Scheuermann's Disease Support Group

My husbad just went through a surgery to correct hi Kyphosis.

The Surgeon failed to mention he will not be able to reach his rear to wipe!!

Is this due to post surgical swelling or is this permanent? He has a Rod from T2 to L1 if that helps.

If this is permanent how do I tell him so he won't try to hurt himself. He wouldn't want to live like that. He is WAY private and has a hard time letting anyone help him.

a very concerned wife.

HI there

welcome to mdjunction and thanks for your discussion topic.

unfortunately i have no idea if this is permanant i guess it will be something you will need to speak to the dr about...

let us know how it progresses, hopefully it is jsut some temporary swelling, that will subside in time..

thinking of you.

cinderella

I just had T2 to L3 or the other around and I can wipe my butt. I will tell you that I can't turn my body and wipe from the back because they don't want you to twist after surgery. I had a friend with most lumbar fusions and they gave her a stick that toliet paper hooks on to somehow. You might want to ask his doctor about this. The only time I can wipe is without my brace. With my brace it is nearly impossible. This is a really good quesiton. I asked this to my doctor before I went under the knife.

I will be happy to tell you that this is not going to last forever!!My first surgery was from T2 TO L2 and also this was an anterior and a posterior surgery. Having to have surgery threw your chest first really makes this surgery a lot harder then just threw the back. I am now after having five surgery's fused from C4 TO L2. I believe in a couple of months your wipeing abilities will return. May be hard for awhile but you will get there. If he had surgery threw the chest and threw the back it is just the swelling and stiffness that make it so hard to bend there. I at first thought I would be stuck like that forever but trust me soon you will be able to bend as you could before the surgery. You must remember that this is one of the most painfull surgery's out there especially if it is an anterior and posterior and is a major major surgery and takes a long time to recover from.

Sally