Sonoran Spine Center

[loves to skate]

Anyone who sky dives with a fusion in the lumbar region whether a level or two is spared or not has to be nuts. Being fused to the sacrum and stepping hard off of a curb accidentally hurts like hell I can tell you from first hand experience. There is nothing to take the shock for even a minor jolt, so that trauma is transferred up the spine to the first level that isn't fused or to a lower level that isn't fused.

Mariaf is correct about trampolines. They are very dangerous especially without proper supervision. In gym class when I was a kid, no one was allowed to use the trampoline unless the entire trampoline was surrounded by the rest of the class to keep the user from falling into the springs or onto the floor.

Use common sense when considering what sport you do. TiEd can ski because he is an expert and rarely falls. I was allowed to roller skate on a wood floor because wood has give to it and I rarely fell. Young people have better balance and are more resilient than older people so maybe they can take more risks.

Sally

[mabeckoff]

Anyone who sky dives with a fusion in the lumbar region whether a level or two is spared or not has to be nuts. Being fused to the sacrum and stepping hard off of a curb accidentally hurts like hell I can tell you from first hand experience. There is nothing to take the shock for even a minor jolt, so that trauma is transferred up the spine to the first level that isn't fused or to a lower level that isn't fused.

Mariaf is correct about trampolines. They are very dangerous especially without proper supervision. In gym class when I was a kid, no one was allowed to use the trampoline unless the entire trampoline was surrounded by the rest of the class to keep the user from falling into the springs or onto the floor.

Use common sense when considering what sport you do. TiEd can ski because he is an expert and rarely falls. I was allowed to roller skate on a wood floor because wood has give to it and I rarely fell. Young people have better balance and are more resilient than older people so maybe they can take more risks.

Sally

Sally , you are so right. When ever I step off the curb accidentally, it hurts so much

Melissa

[LindaRacine]

It's my understanding that all broken rods are from pseudoarthrosis (the paper clip bending analogy). Certainly all the cases on this group that I have read have been in that category.

Trauma that would break an unfused back may or may not break a fused back/rod system.

I've heard patients say that they broke a rod with trauma, but I don't think anyone could ever know for certain. It's probably more likely, in those cases, that the rod(s) were already broken, or ready to break, and the trauma made it apparent.

--Linda

[jrnyc]

i agree with Sally...
and do-able or not, it sounds reckless and careless..why go thru all the pain
and challenge of a huge spinal surgery to take a chance on what might happen....
some things justseem to tempt the fates...

jess

[mariaf]

Ah okay. So it is in the same category as bungee jumping... nobody should do it. Nothing particular to fusion.

That's my understanding, anyway.

[mariaf]

i agree with Sally...
and do-able or not, it sounds reckless and careless..why go thru all the pain
and challenge of a huge spinal surgery to take a chance on what might happen....
some things justseem to tempt the fates...

jess

Well said, Jess. At least that would be my personal way of looking at things. I mean I think it's safe to say that most people can live very full lives without ever doing things like bungee jumping or going on a trampoline. Heck, I'm 52 and have never done either and I don't feel cheated - LOL!

[rohrer01]

I've been on a trampoline. I can tell you from experience that if you jump high, you can feel the compression on the spine and it HURTS! I agree about trampolines. BAD idea.

[back2life]

I pulled up this old thread. Dr. Chang is my doctor. He is awesome, but tends to believe I can conquer the world where as his staff is more conservative. I have had only one post op visit and it was with his PA. If you google him and go to his Sonoran site, he has some amazing videos of the work he has done. I did not see these videos prior to my surgery. I was pretty amazed. Still impressed on the older woman who had been bent in half for years and no one would touch her and she is now upright and active after his surgery. If I can figure out how to add the links I will.
I thought it was pretty darn nifty you all were chatting about my doc! How cool!

[susancook]

Every doctor is different. Dr. Hu gave me a long double sided sheet on when I can do various activities. I showed it to my local PT in Oregon who loved it and immediately copied it.

I do not know if it is just for "older persons", but one activity that is prohibited is jogging and running. The list breaks out activities that can be done at various times after surgery. If you would like a copy of the guidelines list, I will send it to you.

Bummer about the running though....I was thinking about becoming a marathon runner hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Susan

I was discussing the list with my husband last night and I told him that it said that I could not vacuum for 5 years.......think that he is looking for the list to verify. Please do not tell him that it is not true!

[back2life]

Every doctor is different. Dr. Hu gave me a long double sided sheet on when I can do various activities. I showed it to my local PT in Oregon who loved it and immediately copied it.

I do not know if it is just for "older persons", but one activity that is prohibited is jogging and running. The list breaks out activities that can be done at various times after surgery. If you would like a copy of the guidelines list, I will send it to you.

Bummer about the running though....I was thinking about becoming a marathon runner hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Susan

I was discussing the list with my husband last night and I told him that it said that I could not vacuum for 5 years.......think that he is looking for the list to verify. Please do not tell him that it is not true!

Oh my gosh Susan you and are are going to be BFF's! I was actually out having some fun last night. My best friend (battling cancer) had a surprise birthday party last night and we took the kids for some light school shopping before hand. The place is called Dave and Busters, not sure if you have heard of it, but an adult version of a Chuckie Cheese type place. I LOVE playing the games there but I made one trip across the game room to use the bathroom and wished I had brought an army of protection. It was like being in a battlefield!-young and old alike running amuck! I almost took a basketball to the head on the way back. So, I sat and caught up on gossip instead of playing casino type games and my kids were bummed because I usually score the most tickets for them to cash out with big prizes at the end of the night----slight addiction to flashing lights! Lol! But heads up to anyone who reads this, you may want to avoid places like this for quite sometime following surgery. I hadn't taken it into consideration when I ventured alone to the bathroom!

My husband believes everything I discuss from here and has never asked for proof so I may use the 5 year vacuuming on him! The problem is, I may have to hire our cleaning lady back. My kids are not keeping up on my demands! Oh, and I got my handy dandy grabber (that's its name) and it has been tried to pick up our 6 lb dog (yelling from mom!) and the little kitten ( that actually worked, but I yelled as well) and the kids seem to drop more to the ground just to see what they can pick up with it! Seriously!!! I live in a zoo! School cannot start soon enough......

My restriction sheet:
1 month: return to work/school(???-no way!!!), use stationary bike, swim (not dive)
4 months: shoot free throws, gentle tennis, volleying ball
6 months: light jogging
1 year: skating, skiing, bowling, horseback riding (no jumping), roller coasters

That was all I received for restrictions besides the 6 week post op care sheet. Love my surgeon but I think he needs to have more range then just sports. I think this tends to be for the "young" who are possibly still schooling and eager to get back into sports.

I will try to give you a jingle back tonight, Susan. We are off to finish the kids school shopping today.

****Quit cleaning!****

[back2life]

If its easy enough, it would be great to have a copy of that sheet. Thank you!

[titaniumed]

I do not know if it is just for "older persons", but one activity that is prohibited is jogging and running.

Susan, cant say I blame her....

Johnson advocated for those interested in pursuing this fitness regime to check with his or her doctor first and even compared the dangers of jogging to those of smoking cigarettes:

Johnson was not the only doctor concerned with this fad. He reached out to others for comment, and one described the practice as "physiologically insane."

http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/pre...ert-thought-so

I had a friend who had a heart attack jogging 3 months ago. He was 51. This was totally unexpected and such a shock. He was younger than me. What the heck?

Needless to say, you wont see me jogging. No thank you. I will jump in front of a train first.

Running is out also. I can do it, but I don’t have the shock factor in my back and have to run on my toes.....After you fuse, its not about the back anymore, its everything else. Your toes, feet, ankles, knees and hips now absorb the shock. With the tires have worn out now, do you drive fast?

Walking and hiking in a beautiful setting is completely different....

Like in a Panamanian rainforest perhaps? 5 more days.....I’m dying. This is more stress than waiting for surgery. Those trips to New Guinea must have been so cool.....

Ed

[jrnyc]

i read what Linda Racine wrote about the pelvis not being fixed...
but i was told i need fusion to sacrum "WITH PELVIC FIXATION"

soooo....isn't that a fixed pelvis...?????
i told the surgeon if he had said i needed thoracic fusion i would have
been checking myself into the hospital the next day....
it is the lumbar stuff that freaked me out...
still does...

off to the beach for a while...Rhode Island beach...

jess...and Sparky (no beach for him....am having separation anxiety now)

[susancook]

From Ed: Like in a Panamanian rainforest perhaps? 5 more days.....I’m dying. This is more stress than waiting for surgery. Those trips to New Guinea must have been so cool.....


PNG Papua New Guinea was very primitive and the city was dirty and scary. We went to some very remote areas to distribute mosquito netting. The Highlands are very interesting and some people are still following the tribal old ways. Very interesting and very expensive!

Susan

[susancook]

From Jen: My restriction sheet:
1 month: return to work/school(???-no way!!!), use stationary bike, swim (not dive)
4 months: shoot free throws, gentle tennis, volleying ball
6 months: light jogging
1 year: skating, skiing, bowling, horseback riding (no jumping), roller coasters


WOW Jen! can't believe that you can do these activities! Maybe I needed a different surgeon.....or should be 30 years younger like you are! Make sure that your plan is OK with your doctor.

Don't want you to ruin your awesome fusion!
Susan