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Flexibility after surgery

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  • Flexibility after surgery

    I was curious to how similar it is to wear a brace and to have had surgery. Are you as limited in flexibilty after surgery as you were in your brace?
    > Diagnosed at age 4
    > Braced at age 5
    > 35 degree curve somewhere, sounds funny but yes, I forget where...
    > Avid horseback rider

  • #2
    I talked to my daughter who had surgery after wearing a brace for nearly 2 years. She said, she thinks she is more flexible now and can breathe easier now. We assume the flexibility and breathing will improve as she is currently 3 weeks post-op and restricted from most activities that require flexibility until next year. Kris

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    • #3
      ^ thanks for replying. I have good flexibility right now, I was curious because if I become older and my curve worsens, I want to know which I would be happier with.

      Im doing everything I can not to have surgery, horseback riding is my life and I don't think surgery would allow that
      > Diagnosed at age 4
      > Braced at age 5
      > 35 degree curve somewhere, sounds funny but yes, I forget where...
      > Avid horseback rider

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      • #4
        It's great to hear that you are doing everything you can to avoid surgery

        I just wanted to mention that you might want to use the search option and look up "horseback" as I have noticed a few of our members have had surgery and continue to ride. They might help to clear up some of your anxieties as far as riding goes incase you do end up needing surgery somewhere down the road.

        Don't be afraid to ask to your specialist also. They would be better able to tell you what you can and can't do after surgery. You don't have to be getting surgery to be curious about it

        Good luck!
        Age 28
        diagnosed at age 12
        wore a boston brace until age 14
        No surgery, was on "wait and watch" till recently. Got a SpineCor (Jan 27th) to help ease the pain.
        T-curve 73 degrees with severe rotation (curves to the right)
        L-curve 45 degrees with slightly less severe rotation than my T-curve (curves to the left)

        1994 - 5'10" - T-?/L-? (i forget what they really were)
        2006 - 5' 4" - T-56/L-40
        2008/09 - 5' 4" - T-73/L-45

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        • #5
          Hi-
          I have had 3 surgeries due to scoliosis now (1 to correct the curve, another due to complications from first surgery, and then my 3rd which was 10 weeks ago to repair 3 fractured vertebras from volleyball) and i have noticed that my flexability is not that great any more. I never had really really good flexability, but i used to at lease be able to almost touch my toes when i just bent over, now my arms hang about a foot above them. So i guess for me my flexablity just kind of went away, but its not like its effecting me in any way.
          18 year old female
          scoliosis curve of 50-60 degrees
          corrective surgery done at age 12( 2001), first surgery a screw went through a vertebra, was then closed up and then re-opened two days later.
          After second surgery, fusion was a success.
          Rods, hooks, and screws put in.
          Fall of 2004 in volleyball, fractured three vertebra's, on June 2nd, 2005 surgery was completed to fix that, old rods were taken out and replaced by stronger ones.

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          • #6
            The amount of flexibility that a person has post-op depends in large part upon the vertebrae that were fused. Generally, the more lumbar vertebrae fused, the less flexibility. Fusion to S-1 will result in very limited flexibility (see other posts on this board from those who are fused to S-1). My fusion is probably to L-2 (it was a long time ago and I'm not 100% sure) and I can bend over and touch the floor with my fingertips. I also exercise 3 times per week to maintain this degree of flexibility.

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