sitting

[Guest guest]

I have been dx'ed with PLS and have a problem with sitting. I'm

curious to know if it's a common problem or just me? After sitting

for 5 minutes my legs start to get pins and needles and go numb,

after 15-20 minutes I have to stand up. When I start to walk my legs

spasm and I have a hard time walking for 10-12 steps then it's my

normal stiffness. It makes going any where kind of miserable! Please

give me a post even to let me know what you think.

Thanks, Roy

[Guest guest]

Maggie,

You didnt address this to me, but I will take a swing at the answer.

Sitting, in the early days after revision is somewhat difficult....the worst is

in the early days. Then....after the post op trauma subsides, the problem, for

me anyway, somewhat related to the complete lack of stamina of all the muscles

that hold you upright when you sit upright in a flat chair. You will feel

exhausted sitting after even short periods of time. Also, you will not be able

to sit comfortably for a long time on a soft surface....you will want a chair

that is relatively flat with firm, supportive arms that you can use to support

yourself as you rise. Think of, (and locate if you dont have one), a chair like

you might find in a doctors waiting room. You will use it a lot in the period

following surgery.

As the mending continues, and your muscular support structure starts getting

stronger, you will find that you can sit for longer and longer periods of

time....but you will almost always be most comfortable if you have a pillow to

shove into the newly created lordosis whenever you are sitting for more than a

few minutes. It gets better over time, and I could sit anywhere almost

indefinitely now, even a bleacher seat, but that took time.

As to work.....same as it is for the regular population....sitting is just the

worst thing for your body....and the ergonomics of it will change after surgery

a bit. You will probably find you need to take very regular breaks to stretch,

and in the early days probably find that you need to lay down on a couch or

something every few hours to relax your spinal muscles. I think you might also

look at work stations that permit you to work at a computer standing up. Or

figure out if there is a place that you can comfortably do that.

We have had plenty of folks go back to work that had computer/desk type jobs. It

requires some adjustments depending on your own unique post op

circumstances....but dont get the idea that you will not be able to sit and work

from Elaines report just 2 weeks after surgery. Most of us wait at least 3-4

months after surgery to even consider going back to work part time.

Patience is the key!

Take Care, Cam

>

> hmmm... Elaine! that is very interesting (about the lordosis and the sitting).

I spend my entire day sitting down (for work). I am in software development. I

am not working right now as I have just come off a very demanding contract so I

need time to rest and get ready for my revision. Do you find it painful when

sitting? I should probably mention this to my doc. Maybe post revision I will

not be able to work?

> Thanks, for that... I didn't even think of it! I am happy to hear that

everyone is doing so well post surgery though! I can hardly wait till I am at

the other side of 4 months post op!!!

>

> Look after YOU!

> Maggie.

>

[Guest guest]

All,

I remember in 1967, after the surgery, my dad built a desk I could stand

and do my work---I still have a very difficult time at work....sitting

all day really takes a toll. I have noticed, when I am off of work for

several days in a row, I don't have near the pain I do most days.

Debra

cammaltby wrote:

>

> Maggie,

>

> You didnt address this to me, but I will take a swing at the answer.

>

> Sitting, in the early days after revision is somewhat difficult....the

> worst is in the early days. Then....after the post op trauma subsides,

> the problem, for me anyway, somewhat related to the complete lack of

> stamina of all the muscles that hold you upright when you sit upright

> in a flat chair. You will feel exhausted sitting after even short

> periods of time. Also, you will not be able to sit comfortably for a

> long time on a soft surface....you will want a chair that is

> relatively flat with firm, supportive arms that you can use to support

> yourself as you rise. Think of, (and locate if you dont have one), a

> chair like you might find in a doctors waiting room. You will use it a

> lot in the period following surgery.

>

> As the mending continues, and your muscular support structure starts

> getting stronger, you will find that you can sit for longer and longer

> periods of time....but you will almost always be most comfortable if

> you have a pillow to shove into the newly created lordosis whenever

> you are sitting for more than a few minutes. It gets better over time,

> and I could sit anywhere almost indefinitely now, even a bleacher

> seat, but that took time.

>

> As to work.....same as it is for the regular population....sitting is

> just the worst thing for your body....and the ergonomics of it will

> change after surgery a bit. You will probably find you need to take

> very regular breaks to stretch, and in the early days probably find

> that you need to lay down on a couch or something every few hours to

> relax your spinal muscles. I think you might also look at work

> stations that permit you to work at a computer standing up. Or figure

> out if there is a place that you can comfortably do that.

>

> We have had plenty of folks go back to work that had computer/desk

> type jobs. It requires some adjustments depending on your own unique

> post op circumstances....but dont get the idea that you will not be

> able to sit and work from Elaines report just 2 weeks after surgery.

> Most of us wait at least 3-4 months after surgery to even consider

> going back to work part time.

>

> Patience is the key!

>

> Take Care, Cam

>

>

> >

> > hmmm... Elaine! that is very interesting (about the lordosis and the

> sitting). I spend my entire day sitting down (for work). I am in

> software development. I am not working right now as I have just come

> off a very demanding contract so I need time to rest and get ready for

> my revision. Do you find it painful when sitting? I should probably

> mention this to my doc. Maybe post revision I will not be able to work?

> > Thanks, for that... I didn't even think of it! I am happy to hear

> that everyone is doing so well post surgery though! I can hardly wait

> till I am at the other side of 4 months post op!!!

> >

> > Look after YOU!

> > Maggie.

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

I went back to work at a desk job, 4 weeks after my flatback causing surgery, & continued to work for the next year & a half, in full blown flatback (forward pitch of 30 degrees). My bosses were VERY accomodating to my condition. I had my pick of a new chair, money was no object. I first tried one of those ergonomic stools that looks kind of like a saddle. When that was rejected, they bought me a $385 chair from Office Depot. It was better than anything else. It was completely adjustable (front/back...up/down...recline/erect). Even though I had the best, pain resulting from sitting for extended periods of time was unbeatable. My only relief was using ANY excuse to get up & move as often as possible. Like I said, my boss was GREAT. When everything else failed, I bargained for

coming to work a half hour early & leaving a half hour late, so I could have a 2 hour lunch to lay down. I never thought I could get my boss to agree to me taking a long lunch, but he did. I like that you suggested a recliner. Even if your boss says "no"...nothing ventured, nothing gained. Keep trying to think outside the box. Maybe you'll come up with something he will say "yes" to. I guess my point is, somtimes for people with our spinal conditions, there is no substitute for moving when you start to stiffen up & rest.

Kathy

From: bahadreama <bahadreama@...>Subject: [ ] Re: Date: Friday, May 7, 2010, 2:45 PM

Hello, all!I just happened to see this post about sitting today and thought I would chime in. It has been 3 years since my revision surgery. I changed jobs after surgery and went from teaching in a classroom to teaching online. My boss is a control freak and has us all working in the office in a cubicle farm instead of letting us work from home. It wasn't so bad when I first started working here about 5 months after surgery. I was careful to sit properly, get up and walk around often and I had a pretty decent chair. About a year ago, we moved to a new office and got new chairs. It is also not as easy to walk around in the new office. For the past two months, I have been having increasing pain while sitting. I am not sure if it is because I haven't been walking as much or if it is the chair. I definitely intend to ask Dr Bridwell for suggestions when I see him in 2 weeks.I have looked at adjustable desks and treadmill desks, but my

boss does not want to spend that much money. I have suggested that they buy a recliner and a laptop that anybody can use on break, but I don't think they took that suggestion very seriously.All I know is that I am not happy about having pain even if it is only occasional. It is hard to try out a chair long enough to see if it will be better without using it for a couple of weeks.>> Maggie,> > While in the middle of this journey through Flatback, it's easy to kinda get lost in it all, to cling onto every thing said, like wow, thats me. I think you have to know that no two of us go through this battle the same way, or have the same cascade of

problems, or even go about surgery the same way. Cam and I are case in point, while she and I both had Flatback, she and I came to the point of surgery differently, her decline went relatively quickly compared to mine, I really only did well after my harrington was placed for a decade, and even then not as well as her. She got a lot of GOOD years, I really didn't. Does that deminish the pain she went through, just cause my case was far longer, no. This just shows that two people with the same surgery, some of the same complications, and need for revision, come to the surgical table differently, while we have a common battle, her case is not mine, nor mine hers, but low these many years we have been partners and friends in our work here.> > I say this because, I think many times you see a snippet of info here in discussions and cling to it. Case in point sitting. You may fullwell get back to your career just fine after surgery. Sitting

while not my favorite position after revision, I'd much rather walk and stand( so glorious after decades of not being able to do so), sitting for me is neither painful, or does it do stressful things to my body. When the group is quite active, I spend hours in a chair at the computer, not only my answering here, but I spend time on Epilepsy sites dealing with my son's illness. True enough that during surgery they remake our spines for standing and walking, but, sitting while not perfection, for me at least, doesn't bother me to the point I have pain or loss of function. So my point is, see how YOU DO, no two of us are exactly the same. > > Also know time away from surgery brings at least for me, added adjustments and healing, and things that were difficult right after surgery, become easier. I'm going into my 9th year post revisions, and I'm still surprised at how I'm still finding that things are still improving. While my hardware

configuration gives me less forward lean than most here, I do very well, and live the life I want. So have hope.> > As to having many surgeries, I've had four spine surgeries too, but I in no way hold a record, we have had members here with far more, and far more complicated spines than mine. My three revisions came in 2 calendar years, a lot for me and my family to handle, but we got through it. I'd have surgery again tomorrow if need be, because I've seen the benefits of fighting the good fight. While it took a lot of surgery to get me where I am, I'm thankful, everytime I walk through a store, play at the park with my Granddaughter, or do the three mile Breast Cancer walk I did last year, I'm grateful.> > You have to know it sucks to have what we have, but on the other hand they can do something to help us. > > I hope someday down the road, doc's and support people will better get our bodies and find a way to

manage our chronic condition better. It may take a team. Surgeons cut, and mine handles any issues that come up with me, and he's local for me, but not everyone has that. Many develope their own team, PT, pain mgt if needed, a good PCP, and other modalities that keep them comfortable and functioning well. This week is case in point with those who have shared their exercise routines.> > So, my point is in a round about way, we all have Flatback but we all come to surgery in different bodies, and it's good to be very aware how things go for others, but no two recoveries go the same. You will have to see how it plays out for you, The joy of being here, is we are there for each other in real time, and we get it, and know, all the questions you ask, the stories you tell, help someone reading and not up to asking things themselves yet.> > Have hope, it was what I clung to through my surgeries, it isn't easy, but hope, along with

doing your homework, finding the best surgeon for you, allowing your body time to heal and following protocol, will give you the best shot at coming out of this well.> > > Colorado Springs> > > [ ] Re:> > > > > Cam, > Just a further about getting me to a diagnosis and to surgery.... I am not bitter or angry about my journey here. This is very complex and there are only a handful of surgeons that understand the complications. At the time I was very sad and disillusioned but that being said, I knew I wasn't crazy

and I knew what was happening was real. I am a certified mensa genius and I am not afraid of knowledge so I set out on my own to understand and find my own solution. I am now in a position to help others including the medical field to understand so that should someone such as me cross their path, their journey might be a very different one. Hind sight I think surgeons and the healthcare team has a responsibility to us, long term, for continual monitoring, career and lifestyle counseling proactively rather than reactively to allow us to live full and productive lives to the best of our abilities. Short term surgical success means little to me now, entering into my fourth surgery in my mid 30s. Perhaps had I known that sitting was the worst thing for us, I wouldnt have selected to be a computer scientist. But, that is another discussion for another day! .. All of us will get there and we will enjoy life. People in this group are proof of that!

> Loads of support to each of you!> Maggie.>