I'm a new member here and I have not have revision surgery, but I can't figure out where else to post this message and question. I had fusion surgery for scoliosis in about 1977 when I was a teenager (T-5 to L-4, if I am remembering correctly -- it may have been T-4 to L-5). About 24-36 months after surgery, my Harrington rod became loose at one end. A bone scan showed that most of the fusion was successful, so they took the rod out at that time.
I've lived a fairly normal life, giving birth to four children and (in the process) gaining a significant amount of weight (I'm about 75 pounds overweight). When I was pregnant or when I'm at my heaviest, I would always have problems with sciatic pain. As I've gotten older, that has become more pronounced. I've also started to have a more "achy" and burning pain just under my shoulder-blades.
I started working out and lifting weights about 14 weeks ago, attempting not only to loose weight, but to strengthen my abdominal and back muscles in the hope that the back pain and sciatic pain will improve. However, I'm having difficulty determining what kind of abdominal exercises I can do. I just do not curve like normal people if I try to do a "crunch" (I can bend at my hips, but not at my waist). If I attempt leg lifts (while lying on my back), it aggravates my back pain instead of helping it. It seems that when I do abdominal work, I end up with back pain -- but I must strengthen these muscles! How?
Does anyone who has a similar fusion have any suggestions or exercises that have worked for them? I appreciate any advice.
I have basically ignored my fusion and curve for all of these years (as it was not impacting my life), but when the sciatic pain began to get worse, I did go to a doctor and asked if it was possible that my curve was becoming worse. She basically poo-pooed the idea and told me it was NOT possible and that I did NOT have sciatic pain -- that it was just lower back pain from being overweight and out of shape. But I think I know the difference (that stabbing pain in your buttocks and radiating pain down the leg are pretty unique). For those of you who had fusion surgery when younger, how did you know that you needed a revision? I did not even know such a thing existed until I came to this site!
Thanks!
- Janade
I've lived a fairly normal life, giving birth to four children and (in the process) gaining a significant amount of weight (I'm about 75 pounds overweight). When I was pregnant or when I'm at my heaviest, I would always have problems with sciatic pain. As I've gotten older, that has become more pronounced. I've also started to have a more "achy" and burning pain just under my shoulder-blades.
I started working out and lifting weights about 14 weeks ago, attempting not only to loose weight, but to strengthen my abdominal and back muscles in the hope that the back pain and sciatic pain will improve. However, I'm having difficulty determining what kind of abdominal exercises I can do. I just do not curve like normal people if I try to do a "crunch" (I can bend at my hips, but not at my waist). If I attempt leg lifts (while lying on my back), it aggravates my back pain instead of helping it. It seems that when I do abdominal work, I end up with back pain -- but I must strengthen these muscles! How?
Does anyone who has a similar fusion have any suggestions or exercises that have worked for them? I appreciate any advice.
I have basically ignored my fusion and curve for all of these years (as it was not impacting my life), but when the sciatic pain began to get worse, I did go to a doctor and asked if it was possible that my curve was becoming worse. She basically poo-pooed the idea and told me it was NOT possible and that I did NOT have sciatic pain -- that it was just lower back pain from being overweight and out of shape. But I think I know the difference (that stabbing pain in your buttocks and radiating pain down the leg are pretty unique). For those of you who had fusion surgery when younger, how did you know that you needed a revision? I did not even know such a thing existed until I came to this site!
Thanks!
- Janade
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