From: bounce-scoliosis To: scoliosis-digest@ai.mit.edu Subject: scoliosis V1 #922 Reply-To: Errors-To: bounce-scoliosis Precedence: bulk scoliosis Monday, 17 August 1998 Volume 01 : Number 922 Today's subjects for scoliosis, scoliosis-medical, scoliosis-child and scoliosis-teens: Re: DURATION OF PHYSICAL THERAPY [Margaret Arth ] Re: DURATION OF PHYSICAL THERAPY [Mary_Grossi@edu.yorku.ca (Mary Grossi)] Re: PHYSICAL THERAPY, VERTABRAE & 6 WEEKS POST OP ["Cyndi King" ] Anti-inflammatories ["Cyndi King" ] Re: bad experience of Copes [DChare6704@aol.com] Re: DURATION OF PHYSICAL THERAPY [Margaret Arth ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Margaret Arth Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 02:31:19 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: DURATION OF PHYSICAL THERAPY Hi Lynne, Well, the reason why I had my last a/p fusion was because of the vertebrae above and below my previous fusion. With this kind of surgery, the fused area acts as if it were one vertebrae...one solid bone in which the stress is given to the vertebrae above and below the fusion as opposed to the normal segmented taking it equally. I think over time those discs become weakened, although I don't have the medical proof that this happens in every single fusion case. But I think this happens as part of the normal aging process anyway and the fusion just helps accelerate it (again just an assumption). As far as PT, I started the week after I got out of the hospital with home visits 2x/week for about an hour. Around the 2month mark, I was allowed to go to the office 3x/week for almost 3hrs. I am currently 6months post-op and on the same schedule. I am still not allowed to twist, bend, or lift anything of significant weight. My prescription is up in Oct, but my surgeon may decide to renew it. Here is my normal PT exercise/therapy schedule: 15min stationary bicycle 30min matt work (using physiotherapy ball) 30min treadmill 15min step work there is a 5-10min break in between each exercise to ease tension pain. 20min heating pad 30-40min massage/ultrasound/SI joint mobilization 10min ice therapy And of course this all depends on how much pain I'm in at the time. So if I have a 9 pain day, then I might skip the bike and reduce time on the treadmill. I'm never pushed into anything I don't want to do. The schedule is customized for my needs and everything is very flexible. It has all worked out nicely. When I get back to school in Sept I will reduce my visits to the weekend, but during the week while on campus I will add swimming 2x/week and light (and careful!) weight training maybe 1-2x/week. My recuperation is my top priority now (even above school) so I'm very committed to working hard at it (though balanced as well to listen to how my body reacts). And both my drs and my pt are aware of my 'plan'. Each surgeon is different as to how they want their patients to recover through physical movement. As we have seen through recent posts, some don't want any PT for 6months, some maybe only want slow gradual work, and others are more aggressive. Find out your surgeon's plan for recovery. If there is an aspect that bothers you or you want to do something that's not mentioned, voice your concern and ideas...maybe there are ways to accomodate your wishes. I hope everything works out for you and that you feel better. - --Megan ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-medical-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: Mary_Grossi@edu.yorku.ca (Mary Grossi) Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 08:40:32 -0400 Subject: Re: DURATION OF PHYSICAL THERAPY scoliosis-medical@ai.mit.edu writes: > I'm wondering what others have experienced >post-op. How long did your PT continue and how far along were you in >your recovery when it ended. Did you continue with other types of > ... My daughter's surgery was on July 13, and our next visit to her specialist is on Aug. 25... NO PT in the interim.... the physio-therapist that saw her in hospital basically said that all they wanted her to do was to let her body heal, not overdue any kind of physical activity, and to get back into doing as many of the regular activities around the house as she could WITHOUT lifting any heavy weights, too much twisting etc.... Possibly the difference is because of her age... she's 14, or maybe the difference is just philosophical? Not sure! Mary =;-> ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-medical-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: "Cyndi King" Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 09:43:39 -0400 Subject: Re: PHYSICAL THERAPY, VERTABRAE & 6 WEEKS POST OP I am 6 weeks post op and began PT 4 weeks ago. I began with 10 minutes at a very slow pace on the treadmill, leg and foot extensions (all out in front) and the therapist stretched my calves and legs while I laid on the PT table. As of last Monday I have added upper body exercises. One where I sit on a chair and use a rope pully above my head to stretch my arms (no weights). Then I use 2 pound weights in each hand doing bicep curls from my sides to my shoulders. Also use the weights with elbow on table, hand hanging over from wrist and do wrist curls, palm down and palm up. The last exercise is the digi-flex, a hand squeezing device that improves strength in your hands. After that then I have a soft tissue massage of my back and very light massage around the incisions. This helps with the itchy sensations of the healing. It is all very easily paced and I am carefully monitored so that nothing is too difficult for me. To answer Cathy Lutz, I'm not sure how long they will allow me to have PT. I have gone a lot this year. I would like to believe it is up to the surgeon, but with what I'm reading here lately, I don't know. I would speak to your MD and your insurance company. There is nothing stopping you from joining the YMCA or a gym and just continuing with your PT routine there. Lynne, it is my understanding the newer rods take this into consideration in that they are 3 dimensional as compared to the older 2 dimensional rods. In other words the rods are placed in the spine after the surgeon uses the French bending tool to bend the rods to fit your spine side to side AND front to back. The scoliotic, lordotic and kyphotic curves are all considered. In my case, the condition of the vertabrae and discs were considered as well. The disc below L2 was very healthy so my fusion ends there. There was no reason for him to begin above T4 as all was strong there as well. My surgeon, Dr. Brown, wanted to keeep the fusion as short as possible so that I would have the lumbar mobility. As an aside, Bonnie Stone brought me lunch on Friday and she looks great! She was fused in the lumbar spine in December and last we met she could not sit in a dining room chair. Not only did she sit in a chair, but when I dropped a napkin, she squatted down to pick it up!! WOW!! I am now home alone with my 8 year old daughter, Sarah. My mom left a week ago and my dad left yesterday. I am taking it slow. Allowed to drive short distances and am attempting light housework. Sleep comes easy at or before 11PM. Usual waking time is 8:30AM. Often an afternoon nap around 4. PT three days a week. Sarah is good about helping. My friends and neighbors have been great! Regards - CBK ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-medical-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: R.N.A.@worldnet.att.net Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 10:39:06 +0100 Subject: Re: Back Pain Sindy-- The pain or rather discomfort is more in the center of the back and radiates from there. At times the discomfort worsens just a bit when I breathe which is why I think it might be the muscles. I'm not taking any over the counter anti-inflammatories but I assume Linda was talking about Advil, etc. I don't have a post op brace and won't wear any kind of corset until I check with the doctor which is next week. Lynne ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-medical-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: ckeane@mindspring.com Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 12:55:01 Subject: Intro Hi, I have just joined this list and was so glad to find it. It's hard to find people who understand through experience. I was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 11. While I can't recall the exact degree of my double curve, I believe they were 25 and 60. I was treated at age 12 for idiopathic sclerosis, spondylolisthesis and thoracolumbar scoliosis. Treatment included 2 Harrington rods and spinal fusion from T5 to sacrum. I am now 30 and the last 18 years have been pretty much trouble free, until recently. I have pain occassionally in my lower back, like today, that scares me a whole lot. I'm hoping to find people on here who have similar symptoms and just learn more in general about how I get through the next 18 years. If it isn't obvious, today is a worry day :) Thanks for listening and for being here. Colleen ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: "Cyndi King" Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 13:39:58 -0400 Subject: Re: DURATION OF PHYSICAL THERAPY Megan - Where does the PT apply the ultrasound? I was advised not to have it as the rods impair it's effect and it could heat the rods and cause burns. Regards - CBK - ---------- From: Margaret Arth To: scoliosis-medical@ai.mit.edu Subject: Re: DURATION OF PHYSICAL THERAPY Date: Sunday, August 16, 1998 2:31 AM 30-40min massage/ultrasound/SI joint mobilization ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-medical-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: "Cyndi King" Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 13:52:17 -0400 Subject: Anti-inflammatories I have been advised by my surgeon to not take any anti-inflammatory drug for the next 18 months as it will interfere with the fusion process. Before taking anything like Advil, etc. check with your surgeon. It takes up to 2 years for the fusion to solidify. 95% of the fusion is complete in 18 months. Remember, as Dr. Brown reminds me, you are a Faberge egg! Don't allow any cracking! Regards - CBK ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-medical-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: DChare6704@aol.com Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 16:27:33 EDT Subject: Re: bad experience of Copes My son has a neuromuscular condtion and we are considering a Copes brace. Would you mind telling me what the cause is for Christian's scoliosis/ ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: Margaret Arth Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 20:27:50 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: DURATION OF PHYSICAL THERAPY > > Megan - Where does the PT apply the ultrasound? I was advised not to have > it as the rods impair it's effect and it could heat the rods and cause > ... Wow Cyndi, I never knew that. What a scary thought. My PT uses the ultrasound on my SI joints in which there is no hardware. I'll have to ask him about that though. - --Megan ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-medical-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ End of scoliosis V1 #922 ************************ You're reading a composite here: the scoliosis-digest is a daily encapsulation of messages sent to four different mailing lists: scoliosis, scoliosis-medical, scoliosis-child and scoliosis-teens. If you're responding, you can determine which list message above was posted to by looking at the message footer. To post your own email to scoliosis, send it to "scoliosis@ai.mit.edu". To post your own email to scoliosis-medical list, send it to "scoliosis-medical@ai.mit.edu". To post to scoliosis-child, send your message to "scoliosis-child@ai.mit.edu." To post your message to scoliosis-teens, send it to "scoliosis-teens@ai.mit.edu". 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