Re: I need your opinions on this fusion thing!

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I'm new on this board and don't post too often (it takes me long

enough just to read and keep up with all these guys!) : )

But I wanted to tell you... I'm 38 now and have two kids. When I was

in my late twenties, my back started to be real bad and I was bent

over a lot. I saw an ortho surgeon and he did his research and told

me about revision surgeries and suggested going to San Fran, Mich (I

think) or Boston, because of the specialists there. It was going to

be a cutting of the previous hardware and re-allignment with double

bars extending down to the sacrum, and I dreaded to lose that little

bit of flexibility that I had left. BUT! Just as I thought that would

be my only hope and I was going to feel like a cyborg the rest of my

life. He asked about where I had tried my physical therapy (I had

told him that I had tried exercise and it didn't help the pain). I

had not ever actually gone to a physical therapist. He put the

brakes on everything and said to definitely try that route first. I

was doubtful, but agreed. I wound up going to therapy for several

months. It was amazing!! He targeted certain muscle groups and

strengthening them actually provided much better support and before I

knew it I was pain free. I continued the same exercises on my own

for a couple years and was so good that I was able to have two kids

in a row (without doing my exercises). I just wanted to make sure

you try everything first. We thought my pain was from bones pinching

nerves and discs being squished, but muscle strength actually holds

your spine in a better position and alleviates the pain.

I'm in pain now because I let myself go without exercise for so long,

and I've gained almost 30 lbs! That would hurt a normal person's

back, let alone someone who only has a couple vertebrae of free

movement left! But I know that the solution is in my hands and that

if I lose the weight and strengthen again, I'll be better again.

Sorry for rambling, but I was in your shoes, and wanted to throw in

my two cents...

Good Luck!

~ le

[Guest guest]

What a beautiful letter! I could have written it several years ago, if only

I had met this group!. Now, I am too old to even consider having babies.

But le has really explained how to make the perfect environment for our

" little guys " so that they may start their lives well! Thank you for helping

others, le!

Love,

Carole (the elder) and mother of four

[Guest guest]

Hi Simone...

Flatback is the loss of lumbar lordosis (the natural curve at the

bottom of a normal spine). Here's a good website article that should

answer your questions:

http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article308.html

Regards,

Lnda

> Hi

>

> Can someone explain to me what flatback is, may sound dumb but I am

from the UK and I think your terminology may be different to mine, I

joined the group a few weeks ago and have enjoyed reading the mails, I

had my Harrington Rod in 1989 and have been suffering pretty much ever

since, hence the reason for joining.

[Guest guest]

Simone, the technical term is " fixed sagittal imbalance " . Flatback is sometimes

referred to as " flatback syndrome " , meaning the set of symptoms associated with

the sagittal imbalance, or loss of lumbar lordosis.

Sharon

Re: I need your opinions on this fusion thing!

Hi Simone...

Flatback is the loss of lumbar lordosis (the natural curve at the

bottom of a normal spine). Here's a good website article that should

answer your questions:

http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article308.html

Regards,

Lnda

> Hi

>

> Can someone explain to me what flatback is, may sound dumb but I am

from the UK and I think your terminology may be different to mine, I

joined the group a few weeks ago and have enjoyed reading the mails, I

had my Harrington Rod in 1989 and have been suffering pretty much ever

since, hence the reason for joining.

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]

Hi and Sharon

Thank you for your mail, very much appreciated

Simone

Re: I need your opinions on this fusion thing!

Hi Simone...

Flatback is the loss of lumbar lordosis (the natural curve at the

bottom of a normal spine). Here's a good website article that should

answer your questions:

http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article308.html

Regards,

Lnda

> Hi

>

> Can someone explain to me what flatback is, may sound dumb but I am

from the UK and I think your terminology may be different to mine, I

joined the group a few weeks ago and have enjoyed reading the mails, I

had my Harrington Rod in 1989 and have been suffering pretty much ever

since, hence the reason for joining.

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]

Welcome to the group, Simon -- and , thanks for the recommendation. I do

have a major caution for newcomers regarding this article, but first the praise:

Although this article uses the alternative term " fixed sagittal imbalance, " I

think it explains the mechanics of the problem well. Also, the illustrations

are excellent and, I think, very clear. Dr. Bridwell, the author, is a prominent

and highly respected revision surgeon, i.e., a surgeon who specializes in

correcting complex spinal problems in patients who have undergone previous

spinal fusion surgery.

Unfortunately, and quite surprisingly for Dr. Bridwell, this short piece gives a

misleading picture of the problem (perhaps because of overzealous website

editing or some inadvertent omission). In discussing " causes, " it completely

omits the leading cause!

In the great majority of " flatback " cases, the person's sagittal imbalance has

been destroyed by the instrumentation most commonly used in spinal fusions

between, roughly, 1960 and 1990. Thus the vast majority of Feisty Scolio

Flatback members are people with scoliosis who previously underwent such

fusions, typically as young adolescents, and who now have the disability

described and summarized on the home page of our website.

Quoting Neuwirth, MD, and Osborn, on page 133 of *The Scoliosis

Sourcebook* (Chicago: Contemporary Books, 2001), " The most difficult revision

cases involve patients who have fused in a malaligned position. This group

includes a large number of people who were . . . . instrumented with Harrington

rods, leading to a loss of lumbar lordosis, a condition known as iatrogenic flat

back . . . . "

Simon, you may want to explore our site some more when you get a chance -- the

" Files " section, for instance, includes various articles you may find

informative. Also, you may want to browse the archives and read any past

correspondence that may speak to your own concerns.

Best,

--- Original Message -----

From: Racine

Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 5:18 PM

Subject: Re: I need your opinions on this fusion thing!

Hi Simone...

Flatback is the loss of lumbar lordosis (the natural curve at the

bottom of a normal spine). Here's a good website article that should

answer your questions:

http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article308.html

Regards,

Lnda

> Hi

>

> Can someone explain to me what flatback is, may sound dumb but I am

from the UK and I think your terminology may be different to mine, I

joined the group a few weeks ago and have enjoyed reading the mails, I

had my Harrington Rod in 1989 and have been suffering pretty much ever

since, hence the reason for joining.

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]

...

It's there. It just doesn't specifically mention Harrington hardware.

He says:

Most commonly FSI is seen following an extensive lumbar fusion, which

heals in kyphosis.

--

> Unfortunately, and quite surprisingly for Dr. Bridwell, this short

piece gives a misleading picture of the problem (perhaps because of

overzealous website editing or some inadvertent omission). In

discussing " causes, " it completely omits the leading cause!

[Guest guest]

Simone,

Yikes, sorry I misread your name. I addressed you as " Simon " in my own post.

Please forgive the mistake.

Re: I need your opinions on this fusion thing!

Hi Simone...

Flatback is the loss of lumbar lordosis (the natural curve at the

bottom of a normal spine). Here's a good website article that should

answer your questions:

http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article308.html

Regards,

Lnda

> Hi

>

> Can someone explain to me what flatback is, may sound dumb but I am

from the UK and I think your terminology may be different to mine, I

joined the group a few weeks ago and have enjoyed reading the mails, I

had my Harrington Rod in 1989 and have been suffering pretty much ever

since, hence the reason for joining.

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]

Laughing, its OK it happens to me all the time!

Simon (with an E)

Re: I need your opinions on this fusion thing!

Hi Simone...

Flatback is the loss of lumbar lordosis (the natural curve at the

bottom of a normal spine). Here's a good website article that should

answer your questions:

http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article308.html

Regards,

Lnda

> Hi

>

> Can someone explain to me what flatback is, may sound dumb but I am

from the UK and I think your terminology may be different to mine, I

joined the group a few weeks ago and have enjoyed reading the mails, I

had my Harrington Rod in 1989 and have been suffering pretty much ever

since, hence the reason for joining.

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.