brace question

[sccrm08]

Susie,

I am glad to hear I am not the only one who can not drink the last sip of soda . my fusion starts at T3, but I was also fused from C4 to C6 the preveous year so I figure this has a lot to do with it.

I do have a hard time turning my head, but force myself to stretch it everyday as I'm worried I will loose what little movement I have.

[trishthedish]

I am still in my brace post-op, too. Shelokov does brace all his high thoracic and cerivical surgeries. I've heard that it's mostly that the presence of the brace will help remind us what movements we are not supposed to make. But that doesn't stop me from doing after that last drop of canned Diet DP =)

[txmarinemom]

But this is where my curve was.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...AGE33-6-08.jpg

Again ... *wow!* ... amazing x-ray ...

[txmarinemom]

In my case I was developing a kyphosis problem too-- I don't have my pre-op lateral x-ray posted, but in it one can see my upper back is rounded more than it should be. I was developing that "dowager's hump"... Now I have a nice straight back, just the normal kyphotic curve that should be there.

And, funny ... mine was just the opposite - LOL. Whether is happened via nature or an almost constant attempt over 30 years to compensate for the dropped shoulder, etc., I had almost NO kyphosis. Hanson basically sculpted normal kyphosis into the rods, and it's still a bit causes a bit of fatigue because I guess I fight it. Stretching my chest wall - and across the front of my shoulders - is helping to combat that.

I have the odd sensation of "laying on rockers", for lack of a better term when I'm on a hard surface (the tanning bed, for example ... I usually do the stand up or reclining one now vs. the flat one).

Here are my pre-op and post-op saggital x-rays ... I swear it's why I only gained 1/4" - LOL!

Regards,
Pam