Has anyone else noticed it's hard to sneeze after surgery? I'm eight wkd post op and everytime I feel a sneeze coming on I kind of seize up. Then I can't sneeze. This could be mental more than physical because I don't want to strain or hurt anything. Just wondered if anyone else went through this.
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Sneezing after surgery
Laura
62 degrees
49 yrs. young
Surgery 3/31/10 with Lenke
Before and After pics
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13749126@N06/Tags: None
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Originally posted by Radiogirl View PostHas anyone else noticed it's hard to sneeze after surgery? I'm eight wkd post op and everytime I feel a sneeze coming on I kind of seize up. Then I can't sneeze. This could be mental more than physical because I don't want to strain or hurt anything. Just wondered if anyone else went through this.__________________________________________
Debbe - 50 yrs old
Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
Told by Dr. my curve would never progress
Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees
Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degrees
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Hi Laura, I agree with Debbe, I was afraid to sneeze, cough, laugh when I had my surgery. Even now I just had minor surgery and it hurts to do all that, you just want to try to suppress it because you know it will be uncomfortableDolores A
June 4, 2009 Anterior L3 - S1
June 8, 2009 Posterior T4 - Pelvis
Mark Agulnick, MD FAAOS
NY Spine & Scoliosis Center
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So, does it get better with time? If so, when? Now that you mention it, yawning, laughing, coughing all are strained as is the sneezing.Laura
62 degrees
49 yrs. young
Surgery 3/31/10 with Lenke
Before and After pics
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13749126@N06/
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Oh sure it will ease up more and more each day as you heal, I remember the sneezing especially because I had my surgery in June, just in time for allergies, and now with this minor surgery I just had, I'm sneezing from the allergies also, though it does not hurt as bad.Dolores A
June 4, 2009 Anterior L3 - S1
June 8, 2009 Posterior T4 - Pelvis
Mark Agulnick, MD FAAOS
NY Spine & Scoliosis Center
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Hey Laura - you described my experience exactly. I feel like I am going to sneeze and i so don't want to, it goes away.
Last year my husband had a heart attack and during his recovery if he had to cough or sneeze he would hold a small pillow hard to his core. That is what I do hold a small pillow to my chest and hold tight and then it takes the pressure off the back. It seems to work. Just have to keep it handy.
I too hope this gets better as the muscles relax.
Hope the rest of your recovery is going well.
ShariShari - 55 years old
Pre-Surgery 62 degree thorasic curve with shifting.
Post op 13 degree curve.
Successful surgery 4/15/10, T3-L2 fused.
2nd surgery to reopen incision 10" to diagnose infection, 5/18/10
Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI - the late Dr. Harry Herkowitz
www.scoliosisthejourney.com
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Yes, I agree the pillow works. I remember after 6 months I think I had only sneezed a total of 12 or 14 times--I counted. Seems silly now but I was scared of sneezing especially. JanetJanet
61 years old--57 for surgery
Diagnosed in 1965 at age of 13--no brace
Thoracic Curve: 96 degrees to 35 degrees
Lumbar Curve: 63 degrees to 5 degrees
Surgery with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis--March 30, 2009
T-2 to Pelvis, and hopefully all posterior procedure.
All was posterior along with 2 cages and 6 osteotomies.
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Hehe....I held in my sneezes for a while also as it hurt...same thing with laughs and coughs. However I've found that once I stopped trying to fight them and just sucked it up it got easier quickly....to the point where I'm sneezing quite a few times a day due to alergies, and while it doesn't feel normal, it's just minor discomfort and I'm not worried about it anymore.
RichPre-Surgery Lumbar 65 degrees
A/P Fusion T10-Pelvis by Dr. Christopher Good
Virginia Spine Institute, Reston, VA 3/17/10, 3/18/10
Post-Surgery Lumbar 19 degrees, and 2" in height
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So, snuff is NOT an appropriate convalescent gift after spinal surgery, I gather!
Love you guys...Not all diagnosed (still having tests and consults) but so far:
Ehler-Danlos (hyper-mobility) syndrome, 69 - somehow,
main curve L Cobb 60, compensating T curve ~ 30
Flat back, marked lumbar kyphosis (grade?) Spondilolisthesis - everyone gives this a different grade too. Cervical stenosis op'd 3-07, minimally invasive
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Laura - that's exactly how I feel. It hurts like heck when I sneeze. I'll try the pillow next time like others suggested. Whenever I sneeze it's always followed with an "OW"Lynette - 44 years old.
Pre-surgery thoracic 55 degrees
Pre-surgery lumbar 85 degrees
Post-surgery thoracic 19 degrees
Post-surgery lumbar 27 degrees
Surgery April 1st 2010.
Posterior spinal fusion from T9 to sacrum.
Dr. Cronen at University Community Hospital - Tampa, FL.
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Hahaha!!! Well, I sure am glad I asked this question about sneezing. At first I thought, "no, these guys will think I am crazy!" But then I remembered who I was talking to....we are all a big family here and the support, advice and encouragement is just amazing! Love you all!!!! By the way...9 weeks ago today was my big date with Dr. Lenke!!!Laura
62 degrees
49 yrs. young
Surgery 3/31/10 with Lenke
Before and After pics
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13749126@N06/
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I don't think I sneezed for 6 months after my surgery and I still hardly sneeze at all. The most amazing thing is that my seasonal allergies seem to have completely gone away since the surgery -- I used to get severe attacks of nonstop sneezing once a month or so and now, nothing. Weird, but I'll take it!!!!!!Chris
A/P fusion on June 19, 2007 at age 52; T10-L5
Pre-op thoracolumbar curve: 70 degrees
Post-op curve: 12 degrees
Dr. Boachie-adjei, HSS, New York
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Laura
Yes, the sneezing is tough right after surgery. It does get easier...
"Sneeze-ow" sounds right Lynette.
Reminds me of anti-bark shock collar for dogs. "Woof-ow"... After about 100 "woof-ow's", batteries need replacing.....LOL
Ed49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
Pre surgery curves T70,L70
ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada
Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=
My x-rays
http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214
http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258
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Ed - you always make me laugh out loud - you are hilarious!!!Lynette - 44 years old.
Pre-surgery thoracic 55 degrees
Pre-surgery lumbar 85 degrees
Post-surgery thoracic 19 degrees
Post-surgery lumbar 27 degrees
Surgery April 1st 2010.
Posterior spinal fusion from T9 to sacrum.
Dr. Cronen at University Community Hospital - Tampa, FL.
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