Anyone fused in upper thorasic or cervial spine?

[badback4me]

I have posted here before, so a quick review- Schuermann's kyphosis, Cottrell rods in 1989, fused T3-L2. My curve has moved up my spine. I saw Bridwell in 2008 (Dec.). He thought he could help stop it at least, and maybe do some correction. I found out right after my appt. that I have blood issues, including severe anemia, and they are still not solved. So, I know no surgery for now. However, I am wondering about those of you who have upper thorasic and/or cervical spine fusions. How much range of motion do you have? How much has it impacted your daily functioning? I am going for a second opinion locally on Wednesday and asking the same questions.

Thanks!

[sccrm08]

I am fused C4 to C6 and T3 to L4. I am to the point that I don't even try to see things that are behind me. That being said I can drive and look over my shoulders and use my mirrors a lot!!! But I have to do some turning by turning my hips in the direction I want to look over my shoulder. Hope this helps.

[JulieBW]

My fusion is T3 - L2. Backing up a car is not my best skill. Like Patty said, ya gotta use those mirrors. My curve has worsened above my fusion in recent years, resulting in a loss of 2" in height. I've had those bad stiff necks mentioned a few posts down, but not in recent years. Maybe the incureased curve relieved that particular stress??

[rainbow2010]

Julie is right about backing up. My daughter and I would both like one of those backup cameras for our cars. When my daughter went to take her road test 18 months postop, she told the examiner that she couldn't twist around to backup but she used her mirrors. She was told she had to twist around or she would fail. So she twisted around quickly, then used her mirrors. She hit a cone, but they still passed her. She is a great driver now and usually pulls through parking places so she doesn't have to back up.

[txmarinemom]

Rainbow, I'm curious why your daughter couldn't turn her head at 18 months post-op: There's a big difference in a cervical/high thoracic fusion and T7.

My fusion starts at T4, and I've never felt limited.

Did she have pre-op flexibility issues? Does she still?

Regards,
Pam

[Susie*Bee]

I'm curious about that too, Pam. BB4M-- My fusion is T2-L4. I am able to turn my head almost 90º to the right and the left, so that is pretty good (I think). I use mirrors for backing up, but sometimes also swivel my derriere if I'm in a tight spot, so that I can look over my shoulder too. I have noticed my higher fusion also limits my up and down motion a little. Not a biggie-- that means I can't quite drain the last drops of a can of pop or look straight up at the sky for more than a split second, etc. I don't know if that will help you any, since you are already fused from T3, so almost the same as me... I know there are some who have cervical fusions besides Patty, so hopefully you'll hear from them.

[debbei]

My fusion starts at T3, and I can also turn my head all the way to the right & left. If I need to see more behind me, I twist from the butt on my leather car seat with no problem.

[rainbow2010]

She could turn her head, but not twist her body enough to see to back up. She was very flexible preop but lost a lot postop. She is a dancer and can no longer do a lot of what she did before surgery. However, she does a great flatback for ballet!

[debbei]

She could turn her head, but not twist her body enough to see to back up. She was very flexible preop but lost a lot postop. She is a dancer and can no longer do a lot of what she did before surgery. However, she does a great flatback for ballet!

I have leather seats in my car, so it is easy for me to tur from my hips. Others have mentioned putting a plastic garbage bag on their seat to accomplish the same thing. Give it try--it takes some getting used to, but now, for me, it's old hat.

[JulieBW]

Folding sheets

The soda can comment reminded me to mention: I can't hold sheets under my chin to fold them. My husband does all the laundry these days; he folds them even less neatly than I do, but people don't go in my closets much, ya gotta let go of some things!

[tonibunny]

I'm fused from T1 down to L4. I have near enough full range of movement in my neck and am not restricted in any way. It sounds like I'm really fortunate - my thoracic fusion (all 12 vertebrae) was done when I was 10 and I've never ever had any problems or pain because of it.

[txmarinemom]

That is good, Toni.

With my fusion starting at T4, I have absolutely no post-op range of motion restriction in my neck. If anything, it's improved since surgery because I'm not "self-limiting" to guard protruding cervical discs.

I'd estimate (from my verrrrry precise testing ... here on my couch ;-) I can turn about 140° or more to either side.

It's my understanding most head rotation around the vertical axis occurs in the cervical vertebrae, and primarily at the atlanto-occiptal joint (where C1/C2 meet the occiput).

A fusion to the 3rd or 4th thoracic vertebra shouldn't really affect turning the head side to side. I can, however, understand how it might affect flexion and extension of the neck.

This makes me wonder if what I'm hearing described here isn't more of a muscle or other soft tissue restriction ...