Picture Worth a Thousand Words?

[txmarinemom]

Please visit: www.sammonspreston.com and click on "stall bars" C9256-32. By using this tool and strong therabands you can beguing to re-habilitate your small spinal rotators and give your paraspinalis muscles a small gentle traction special in the apices of your curves.
Every time you bend forward you cause dysfuntion in your segmental vertebra that causes the torsions and increases pain.Send me a PM.

Good LORD. $550, PLUS shipping and tax? (and apparently, they don't even sell the bench in the picture, period)

That's a pretty pricey, extremely simplistic unit that could be easily constructed from about $30 worth of supplies. Even if you're not the DIY type, you could probably have someone build you one (the dimensions are right there in the description) for well under $100, and save well over $400!

If someone really thinks they'll use the chin up bar, I think I picked up my dual chin up/sit up bar at the sporting goods store for $25.

Regards,
Pam

[gardenjen]

stall bars

We bought "Bailey" stall bars for $295 plus shipping. I also have directions
for making them if anyone's handier than we are (the bars are closet rods and the sides are made of plywood per the directions...). Once fused, though, you can only elongate and rotate the levels above and/or below the fusion. I just read a study, though, that reported quite a few people develop adjacent segment degeneration 7-8 years post-fusion (more often in the low lumbar spine) so who knows, it might not be a bad plan to stretch in some way once a fusion is solid, more to try to avoid needs for revision than anything else.

[Susie*Bee]

Jamie...

Hi Jamie. I'm so glad you are a "posting part" of the forum now. I'm looking forward to hearing more from you about how things are going. It's a tough time, trying to figure out what to do and also trying to do your part to get ready for possible surgery. I just wanted to share a little about the exercise and diet aspects...

First, please don't withdraw your photo. It is perfectly fine and very encouraging to some of us. You don't have that much extra padding-- and even if you did, almost everyone who posts pics are the willowy, slender type. I think even many of them have "lines" brought about because of the scoli/rotation. And it's also true that we get squooshed. Where else can that extra bit of torso flesh go? In one of my former posts, I mentioned how my PT guy explained to his intern about the asymetry of my back muscles by saying "notice the lines...." Sheesh. Now, with a little more time, those "lines" are almost in sync...

Second, concerning diet... I also felt compelled to lose some weight before my surgery. I mentioned it to my scoli doc, and he said that much more important than being thinner was the need to go into the surgery having eaten nutritionally soundly for some time... that all goes into how healthy your body is for the surgery itself and for how it heals afterward. I was able to lose about 20 lbs. on the WW diet, and knew it was a good way to go, as I was getting my 5 fruits and veggies, sufficient protein and milk products, etc. I was glad I lost, as I gained again after the surgery. Even in the hospital! Oh well.

Lastly, exercise. My scoli doctor also recommended doing some kind of aerobic exercise to get my heart in shape for the surgery. Please note-- I have never had any heart problems and I was fine as far as I knew. He said that more often than scoli-related complications during the surgery, are heart problems. So I did fast bicycling for 30 minutes every day, for the last 2-3 months prior to surgery. AFTER surgery I wish I had known to strengthen my arms and legs more. Depending on the length/region of your fusion, you may be like some of us who can no longer bend except down at/near the hip. If so, you will need to squat down to get to low things. That's the back-healthy way anyway... even for people with no back problems. Your arms and your legs are going to be the tools you use for at least awhile after your surgery... to move your body around, whether it's pushing up from bed, sitting in lower chairs/toilet, and so on. Without the ability to get down to a squat, you won't be able to access the lower shelves of your kitchen, frig, etc. So if you aren't already very strong in the arms and legs, now is a good time to work on those muscles. Your back muscles are going to be severed (doesn't that sound nicer than "cut"?) anyway, and you will be starting all over there. I remember in one of the scoli books (David Wolpert's, I'm pretty sure) it talks about NOT building your back muscles prior to surgery.

I wish you the best as you explore your options and make your decisions. There are so many people here on the forum who have traveled that same path and we'll all be here to encourage you and to provide whatever info and empathy you might need. If strength were something to be seen through color, the forum would be a daVinci or Michelangelo masterpiece...

[CHRIS WBS]

Is this the same doctor I saw??? If I follow his lead and wait until I can no longer function to have surgery, then what good is a pre-surgery aerobic exercise program? And if I can’t function, how can I exercise? Hmmmm.

Re the back muscles, personally, I prefer cut over severed. Severed sounds more gruesome. It’s often used in crime and accident reports, i.e., severed head.

[skoshi314]

Terminology

How about separated? Detached? Divided? Disunited? I wish to thank www.dictionary.com for these. There were tons others, but none I'd want to consider!

[txmarinemom]

Semantics ...

I'd prefer (they were) "I don't wanna know-ed". Unfortunately, I have the pictures. That slide is titled "Initial Presentation".

Were they "presented" or even better, a "present"?

Yes! I like that. They were a gift! (one I wouldn't dream of returning NOW, but those first few weeks, I seriously wished I could exchange for something a bit more user friendly ;-).

Regards,
Pam

[Susie*Bee]

Chris-- I know you did not care for Dr. H... but I do. In fact, I'm having my 10 month appointment with him tomorrow and, although I'm apprehensive, I'm also looking forward to hearing from him on how I'm doing. He has always answered ALL my questions and been caring and concerned with me. This time I feel I need to defend him on the forum, because it seems every time I post something he said, you slam him. To clarify, he wasn't saying to do some sort of exercise program beyond my capabilities. He was suggesting that if I wanted to prepare for the surgery, some cardio strengthening exercise would be profitable. Such as stationary bike riding, which is what I did. You can't get much easier (on the rest of your body, no real pressure on your back) than that.

If anyone was looking for a Chicago scoli surgeon and read your posts, they would definitely steer clear of him. That's a shame, as he is an excellent scoliosis specialist with much experience and super credentials. Anyone interested in reading a brief bio can click on this: http://www.rushortho.com/kw_hammerberg.cfm If you click on his curriculum vitae toward the bottom of that page, you can read about his extensive experience.

Chris-- is your main complaint the fact that he did not TELL you that you HAD to have surgery? That is one of the first things he went over with me at my initial visit... the fact that a decision of that magnitude would be totally up to me and that there are many people who would prefer not to ever go through that surgery even though they may continue to go downhill with their scoli/pain/complications. He also explained what would continue to happen without surgery-- and what could possibly happen with surgery, both good and bad. I am glad you found a doctor that apparently has your mindset. I hope it goes well for you. I do know that Dr. H performs numerous, numerous scoli surgeries, both at Rush and at Shriner's, each year, so apparently there are many patients, both young and old, who accept what he has to say and determine to go ahead with surgery.

I am trying not to say anything negative regarding your opinion about him, but I am very puzzled by the (as I see it) continual put-downs when he is mentioned. I don't see that problem with him. And I felt I needed to say something this time.

[CHRIS WBS]

I found him abrupt and insensitive. I will never forget the first words he spoke to me. I was alone and terrified (I’ve had to got to all my appointments by myself) and just beginning my journey. He opened the door and said, “Why are you here? Do you want an operation?”

Chris

[Susie*Bee]

Chris-- I'm sorry you had a bad experience. Obviously you felt vulnerable, frightened, and hopeful-- and his (as you perceived it) brusque/cavalier attitude did not fulfill your expectations. Even so, I just don't understand what seems to be a great deal of animosity and anger that you have toward him.

Yes, my hubby goes with me. There's no way I could even negotiate the big city traffic (OK, I could if absolutely necessary, but it would terrify me) or even navigate my way up to that part of Chicago from here, since all I'm used to are pretty much two lane highways that lead directly to the place I'm headed. But we were both (hubby and me) a bit frightened by the "adventure" as well, of finding out more about my scoli and the plans that we would be making. Dr. Hammerberg has been very patient and kind with me. So I just don't get it. All of his staff are super nice, helpful people. His nurse emails me whenever I have questions, no matter how dumb they are. You live in a big city where there are apparently lots of possibilities for seeing different doctors (which you've done), a support group to get together with, etc. I come from the "country" with my nearby town having a whopping population of about 700. I go to a "family doctor"-- who 3 years ago referred me to an ortho specialist in Merrillville (big city to me), who said I was beyond him, and he referred me to Dr. Hammerberg. I really felt that was answered prayer for me. And I still do. It's ok to find fault with my doctor when it's warranted-- but I really would appreciate it if you let up a little on the jabs just for jabbing's sake, which is what I think you've been doing. Is that a fair request? I don't know. That doesn't mean you can't mention you didn't like his manner, or that he wasn't what you were hoping for. And I can say that I like him, that he was just what I was looking for... Or whatever. Whatever I've just said, I hope you can take it how I meant it-- in scoli friendship. Take care.

[txmarinemom]

I'm sorry, but it HAS to be said ...

Why all the bickering??

Not a bit different than the conversation that was shut down the other day, ladies.

(BTW, I didn't find EITHER "bickering". People have their opionions whether they're popular or not.)

Pam

[Susie*Bee]

my apologies...

First of all, to Chris, if she felt I was attacking her. That was not my intent. I wanted to understand "where you were coming from" with your negative comments about Dr. Hammerberg.

Secondly to all on the forum who felt I was attacking Chris. Again, that was not my intention. I tried to say what I felt compelled to say in defense of my doctor, in a way that was not combative. Apparently I failed.

I try to be patient and gentle and helpful with my posts, but wasn't able to pull it off this time anyway. I will not back down on my stance about my doctor though. I appreciate him, his expertise, and all he has done for me.

[Singer]

Susie hon, I think Pam was just teasing you. Relaaaaaax, everyone!

[Susie*Bee]

I know. It's ok. I'm just a little stressed. I didn't realize how much of the time people misunderstand what I'm trying to say. It's discouraging. Oh well.

I'm going to be gone all day and evening tomorrow, so that will be why you don't hear from me. Take care, everyone.

[Neesasmum]

There are so many people here on the forum who have traveled that same path and we'll all be here to encourage you and to provide whatever info and empathy you might need. If strength were something to be seen through color, the forum would be a daVinci or Michelangelo masterpiece...

Hi Susie

What a lovely way to put it! I couldn't agree more!

Take care
Anne