Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Spinal fusing

Curious to hear from people with spinal fusing. I guess on the fus-o-meter I'm a 10 since I'm fused from top to bottom. Pain is manageable but obviously mobility is a problem. I've inquired about whether anything could be done, at least the at the top so I could turn my head a little but any cutting around the spinal column makes surgeons pretty nervous. Wondering how common fusing is for people with AS. Not knowing I just assumed everyone with AS dealt with it.

I think full spinal fusion is rare. After 20 years of AS, I only have partial fusing in the spine, with my S-I joint being fully fused (after which my hip pain abated). In these extreme instances, I'm not sure you could have done anything to prevent it. Hopefully, some others experiencing this will reply.

Fully Fused the last 14 years. I don;t know of any way to increase neck movement except to continue to try and move neck as much as it will move. I have very little side to side do have some up and down. Good Luck. Some people have had sucess with the rods down the spine but the neck is still locked. They are able to stand up straight. I have also known some that had the surgery and the results were not so good.

Hi

I only have fusion in my SI joints and thoracic spine. My lumbar and cervical spine has not been effected. and I am hoping at 50 maybe they won't


Janet

When you say "not affected" do you mean no fusion, or not affected at all, like no loss of ROM, pain, etc? Thanks!

At 62 I am also fully fused, been that way a good 20 yrs., took 20 yrs to do it. I even managed to break it once between c6 and c7 11 yrs. ago. I had managed to fuse fairly straight, but when they put the halo on the only way it would line up to heal left me looking down at about a 45 degree angle. All those yrs. of fighting to retain good posture, and in the end it went where it wanted to anyway.
J.R.