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  • Losing weight????

    Okay, here is a question on my mind. I am carrying about 35 more pounds than I should. I've heard all of my life that if I lose weight that the pain in my back would be less and that my deformity will appear to look"better".

    I asked my doctor if weight has anything to do with my deformity and he said "no" but that like everyone else, exercise and being in good shape will help me deal with the pain better.

    I just wonder if anyone out there that has lost any amount of weight feels any different physically pertaining to the spine deformity and if so, how much more different...better/worse? I would really like to hear from you.

    Thanks.

    Marilyn
    Last edited by MariHOU; 01-05-2007, 03:24 PM.

    1975 Clear hard plastic body cast worn
    1976 Operated for high grade Spondylolisthesis; lumbar fused from L2-Sacrum and Harrington rods inserted
    1976 Wore regular type body cast and in bed rest for 1 year
    1977 Rods removed
    2006 Diagnosed with Flat back syndrome with sagittal imbalance
    2008 Scheduled for wide pedicle subtraction osteotomy, sooner if pain increases


    My email is ahlan_warda@yahoo.com

  • #2
    Hi Marilyn,
    I too have about 35 pounds to loose. I've lost weight in the past (30 pounds, but gained it back due to increasing pain pre-surgery), and it made a difference in my energy and how I felt physically. All of the surgeons I've seen have suggested loosing weight - that even though it by no means causes the problems associated with scoliosis and flatback syndrome, excess weight makes the back work harder and puts extra stress on the bones. It's hard though sometimes to exercise when you don't feel well. That's how I put the weight on in the first place.
    I'm determined now to make a difference, and work hard to feel better this time around. I've been told that I may likely need more surgery down the road, however, I want to do what I can to try and make my back the "best" it can be. Good luck Marilyn!
    Cena
    Nov. 2006 - revision surgery
    Aug. 1992 - revision surgery for hook removal and pseudoarthrosis
    July 1989 - Cortrell Doubosett procedure - two rods and fusion T4-L4 (age 13)

    Comment


    • #3
      Marilyn, I lost a lot of weight while in the hospital and after coming home right after my surgeries. I now have gained it all back and some extra. I now am about 10 pounds overweight. I didn't feel any better when I lost the weight than I feel now. Of course then I had the pain from surgery and the pain meds that kept me from having any energy. Now I think it is because I just don't have the ambition to do anything about my weight. I loose a couple of pounds and then gain it back. As far as helping with the curvature I don't know which would be better. I know we all need to exercise and stay healthy but it's hard when you don't feel good.
      Good Luck.
      Mattie

      Comment


      • #4
        Thank you both for your responses. I've been thinking about this a lot lately and the more that I think about it the more that I think I should start walking. I mean, if doctors ask their patients to start walking within days after back surgery then I have no excuse. I just hope that it doesn't hurt too much. One thing keeps me motivated, only one thing, and Cena said it best...
        Originally posted by Cena75
        ... excess weight makes the back work harder and puts extra stress on the bones.
        Hopefully in the end my back pain will improve.

        Thank you both.

        Marilyn

        1975 Clear hard plastic body cast worn
        1976 Operated for high grade Spondylolisthesis; lumbar fused from L2-Sacrum and Harrington rods inserted
        1976 Wore regular type body cast and in bed rest for 1 year
        1977 Rods removed
        2006 Diagnosed with Flat back syndrome with sagittal imbalance
        2008 Scheduled for wide pedicle subtraction osteotomy, sooner if pain increases


        My email is ahlan_warda@yahoo.com

        Comment


        • #5
          Just take one step at a time.Do alittle at a time and work your way up.Good luck.

          Comment


          • #6
            Thank you Gailee. Very good advice.

            Marilyn

            1975 Clear hard plastic body cast worn
            1976 Operated for high grade Spondylolisthesis; lumbar fused from L2-Sacrum and Harrington rods inserted
            1976 Wore regular type body cast and in bed rest for 1 year
            1977 Rods removed
            2006 Diagnosed with Flat back syndrome with sagittal imbalance
            2008 Scheduled for wide pedicle subtraction osteotomy, sooner if pain increases


            My email is ahlan_warda@yahoo.com

            Comment


            • #7
              Marilyn,
              Have you thought of water walking? It was suggested to me, but honestly I haven't tried it yet - I don't like wet bathing suits or being cold at the best of times, and it's winter here! I'm planning on trying it though, my specialist suggested it, as it takes even less impact off the joints, while working the muscles with resistance. I'm going to try our tredmill (slowly) since it's icy outside too. I've just got to get on a regular schedule and stick with it!
              Cena
              Nov. 2006 - revision surgery
              Aug. 1992 - revision surgery for hook removal and pseudoarthrosis
              July 1989 - Cortrell Doubosett procedure - two rods and fusion T4-L4 (age 13)

              Comment


              • #8
                I felt better when I lost some weight. Then I had steroid shots and gained it back. I am in the process of losing weight again. I have joined a senior's theraputic pool. I go there and exercise in the warm water (they keep it at 90 degrees). and swim a little.
                T12- L5 fusion 1975 - Rochester, NY
                2002 removal of bottom of rod and extra fusion
                3/1/11 C5-C6 disc replacement
                Daughter - T7 - L3 fusion 2004

                Comment


                • #9
                  Cena and Rainbow...great suggestions! I'll look into an inside and heated or senior's theraputic pool.

                  Thanks!

                  Marilyn

                  1975 Clear hard plastic body cast worn
                  1976 Operated for high grade Spondylolisthesis; lumbar fused from L2-Sacrum and Harrington rods inserted
                  1976 Wore regular type body cast and in bed rest for 1 year
                  1977 Rods removed
                  2006 Diagnosed with Flat back syndrome with sagittal imbalance
                  2008 Scheduled for wide pedicle subtraction osteotomy, sooner if pain increases


                  My email is ahlan_warda@yahoo.com

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    I wish you the best with your situation. I'm know walking can be really difficult with flatback and other back pain. I think trying to find somethng that is the least painful is best. I agree with the other comments on using the pool. It's much easier to find a way to move with less pain in the water. Keeping muscle tone seems to help me, but again, it's hard if you're in pain. I'm not sure how losing weight helps the curvatures appear better, but I do think it can help with pain. I'm not exactly sure if it's true, but I have used that hope to help keep my weight down (as a motivating factor). My back does seem better at a lower weight (I'm about 20 pounds down from my higher weight- lost and gained over a long period of time), but it's not a magical direct connection.
                    Nan
                    1983 Harrington Rod T1-L3

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Recently Lost 75 LBS..

                      Hi,

                      About a 1 1/2 yrs ago, I was 5'10" and 293 lbs.. yesterday - my PCP measured me: 5'8" and 218 lbs (at my tallest: 5'11")... and yes, 293 was my heaviest!

                      I have experienced Much less muscle pain in my back, legs and feet and less "strong" sciatic pain... My limitations however are the same in terms of getting around, etc...

                      Hope that helps!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Well I will go the other way just to add to the mix. Before surgery I was 170 and after 130. I would give anything to go back to the 170. I feel I could carry myself better and have a little more muscle mass to help hold me up, rather than the rods doing all the work.
                        March 23, 2006 Anterior/posterior Ileum-T2
                        15 1/2 Hours
                        Dr. Tom Lowe R.I.P.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Thank you!

                          Wow...I really appreciate everyone who posted. Thank you so much! It is from this forum that I learn much about my back. You've given me much to think about ....starting/not starting and even a great suggestion to use the pool to avoid stress on my back and joints. Thank you.

                          There are various viewpoints on losing weight here and so at this point I am not sure losing weight will make a dramatic difference on the amount of pain and discomfort that I feel, but I think that I will attempt to start. I figure that I will not know how my back will react until I start to exercise and hopefully I can stand it long enough to stick with it.

                          Thank you tons for sharing!

                          Marilyn

                          1975 Clear hard plastic body cast worn
                          1976 Operated for high grade Spondylolisthesis; lumbar fused from L2-Sacrum and Harrington rods inserted
                          1976 Wore regular type body cast and in bed rest for 1 year
                          1977 Rods removed
                          2006 Diagnosed with Flat back syndrome with sagittal imbalance
                          2008 Scheduled for wide pedicle subtraction osteotomy, sooner if pain increases


                          My email is ahlan_warda@yahoo.com

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Marihou,

                            I don't know if it would be motivating at all, but I am aware of a patient who was told by a well respected surgeon that the anterior portion of a staged revision surgery to correct flatback might not be possible due to excess weight in the abdominal area.

                            If that is where you think you might be heading...it might be one more box to check in the "pro-lose weight column". I know it won't be easy with the limited mobility....but then it is never going to be easy.

                            As always, talk it over with your doctor!

                            Take Care, Cam

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Thanks Cam! Wow..didn't know, but as much as I understand my doctor, it will be posterior operation. Nevertheless, I will definitely try to lose weight...wow! I learned something new.

                              Thank you.

                              Marilyn

                              1975 Clear hard plastic body cast worn
                              1976 Operated for high grade Spondylolisthesis; lumbar fused from L2-Sacrum and Harrington rods inserted
                              1976 Wore regular type body cast and in bed rest for 1 year
                              1977 Rods removed
                              2006 Diagnosed with Flat back syndrome with sagittal imbalance
                              2008 Scheduled for wide pedicle subtraction osteotomy, sooner if pain increases


                              My email is ahlan_warda@yahoo.com

                              Comment

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