Rehabilitation after Failed Back Syndrome Diagnosis

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deb53

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Pepper,
I have to agree with Marcia and Justoneofus...you really need a good PT to guide you along with this process. I know you have had this surgery before and probably have lots of "exercise sheets", but I would be firm that you need someone to help you for awhile. I found that I used the exercise sheets, but when I actually "went" to PT she would correct little things like...don't lean this way (I didn't know I was leaning), don't pick this foot up quite so far......etc, etc. I think all of the things you are doing are great, but you can always benefit from some expert guidance. Good luck. Are you still feeling better? Yea for you!!

Deb
 
As you know, my surgeon has basically tossed me aside and left me to rehabilitate myself. He has said, I have failed back syndrome and he is a non believer in physical therapy. I was wondering what some of you do to help yourself while dealing with the chronic pain.

I am trying to do the following each day:

1. Use the hot tub 2 times per day doing light stretches.
2. Working on some balance exercises daily.
3. Walk to the 200 ft a day to the mailbox and am trying to increase as tolerated.
4 When the pool opens in the summer, I will use the pool.

When I do these activities, I have pain during and have increased pain afterwarRAB but I am still trying to get myself moving and keeping the musles loose.

What are you doing as far as rehab and no matter how small please, please post?
 
Memere, if I were you, I would discontinue the exercises, at least until you see your pain management doctor. I actually had to discontinue physical therapy and told not to go to a chiropractor, either because it was actually worsening my condition. I was told all of this by an internal medicine doctor, which was a very good and respectful doctor. I no longer see him because he moved back to his hometown. Pepper, I pray that your doctor can help you with the "right" exercises that will help and not hinder you.
 
Camper - thank you for the suggestion of another exercise to try. I will add that to my list of new ones to try as I am able.

Thank you everyone - I agree I probably do need a pt referral but it is hard to get one if your surgeon does not support it. I may end up paying for some out of pocket.
 
Peppy:

Good for you walking 200 feet to the mailbox. I hope you get something besides bills to make the trip even more worthwhile :)

It floors me that a doc cannot "believe" in PT. What if you phrased it as needing a refresher course? My PT drummed a lot of good advice into me -- including applying heat before any physical activity and ice afterwarRAB.

In addition to getting yourself some PT, I would also recommend getting the book "Back Care Basics" by Mary Pullig Schatz, MD. It's very gentle yoga (breathing exercises, stretching, stuff you can do in bed, and the exercise David mentioned below) and has multiple chapters on anatomy of the back, how to move again after surgery, self assessments, and what you should and should not do based on the specific back problem you've got. It's also full of good illustrations. Actually, I picked up the book last month after you recommended another pain management one I couldn't find at the book store and it's dog-eared and full of sticky notes already. Now all I need is for my dogs to stop stepping on me every time I lie down on the floor to do my exercises...

Good luck
Schragie-girl
 
pepper,just talk with your primary and skip the idiot surgeon who doesn't "believe' in PT.thats really an idiotic minRABet for a surgeon to have,espescially any level of surgeon.your primary is actually the one who is in charge of coordinating your healthcare,not the stupid surgeon.no good knowledgable surgeon wants any patient just lying around and not 'doing' anything to help themselves get better.thats just insane really.i just had a rotator cuff repair done on my right shoulder(hence the crappeir than normal typng)but i am busting my butt doing PT right now to get my arm back.direct orders from my surgeon.i am sure your primary would want you to go thru this.but just skip the surgeon and go with your primary for this.i m sure you will get a much more positive response from him.i just cannot believe the surgeons way of thinking here,really.

Hey kathy,(i feel lke i am stalking you since we keep popping up in the same places here,lol)just wanted to know what the exact extent of your pre op cord involvement was?(just what did it state on your MRI about the cord itself?any myelomalacia?)this could just possibly explain at least some of what you are experiencing right now(also just what they had to do to try and fix things could have impacted your cord in some way as well.it would just be a natural risk with the surgery you had).i answered your post in the spinalboarRAB ,if you could pop backthere and let me know,i would like to try and help you sort this all out.marcia
 
Hi Pepper,
Walk, Walk and Walk some more!!! It is the best exercise for the back. Walking actually uses every muscle that supports your spine. Walking in the pool even better yet! Until your stronger I would just do that, no danger of injuring your back by walking. You will see how much stronger your back & tummy will feel after a month or so of walking daily. I am going to order the bean shaped ball, dr. approved me using that as opposed to the exercise ball. he said it was the safest way to do crunch type exercises because it supports the lower back really well.

Other than that not much else to offer, sorry.

God BLess

Carol
 
Pepper while you are capable of doing alot of basic exercises on your own, you really could benefit from a physical therapist that specializes in spine rehab. They can do some amazing things to help you get stronger and more comfortable.

My gal is all the way in Winchester, or I would send you there or anyone in a heartbeat! She is a miracle worker.

But I think you need to be your own advocate here and squeak to whoever neeRAB to hear you to get some therapy. If that guy wont help you.. find one that will.

Enjoy that hot tub gal! I loved mine when I had it.
 
i totally agree pepper,you DO need someone to guide you thru rehabbing anything,espescially with back problems.your surgeon is a total a** by the way.doesn't 'believe' in PT?idiotic,really.any good surgeon knows that good directed PT is one of the best ways to regain strength and mobility.if it wasn't for the excellent PT i had after my spinal cord surgery i wouldn't be walking right now or typing this with my lame left hand either.its crucial in regaining what you actually have left to work with.

you really could use the overall expertise of a really good physiatrist(this is not a pshyc doc)these specialists are really highly trained physical medicine docs who work with people who are in your shoes right now.this was the type of doc that was in charge of my post op rehab and he was extremely knowledgable in muscle/nerve and the interactions of regaining mobility.you just really need a good solid PT plan set up and overseen by a good rehab doc,and not just one of the runof the mill little PT places where they really don't 'do' a whole lot for you.unfortunetly i have been thru that too and they were just pathetic compared to the real PT i recieved before.no comparrison there.i would speak with your primary pepper about getting a referral to a good physiatrist(pronounced:fizz e ah trist)for the best possible assessment/eval and PT plan for you personally.everyone is very different when it comes to PT neeRAB.i just really think this type of doc could do the very best job for you.they just really know soo much more.you need to find out just where you are at and what you do still haveto work with that just has not been utilized becasue of pain and restrictions.you probably have alot of good solid muscle there that has just become atrophied becasue you 'couldn't" use it.this type of doc would know just by looking at you,and watching you move.this is what i would do if i were in your shoes right now hon.see what your doc says.good luck pepper.Marcia
 
I'm like you: Just 3 weeks out of spinal fusion to fuse T3-T5 and was told about the different kinRAB of exercises that I'm allowed to do. Some of them seem contrary to what would make sense to me, and other's are just much to difficult at this stage in my recovery. I'm supposed to see my pain management specialist this Friday and I'm hoping to get clarification. I have much increased pain since I had surgery and although a very recent flat xray showed that all the hardware that was placed during surgery is still in there and functioning. But my back feels much different than it did the first week out of surgery. I wasn't in this kind of pain and I didn't get pain while walking in certain positions. To me it feels as if something has gone terribly wrong. Do you all think I should just stop the exercises for now until I see him late tomorrow? Thanks - Memere (K'Mac);)
 
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