has anyone noticed before surgery that you can tell if you are shrinking?like your curve has changed to where you feel different?
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weird question but concerned about shrinking
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Hi Gayle,
Have you lost any height? That will tell you for sure. But I know that I definitely felt for the past five years that my curves were progressing and I felt more compressed, especially my lower lumbar curve (76) which would almost get locked between my ribs and my pelvic bone. It became very uncomfortable to even sit and I would wedge a pillow down there for support.
Also I felt like I couldn't take very full breaths anymore and got winded much easier (although they will tell you it doesn't do this before 90 degrees, but I don't believe it).
The upper curve was pushing against my shoulder blade and pinching off my arm making it feel tingly and achy at times. Another thing I noticed was that if I lay on either side in bed, the arm I was lying on would fall asleep. Since my surgery, it doesn't do that anymore so it must be less compression on it from the curves.
What symptoms are you having?
Deb
age 47
posterior surgery 7/24/06
30 degrees correction
DON'T WAIT TO GET STRAIGHT!!!
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Hi Gayle,
I thought I was putting on weight although my scale said I was the same. With my shrinking of 1" I had more skin above my waistband from my height reduction. My 4* per year curve advance made me think I was just getting thicker in the middle year after year. After surgery it was gone.
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Hi Gayle -- I've shrunk two inches and have also started to fold over at the hip and waist. My stomach feels really odd when I sit -- like the skin is just folding in on itself. I would be ecstatic to have that go away after surgery.Chris
A/P fusion on June 19, 2007 at age 52; T10-L5
Pre-op thoracolumbar curve: 70 degrees
Post-op curve: 12 degrees
Dr. Boachie-adjei, HSS, New York
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yeah i have noticed for about a week now,my left arm would start hurting every once inawhile like it was sore in one area and weird so maybe my curve is pinching the nerve or something.i havent measured my height recently but i guess i must be shrinking because my stomach does seem to stick out more like my middle is being squished just like everyone said.i havent gained any weight at all.its scary to know that by february of my surgery i could be alot worse with my curves.i wonder if they will do anymore x-rays right before?Trudy T60 L70 posterior surgery feb.8th 2007
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I think that it is possible to lose height with scoliosis but this is usually a gradual process. As people enter middle age there maybe a small loss of height even without scoliosis. We all have elderly relatives who have gone from say 5'6'' to 5'3'' over time just through the ageing process. In adults any worsening of the curve is usually slow so you won't shrink over the space of 6 mths say. Also you may be an inch taller when you get out of bed than in the evening but this too is normal.
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I lost some height but for me it was gradual and I didn't notice it while it was happening.Brandi
Congenital Scoliosis, 58* lumbar curve
Combined Anterior/Posterior Spinal Fusion w/Laminectomy May 22, 2006
L1-S1
Dr. William Lauerman
Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC
Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy @ L3, Posterior Spinal Fusion L2-L4, rod removal with re-instrumentation T10-S1 and Laminectomy February 5, 2009 to correct flatback
http://brandi816.wordpress.com/
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HG24. A quarter of an inch over two years is still a pretty gradual loss though and you do appear to have had pretty bad curves. I think the original poster was concerned about significant height loss which will only occur over a substantial period of time.
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At 29 years of age, I consider any loss of height to be a pretty big deal (and so did my surgeon and medical personnel in my family), so to me losing even just a 1/4" and having it affect my body type was a significant indicator that there was a major problem going on.
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Originally posted by HGD24At 29 years of age, I consider any loss of height to be a pretty big deal (and so did my surgeon and medical personnel in my family), so to me losing even just a 1/4" and having it affect my body type was a significant indicator that there was a major problem going on.
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hieght and no waisteline
I have gone from over 5"2 to under 5"1. My curves have been big enough my whole life I've had less of a waistline and "figure" than I would have, given y good diet and exercise. It is so upsetting. Anyway, I'm having surgery for first time on 12/20, (terrified!!!) and I am hopeful that the secondary, cosmetic effects will be nice, and of course that I get some height back, and most of all that I will be able to have a very, very phsysical and athletic life, which is very important to my whole identity..
mary
maryandkids@earthlink.net60 plus lumbar, 45 thoracic
first time surgery maybe in Dec 2006
40 years old, single professional mommy
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