[Dynamic Stabilization] Surgery is finally over: Surgery 6-29-11, L4-L5-S1 Decompression Staxx implants and Coflex F implants

[Justin]

UPDATE

It seems I hit a bump in the road it will be three weeks on the 20th. Since Fri. I became crooked hips are level and my torso leans to the left increasing pain in my right butt, leg this is very very pain full, tried some heat, no, tried some ice yes it helps,taking Diazepam and Oxycodone seems to help some.

Call the Doctor office today and typical, left a message now waiting for a call back.

I hope nothing has moved out of sorts?

Gil

Hey Gil, it sounds like what you are experiencing is muscular in nature (in my opinion). Your muscles have just been traumatized by an invasive surgery and they are guarding (or tensing up) in an effort to "protect" the area. Also, you were probably positioned in unique positions during the operation that could also add to additional muscle hypertonicity (increase in tone). Alternating ice and heat, every 15 minutes sounds good (I would focus more on ice at this point since you are in the acute stage of healing and you don't want to add to the inflammation with additional heat).

Good luck and please let us know what the good surgeon has to say. Hang in there, buddy.

[RetroVirus]

Good to hear you are doing better, and survived your encounter with too many pain pills. It's kind of funny: what makes you better can actually kill you. Irony!

[Gilbert P]

Hi Justin

I can agree with you, But I have had this problem of being crooked prior to surgery, I have tried P.T. Message etc and no one yet has figured why. When I mention this to surgeons they said it is instability and surgery would or should correct it

Gil

[Justin]

Hi Justin

I can agree with you, But I have had this problem of being crooked prior to surgery, I have tried P.T. Message etc and no one yet has figured why. When I mention this to surgeons they said it is instability and surgery would or should correct it

Gil

Hi Gil, if you had this problem prior to surgery, then it is a chronic issue. As such, it will take quite some time to correct (if, in fact, it is correctable) since your surgery was performed not too long ago. You still have to heal from the surgery and hopefully the surgery did correct some of your alignment issues. Once you get to the active rehabilitation (physical therapy) part of your recovery, you can focus on correcting this dysfunction.

Being "crooked" before surgery, tells me that your body was trying to compensate for your spine problems. Poor posture, slight adjustments to our gait, muscular changes, etc. are all "collateral damage" to our primary spine dysfunctions. In other words, we alter other parts of our bodies to help compensate for our spine problems.

How are you doing "pain-wise," Gil?

Be well.

[KanRunMo]

Gil, I'm glad Dr. Justin is giving you some ideas as to what might be causing your pain. Hope your surgeon checks in with you soon. Keep thinking positive thoughts.

[spinches]

Hi Gil, I have a friend, age 30, who has a couple herniated lumbar discs according to her last MRI. She re-injured her back recently and now has the crookedness problem similar to what you describe. In her case, her hips are obviously at different levels of height, and she can't straighten out. She did start PT last week at the VA, and was given some exercises for stretching the contracted muscles (the side where the hip is higher). She said the stretches are quite painful even to perform a little bit, which probably means they are getting to the correct muscles.

I hope you find someone who can help you with this, as it appears to be a condition that some PT's do understand.

[Gilbert P]

Hey All

Justin thank you for your great input My pain levels were at 9 and today have settled down to a 2 I am much better my hips seem to be the problem? I contacted Dr Pettine RN and she wants to begin P.T. next week and suggested all the issues you mentioned. This is going to be a problem that we will have to solve with time and experiment

I am feeling better overall time to go for more walks in the sunshine 75 with a cool breeze and snow caped mountains for motavation.

Thank you all for your support

Gil

[Cindylou]

Hey All

Justin thank you for your great input My pain levels were at 9 and today have settled down to a 2 I am much better my hips seem to be the problem? I contacted Dr Pettine RN and she wants to begin P.T. next week and suggested all the issues you mentioned. This is going to be a problem that we will have to solve with time and experiment

I am feeling better overall time to go for more walks in the sunshine 75 with a cool breeze and snow caped mountains for motavation.

Thank you all for your support

Gil

Wonderful to hear Gil. And I am more than jealous of your incredible weather. We have been having terrible humidity, 100%, along with high heat index like 105 degrees. It's nuts. The other day on the weather station the fellow said our humidity was higher than what New Orleans was experiencing. Crazy. Not motivating weather to walk in, that's for sure, so I have been ambling around the house, in the air-conditioning, instead! This too shall pass. Keep up the good healing friend. CL