Guest guest Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Hi , Yes, I did have someone describe my back in that way...it was certainly not a clinical definition but he (an old friend and orthopod) was trying to explain to a family member what was happening and why I was in such pain. To give them an idea of what was going on he said that my lumbar spine was " collapsing " in spite of the instrumentation. I think he also referred to it as a bit of a " trainwreck " , lol. So, as I said, not a clinical diagnosis but an attempt to clarify for a layperson. Hope this helps, (and Matt too) > > Has anyone here been told s/he has a collapsed spine? Someone just > emailed that she had been diagnosed with this condition. (Naturally the > affected vertebrae are those below the termination of her fusion -- the > ones carrying the big extra load for the decomissioned vertebrae.) She > wanted to know whether others with flatback syndrome have collapsed > spines. > > I think I was pretty collapsed by the time I got to revision, but I > don't think my surgeons called it that. I googled the term but did not > find anything too definitive or helpful. I urged the member who had > emailed me to check with people here at the Feisty Forum, but I also > want to ask you all this question for my own edification. I am not sure > this is a specific medical diagnosis referring to one particular form of > vertebral or disk deterioration or fracture . . .? Whatever it is, > exactly, I should definitely become better informed on the subject. > Thanks . . . . > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 I have been dealing with treating the back pain but have not had any revision surgery. I have also been doing PT. Over the past year I have started to notice that when I need to have a bowel movement that I must get toi the bathroom immediately. I brought this to my gyn doc who after exam said that I defintiely have very weakened pelvic floor muscles. He has sent me for PT for this. I am seeing a specialist that works with PT for pelvic floor dysfunction. In her initial assessment she noted that I have right sided weakness of my lower extremity muscles as well as the pelvic floor. The scolisis back I believe is at it again (responsible for another dysfunction)I also saw a podiatrist years ago because of pain in my right foot when I walk (in the ball of the foot). He xrayed and examined me, noted that my right foot toes were all curling under. He felt this was all related to my scoliosis and said that I needed to see a neurologist. Luckily he was not a knife happy podiatrist. I am just tired of feeling like a ping pong ball - with many doctors that have seen me but I feel like the root cause is not being addressed.Kate On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 2:51 PM, <elizabethrgonzalez@...> wrote: Has anyone here been told s/he has a collapsed spine? Someone just emailed that she had been diagnosed with this condition. (Naturally the affected vertebrae are those below the termination of her fusion -- the ones carrying the big extra load for the decomissioned vertebrae.) She wanted to know whether others with flatback syndrome have collapsed spines. I think I was pretty collapsed by the time I got to revision, but I don't think my surgeons called it that. I googled the term but did not find anything too definitive or helpful. I urged the member who had emailed me to check with people here at the Feisty Forum, but I also want to ask you all this question for my own edification. I am not sure this is a specific medical diagnosis referring to one particular form of vertebral or disk deterioration or fracture . . .? Whatever it is, exactly, I should definitely become better informed on the subject. Thanks . . . . -- KATE TRUDO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 At my last (only) visit with Pashman, @ Cedars, he told me if I " only " had the hardware removed, my spine would " collaps " . In addition to (maybe the cause of) Flatback, I was supposed to be fused at L5/S1. My last CAT showed that the fusing spacer coil was still there, but the cement filler where they removed my disc had " vanished " , causing a condition called " vacuum disc phenomenon " . Basically the only thing holding my tailbone onto my spine is the rods & screws. Leave it to ME to have a condition with the word " phenomenon " in it =( .........................Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2010 Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 Hi, Kate -- This sounds so frustrating. Forgive me if you've already posted about this, but have you been able to find a knowldgeable spinal surgeon in your area? Do you think this would bring you closer to getting the root cause addressed? Or do you have some feel for another kind of specialist who might be more helpful than the ones you have seen so far? I am kind of shaking my head here at the thought of all these people telling you your various problems are related to the scoliosis, yet seemingly not referring you to someone who can address this. It doesn't make sense to me. But then, doctors often do not make sense to me. You must be so weary of all this. I wish I had a solution for you . . . Maybe when I am thinking a little more clearly. (I am still up at 3:30 a.m. Yes, I am a night person, but this is ridiculous! Must get myself on a better schedule.) Kate, if you have figured out what you might try next, please let us know. I am feeling anxious about your seemingly endless quest for definitive help. How can someone tell you it's the scoliosis, but then just leave you in the lurch? . . . . Best, > > I have been dealing with treating the back pain but have not had any > revision surgery. I have also been doing PT. > Over the past year I have started to notice that when I need to have a bowel > movement that I must get toi the bathroom immediately. I brought this to my > gyn doc who after exam said that I defintiely have very weakened pelvic > floor muscles. He has sent me for PT for this. I am seeing a specialist that > works with PT for pelvic floor dysfunction. In her initial assessment she > noted that I have right sided weakness of my lower extremity muscles as well > as the pelvic floor. > The scolisis back I believe is at it again (responsible for another > dysfunction) > > I also saw a podiatrist years ago because of pain in my right foot when I > walk (in the ball of the foot). He xrayed and examined me, noted that my > right foot toes were all curling under. He felt this was all related to my > scoliosis and said that I needed to see a neurologist. Luckily he was not a > knife happy podiatrist. > > I am just tired of feeling like a ping pong ball - with many doctors that > have seen me but I feel like the root cause is not being addressed. > > Kate > > On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 2:51 PM, elizabethrgonzalez@...wrote: > > > > > > > Has anyone here been told s/he has a collapsed spine? Someone just > > emailed that she had been diagnosed with this condition. (Naturally the > > affected vertebrae are those below the termination of her fusion -- the > > ones carrying the big extra load for the decomissioned vertebrae.) She > > wanted to know whether others with flatback syndrome have collapsed > > spines. > > > > I think I was pretty collapsed by the time I got to revision, but I > > don't think my surgeons called it that. I googled the term but did not > > find anything too definitive or helpful. I urged the member who had > > emailed me to check with people here at the Feisty Forum, but I also > > want to ask you all this question for my own edification. I am not sure > > this is a specific medical diagnosis referring to one particular form of > > vertebral or disk deterioration or fracture . . .? Whatever it is, > > exactly, I should definitely become better informed on the subject. > > Thanks . . . . > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > KATE TRUDO > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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