[nancyd766]

#29028

I had an ALIF in December of 2016. I had had 2 previous cesarian sections and a tummy tuck years prior. My question to you is that almost 2 years later i still look pregnant on the left side. My back is all right, thank G-d, but I have this heavy feeling on the left side of the abdomen, and it looks unsightly. It is very uncomfortable and a fullness feeling as if someone blew up a balloon and just stuck it in my stomach. I am completely devastated by this and am trying to understand why this happened. My surgeon never told me this was a risk factor for an ALIF, he only said that he recommended an ALIF for spondolithesis because it would take 3 hours as opposed to a posterior lumbar spine fusion. If my abdominal muscles were compromised by c sections and tummy tuck, should t i have been told this this might not be a good option.Its been 2 years, I’ve had to buy new clothes and throw out the old ones. Although I am not a skinny person, I did at one time feel still sexy. Also, it appears that my body was shifted. one side. My belly button has been permanently pushed about an inch to the right. Please help. I do not know where to go or what todo. Nancy

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#29059

An anterior approach has to cut through or separate muscular walls of the abdomen to approach the spine. The nerve supply also travels through these walls. Through retraction, it is probable that there is now a section of wall that has lost its nerve supply (denervation) and the muscles now “out-pouch”. Since it has been almost two years since surgery, nerve recovery will most likely not occur. There are specialists in abdominal wall hernia repair who can repair this defect with a mesh if this appearance is problematic.

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.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#29060

An anterior approach has to cut through or separate muscular walls of the abdomen to approach the spine. The nerve supply also travels through these walls. Through retraction, it is probable that there is now a section of wall that has lost its nerve supply (denervation) and the muscles now “out-pouch”. Since it has been almost two years since surgery, nerve recovery will most likely not occur. There are specialists in abdominal wall hernia repair who can repair this defect with a mesh if this appearance is problematic.

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.

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