All S-1's out there?

[titaniumed]

Being fused all the way down is not that bad, however playing twister is almost impossible.

Back in college, that was THE game. That guy that invented that game was a genius.

It incorporated rotational therapy, and some very therapeutic stretches.

Add a little alcohol, and you have a great scoliotic exercise program.

Great for medical students or any student for close up study of the anatomy.

Ed

[Jimbo]

Could I play twister after being fused to L4?

I think I have that game under the house somewhere, probably funnel web spider's home now

[titaniumed]

Jimbo

Depends on if you play advanced twister.

Ed

[PNUTTRO]

Rich.

I had my fusion extended from L3 to S1 in 2008. At L3, I didn't have a much of a flexibility issue. At S1, I have to say, that it's a lot different.

For example, when I drop my pen at my desk, I can't just reach down and pick it up without banging my forehead on my desk. I have to get out of the chair and squat to the floor.

p

[sheri66]

I found a way to shave my legs, takes me longer than it once did, but gets the job done.Took one of my long handle rubber scraper that you use to scrape the bowl when making a cake, took off the top and used duck tape to tape the razor on the handle works good.Still trying to put regular socks on any ideas?

[Vali]

Have you tried putting your foot on the opposite knee? I could do this one on day two post-op. I think the fact that I had to start hip flexion exercises the morning after surgery may have helped.
My friend uses two silicone tongs as her extended thumb and index finger to put hers on, but just watching her drives me nuts.

[sheri66]

Vali,
I have not started therapy yet.I did not know about hip flexion exercises.Before surgery I could get both feet to my face now I can only get foot to knee and only put thick furry socks on.My left is easier than right.How long did you have to wear your brace after surgery?

[Vali]

Hi Sheri,
my therapy started the morning after surgery. They showed me how to log roll, how to exercise my lungs (deep breathing and strong coughs), hip flexion exercises and ankle flexing for circulation. I never wore a brace. My surgeon doesn't brace his patients after surgery, and the only therapy he recommends is walking, and lots of it.

[sheri66]

Thanks Vali-On my 1 month check-up my doctor did give me a prescription for therapy.We changed Ins and I just started driving about a month ago so I need to start therapy after the holidays.I think the reason I'm doing so good is all the walking, started 2 weeks post op. about 2 or 3 miles a day.I am always on the go, hard to sit still.Hope I'm not overdoing.

[yacpatty]

Fusion To Sacrum

I know this is an old thread, but I am not having any peace since my surgery December 11, 2013. At age 13, I had a bone fusion T4-L2. After having chronic pain for 25 years, I finally had surgery. I went to the best BUT I feel like I have made a huge mistake. All my MRI's over the past 20 years have showed severe neural foraminal stenosis L3-S1. I have read hours upon hours of research that the route to take is fusion to the sacrum in this case. My doctor, being conservative, fused only L4-L5. Yes, I feel stronger in my low back and can stand and walk a little further than before, BUT after a short while here comes the unrelenting groin and heavy legs and nerve pain in legs. I still say it is because the S1 level is not fused. Reports show severe neural foraminal stenosis in that level yet the doctor decided not to go to the sacrum.....gave no good reason other than surgery would have higher risk and he felt there was nothing wrong with that level......Contrary to 20 years of MRI's and xrays showing severe stenosis.

QUESTION: Has anyone had to go back in and be fused one more level to S1 after being only fused to L5? Does the doctor have to take out hardware L4 and L5 and then connect fusion to S1? I am so bummed.....I am 61 and feel more surgery is in the future when it could have already been taken care of. Anybody have a similar situation? I am kicking myself that I wasn't more aggressive or gone with a doctor who would have fused to sacrum. This was my request but I didn't push it.

Thanks for your input....even if it is to encourage/sympathize with me....ha!!!! Just have no peace about it and this has been a very costly and time consuming adventure.

[Irina]

I know this is an old thread, but I am not having any peace since my surgery December 11, 2013. At age 13, I had a bone fusion T4-L2. After having chronic pain for 25 years, I finally had surgery. I went to the best BUT I feel like I have made a huge mistake. All my MRI's over the past 20 years have showed severe neural foraminal stenosis L3-S1. I have read hours upon hours of research that the route to take is fusion to the sacrum in this case. My doctor, being conservative, fused only L4-L5. Yes, I feel stronger in my low back and can stand and walk a little further than before, BUT after a short while here comes the unrelenting groin and heavy legs and nerve pain in legs. I still say it is because the S1 level is not fused. Reports show severe neural foraminal stenosis in that level yet the doctor decided not to go to the sacrum.....gave no good reason other than surgery would have higher risk and he felt there was nothing wrong with that level......Contrary to 20 years of MRI's and xrays showing severe stenosis.

QUESTION: Has anyone had to go back in and be fused one more level to S1 after being only fused to L5? Does the doctor have to take out hardware L4 and L5 and then connect fusion to S1? I am so bummed.....I am 61 and feel more surgery is in the future when it could have already been taken care of. Anybody have a similar situation? I am kicking myself that I wasn't more aggressive or gone with a doctor who would have fused to sacrum. This was my request but I didn't push it.

Thanks for your input....even if it is to encourage/sympathize with me....ha!!!! Just have no peace about it and this has been a very costly and time consuming adventure.

Hi yacpatty,

I don't know what to say other than to sympathize and say that I feel for you...

[Wish2bstraight]

sorry to hear you didn't follow your gut

Yacpatty,

I definitely sympathize with you and wish you well. While I was in rehab, my roommate told me that I was a good advocate. News to me, but I started paying more attention to my body and my gut feelings. I did put up a fuss with one of the nurses and my roommate and myself did complain to the head of nursing about the way one of the aides treated me when I first got to rehab. Things did change and I'm glad I put up a stink.Long story short, go with your gut and advocate for yourself. I know this doesn't help your situation at this moment, but going forward, please put up a advocate, nobody else is going to do it for you.

Libby

[Confusedmom]

Patty--

Look up threads by JSully (Janet). She had surgery a few years ago and then went back and had fusion to the sacrum maybe 5-7 months later. I think she was happy with her revision.

Dr. Lenke said he could fuse me to L5 because the disc was fine. But h recommended going to S1 because he expected if I went to L5 I would need more surgery within 2-5 years.

That would be a major bummer to need more surgery so soon, but it does sound like the short revisions can be a little easier to recover from than the initial long fusions. Having said all that, you are only 2 months out. Do you think you might still just be recovering?

Best wishes,
Evelyn

[yacpatty]

Fusion to sacrum

Thanks girls for all your support and encouragement....what blows my mind is that this is a top notch surgeon, all the research shows fusion to the sacrum especially when it shows severe neural foraminal stenosis and I told hm I had severe groin pain and nerve pain in legs....on my 2 mo check-up last weekend I told him I had severe groin pain off and on and nerve pain in legs...he said they did a big decompression in L4-5......why is he being so stubborn and not saying it could be coming from S1. If I need a fusion down to S1, does anyone know if the hardware needs taken from L4-L5 and then start over at L4. I have been fused from T4-L2 since 1963 when I was 13. After 48 years, the levels below that fusion have beome very deteriorated and has severe stenosis. As frustrated as I am with my doctor, I still feel he is an excellent surgeon and would probably let him operate on me again. And to add to this frustration, on my first surgical consLkt with him in August, his surgical plan was L3-S1....go figure...Why did he change his mind? His reasons were very flimsy.....still feeling 50% guilty. Thanks Jess, Irna, ConfusedMOM and jrnyc (janet)

[yacpatty]

Evelyn.....I read all of Jsully's threads. Do you know how she is doing? I wish I could talk to her.
Patty