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twisting limitations with full fusion.

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  • #46
    hi Melissa
    according to Dr Lonner, not much difference...
    i think pelvis is lower down...
    i do know he said i would have more stability (for my individual case) fused to pelvis...or at least with "pelvic fixation"....

    i think of you often and hope things get better for you...
    so sorry you are still in pain!

    jess

    Comment


    • #47
      I'm glad that everyone appreciates these pictures. I knew that these pictures would help those who are waiting and nervous about being fused down to the pelvis. I too, was wondering what was going to happen as far as my mobility. Since things were very bad down low, I didn’t even question having to have to do my A/P, I trusted my surgeon. Dr Menmuir really did a fantastic job. I will add my x-rays just in case any of you have missed them. The pelvic anchors (Iliac bolts) are the longest I have seen, and have been glancing at boatloads of x-rays all along of scoli constructs. Its Synthes "Pangea system".

      Some links if there are any questions.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrum
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelvis

      I do not feel any of my hardware, and I'm pain free.

      If your surgeon wants to go down to the pelvis for support, it is probably a good idea to accept this since it will help support your construct and help guarantee fusion. I don’t believe that saving one level, or two is really worth it at age 50. The amount of articulation per level is probably only about 2 degrees. I know I wouldn’t want to have a revision and all that pain repeated to try to save that "limited mobility".

      I have adapted, and things are great. I wouldn’t change a thing.
      Ed
      Attached Files
      49 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

      Comment


      • #48
        OMGoodness, Ed, those ARE long iliac screws! It makes me feel better that your rods are not completely aligned in the saggital plane. They look about like mine. I assume that means we still have rotation in there. is that correct?

        My question for you is, do you ever go a day without thinking about your back? And, if so, about at what point in recovery did that occur?
        Kathy
        46 yrs at surgery, now 50
        71 degree thoracolumbar curve corrected to 34 degrees
        8/2/2010 surgery with Dr. Lenke

        posterior T9 to sacrum with pelvic fixation

        4 osteotomies and 1 cage
        http://s1066.photobucket.com/albums/...athK_08022010/

        Comment


        • #49
          Originally posted by KathK View Post
          OMGoodness, Ed, those ARE long iliac screws!
          That's what ALL the women say.
          Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

          No island of sanity.

          Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
          Answer: Medicine


          "We are all African."

          Comment


          • #50
            Oh Sharon, you scamp!!
            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

            Comment


            • #51
              Originally posted by Singer View Post
              Oh Sharon, you scamp!!
              Hey! I don't make the news... I just report it.
              Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

              No island of sanity.

              Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
              Answer: Medicine


              "We are all African."

              Comment


              • #52
                I've heard that term quite a bit...OMGoodness. LOL It should be added to the dictionary.

                Kathy, Yes, there still is rotation. I have a thread on the subject with posted cts.

                There are days when I don’t thing about my back. I have gotten so used to it now. I think it took about 18 months....

                I have to be careful in that respect as I leaned down to look at a piece of machinery last month and my spine reminded me that I'm fused.
                Ed
                49 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

                Comment


                • #53
                  Thanks so much for sharing this great info Ed. I will be facing a t-2 to pelvis surgery on 10/25 and one of my biggest questions/concerns is regarding flexibility. You really have helped keeping it in perspective.

                  People are always saying to me "can't you get your surgeon to stop at a higher level?" My doc said that if I didn't go the the pelvis there would be a 40% chance that I would be facing extension surgery within 2 years. I love to gamble with cards and video poker, but not with 40% odds on more surgery. I will learn how to cope with my new normal. Again, thanks for sharing .
                  Chris, Austin, TX
                  age:58
                  80 degree thoracic/36 degree lumbar curves
                  Surgery 8/2/10, Anterior Cervical Decompression/Fusion
                  C4/5, C5/6, C6/7
                  New Surgery date 10/25/2010, T-2 to Pelvis, posterior
                  Dr. Matthew Geck, Seton Spine and Scoliosis Center

                  Comment


                  • #54
                    hi Chris
                    haven't booked surgery...yet...
                    but wanted to tell you that my surgeon said the same thing to me...stability wouldn't be sufficient without fusing all the way to the pelvis...

                    i wish you a smooth procedure and an uneventful recovery...followed by the pain free life you deserve!

                    bes regards...
                    jess

                    Comment


                    • #55
                      Ed,

                      Can you twist and bend like that without any pain?

                      Totally unfused, I can twist about that far, but it sure isn't comfortable! Doesn't help that ribs are bumping into hips, etc.

                      Evelyn
                      age 48
                      80* thoracolumbar; 40* thoracic
                      Reduced to ~16* thoracolumbar; ~0* thoracic
                      Surgery 3/14/12 with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis, T4 to S1 with pelvic fixation
                      Broken rods 12/1/19; scheduled for revision fusion L1-L3-4 with Dr. Lenke 2/4/2020
                      Not "confused" anymore, but don't know how to change my username.

                      Comment


                      • #56
                        Yes. I don’t have any pain. If anything, I have what I call the "bear traps". The tight feeling of the muscles in my mid and upper back in the area of the spine. This happens when a "winter" storm moves through. I have always wondered if it was due to a combination of moisture, cold, and low atmospheric pressure. I have a thread on this topic. Last year around November 1st, it really hit me, we will see if that happens this year.

                        My surgeon told me that it’s a common complaint.

                        I have permission to lift 100#.
                        Ed
                        49 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

                        Comment


                        • #57
                          Kathy, Here you go.

                          http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=8622

                          You can see the rotation in the cts
                          Ed
                          49 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

                          Comment


                          • #58

                            Hi TiEd
                            many with arthritis...also those with migraines...are human barometers...barometer drops when rain/snow is coming....
                            my weather prediction record is much better than the forecasters on TV!!

                            100 pounds...wow!
                            do you ever do weight machines in gym? i miss leg presses & other lower body weight machines...pain has kept me out of gym for 2 years now...

                            glad you can do weights again...
                            jess

                            Comment


                            • #59
                              Jess

                              No, I do not lift weights in a gym anymore. I did buy a ski pass for this season, and skiing can be a workout in itself...It takes me a little while to re-build the "soft tissues" used for skiing, I should be in great shape after about a month of skiing.

                              Right now, my body is normalized. I'm not improving much anymore, I think that my full heal took 2 years... 90% in the first year, 10% in the second. The battles with fatigue took a long time, but that has ceased.

                              Things are pretty good. Surgery saved my life, it worked. Whew.....
                              Ed
                              49 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

                              Comment


                              • #60
                                How can I cut my toenails?

                                Ed, I dug up your old thread because I am dying to know how I can reach to trim my toenails or lace up my shoes. I was fused T8-sacrum/pelvis seven months ago, so most activity restrictions are lifted and I am doing quite well overall. But, although I am a very flexible person, I can't quite manage to reach my feet!

                                Any hints you can share, I would appreciate!
                                Gayle, age 50
                                Oct 2010 fusion T8-sacrum w/ pelvic fixation
                                Feb 2012 lumbar revision for broken rods @ L2-3-4
                                Sept 2015 major lumbar A/P revision for broken rods @ L5-S1


                                mom of Leah, 15 y/o, Diagnosed '08 with 26* T JIS (age 6)
                                2010 VBS Dr Luhmann Shriners St Louis
                                2017 curves stable/skeletely mature

                                also mom of Torrey, 12 y/o son, 16* T, stable

                                Comment

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