Spinal Fusion issues

@sherrym25

My therapist is working on my glutes and abdominals. It is intense too but it feels great post session !!!! I will ask about skin rolling, but I think I know what she is doing. Thanks.

I use this ball inbetween and this beautiful stretch that stretches the facia all along the back. I hesitate to post it cause it may not be right for everyone depending on their particular situation. However, feel free to contact me individually if you like. Also you can google essentrics.com for great facial work you can do on your own. I receive no commission ;). For $15 a month you can access 100's of videos. There are specific aging back-words and etc. Highly recommend because it is dynamic movement that can strengthen as you Lengthen, which helps you keep the flexibility after the stretch is complete. Dynamic stretching or movement is often used in rehab. Of course as always check with your medical professionals first before trying any new movement, etc.

@borders74 If you are looking for a specialist to diagnose TOS, look at a medical center that lists it as a condition they treat. Often it would be a neurologist or a thoracic vascular surgeon. Don’t hesitate to call and talk with a therapist you are considering and ask about their experience treating TOS. It is a lot of hands on stretching of neck and shoulder and chest muscles.

@borders74 glad you have an avenue to pursue!! I was suppose to have a thoracic decompression and first rib removed for TOS but I got sick before the surgery and Mayo said to hold off. Went back to the vascular surgeon and he was no longer at that hospital. Saw a new vascular surgeon and he said that TOS didn't exist in some Dr's opinions. It confused me. So now I don't know what to do as far as that goes. Glad I didn't have the surgery though. Hope all goes well and you start feeling better soon!!! I am not a negative guy, I have just had some crazy experiences.

@sassytwo
Hey Tamra, thanks for the information! I will ask my therapist about it. She doesn’t have me stretching yet. It’s all deep muscle massage and now the skin rolling.
I will also check out the essentrics website. Thank you for sharing!

@livininthestix You’re right. TOS is controversial just because a lot of doctors don’t understand it and there are different places that the compression occurs and it’s not the same for everyone. The surgery for it doesn’t have the same success as other surgery and the scar tissue caused by the surgery can make TOS worse. I was advised it would take about 3 years of PT to get better. Posture really matters and putting this in simple terms, you try to loosen chest muscles on the front of the body and strengthen back muscles for good posture. You have to try to loosen all the tight fascia and I did a lot of myofascial release and I still do my home stretches. If you have not tried that and wish to explore it, there is a provider search at mfrtherapists.com. We also have a myofascial release discussion with a lot of good information.

@sherrym25 mine does the deep muscle on my gluts and trochanter area ouch but so beneficial

I'd recommend a referral to Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, FL neurosurgeons. They fix other surgeon's mistakes.

@jenniferhunter Thanks for the reply. The surgeon said the surgery was very painful and it would only fix one side and not the other. I am constantly trying to stick my chest out and stretch but I find myself looking at the ground and slouched all the time. I have been to 3 different physical therapist and they only did a few appointments and sent me back saying I needed to see a surgeon. Tried a chiropractor and he called a Neurologist while I was on the table and said I had red flag symptoms. Still can't seem to figure out what is going on. Looks like my facet joints are bad under the fusion now. Its nice to be able to talk with others on here for all the craziness we have all and are still going through. So thank you!!!

@livininthestix I have had C5 and C6 fused and have TOS. I am also a horse owner and riding just at a walk does wonders for my back and builds strength from the bottom up. I sit up straight with good posture. At first that is tiring, but as I gain strength, it no longer fatigues as much. There are therapeutic riding centers if you wanted to try something like that and we have a discussion on here about horses and therapeutic riding that you can search for. I know this helps my spine and TOS. I do have to be careful in lifting to saddle my horse as it can aggravate the TOS, but I also do myofascial stretches at home using some therapy tools.

Hi. I’m 49 years old and quite athletic. 30 years ago I had a spinal fusion from T3-L2. I experience occasional back pain but it’s mostly minor. If I’ve been very active for long periods of time, my back gets stiff and I have difficulty fully standing up for a little bit.

I just received an MRI showing severe facet arthritis, a few disc protrusions, bone marrow edema at the rod ending, and a couple spots of nerve abutment between L3 and S1. Some segments are better than others. There is also some vertebrae slip (less than 5 mm) between L4 and L5.

Radiologically, I look a mess, but I have strong core muscles and don’t feel much pain… yet. Am I just bound for surgical intervention no matter what?

I wish the surgeon who did my fusion better explained the risks of degeneration at the time. I did it for scoliosis and I mag not have corrected it had I known. I am scared about the future especially the idea of potentially being in chronic pain or immobilized in some way.