Sagittal Imbalance, Deja Vu all over again!

[susancook]

S-h-e-e-e-s back again! Yes, folks it is me again! I am trying to understand Sagittal Imbalance. I need a quick course and have been trolling the Internet for info. I had a "scoliosis spine series" a week ago and the results were: "There is rightward coronal balance measuring 2.4 cm and positive sagittal balance measuring 12 cm". I am trying to understand if 12 cm is a small-medium-or large imbalance. I have a Virtual visit with Dr. Hart scheduled and I want to make sure that I can "speak the scoliosis/sagittal imbalance language" in my part of the discussion. One of the articles that I read said that for sagittal balance of greater than 5 cm, that conservative treatments don't help. A previous blog cited Dr. Lonner's article, so I downloaded it. I am 76 years old/young...nope OLD and already use forearm crutches/wheelchair/scooter. I work on staying active and the receptionists at OHSU PT Clinic wave me in like I am family.

So, any sage advice?

Susan

After I posted this, I noticed that my surgical history that previously accompanied my blog was gone. I have not posted on the forum recently....so, was I voted off the island?

[jackieg412]

I am not real sure but how are you about looking forward? That was a big key issue when it was decided to fix my spine this last time. I could not maintain a horizontal gaze. See if you can.

[susancook]

Jackie,
I need to tilt my head backwards to see in front of me. I look at the ground when I walk.
Susan

[rohrer01]

Oh Susan. How does having to crank your head back to look forward feel on your neck? Are you feeling up for another surgery, or is this something you can "live" with? I say that with a grain of salt because many of us just put up with our pains. I had my neck fused and straightening it and giving it proper lordosis threw my whole spine into a different shape. I will most likely "live" with mine if it doesn't bother me too much.

I hope your appointment with Dr. Hart goes well. Is he the only guy out there that does scoliosis surgeries? Surely there has to be more.

[susancook]

Oh Susan. How does having to crank your head back to look forward feel on your neck? Are you feeling up for another surgery, or is this something you can "live" with? I say that with a grain of salt because many of us just put up with our pains. I had my neck fused and straightening it and giving it proper lordosis threw my whole spine into a different shape. I will most likely "live" with mine if it doesn't bother me too much.

I hope your appointment with Dr. Hart goes well. Is he the only guy out there that does scoliosis surgeries? Surely there has to be more.

Hi there. You are so correct in pointing out the diminishing value of more intervention to "fix" a problem. My VIRTUAL appt with Dr. Hart is June 13th. It is mostly to check up the relief that I received from cervical steroid injection. I will call and try to have a virtual visit just to discuss that Positive Sagittal Imbalance sooner than mid June.

Susan

[jackieg412]

Oh Susan it is difficult not to get discouraged. Just sometimes there is one problem after another. Just a few thoughts, I think you had part of your hardware removed, some of my problems came after I did. For me there was a non union. I also am fused both anterior and posterior in my cervical. When I went into an imbalance , I was chocking on anything I ate.
My last spinal surgery, the neurosurgeon took everything out and two very high vertebrae reduction. I also now have 4 rods in the thoracic and cervical screws not spinal screws.
But I can hold my head up and no more chocking.
Hopefully you can ask before June.
Maybe they can do an EOS X-Ray. It gives a better view with less radiation.
I miss Ed. I wish he would return. Maybe you could reach out to him.

[babyboomer16]

Jackie,

Susan

Hi Susan, don’t know if you remember me, but I’m having the same problems. I can’t look up at all. I have to tilt my head way back to see in front of me. I look down all the time. My problem is T/2 and T/3. They were the only vertebrae that didn’t have any hardware at all. But the are crushed now. Otherwise I ‘m fused from my pelvis on up to C/1.( I think C/1 is the highest up one) . Everything is anterior and posterior. Anyway, I was wondering if you got your problem fixed? It so hard to carry around my head. Plus all the other painful issues. Hope you got some help, and are doing better. It sounds like you were unsure about the whole thing. Take care~Warmly, Linda