Rigid spine-Auto fusion?

[cathydownunder]

For anyone who hasn't yet had surgery or for those who had it later in life (I'm 46y/o) a question....
My back pain is constant and I take daily meds for it, just NSAIDS and paracetamol at the moment. My scoli is 35* thoracolumbar and I have DDD throughout.
I've had an L3/4 fusion and L4/5 disc replacement but my surgeon has said he doesn't want to fuse me top to tail as he believes it won't relieve my pain and keeps saying I'm too young whereas I think I'm getting too old for it!
He wants to concentrate on adequate pain relief and keeping me as active as possible.
On examination again today he remarked at how rigid and inflexible my spine is and I'm wondering if it's possible I'm auto-fusing which is why I'm so stiff.
I can still bend at the waist but can't get my hands below my knees.
I know there are a few "oldies" who've had corrective surgery but how healthy was your spine? Did you have DDD and arthrosis as well?

[Karen Ocker]

I laugh when I hear 40 something year-olds say "oldies" because I had a revision 4 1/2 years ago at age 60.

I went into surgery with a fused spine so it indeed was stiff. The un-instrumented fusion weakened and I lost a lot of the correction I got as a teen in 1956. The un-fused vertebrae above and below the fusion as well as all my trunk muscles seemed to get "stiff". In my case I think is was because the misalignment was so bad my spinal and other trunk muscles were strained from trying to hold me upright. I do not believe the spine "self-fuses" thus preventing further curving but that is my opinion.
I do not feel that way now and plan on hiking in the Alps next month.

[Cakedec]

I have also heard about adults being told that they were "too young" yet to get surgery for their back pain. In my opinion, drs. who say this are not comfortable with adult scoliosis spinal surgery or else they feel that the case is beyond their expertise.

I had my spinal fusion (T5-L5) done last summer at the age of 47. Believe me, I am so glad that I did not have a dr. telling me to "wait until I was older" because it is a long recovery even at that age. Actually, I wisH that I'd had it done 10 years earlier as damage was being done to my body during those years - Sacro-illac joint damage and sciatica - that could have been prevented by earlier surgery, plus my scoliosis was getting 1-2 degrees worse per year and was already 72 and 77 degree double curve. I was getting arthritis and DDD in my neck and lower spine. This does not affect their ability to do the spinal fusion.

I would recommend that you get the opinions of a couple of doctors who are adult scoliosis specialists in your area. A good place to start is the Scoliosis Research Society website, which is at www.srs.org.

Deb
posterior surgery 7/24/06
for s curve T72, L77
50% correction and pain free!
DON'T WAIT TO GET STRAIGHT!

[cathydownunder]

Thanks for the replies ladies. My case is a little complicated it seems. We can't find specific pain generators there's just too damn many! My facets are worn, i have DDD and arthritic changes throughout, which is why I had the disc replacement and 1 level fusion. We really thought those levels were the main culprits and my surgeon wanted to preserve as much mobility as possible
I know the degree of curve doesn't always correspond to level of pain but at 35* in an otherwise healthy (or younger) spine it shouldn't be that big a deal.
Anyway, I had another round of Xrays again today, 10 in all, everything bar standing on my head it seemed!!! This time we included more cervical and upper thoracic instead of concentrating on just the lumbar to get a better overall picture. I see my surgeon again next Thurs for the results.
I know everone recommends getting 2nd or 3rd opinions but this guys so damn good and difficult to get into I don't really want to jeopardise it.
B.T.W. when I lay on any hard surface my thoracic spine feels likes it's coming through my chest and is VERY painful. Any thoughts?

[lberg]

Hi there, I too have not huge curves however lots of pain, they tell me that fixing the scoliosis may not fix the pain so it is difficult to access the loss of motion from the surgery against the pain at our younger years ( I'm 45)
However I am already suffering from loss of lifestyle as the pain prevents many activies so..... What to do? I think it may be the ddd or arthritis ... bone spurs all causing to the issues- getting older sucks! A glass of wine goes a long way! Cheers

[barb816]

:( I am so glad to find this forum!!! I was feeling so alone in this. I am 57 with a 44-40 curve, ddd, arthritis, bone spurs, bulging disks and so on. All of the doctors I have been to are to scared to operate and I don't think they really know where the most pain is coming from. I have been going to a pain clinic and they did a procedure to burn the nerves in my back to help the pain. I just went last week so it is to soon to tell if it will help. If it does I was going to have them to the same with my neck because I have ddd in it that causes a lot of pain and headaches. The doctors and surgeons I have been to act like I am a leopard and don't even want me there. Where do I go to find help? I am close to giving up.

[crepehanger]

this forum is such a wealth of help and information ! personally, i would not let anyone else burn nerves or anything else and seek an adult scoliosis specialist- there are several good ones close to your location- you are very close to baylor scoliosis center at plano. the doctor's website is www.consultingorthopedists.com there are a few members that have had several texas doctors' opinions and can offer you more input. don't give up !!! also, you can use the search button above to query threads on doctor information. Lisa

[barb816]

Has anyone else had any nerves damaged to help with pain. Does anyone know of a scoliosis doctor in Fort Worth, Texas

[Jacque's Mom]

Barb816. I had what is called a radiofrequency nerve procedure (or something like that). Does that sound familiar? I have to admit, it did nothing for me. It wasn't painful. I was nervous and hopeful, but at the end disappointed. I didn't see any change. LYNN

[curve52]

I have also heard about adults being told that they were "too young" yet to get surgery for their back pain. In my opinion, drs. who say this are not comfortable with adult scoliosis spinal surgery or else they feel that the case is beyond their expertise.

I had my spinal fusion (T5-L5) done last summer at the age of 47. Believe me, I am so glad that I did not have a dr. telling me to "wait until I was older" because it is a long recovery even at that age. Actually, I wisH that I'd had it done 10 years earlier as damage was being done to my body during those years - Sacro-illac joint damage and sciatica - that could have been prevented by earlier surgery, plus my scoliosis was getting 1-2 degrees worse per year and was already 72 and 77 degree double curve. I was getting arthritis and DDD in my neck and lower spine. This does not affect their ability to do the spinal fusion.

I would recommend that you get the opinions of a couple of doctors who are adult scoliosis specialists in your area. A good place to start is the Scoliosis Research Society website, which is at www.srs.org.

Deb
posterior surgery 7/24/06
for s curve T72, L77
50% correction and pain free!
DON'T WAIT TO GET STRAIGHT!
what is ddd

[Theresa]

"DDD" is short for Degenerative Disc Disease (http://www.arthritis.about.com/od/spine/g/ddd.htm)

[curve52]

that was on my x-rays but i thought it was dr. talk thankx again and by the way i have that 2

[CurvySAT05]

Cathy,
I would still recommend that you go to get a second or even third/fourth opinions if you need to. I completely understand you saying that your surgeon is amazing, but any good surgeon will recommend another surgeon for you to go see for a second opinion to ease your mind and make sure you are getting the best care. I too thought that I was seeing one of the best surgeons. I let him operate on me 3 TIMES, and just recently I found out that he is not what I thought he was!!! If you allow him to be the only opinion you have, then he knows that you are going to do everything he says as if his word were omnicient. Sometimes getting a second pair of eyes to review x rays gives a new view and maybe a new treatment plan that hadnt been thought up before.
Also, it might be helpful to see a rheumatologist for the arthritis. If your spine is fusing on its own, it is a form of arthritis and should be looked over by a rheum. If you get a great team of doctors they can all work together to create a treatment plan (the rheumatologist can work with the arthritis, the ortho can work with the scoli and ddd, maybe you can see a pain doc to help keep pain under control and allow for more activity, etc.). Don't let the spine surgeon guilt trip you into not getting a second opinion. Do what is best for you, you owe it to yourself.

[curve52]

Hi there, I too have not huge curves however lots of pain, they tell me that fixing the scoliosis may not fix the pain so it is difficult to access the loss of motion from the surgery against the pain at our younger years ( I'm 45)
However I am already suffering from loss of lifestyle as the pain prevents many activies so..... What to do? I think it may be the ddd or arthritis ... bone spurs all causing to the issues- getting older sucks! A glass of wine goes a long way! Cheershave you heard of IPD or X-stop for spinal stenosis or spurs, ddd just found out about today after 4 other dr. wanted to fuse read my post today on good news

[BETall]

have you heard of IPD or X-stop for spinal stenosis or spurs, ddd just found out about today after 4 other dr. wanted to fuse read my post today on good news
Hi ;
Please go to www : Sosort.org and learn more about other options for your pain managment .

[curve52]

Hi ;
Please go to www : Sosort.org and learn more about other options for your pain managment .

that wont work for my i have spinal stenesois my bone is resting on a nerve :)and the spacers will lift the bone off the nerve ;)thankx anyways