Had a great fall!

[Confusedmom]

Jenna,

I am fused to the sacrum with pelvic fixation, and I cannot tilt my pelvis. In fact, my entire abdomen is pretty much fixed in place except my shoulders. I am fine with that, though, if I end up with less pain and deformity in the long run.

Best,
Evelyn

[titaniumed]

Ed, you mention not being able to tilt your pelvis. I thought even with pelvis fixation you would be able to tilt your pelvis forward and backwards to sort of stick out your bottom. Is this not the case after full fusion?

Nope, no tilting......but I could probably hula hoop!

The soft tissues around the spine and pelvis allow for quite a bit if movement..its amazing actually. It would be interesting to stand in front of a flouroscope, and do range of motion studies looking at the spine and bones. It would prove that the spine is actually over engineered.....and not necessary for the most basic of movements.

I’m the same as Dolores. The tripping is a little scary, but otherwise after 4 1/2 years, I can safely say that having my surgery was the right thing to do. You cannot come to a determination for at least a year.....it does take a long time to heal and adapt. My balance is excellent....

Dolores
My C5/C6 disc is showing signs of age related wear and tear. I am ready for whatever it takes as long as there is no pain or extreme stiffness. My surgeon who is also a neck specialist was not even thinking about fusing my neck, and it seemed that he was very hesitant.....shots would be the next move if my neck pain gets out of control. Last January, I had terrible neck pain and stiffness and my Chiros had to adjust it about 5 times to loosen things back up. I was a true Tin man with no movement at all. I think that the position of the neck while sleeping has quite a bit to do with problems in the neck. I do use very soft down pillows so I can easily adjust the height to keep the neck straight.

Ed

[Jenna.KB]

Hi Jena, I'm sorry if I scared you a bit about my fall, but I had my surgery in June of '09 (wow, I just realized I just passed my 3 year anniversary!), but anyway it's not my balance that's off, actually it's pretty good. It is only if I trip on something or other I have to be more aware. It's been three years now since my surgery, and as you can see from my signature, I had just about the same levels you are about to go through, and at three years post op I don't even think about it anymore. Of course I don't have the flexibility for some things, I have adapted. My pain, especially the sciatica is completely gone and live a relatively normal life. believe it or not, after awhile after post op, you just get on with your life, with some minor limitations. I'll be following your posts to see how you are doing!

Dolores

Hi Dolores

Its good to know your doing so well and I'm having similar fusions to you.
I'm definately going to take note though and walker slower and more carefully after surgery but if I trip there is nothing I can do about it. That's going to be weird I must say.

Fingers crossed not much more waiting. Started a thread yesterday because I was upset after calling the hospital to be told there were 3 people in front of me for surgery but everything is getting delayed. I'm trying to be positive though and everyday I'm one step closer to surgery :-)

Jenna x

[Jenna.KB]

Hi Evelyn & Ed

Thanks for your reply to my pelvis question. Good to know I wont be able to tilt it anymore. My body is going to change so much, its going to be so strange for quite a while. I haven't got a choice though, I need to surgery and like Evelyn says if it stops the pain and deformation I'm all for it too.

Jenna x

[lray]

Oh wow, I had no idea others had this problem with their center of gravity post-surgery. I am the same way - I haven't fallen - yet but I do trip easily or lose my balance. When I walk, often I can't seem to walk a straight line - people behind me might think I'm drunk! I find that I need to concentrate when I walk sometimes. I guess it just takes time for our bodies to reconfigure itself, almost like rebooting a computer!? I'm 1-1/2 years postop and I'm still rebooting!

[jane d]

Nordic walking poles

The personal trainer that I have been working with for the past 3 years as I await my surgery (will be 8/ 08/12 with Dr. Lenke) suggested I use walking poles to ease the pain in my back when I walk. It has helped as I can't walk any distance without them. They have kept me from falling more than once. I got my first pair at Target and then for my last birthday my daughter bought me a really nice, very light weight pair. (brand name:Leki). As a side benefit, this style of walking is also supposed to burn more calories. I take one with me when shopping too. Plan to use them after my surgery.
Jane

[debbei]

Hi Dolores!! It's been a long time! I've had one fall, but it was backwards and landed on my big old butt! LOL It's very scary when we fall. I was actually more scared then hurt. I don't really notice anything about my center of balance.

[debbei]

and how fantastic that your back doesn't hurt from the fall!

[dolores a]

Tilting?

I'm a little confused (which is not that unusual for me), but what do you all mean by tilting, I can bend over in what they call a flat back position, but I can't bend down to pick up something without going into a squat position.

Hi Debbie, How are you doing now after tat pain issue you were having awhile back, hopefully it's cleared up. I actually fell at work shortly after I return from my surgery, but that time I fell back and not on my butt, I fell like a tree like the other day, and like youno pain, just scared me that I might have broken something.

[debbei]

Hi Dolores,

(knock-on-wood) that injection that Dr. Neuwirth gave me in Feb really did the trick. I felt almost instant relief, and within a month or so felt totally back to normal. Somehow I irritated the muscles around a screw, and hopefully it won't happen again!

Falling is just plain scary for those of us who have had this surgery. I remember Pam saying she fell the day she came home from the hospital, and she was just fine.