I am dissappointed

[Doodles]

BabyBoomer--I'm so sorry--this was not the answer you were looking for. I completely agree with Jennifer & she always says it so well. Give the pt a try while you have time to sort through all of this. Best of luck. Keep us informed--we're all here to help as much as we can. Janet

[jsully]

Sorry to hear that. At least he was honest. I hope mine is being honest with me.
Janet

[debbei]

Awh honey....I am so sorry to hear this. Maybe PT will make a difference for you. ((Hugs))

[naptown78]

BabyBoomer,
Yes I have had your same problem and gone through a revision just 6 months ago. I went through all the same emotions as you, going through such a major spinal fusion and then not having it be as successful as what you wanted it to be. I had PT also, it did help in strengthening my back and my legs but in the end it did not help me straighten up. Maybe it will help you. We are all different ;-) I absolutely know what you mean about not wanting to go through another surgery. It was 2 years between my surgeries. For me it just came to a point where I couldn't live in my body anymore. Just so you know, the surgery to fix this is not an easier surgery. Expect to go through the same type of recovery. Not trying to scare you but for some reason, people seem to think revision surgeries are easier. If you do opt to go through surgery though, just know that you can do it! You already know that you have survived the first surgery so you can survive this one. The most important thing is to find a surgeon that does revisions like this all the time. I'm not sure where you live but if you live near Indy, Dr Terry Trammel is excellent! My results were wonderful, and I was able to stand upright immediately! I could tell that this was what should have happened the first time ;-)))
Good luck and if you have any questions, I am here for you....

[babyboomer16]

BabyBoomer,
Yes I have had your same problem and gone through a revision just 6 months ago. I went through all the same emotions as you, going through such a major spinal fusion and then not having it be as successful as what you wanted it to be. I had PT also, it did help in strengthening my back and my legs but in the end it did not help me straighten up. Maybe it will help you. We are all different ;-) I absolutely know what you mean about not wanting to go through another surgery. It was 2 years between my surgeries. For me it just came to a point where I couldn't live in my body anymore. Just so you know, the surgery to fix this is not an easier surgery. Expect to go through the same type of recovery. Not trying to scare you but for some reason, people seem to think revision surgeries are easier. If you do opt to go through surgery though, just know that you can do it! You already know that you have survived the first surgery so you can survive this one. The most important thing is to find a surgeon that does revisions like this all the time. I'm not sure where you live but if you live near Indy, Dr Terry Trammel is excellent! My results were wonderful, and I was able to stand upright immediately! I could tell that this was what should have happened the first time ;-)))
Good luck and if you have any questions, I am here for you....

naptown78...Thanks for your response. I had read about you one other time. I know that if the surgeon wouldn't have been so honest with me, I would maybe think it was a little early to be nervous. But-thats not the case. I have a feeling that physical therapy won't be the whole answer. But it may help to strengthen me up a little as I move forward to make the discision. I have never talked to the spine deformity surgeon that worked on me. Thats next time. Seems a rather long time to wait to see him. After all he is the specialist. I won't let him touch me(for revision) unless I am apsolutley sure he knows what hes doing!!I may have to travel. I'm out in the sticks. Winner So. Dak.(4000 PEOPLE) 200 mi. from any big town. I had surgery in Sioux Fall S. Dak. It has the Sanford Health Care Facility.. A big medical facility. But the Mayo clinic is only 6 hrs. from there.(Rochester Minn.) They're well know for their expert Drs. and Surgeons. I will have to look to see how far Indy. is from So. Dak. I just have a problem with this Dr. not calling me or anything. And everytime I have tried to get hold of him he was gone. So I have delt with the surgeon that was with him during the surgery. He doesn't specialize in it at all. Is from a different hospital. But he is the one that referred me to Haft(the specialist). Oh well, it will be a little while till I have to make these dicisions.I will keep you all informed. Thanks everyone for your support. It really helps. No one knows what this is like unless they have been through it. (((Gentle Hugs))) bboomer

[JenniferG]

Hi boomer. Seems I have an apology to make for saying the revision surgery is not as bad as the original. I was sure I'd read that here somewhere! Naptown has proven me wrong.

I'm glad though, that you now have someone who's experienced the revision, who can answer your questions. Best of luck boomer!

[naptown78]

Hi boomer. Seems I have an apology to make for saying the revision surgery is not as bad as the original. I was sure I'd read that here somewhere! Naptown has proven me wrong.

I'm glad though, that you now have someone who's experienced the revision, who can answer your questions. Best of luck boomer!

Jennifer,
Lol, no need for apologies! I think generally its just a misunderstanding on the board that a revision like I had is easier. Its not. I had half my rods and screws taken out and replaced along with an osteotomy done. There is still fusion that has to take place but I was lucky and tolerated my surgery very well ;-)

[jrnyc]

hi bboomer
i am so sorry for the problems you've run into since the surgery...
i wouldn't expect anyone to be ready to hear about yet another major surgery, right after having just had a major surgery! too much to absorb, too fast!

from living on this planet many years, and from being a social worker, i know a little bit about how people handle shock and grief...it can take quite a while to process....and often literally involves going thru the stages of grief!

perhaps, after you have had a while to rest, both physically and mentally, you will be able to assess how much or little PT helps you...
after that, if enough time has passed, you may be ready to consider another operation...

i hope you can rest, heal, relax, and just take care of yourself...you have been through so much lately!

best wishes for quiet healing time...
jess

[babyboomer16]

Thamks so much!

hi bboomer
i am so sorry for the problems you've run into since the surgery...
i wouldn't expect anyone to be ready to hear about yet another major surgery, right after having just had a major surgery! too much to absorb, too fast!

from living on this planet many years, and from being a social worker, i know a little bit about how people handle shock and grief...it can take quite a while to process....and often literally involves going thru the stages of grief!

perhaps, after you have had a while to rest, both physically and mentally, you will be able to assess how much or little PT helps you...
after that, if enough time has passed, you may be ready to consider another operation...

i hope you can rest, heal, relax, and just take care of yourself...you have been through so much lately!

best wishes for quiet healing time...
jess

Thanks for giving some quality caring and advice. I needed that. I will try hard to do as you said. REST is so important. I will let you know how it goes. Thank-you again. bboomer

[jsully]

Hi bboomer 16. I am disappointed too. I had like 2 good days last week and now I am having a lot of troulble standing up and walking straight without bending over and tilting my hips. I looked up flatback on the computer and it explains how I feel. I just placed a call to my MD. I'll let you know what he says.
Janet

[jsully]

My Dr assured me today I do not have flatback luckily. He said for that I would have to have no lordosis or kyphosis in order to have a flatback and I have both. I may have to have my lower disc added on though with pelvic fixation if the pain in my lower back doesn't improve. I am happy to find out that this surgery does not require removing the rods or other hardware and we can just "add on" to the exisisting fusion if needed.
Janet

[Confusedmom]

That's great news, Janet! I'm so glad to hear you don't have flat back, and if you do have to have more surgery is won't be as major. Hopefully your pain will subside with more time and you'll be in the clear!

Evelyn

[babyboomer16]

Bad news for me!

Hey, sorry I havn't been on here for a while, but thats how long it takes to get things done when you live in the boon docs!! I think you all know the problems I am having and have been having for the past couple months. I lean forward much too much, causing pain in my lower back and middle back also. But anyway, to make this a shorter story, I have two surgeons (one specialized in deformaties) the other is just a plain orthapedic surgeon. They tried to fix my scoliosis due to a previous surgery four yrs. ago on my lower back. They went in and used harrington rods and screws and fused me from my pelvis to T10. But I am leaning forward terrible at this time(3mo. out) and have terrible pain. Such is what I call "saggital imbalance". But my surgeons didn't really call it that. They just said that I should have been pulled back farther and fused up higher. They said it should be fixed or it will get worse. And they also talked about doing an osteotomy down by L4/5. I guess they want to talk some more and then will call me about what their plan is. And I don't know when this will be. Meanwhile I am sooo uncomfortable. And can't walk hardly at all. Don't you think this is SAGGITAL IMBALANCE? Wonder why they didn't call it that. Oh well-I know what ever it is it's not right. Do you think I should get another opinion? The surgeon said it would be fine if I wanted to. (THE Specialist). I live in So. Dak. about 200 miles from any city. And we are about 8 hrs. from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minn. Which is a well known teaching hospital. And research center. So I could go there. But it's so much more convenient to go to Sioux Falls S.Dak.(where I go now) because of relatives living there and such. Plus I know when you start over it's the hassle of new cat scans, xrays, MRI'S ect. and records to be faxed and all. But- its also my life we're talking about. I can't believe I went through that huge surgery and NOW THIS! I'm scared and depressed. Prayers would be welcome. And any input much appreciated. bboomer

[golfnut]

Baby Boomer,
I am so sorry you are having such problems. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers!!!!

[LindaRacine]

Hey, sorry I havn't been on here for a while, but thats how long it takes to get things done when you live in the boon docs!! I think you all know the problems I am having and have been having for the past couple months. I lean forward much too much, causing pain in my lower back and middle back also. But anyway, to make this a shorter story, I have two surgeons (one specialized in deformaties) the other is just a plain orthapedic surgeon. They tried to fix my scoliosis due to a previous surgery four yrs. ago on my lower back. They went in and used harrington rods and screws and fused me from my pelvis to T10. But I am leaning forward terrible at this time(3mo. out) and have terrible pain. Such is what I call "saggital imbalance". But my surgeons didn't really call it that. They just said that I should have been pulled back farther and fused up higher. They said it should be fixed or it will get worse. And they also talked about doing an osteotomy down by L4/5. I guess they want to talk some more and then will call me about what their plan is. And I don't know when this will be. Meanwhile I am sooo uncomfortable. And can't walk hardly at all. Don't you think this is SAGGITAL IMBALANCE? Wonder why they didn't call it that. Oh well-I know what ever it is it's not right. Do you think I should get another opinion? The surgeon said it would be fine if I wanted to. (THE Specialist). I live in So. Dak. about 200 miles from any city. And we are about 8 hrs. from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minn. Which is a well known teaching hospital. And research center. So I could go there. But it's so much more convenient to go to Sioux Falls S.Dak.(where I go now) because of relatives living there and such. Plus I know when you start over it's the hassle of new cat scans, xrays, MRI'S ect. and records to be faxed and all. But- its also my life we're talking about. I can't believe I went through that huge surgery and NOW THIS! I'm scared and depressed. Prayers would be welcome. And any input much appreciated. bboomer

Hi Boomer...

If they truly used Harrington rods, that I suspect the deformity surgeon really isn't one. However, I think it's very possible that you're using Harrington rods in the generic way (like Kleenix).

I wouldn't expect the general orthopaedist to know much about sagittal balance, but if the other doc is really a deformity specialist, he should know about it. It's possible that they're just not using the term with you.

If you can get copies of your xrays, I'd be happy to get someone to look at them and comment.

Regards,
Linda