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    Hi, I had posterior surgery in Feb. 2007. I am fused down to L4. I've had a recent check-up and my surgeon told me that I am doing good.

    I am still experiencing a lot of back and rib pain. I still have a lot of numbness in my back and legs. I know, I need to give my nerves time to heal and wake up, but some nights I have trouble sleeping and some mornings I don't even want to get out of bed! After surgery, I wasn't able to do rehab due to not having health insurance. My surgeon has advised me to continue to exercise/swim to gain more strength in my back muscles.

    Any advice or suggestions?


    I appreciate it so much!

  • #2
    I am doing PT and I believe I could do almost as well with an exercise video and some weights.

    Getting back strength in your core muscles is vitally important. I would suggest obtaining the book Pilates for Fragile Backs: by Andra Fischgrund Stanton. She wrote the book after going through scoliosis surgery with Dr. Boachie in NY. It has lots of great pictures of easy exercises you can do without equipment.

    Of course, regular walking is also helpful. Another fabulous free way to get your body feeling like you want to get out of bed in the morning!
    Ginger Woolley

    Oct 2018, L3 - S1, Anterior & Posterior, Dr Sigurd Berven, UCSF, San Francisco
    ******
    May 2008, T4 - L3, Dr. Ohenaba Boachie, Hospital for Special Surgery, NYC
    ******
    Sept 1967, T4 - T 11, without instrumentation, Dr Thomas Brown, Stanford

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    • #3
      Amber, if you're still not able to get PT, I would recommend walking. I walk 2 or 3 miles almost every day, and sometimes it's the only thing that loosens up the rib and back soreness that I still have. It took me a while to build up my walking time....I just kept increasing the distance bit by bit each week.

      I just finished up my second round of intensive PT, and it helped immensely with core building and overall strength and balance issues -- all things that contribute to building up the muscles that hold up your spine and muscles in their new position. It seems to me that the more I keep moving, the less pain and discomfort I have.

      Also -- a pain management specialist (referred by your primary doc) could be helpful for you also.
      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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      • #4
        I really appreciate the advice!! I stay active each day, but by the end of the day, my back is really tense and hurting. I've been on lidoderm patches to help with the pain.

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