[texasspondy]

#6197

dustingfab post=1901 wrote: Thanks for the clear explanation Dr. Corenman. So a fusion regardless of location of the spine replaces pain for stiffness. And with stiffness, a person would need to change their lifestyle and level activity.

I can totally see that. I have adopted a flat back program as Dr. Corenman had mentioned to me a few months back. Although I do some hip flexor and floor hamstring stretching, my area around the L5 and probably l4 are stiffer. Basically I have not bent over really, I’ve just been kneeling, squating down if I have to bend over. I can feel if I try to tuck my pelvis upward, that it’s stiff in the l4/l5 area. Stiffness for a trade off of pain, probably not such a bad thing.
My biggest issue is if I have to bend over, or lift something heavy, my low back gets knotted up with muscle spasms, cause it’s trying to hold everything together, that’s the part I am disgusted with.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#6201

You are correct but if you only needed a one level fusion, you could return to all activities without restriction. It is only when you reach a two level fusion that restrictions are necessary.

Dr. Corenman

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#6202

This is exactly the dilemma that occurs with correct posture, core strengthening and ergonomics. The adoption of these preventions can help tremendously but under certain loads, no matter how strong the core is, the physics of bending and lifting typically overcome the learned protective mechanisms and pain results.

Dr. Corenman

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