
Originally Posted by
BendyBill
Any knowledge of any studies related to long-term back health in post-op scoliosis patients? Yeah I imagine it's impossible to do anything that will help the bone but perhaps there's a method of muscle strengthening to increase stability and stave off lower back problems in those without(/with?) lumbar fusion. I might have a little root around the forum and see what it comes up with...
Not sure why I read South Africa! Glad to hear the weather is helping you out over in Colombia. My brother lived there for a year and I always regretted not going to see him as it's somewhere I'd love to go.
Billy
Hi Billy...
As far as I know, there has never been such a study. It's really difficult to do long-term studies, especially when they involve closely tracking things like exercise programs.
I'm guessing that if you questioned 100 deformity surgeons, 100 of them would tell you that your best bet is regular core strengthening exercise. I started having low back pain about 8 years after my original surgery. Xrays revealed I had degenerative changes below my fusion. I was sent to PT where I got core strengthening exercises that I performed religiously for the next 10+ years. I managed to control most of the pain during that time. Then, I started having rib cage spasms whenever I tried to lay on my back on the floor. I should have gone back to PT, but stupidly just stopped doing the exercises. Within a year, the lower back pain returned, and I ended up with further degeneration that led to more surgery.
--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