Will Surgery Help

[suzyjay]

At 43 years old with a upper curve at a 48 and lower curve 55 degrees, I was told I needed surgery to relieve my pain and to prevent the curve from becoming larger. I have a herniated disk, 3 bulging dics and a disc that is short. It is a progressive curve because I have shrunk 1/2 inch. Does anyone know if the surgery will help prevent any further disc damage or if it makes it worse?

Thanks
Sue

[LindaRacine]

Hi Sue...

Unfortunately, there are no guarantees either way. Most of the people I talk to say that surgery helped or resolved their pain, at least in the short term. (New problems can appear, whether or not you have surgery.)

You might want to take my "Is Scoliosis Surgery Right for You?" quiz, which can help you think about the meriad of issues that go with scoliosis surgery:

http://www.scoliosislinks.com/ShouldYouHaveSurgery.htm

Good luck with your decision.

Regards,
Linda

[suzyjay]

Linda

Thanks - I'll check out the site.

Susan

[wanda91]

Surgery Question

I would definitely get another opinion or two. I am in a similar situation as you. Over the last 15 years, i have been to about 8 different doctors for my scoliosis. 1/2 recommend surgery, 1/2 don't, so far i've erred on the side of caution, but i'm still thinking about it. "S" curve, 45/45.

[suzyjay]

Disc damage

I know with surgery nothing is guaranteed but - is the surgery suppose to prevent further discs damage?

Thanks
Sue

[LindaRacine]

Hi Sue...

THe discs within the fusion area are either removed, or calcify over time, so degeneration within the fusion mass should not be an issue. However, discs above and below the fusion can be at more risk for damage after the fusion.

Regards,
Linda

[suzyjay]

Thanks.
I wonder if strong back muscles can take the impact off the discs/spine. If so, back exercises before and after the surgery should help prevent damage to the unfused discs.

Sue

[LindaRacine]

Hi Sue...

My PT feels that the only thing that can make a difference is core strengthening, especially abdominal strengthening. She feels that the use of muscles attached to the spine, especially in the lumbar area, is detrimental, especially to people with lumbar fusions.

Regards,
Linda

[Karen Ocker]

use of muscles attached to spine??? after fusion?-also bone density

Linda:
I have a question about that one because we need them to stand up. Maybe she wasn't clear about what she meant.

I have been doing modified Pilates to strengthen my trunk--with Dr. Boachie's approval--this is isometric and doesn't put stress on the hardware. I found it gave me a lot of stamina to stand all day at work without fatigue. The theory is strong trunk/torso muscles strengthen the muscles around the hardware taking stress off it.

Also a concern is bone weakening which is the primary cause of hardware failure according to the academic literature I've researched.

Weight bearing exercise, resistance exercises with light weights or bands, avoidance of smoking and too much alcohol are things we can do to avoid bone weakening(+calcium, vit D).

I am currently being evaluated for bone density at a metabolic bone center.
Since I am 63 I am worried about the natural loss of bone with normal ageing.
They found that my bone density was good/normal for my age. I'm wondering if that is enough to hold my hardware in the future. My bone doctor is checking with Dr. Boachie whether bone-building meds, despite my good bone density, would help prevent this in the future.

Will keep posted.

[sweetness514]

That is good info.

I have been having problems with hardware for some time now, broken rod, possibly loose screws...surgery for this THIS Thursday. I don't smoke, don't drink, have been doing weights for years, take calcium, had surgery at 26, am now 34... had a bone scan done last April and they thought all was good. Dunno what problems could be.

I have been having problems with my lumbar region if I sit or stand too long so I will do some Pilates that I HOPE will not hurt my back more since I've tried so many lumbar/abdo exercises in the past and they all made me worse, and gave me major muscle spasms. I don't even know who can help me wit Pilates? Hopefully any PT.

[Karen Ocker]

Pilates

For us complicated people I strongly recommend a certified Pilates instructor with private sessions if possible. Tapes or a gym which "does Pilates" is not the same. You can find a location on their website-pilates.com.

Their training is very involved and I got better help from my personal instructor than PT. The reason is that Joseph Pilates, who started this disclipine, was a nurse who worked with war injured soldiers in Britain. He specialised in working around disabilities.

The Hospital for Special Surgery in NY where I had my surgery has such a program--but it is too far for me so I am lucky to have someone closer.

Some rules my doctor gave me:if it doesn't feel right don't do it; if an exercise results in pain it must be changed/modified. In my case we always pad my lumbar area when doing floor/laying down exercises not to work against my "built-in" lumbar curve;we also pad my hollower area to avoid twisting my pelvis. You would NEVER get this in a gym or trying it alone. That is why some people feel worse.

Karen

[suejeryl]

karen is right about finding a person or place where pilates is a specialty, not an ancillary class. most pt's are NOT trained in pilates (although the two i had are certified instructors). it is very easy to hurt yourself doing pilates if you are not properly instructed, so check out the credentials of whomever/wherever you are going to take classes. once you're going in the right direction, though, the core strengthening you get from pilates is the best.