a muscle while reaching your right arm up, maybe even in your sleep.

      Also, I have not noticed any change in appearance, so I’ve been hoping that it is just muscles. My pain increases when I walk; does walking bother you at all?

      Either way, it’s good that you made an appointment to have it checked. I hope everything is fine. Did you try a muscle relaxer to see if that helps with the pain? (I haven’t, so I don’t practice what I preach .)
      Kathy
      46 yrs at surgery, now 50
      71 degree thoracolumbar curve corrected to 34 degrees
      8/2/2010 surgery with Dr. Lenke

      posterior T9 to sacrum with pelvic fixation

      4 osteotomies and 1 cage
      http://s1066.photobucket.com/albums/...athK_08022010/

      Comment


      • #4
        I haven't had what you described. Let me know what the doc says. Good luck!
        Age 56
        Wore a Milwaukee Brace for 3 years in hs
        Fused L4-S1 for high grade spondylolisthesis Jan '09 in Indy
        Thoracic 68
        Surgery Aug 31, 2010 T3 to L1
        Dr Bridwell St Louis
        http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...1&d=1289881696

        Comment


        • #5
          Update! Apparently everything is fine with my hardware. They took an x-ray, and it's all in position, nothing has moved. The P.A. didn't know what was causing the pain, but suspected it is either scar tissue, adhesions, or just a result of the trauma of having nerves and ligaments drastically repositioned from where they were for the last 40 years. I'm being sent to PT for therapy for all of the above, plus strengthening exercises.

          The odd appearance of my rib that sticks out farther than the others was due to the fact that I have lost so much weight that my bones are protruding, making it more noticeable. This was obvious on the x-ray, including the fact that - much to my dismay - the weight loss has drastically affected parts of my body that I would rather not have shrunk!

          I must say I'm SO RELIEVED. Even if it does still hurt ... at least it's all part of the healing process. I can live with that.
          Juliet, age 57
          37˚ lumbar and 35˚ thoracic with rotation
          Diagnosed at age 11 and untreated.
          Total degeneration of disc at L4-5, spondylolisthesis at L4, L5 sacralized.
          Surgery on 10/26/10
          Dr. Matthew Geck, Seton Spine & Scoliosis, Center, Austin, TX.
          University Medical Center @ Brackenridge Hospital.
          Posterior fusion of T11-S1, part minimally invasive; TLIF at L4-5.

          Comment


          • #6
            Juliet

            Good news.

            The strange pains will continue...the good news is that they do reduce in time..a see-saw with constant improvement.

            You will enjoy PT. Just take it real slow. You should start to feel better here real soon. Once I was past that 6 week mark, improvement happened quickly.
            Ed
            49 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

            Comment


            • #7
              Juliet - Good to know nothing serious is going on! Happy Holidays!
              Age 56
              Wore a Milwaukee Brace for 3 years in hs
              Fused L4-S1 for high grade spondylolisthesis Jan '09 in Indy
              Thoracic 68
              Surgery Aug 31, 2010 T3 to L1
              Dr Bridwell St Louis
              http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...1&d=1289881696

              Comment


              • #8
                Thank goodness! I am SO glad everything is ok. Sounds like you need to eat some cheeseburgers, though.....!!!!
                Jenee'-52
                Bend, Oregon

                Braced 3 years in high school
                Lumbar 70'+ Thoracic 70'+
                I had 3" shrinkage in 6 months...

                Surgery Jan 10, 2011
                9 hours
                T3 to S1 with pelvic fixation
                Both curves now 35'

                Possible revison for Flatback Syndrome
                Non-fusion
                Loose/broken hardware-awaiting CT results

                Here is the link to my before and after pics..
                http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt......&highlight=

                Comment


                • #9
                  LOL! I think the Christmas dinner I just ate was a pretty good start!
                  Juliet, age 57
                  37˚ lumbar and 35˚ thoracic with rotation
                  Diagnosed at age 11 and untreated.
                  Total degeneration of disc at L4-5, spondylolisthesis at L4, L5 sacralized.
                  Surgery on 10/26/10
                  Dr. Matthew Geck, Seton Spine & Scoliosis, Center, Austin, TX.
                  University Medical Center @ Brackenridge Hospital.
                  Posterior fusion of T11-S1, part minimally invasive; TLIF at L4-5.

                  Comment

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