Re: Llweyn's followup appt., 5/2/2006, 12:00 pm/ Llweyn

[Guest guest]

I'm so sorry that you had such a horrible appointment Llweyn. I've never heard of it needing fusion to the sacrum to be considered " full " flatback either - I do recall from the years I've lurked on various boards though that some doctors seem to like to get really specific about what they call flatback, and it usually feels like it's an attempt to exercise some pathetic form of control and reassert their position. I know some will not call it flatback unless you have a Harrington, others unless that Harrington goes to L4 and so on. About the only snippy reply to that is well, it may or may not be flatback by your definition, but it's definitely fixed sagittal imbalance.

As to weight, I just went off on a major and embarrassingly long ramble about that in a different message. All I'll say again here is that I really don't see why 20lbs should be a deal breaker, and if it is that should be decided by the anaesthetist, not the surgeon. Yes, more to cut through makes the surgeon's life less easy, but the surgical risk over all is for the anaesthetist to determine, and manage. I really cannot imagine as little as 20lbs being that significant to an anaesthetist unless there are some pretty specific circumstances attached to it.

I hope you can get a second opinion with someone else before too long. Perhaps as this surgeon plans that it should be done elsewhere anyway, it would be worth trying to see someone there directly.

titch-- " The older I grow the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom. " - H. L. Mencken

[Guest guest]

From Jean-Pierre Farcy's website:

What does Flatback Syndrome mean?

The back (the spine) is a very complex structure. Each vertebra's

anatomy is different to to participate in the global structure and

function of the spine. Carrying and protecting nerve structures from

the brain to the limbs, bearing the weight of the head and body and

keeping stability while allowing smooth motion are all part of the

demands placed upon the spinal column. The succession of four natural

spine curves balancing each other in the sagittal plane permits

meeting the above-mentioned challenges. When the natural curves are

modified good balance and function is compromised. When anatomic

changes cause the curves to become straightened leading to a pitched

forward posture, pain, imbalance fatigue and dysfunction develop. This

is called the " Flatback " and is most commonly related to spinal fusion

performed for scoliosis surgery.

[Guest guest]

Thanks, for the definition. I did get to ask how much I was leaning forward, and though he didn't actually measure, he said about 3cm. (just over 1 inch). That was when he told me to stand up straight, and I don't think he noticed that my knees were flexed in the process. I know from a report, 7 years ago, that it was mentioned that I had a flattened thoracic and lumber, so by this definition, I think I qualify as having Flatback Syndrome.

Llweyn

-----Original Message-----From: [mailto: ]On Behalf Of RacineSent: May 3, 2006 11:52 AM Subject: [ ] Re: Llweyn's followup appt., 5/2/2006, 12:00 pm/ LlweynFrom Jean-Pierre Farcy's website:What does Flatback Syndrome mean?The back (the spine) is a very complex structure. Each vertebra'sanatomy is different to to participate in the global structure andfunction of the spine. Carrying and protecting nerve structures fromthe brain to the limbs, bearing the weight of the head and body andkeeping stability while allowing smooth motion are all part of thedemands placed upon the spinal column. The succession of four naturalspine curves balancing each other in the sagittal plane permitsmeeting the above-mentioned challenges. When the natural curves aremodified good balance and function is compromised. When anatomicchanges cause the curves to become straightened leading to a pitchedforward posture, pain, imbalance fatigue and dysfunction develop. Thisis called the "Flatback" and is most commonly related to spinal fusionperformed for scoliosis surgery.

[Guest guest]

I just have to chime in for my 2 cents worth: Sounds like that guy

was an idiot! Stand up straight!! How dumb!!!

I hope I have a better app't than that with Dr. Hu in July!

Carol (CA)

>

> Thanks, for the definition. I did get to ask how much I was

leaning

> forward, and though he didn't actually measure, he said about 3cm.

(just

> over 1 inch). That was when he told me to stand up straight, and I

don't

> think he noticed that my knees were flexed in the process. I know

from a

> report, 7 years ago, that it was mentioned that I had a flattened

thoracic

> and lumber, so by this definition, I think I qualify as having

Flatback

> Syndrome.

>

> Llweyn

> [ ] Re: Llweyn's followup appt.,

5/2/2006, 12:00

> pm/ Llweyn

>

>

> From Jean-Pierre Farcy's website:

>

> What does Flatback Syndrome mean?

>

> The back (the spine) is a very complex structure. Each vertebra's

> anatomy is different to to participate in the global structure and

> function of the spine. Carrying and protecting nerve structures

from

> the brain to the limbs, bearing the weight of the head and body

and

> keeping stability while allowing smooth motion are all part of the

> demands placed upon the spinal column. The succession of four

natural

> spine curves balancing each other in the sagittal plane permits

> meeting the above-mentioned challenges. When the natural curves

are

> modified good balance and function is compromised. When anatomic

> changes cause the curves to become straightened leading to a

pitched

> forward posture, pain, imbalance fatigue and dysfunction develop.

This

> is called the " Flatback " and is most commonly related to spinal

fusion

> performed for scoliosis surgery.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates

>

>

>

>