Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Did your surgery relieve the pain from your scoliosis/kyphosis?

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Did your surgery relieve the pain from your scoliosis/kyphosis?

    Hi there,

    I have heard about mixed results regarding pain post-op. (I'm referring to the pain the curvature causes in everyday life rather than post-operative pain from incision etc.)

    Did you find that after you had recovered from the operation your pain was greatly reduced in comparison to when you had a bigger curve? Please let me know your thoughts and experiences!

    Thank you
    Kate

  • #2
    Yes, absolutely. I had pain on my chest as well due to the rotation of the ribs and that is gone. I am almost 5 months post op and the only pain I feel is due to the surgery.
    Pilar
    Scoliosis Diagnosed at age 12. Wore Milwaukee brace for 2 years.
    Now age 32
    Pre-op curves: C86-T98-L37
    Surgery date: 12/6/2010 (anterior) 12/10/2010 (posterior)
    Fused T2 to L5 with thoracoplasty.
    Post-op curves: C48-T47-L17
    Dr. Robert Pashman
    Cedars Sinai, Los Angeles, CA
    Before and after xrays :
    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...5&d=1292969215

    Comment


    • #3
      Thanks for replying!

      That's really encouraging! Did you find you had reduced flexibility?

      I hope everything went well for you

      Comment


      • #4
        Both of my surgeries completely relieved the preop pain I had. You should know, however, that the postop pain is very often worse than the preop pain, for up to 3-6 months. (Or, maybe not worse, but harder to deal with.)

        --Linda
        Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
        Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

        Comment


        • #5
          My pain pre-op was only moderate but increasing. I have no pain at all now.

          100% worth it!
          Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
          Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
          T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
          Osteotomies and Laminectomies
          Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

          Comment


          • #6
            I had major pain episodes before my surgeries....that was quite an experience.

            It was about 3 1/2 months post that I realized that I was pain free. It didn’t last too long, recovery is a see-saw, with good days and bad days but with improvement every day. Recovery can take many months.....

            On the flexibility question, look at my x-ray in my sig, then go to the bending and twisting pics also in my sig. You can see what I can do with a full pelvic fusion.

            If they leave the lowest levels unfused, each level accounts for about 20 degrees articulation in bending. In other words, you would be able to touch the floor.
            Ed
            49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
            Pre surgery curves T70,L70
            ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
            Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

            Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
            http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

            My x-rays
            http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

            http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

            Comment


            • #7
              Wow Ed that's pretty impressive!

              I'm not sure how low down my fusion will be as I have kyphosis, and (is it called lordosis??) where my lumbar spine is compensation for it. I also have a small degree of scoliosis but my rib hump is quite pronounced.

              Thanks for all the great replies, I guess recovery is different for everyone but positive in the end!
              Would you say you were back to normal activities within 3 months or would it take longer - stairs etc, driving, carrying heavier things.

              Thanks again everyone! You're the best!

              Kate

              Comment


              • #8
                Kate

                Kyphosis is correct.

                Usually there are some restrictions in recovery, I didn’t lift much more than a dinner plate for about 3 months and took it quite easy till I was fused. Off meds, and driving at 6 weeks.

                Light duty lifting, no bending, and no royal kisses over 1.05 seconds are usually the norm. He he

                Be informed. Keep reading and studying.

                Say hi to the queen for me.
                Ed
                49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                My x-rays
                http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                Comment


                • #9
                  I'll let the old bird know you say hi.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Kate

                    I don’t know if I posted on this but I have not seen any kyphosis patients fused all the way down. Usually, they stop a few levels up, and leave a few lumbar levels unfused. If that’s the case, your mobility should be pretty good.....

                    Nice to have the wedding done with.

                    I do business in England and everyone has been off all week partying. I’ve never seen this before! You guys must really go nuts out there. LOL

                    Ed
                    49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                    Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                    ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                    Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                    Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                    My x-rays
                    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Hi Kate, I experienced a lot of pain pre-op from sciatica, it's gone now postop!

                      Hi Ed, would you please explain what you meant about flexiblility and being able to touch the floor -- I've been doing a lot of stretching of my legs in hopes of being able to tie my shoes and pick up things from the floor, does it get easier you mean to do these things, I'm fused pretty similiar to you. It does not say in my signature, but I also have pelvic anchors and all, but as far as I can tell, I am fused all the way down.
                      Last edited by dolores a; 04-30-2011, 01:42 PM. Reason: to add to the post
                      Dolores A
                      June 4, 2009 Anterior L3 - S1
                      June 8, 2009 Posterior T4 - Pelvis
                      Mark Agulnick, MD FAAOS
                      NY Spine & Scoliosis Center

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Hi guys,

                        Yeah we hand a lot of holidays off, we had last weekend for Easter, then a bank holiday on monday, obviously friday was a bank holiday due to wedding and this monday coming is also a bank holiday because its may day. I don't know if you guys have may day. I'm not really sure what it is haha!

                        I've been told I'm very flexible for a scoli/kypho though obviously I'm restricted on one side, so I would actually worry about losing flexibility but if the pains gone and I look normal, I can live with it!

                        Kate

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          for me the pre-op pain was gone immediately. It took over one year for the post-op pain to go away, but now I'm great, and I feel like I can do anything I want--including the simplest things that I thought I'd never be able to do.
                          __________________________________________
                          Debbe - 50 yrs old

                          Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
                          Told by Dr. my curve would never progress

                          Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
                          Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
                          Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees

                          Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
                          Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degrees

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            [QUOTE=titaniumed;121016]Kate

                            Kyphosis is correct.

                            Usually there are some restrictions in recovery, I didn’t lift much more than a dinner plate for about 3 months and took it quite easy till I was fused. Off meds, and driving at 6 weeks.

                            Light duty lifting, no bending, and no royal kisses over 1.05 seconds are usually the norm. He he

                            Be informed. Keep reading and studying.

                            Say hi to the queen for me.
                            Ed[/QUOTE


                            Hey, Ed.
                            What is a foam topper and where do I get one. It sounds like you are talking about more that a pad for your bed. Thanks for posting.]

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Dolores

                              Surgeons like to leave the lowest levels unfused if possible for flexibility. Each level down low will articulate approx 20 degrees. If a person has 2 levels unfused below, that means about 40 degrees of flexibility, and thus, much easier to touch the floor.

                              I can get to about 3-4 inches of the floor. You can see these pics in my flexability thread in my signature.

                              I set my foot on a stool and push a little to tie my shoes. I also squat down to reach my feet and tie my shoes. You are fused all the way down, and we are in the same boat. Still way better than the sciatica, I must say. Having sciatica indicates herniation down in the lowest levels....if curves are large down low, its like throwing a cup of water on a campfire....the flames will return. Large low curves, and about 50 years of wear and tear, is a difficult situation. It sure is nice to be sciatica free!

                              Kate
                              May day sounds like an emergency distress “day off” to me. We could use a May day over here! LOL

                              Littlebird
                              I feel the foam is necessary in recovery. I went about 3 weeks without, and it increased my sleep quite a bit. It can be a topper, but in prior threads on the subject, most feel that 3-4 inches is the cats meow. I used to have Mag-citrate in my signature, maybe I should re-add it. Having 1-2 bottles on the shelf is a good idea. If you take meds, you get constipated. It happens to all of us. Use the search button to access these threads. Search “foam toppers” and “Magnesium citrate”.
                              Ed
                              49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                              Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                              ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                              Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                              Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                              http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                              My x-rays
                              http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                              http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X