Out of curiosity...

[littlebird]

out of curiosity

Linda--
So is this really unusual for a rib hump to get worse from year one to 2-years post op? Since I'm fused should it really stay put or will it keep going? He seemed to think it wouldn't but I'm still a bit fearful of doing the twisting type exercises, etc. that might increase the rib hump. Thanks. Janet

My rib hump changed after 20+ years! We are older and our bones can become weaker. I plan to ask Dr. Lenke for a brace to wear some of the time for the next couple of years. I am working with a osteoporosis specialist to help strengthen my bones. Remember, people shrink some with age. Our ribs can shift depending on the forces pulling on them. When we are rotated, it can change the pull on our ribs, which is what cause the original hump. If your curve is staying put, so will your rib cage. The rib cage is not fused, nor would you want it to be, because it is helping with your breathing. They cut pieces out of mine, trying to make it less sharp. It helped but it also made my rib cage more ridged. Oh, to be rid forever of that dreaded rib hump!!! Best to all

[Doodles]

Littlebird--
So good to hear from you and to meet you and your husband the other day. I almost missed your post about that! So glad I backed up to page 1. You provided some very good info for me to know. I certainly hope and pray for a great result with your surgery in June. Keep us updated. Is Dexa the bone scan? I don't remember that term. Janet

[golfnut]

Twisting after 1 year

Dr. Lenke has told me that I can play golf after 1 year, but after reading these posts, I think I will be afraid that the twisting in a golf swing might ruin my correction and cause the return, if only partially, of my rib hump. I hate to think I might have to wait 2 years to play golf again, which I used to do daily in spring,summer, & fall, but I sure don't want to do anything to ruin the correction that I am so happy with. My husband wants to go to Florida and play golf for a month next Feb., but . . . I'm worried.

[littlebird]

Out of curiosity

Littlebird--
So good to hear from you and to meet you and your husband the other day. I almost missed your post about that! So glad I backed up to page 1. You provided some very good info for me to know. I certainly hope and pray for a great result with your surgery in June. Keep us updated. Is Dexa the bone scan? I don't remember that term. Janet

Yes, Dexa scan is the type of bone scan you need. If you have osteopenia, or osteoporosis, your back will start bending. I neglected this because I thought I was fine. The test that I had checked my hip and spine, which is wrong for us. The fusion showed a lot more bone mass than my wrist, where no bone has been added. Once it was done corrected, I was told that I have osteoporosis. I take Forteo, a injection, and 50,000 iu of Vit. D a week. If I recall, you are 57, so you are of a age where this could be a factor. We all search for things we can do to help keep our backs as straight as we can. I hope this is of some help to you. You and your husband are a very delightful couple. He seems very proud of you. Take care, Ann

[LindaRacine]

Yes, Dexa scan is the type of bone scan you need. If you have osteopenia, or osteoporosis, your back will start bending.

While osteopenia and osteoporosis can cause kyphosis and/or scoliosis, they don't always.

--Linda

[jrnyc]

i had scoli waaaaay before i had osteopenia...
looking back, i realized i had scoli as a kid/teen!
not sure at what point my being "particularly hypokyphotic" (per surgeon) kicked in

jess

[LindaRacine]

Dr. Lenke has told me that I can play golf after 1 year, but after reading these posts, I think I will be afraid that the twisting in a golf swing might ruin my correction and cause the return, if only partially, of my rib hump. I hate to think I might have to wait 2 years to play golf again, which I used to do daily in spring,summer, & fall, but I sure don't want to do anything to ruin the correction that I am so happy with. My husband wants to go to Florida and play golf for a month next Feb., but . . . I'm worried.

Hi Karen...

Unless you have some underlying disorder, your fusion probably won't be any more solid at 2 years than it will be at 1 year. And, no average amount of twisting is going to do anything to make your rib hump more prominent. The ribs are attached to the spine, and the spine is what caused the ribs to become misshapen. I definitely encourage you to discuss this with Dr. Lenke.

Regards,
Linda

[Doodles]

Ann--
We really enjoyed meeting both of you! It's always good to exchange info with those who have been there! I have had bone scans too pre-surgery and they came out pretty good but with some osteopenia, if I recall correctly. Janet

[flowerpower]

"The ribs are attached to the spine, and the spine is what caused the ribs to become misshapen."


Good explanation, Linda. When my oldest son had surgery (2005) he had a significant rib hump, we were told that the hump would be corrected approx. 50% of pre-surgery measurement. Post surgery, there appeared to be no rib hump, but over the course of the year while the body "settled" the rib hump slowly reappeared, and the dr.s explanation was that the rotation/curvature had caused the ribs to not form properly.

[Confusedmom]

So, is this to be pretty much expected then, that correction to rib humps (without thoracoplasty) will be temporary? Or at least it may appear that it is corrected and then reappear over the course of time? Is there anyone out there who had surgery a long time ago who still has a good rib hump correction? Just want to know what to expect.

Thanks!
Evelyn

[Doodles]

Thanks, Flowerpower, that helps me understand it better. Janet

[flowerpower]

So, is this to be pretty much expected then, that correction to rib humps (without thoracoplasty) will be temporary? Or at least it may appear that it is corrected and then reappear over the course of time? Is there anyone out there who had surgery a long time ago who still has a good rib hump correction? Just want to know what to expect.

Thanks!
Evelyn

I think for the most part, the majority get satisfactory correction of the rib hump. My son had a very significant rib hump, it progressed quite rapidly prior to surgery. I do believe that the ribs may have malformed over time.
My youngest son (13) just had surgery March 7th. His rotation also progressed quite rapidly prior to surgery but the dr. felt he got way better correction of the rotation because he did a anterior release (removed some discs) in addition to the spinal fusion. He looks fairly straight and even right now, but still bends a little to the right; he may still be favoring that side due to the side incisions, but I'm not quite sure. Time will tell. We see the dr. tomorrow, hopefully a restriction or two will be released.
Also wanted to add that even with a thoracoplasty, a rib hump "might" return if the ribs were malformed to begin with. I don't think that is a common scenario either, but well worth asking a dr. about

[LindaRacine]

"The ribs are attached to the spine, and the spine is what caused the ribs to become misshapen."


Good explanation, Linda. When my oldest son had surgery (2005) he had a significant rib hump, we were told that the hump would be corrected approx. 50% of pre-surgery measurement. Post surgery, there appeared to be no rib hump, but over the course of the year while the body "settled" the rib hump slowly reappeared, and the dr.s explanation was that the rotation/curvature had caused the ribs to not form properly.

That explanation makes absolutely no sense to me. Do you think the surgeon was saying that now that the rotation and curvature had been corrected, the ribs were now able to form properly?

[Pooka1]

So, is this to be pretty much expected then, that correction to rib humps (without thoracoplasty) will be temporary? Or at least it may appear that it is corrected and then reappear over the course of time? Is there anyone out there who had surgery a long time ago who still has a good rib hump correction? Just want to know what to expect.

Thanks!
Evelyn

My one daughter was extremely rotated and therefore had a very large, very noticeable rib hump. At least 90% of that rotation was removed in March 2008 and has never returned. The only remnant of the rotation is that her right shoulder blade sticks out a bit more and the amount of that has been stable in the entire post op period (just over three years now) to my eye. It is not enough for an untrained person to notice in my opinion.

I do not believe a fusion allows the rib hump to return in a visible fashion although there is one issue... there was a paper published on how changes in the transverse plane (looking straight down from the top) can go on long term - several years. I interpret that to mean the rotation can increase slightly over many years but the numbers are small and I don't believe that would be noticeable to anyone except maybe the person if they are specifically trying to measure it somehow.

[Doodles]

Just wondering...do most people have this measured ? My rib hump or amount of rotation, I guess, was measured at 12 a year after surgery and is now at 14 degrees. Is this typical? Until a year ago I didn't know such a measurement existed. It was almost like a weird level that was put on my back as I bent over. Janet