[JimMiller]

#29441

I wore an aspen quick draw back brace every day for nearly 7 years before my TLIF surgery for grade one spondy.

Most of the time I stuffed the brace in my pants and wore unattached which would seem to allow me to walk and lift heavier items. I would attached brace when needed.

Now 1.5 years after surgery, I am now fused (on the TLIF side) and seem to be able to walk as far as I want without the brace however, I can not lift heavy items and it hurts to bend over.

Every time I start a core strengthening program, bridges, planks, bird dog I am left with a good flare up in back and hip too.

I am am still wobbly on my feet without the brace. I have done swimming, cycling, walking but not much PT.

1.) Is the hip and back pain, weakness I am experiencing from wearing the brace for so long?

2.) What can I do to be able to lift heavier items, bend and twist again?

Thank you

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#29444

Do you have a solid interbody fusion proven by a CT scan? Do you have any solid posterolateral fusion (where the screws are located)? Is the disc above normal or degenerative? Is the fusion alignment normal?

Has the surgeon examined your hips to determine if there is any disorder there?

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

[JimMiller]

#29685

Yes, I believe have solid fusion, however it appears to be just on the TLIF side. Disc above is fine. Fusion alignment normal.

I am trying to rehab and seem to get flare up in pain when doing “bridge” exercises. Even doing quarter bridges can generate flare up. Most other rehab exercises do not generate pain.

1.) Is this from the scar tissues in back from incision or from the spinal muscles being weak from wearing brace for so long?

NSAIDs usually seem to calm it down but it can carry on a couple days.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#29690

As long as you know that you have a solid fusion, you could have insertional tendonitis (“tennis elbow of the back”). This condition can be managed by performing extension exercises mainly by using a rowing machine or extension sets on a back machine. Occasionally, sacroiliac joint syndrome can cause this type of pain but it is a rare condition and normally the symptoms are only one-sided.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

[JimMiller]

#29703

Thank you, would it be possible to send you a CD of my most recent CT scan and flex/ext X rays for online consult?

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#29704

I do have a program called a long-distance consultation. This consultation incorporates all the new patient information including a complete history and review of all imaging and consultations. However, there obviously is no ability to perform a physical examination. This means that without a face-to-face meeting, the consultation is advisory only. That is, the individual does not become an actual patient.

The interested individual fills out the new patient consult sheet, send all the available records, images and consultations and any patient pictures that is felt to be pertinent. I review all of these documents and images and then discuss all of this personally with you over the phone for about 20-30 minutes. Any new tests that I think could be helpful, I ask you to ask your family physician to order. Generally, there is no problem having these physicians order these tests. Further discussions over the phone after the long-distance consultation are of no charge within reason. The long distance consultation helps if you are eventually going to come out to Colorado as I will know what is necessary and will have “covered all the bases” prior to your in-person visit.

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

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