Re: Update / Non-Revised Flatback and Pregnancy

[Guest guest]

I can TOTALLY relate. Thanks for bringing this up, . My Doc told me that

I could

lose some more weight if I wanted and I'm only a 150 pound 5'10 " tall woman.

Thanks,

Doc, but I don't want to be a model or anything!!! Though I guess that

would help with the bills... That being said, the Pilates and weights and

swimming are

really helping with my daily experience. (and the monthly massages are soooooo

good!)

He also said that some Docs. recommend that women who have not had revision

avoid

getting pregnant, but he doesn't feel that way, although a pregnancy would cause

me a

LOT of pain and strain that would be difficult to manage because of the baby.

I'm not

planning on having a child for awhile (or maybe at all), but it really scared me

that the

choice might be taken away. I would love to hear all of your thoughts on

pregnancy before

revision.

Jean

> OK folks...

>

> Here's the deal in a nutshell. Rand prescribed me meds and my attempt

> to speak to him on the telephone failed for whatever reason. As mad

> as I am about that, my husband had some very wise words for me. Just

> because he didn't call me back does not mean he is no longer a great

> surgeon. True.

> All I have to do is either tell him face to face I attempted to

> contact him re: meds or write a letter. Who knows...maybe he never

> received my messages.

> However it played out, I need to communicate my concerns on this

> topic. This is a challenge when one is in such excruciating pain.

> As far as me leaving the office confused and frustrated, well, I'm

> certain if my husband were there I would have left in a better state

> of mind. Hubby would have been that second set of ears picking up on

> phrases and words.

> I think overall, I am royally pissed off that I have back

> problems " again! "

> Life is odd. My husband just had his gall bladder removed and

> returned home from the hospital yesterday. I never realized the

> extent of how much I relied on him. He never realized the extent of

> fear one holds being in a hospital. So we're closer than ever now and

> have this broader unspoken knowledge of one another. We have become

> that incredibly united and strong team able to conquer revision

> surgery. With no family nearby this is crucial.

> I just wish there were some way for me to be able to put off surgery

> and live in a bit of physical comfort. I know nothing will take away

> this pain 100%. I know I can put off surgery for as long as I say

> so...but how many days am I going to wake up and wish I could plant a

> bullet in to my head. Sounds shocking, I know, but it's a phrase we

> refer to when in chronic pain. I would never do this for I feel I

> have more to live for. However, there are people out there with this

> chronic pain who feel they could actually " do it. "

> Me being told to lose weight and get in to shape was kind of a blow.

> My husband is a 5.5 tennis player and I am a very active individual.

> Together we are very athletic minded people. Although I cannot play

> tennis with him any longer we still go to the courts with the

> kidlettes in tow. If we're outdoors I'll walk until they're done or

> if indoors, I'll stretch and do whatever I can with the baby in my

> arms. What is that called? Gymboree stretching with baby? Swimming is

> common practice on weekends. One may as well tell the Pope to pray

> harder or better. The Pope wouldn't dispute he could pray harder

> and/or better, but be surprised at the assumption one concludes he

> didn't already know that.

> So yes, 6 months after delivering a 9 pound 11 ounce baby, indeed, I

> know I must get in to better physical shape if I am to have surgery.

> Or even if I am to manage some of my pain.

> I am just surprised there is no other answer or explanation post

> pregnancy and birth. Majority of scoliosis patients are female.

> Females have babies. So why is it after us scoliosis females give

> birth, our data, complaints, etc... are not taken in to account?

> There definitely needs to be research done in this area. It seems

> problems arise or accelerate after giving birth/s. Could it be a

> contributing factor? I know the last 2 deliveries have left me in

> worse pain than ever. So where is the data on this topic? Don't

> OB/GYN's and Spine Surgeons speak to one another?

> I just want the data on all this. I won't let up until it gets

> documented somewhere. The 2 go hand in hand...females have babies and

> females are the majority of scoliosis patients, therefore, when we're

> talking revision surgery, should it not be a fact taken in to account?

> What about osteoporosis? Does that come in to play anywhere in the

> measure of things? Again...women are more prone to osteoporosis.

> For years breast cancer research was done on men. It wasn't until 15-

> 20 years ago (I could be way off on the time frame) somebody

> somewhere finally said " Hey we should study women on topic not men. "

> It just seems like all this spine surgery stuff for scoliosis has

> been marking time for years and years. I was expecting better data

> than what was available 4 years ago. But it all has maintained the

> same be it knowledge or solutions. I also get the feeling things were

> the same 20 years ago. I just feel there should be some advancements

> in our 'field.'

> The government funds some pretty outrageous studies. Oh well, 'nuff

> said. Time to call Superman and find out how he has fared in getting

> government to fund more studies on spines.

> So...my soap box has surfed me well. I shall climb down now.

> Thanks for reading and sorry for not making a whole lot of sense. I

> have these 4 little people in this house keeping me from putting a

> thought to its entirety.

> xoxo's

>

[Guest guest]

By contrast, you can put me in the " What the hell, might as well see

how it goes, adoption is an expensive alternative and I can probably

incubate my own " category. I had no flatback symptoms when I had my

first kid in 1997; I took my X-rays to the hospital anesthesiologist

before I delivered to make sure they could figure out how to do an

epidural despite the Harrington rod, and I brought my X-rays into the

delivery room, and they had no trouble giving me a nice, effective

epidural in unfused L5-S1. I had a LOT of problems with that delivery

which were not at all related to my back. (I went septic, kid

couldn't warm up and spent two weeks in NICU, etc.)

Now, I was tempted to say that everything that went wrong with the

first labor had to be the fault of the Harrington rod, because it's

always tempting to blame everything on scoliosis. Got a yeast

infection? Must be because of the Harrington Rod! Anyway, when I had

my second kid, I had already started with flatback and was sleeping

on those wedges all the time. In retrospect, was it the smartest

thing in the world to do? Well, I really didn't think it through. I

wanted another kid, the first one turned out OK, so I had one. And I

like the kid pretty well, so I guess it turned out fine.

Regarding labor and delivery for the second kid -- by this time, I

was in full-on flatback. I was worried that all my problems with the

first delivery were because of my back, and pretty much hysterically

demanded a scheduled C-section, but my OB-GYN (a really exceptional

one) took my X-rays to a ortho, who confirmed that really, while I

might be more uncomfortable than other people because I couldn't curl

my back against the pain, it wouldn't affect my ability to push. I

did the same drill where I had my X-rays with me at check-in so I

could show the anesthesiologist where to do the epidural. And the

epidural worked brilliantly.

And the delivery? Easy as pie. I see how people have kids without

problems. Six hours, start to finish. Not even a tear or episiotomy.

No problems getting the kid out. Zero. None. A perfectly tolerable

birth. And my back was in worse shape than it was with the first kid.

And if it had been a C-section? To me, no big deal. A little

abdominal surgery is, to me, pretty trivial compared with the back

surgery I'd already had and the one I'd be facing. Also, I'm not one

of those people who gets all goopy about the birth process. I pretty

much just want a lot of drugs in a medical environment where I can

get some sleep.

My point? Not sure that I have one, other than USNAWIFE and I have

both had kids after flatback onset and lived to tell the tale.

Assuming you have medical clearance and a stoic approach (and an OB-

GYN who'll say " omigosh, of COURSE you can take Tylenol 3 as needed

in the third trimester for your pain " ) and, say, a good massage

therapist, it's entirely doable. I'd say that anyone with flatback

pain should sure as heck take it extremely easy and spend as much

time either in the pool or semi-reclined as possible so the weight

doesn't make your back hurt more, but it really is entirely doable.

Oh, and yes, I took Tylenol 3 once or twice a day in the last

trimester, and you know what? No problems for the kid. She came out

fighting strong, and pretty much hasn't let up since. Hell, I even

sat in a hot tub for up to 20 minutes at a time, although that's

officially advised against by the What to Fear While You're Expecting

people; my OB-GYN said that I couldn't possibly stay in the tub long

enough to raise my core temperature -- I'd be way too uncomfortable

long before it could actually hurt the kid. But I live in California

and I have a lovely rational female OB-GYN who just rolls her eyes

and says " Don't do anything stupid, and don't smoke. "

The bigger problem for me was figuring out when to have revision with

little kids around; I ended up doing it in 2003, which was a totally

unbelievably dreadful year for everyone concerned, but now my kids

have hardly any memory of it

My point? I'm sure that I had one...

Best,

Elissa

> > OK folks...

> >

> > Here's the deal in a nutshell. Rand prescribed me meds and my

attempt

> > to speak to him on the telephone failed for whatever reason. As

mad

> > as I am about that, my husband had some very wise words for me.

Just

> > because he didn't call me back does not mean he is no longer a

great

> > surgeon. True.

> > All I have to do is either tell him face to face I attempted

to

> > contact him re: meds or write a letter. Who knows...maybe he

never

> > received my messages.

> > However it played out, I need to communicate my concerns on

this

> > topic. This is a challenge when one is in such excruciating

pain.

> > As far as me leaving the office confused and frustrated, well,

I'm

> > certain if my husband were there I would have left in a better

state

> > of mind. Hubby would have been that second set of ears picking

up on

> > phrases and words.

> > I think overall, I am royally pissed off that I have back

> > problems " again! "

> > Life is odd. My husband just had his gall bladder removed and

> > returned home from the hospital yesterday. I never realized the

> > extent of how much I relied on him. He never realized the

extent of

> > fear one holds being in a hospital. So we're closer than ever

now and

> > have this broader unspoken knowledge of one another. We have

become

> > that incredibly united and strong team able to conquer revision

> > surgery. With no family nearby this is crucial.

> > I just wish there were some way for me to be able to put off

surgery

> > and live in a bit of physical comfort. I know nothing will take

away

> > this pain 100%. I know I can put off surgery for as long as I

say

> > so...but how many days am I going to wake up and wish I could

plant a

> > bullet in to my head. Sounds shocking, I know, but it's a

phrase we

> > refer to when in chronic pain. I would never do this for I feel

I

> > have more to live for. However, there are people out there with

this

> > chronic pain who feel they could actually " do it. "

> > Me being told to lose weight and get in to shape was kind of a

blow.

> > My husband is a 5.5 tennis player and I am a very active

individual.

> > Together we are very athletic minded people. Although I cannot

play

> > tennis with him any longer we still go to the courts with the

> > kidlettes in tow. If we're outdoors I'll walk until they're

done or

> > if indoors, I'll stretch and do whatever I can with the baby in

my

> > arms. What is that called? Gymboree stretching with baby?

Swimming is

> > common practice on weekends. One may as well tell the Pope to

pray

> > harder or better. The Pope wouldn't dispute he could pray

harder

> > and/or better, but be surprised at the assumption one concludes

he

> > didn't already know that.

> > So yes, 6 months after delivering a 9 pound 11 ounce baby,

indeed, I

> > know I must get in to better physical shape if I am to have

surgery.

> > Or even if I am to manage some of my pain.

> > I am just surprised there is no other answer or explanation

post

> > pregnancy and birth. Majority of scoliosis patients are female.

> > Females have babies. So why is it after us scoliosis females

give

> > birth, our data, complaints, etc... are not taken in to

account?

> > There definitely needs to be research done in this area. It

seems

> > problems arise or accelerate after giving birth/s. Could it be

a

> > contributing factor? I know the last 2 deliveries have left me

in

> > worse pain than ever. So where is the data on this topic? Don't

> > OB/GYN's and Spine Surgeons speak to one another?

> > I just want the data on all this. I won't let up until it gets

> > documented somewhere. The 2 go hand in hand...females have

babies and

> > females are the majority of scoliosis patients, therefore, when

we're

> > talking revision surgery, should it not be a fact taken in to

account?

> > What about osteoporosis? Does that come in to play anywhere in

the

> > measure of things? Again...women are more prone to osteoporosis.

> > For years breast cancer research was done on men. It wasn't

until 15-

> > 20 years ago (I could be way off on the time frame) somebody

> > somewhere finally said " Hey we should study women on topic not

men. "

> > It just seems like all this spine surgery stuff for scoliosis

has

> > been marking time for years and years. I was expecting better

data

> > than what was available 4 years ago. But it all has maintained

the

> > same be it knowledge or solutions. I also get the feeling

things were

> > the same 20 years ago. I just feel there should be some

advancements

> > in our 'field.'

> > The government funds some pretty outrageous studies. Oh

well, 'nuff

> > said. Time to call Superman and find out how he has fared in

getting

> > government to fund more studies on spines.

> > So...my soap box has surfed me well. I shall climb down now.

> > Thanks for reading and sorry for not making a whole lot of

sense. I

> > have these 4 little people in this house keeping me from

putting a

> > thought to its entirety.

> > xoxo's

> >

>

>

>

>

> Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod

Malalignment Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads

or endorse any advertised products.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Elissa,

Nothing really to add here except to tell you know how hysterical I

thought that post was regarding whether tis better to incubate or be

fruitful and multiply via outsourcing, pleading for alternatives to

the wondrous pain of human being ejection sans pain medication,

fondness for resultant kids, and the heretofore unexamined link

between Harrington rods and yeast infections!

Elissa wit on a message board... priceless!

All my giggling best, Dianne

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

It was a " no, no, no! " on epidurals for me as well. I remember

begging my Obgyn for scheduled c-sections for fear of painful

labors, but that was nixed as well. Thankfully, I didn't experience

any back labor and man, did I pay special attention in the

childbirth classes! My first labor was 12 hours, an exhausting feat

I thought, but was later told it was " average " . Hmph! Second time

around was a breeze, only felt maybe every fifth contraction and

pushed three times, et voila, my second boybot! I was allowed a

tranquilezer halfway through labor the first time, that really

helped take the edge off, and opted for it the second time around as

well, since it was all they were offering and well, just because.

Hey, I'm no clairvoyant, how did I know it would be that easy!

My best to all on this beautiful New England day. Dianne

[Guest guest]

Yay! More healthy baby stories. And so many (relatively) easy births! Of course,

with my

luck, my baby will reach through the womb or something and get tangled in the

intrumentation, which he'll grab tightly and then when I push I will literally

give birth to my

own spine and have to have more surgeries!

Heaven help the doctor who tells me that I can't have a tranquilizer Thanks

so much for

sharing the encouraging stories. Being told you can't ever have a baby sure

makes you

start to think you might want to be a mother some day...

Jean

> Hi ,

>

> It was a " no, no, no! " on epidurals for me as well. I remember

> begging my Obgyn for scheduled c-sections for fear of painful

> labors, but that was nixed as well. Thankfully, I didn't experience

> any back labor and man, did I pay special attention in the

> childbirth classes! My first labor was 12 hours, an exhausting feat

> I thought, but was later told it was " average " . Hmph! Second time

> around was a breeze, only felt maybe every fifth contraction and

> pushed three times, et voila, my second boybot! I was allowed a

> tranquilezer halfway through labor the first time, that really

> helped take the edge off, and opted for it the second time around as

> well, since it was all they were offering and well, just because.

> Hey, I'm no clairvoyant, how did I know it would be that easy!

>

> My best to all on this beautiful New England day. Dianne