T6 to Sacrum-Anyone?

[CStadler]

I am having T6 to sacrum and am worried about mobility after I have recovered from the surgery. If anyone has had the fusion down this far I would love to hear if you are able to bend forward and if so how far?
I guess I picture myself walking like Frankenstien afterwards and just need some reassurance. Surgery was cancelled and will now probably not be until Sept.
I am also collecting my own blood and if there are any tips or suggestions to make that go smoothly I would like to know.

Thanks

[Karen Ocker]

walking like Frankenstien

I sent you a private message.

I live a perfectly normal, pain free life. I just got back from a trip hiking in the Alps and Black forest--and my fusion is longer than yours will be.

[Linda G]

I'm with Karen. My surgery was in Dec so I am still recovering. I also fell and broke my hip. Thru all this tho I am doing great. I am becoming more flexible all the time, I walk without pain, I climb stairs and do almost all my own housework--exceptions being mopping, bathroom etc. It takes time but you will get there. I was 63 when I had my surgery. For you that are younger, think how much faster and stronger you will heal. Don't get discouraged--life will get back to normal. I am fused from T9 to sacrum.
Linda G.

[SandyC]

Hi,
I was fused from T4-S1. It took awhile, but I do gardening/clean house/even manage to get my foot up to tie my shoes LOL.
Sandy

[bonjour]

hie ,i am 6 month post op from t7(t4 was announced ) to sacrum ,and i am not frankenstein we had a little meeting in Paris and 3 person fused to sacrum this year ,2 other have gone back to work normally after 7 month .we met before our op and after ,and we are realy much better know less pain and much happier..i have a yong child of 4 years old and no problem playing and ....etc with a family off 5 ..i am 41.
we are not suppose to bend over ,but naturally we just bend our knees to pick things up ;ti tie my lacies up i do what i did when i had mlk brace a long time ago...just bring my foot up against a hie step for exemple.

[CStadler]

Thankyou so much to everyone, especially to you Karen for the private message. I am much more calm and optomistic about the whole thing now that I have read these replies of similar fusions.
I will let you all know when I get another date (got cancelled twice now) but it should be in late Aug or Sept.
Hopefully I will be able to give encouragement to others when I am done.
Thanks!!

[bbest]

I am fused to my sacrum although I wasn't fused as high as you. I'm lumbar only. I will tell you that I don't really feel as limited as I thought I would. I just feel a little tight in that area. I don't bend at the waist or twist around to see something or someone behind me. You just learn to adapt. Right after surgery, I was focused on the things I couldn't do. But, as time passes and your physical state improves, you think more about the things you can do.

Brandi

[bbest]

Holy $#!@ Karen! The Alps and Black Forest? Good for you! You are an inspiration!

[joeb-z]

My wife Jan is fuzed S-1 to T-11. As of this week whe can tie both shoes! Thats 9 months post op.

[katblack]

I'm T-3 to S-1, I can do pretty much everything except my left leg doesn't want to go so easy to put on shoes and stuff.
I kinda knew this would happen though, the left leg is the one I had a lot of trouble with previous to surgery. Lots of nerve damage on that side and stuff.
I can get my shoe on and tie it, it just takes awhile.

[berta@aloha.net]

I am so glad to hear all of you fused to the sacrum, how much you've gradually been able to do! I am fused from T5 to sacrum and 3 months post op and now can reach a little past my knees when laying down. Rubbing moisturizer on my lower legs or cutting my toenails is still not in my vocabulary, but I can see I am getting further. Of course, until your fusion is completed, you don't want to try too hard. Lucky I live in Hawaii and wear flip flops daily, and walk in slip-on type walking shoes, so that helps! I look forward to reaching my feet someday!