What is Arnold Chiari Malformation
Arnold-Chiari malformation, sometimes referred to as 'Chiari malformation' or ACM, is a congenital anomaly of the brain.
Arnold-Chiari Malformation II occurs in almost all ch...
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Returning to work and lifting post-op
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Before my surgery my NS told me I would be able to return to work within 8-12 weeks. I asked if I could return without restrictions being able to lift patients and about activities like horse back riding. His reply wast that I would be able to do anything than I could before surgery.
I had my 5 week post-op visit this past week. He seemed reluctant to lift any restrictions. "Take it easy, your still healing" I understand that but when I asked about going back to work, he said we would talk about it more after my MRI in 4 more weeks and told me to start thinking about what I could do at work with restrictions and working shorter hours 4, 6, or 8 hours, instead of going back to full 12 hr shifts. My job discription requires lifting, bending, pulling and pushing. Was wondering if anyone that has decompression with laminectomy and duraplasty have been able to work and able to lift. I read where someone said you weren't supposed to lift over 40 pounds after this surgery. Posted on 10/25/09, 12:10 pm |
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Please, I don't mean to be rude... I am stunned and will take your post at face value.
You should have been given a very detailed list of restrictions and cautions. You can live a "normal" life but you have to be careful. Anyone who led you to believe otherwise is 100% wrong...and should be shot..or at least suffer brain herniation. 
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I am 9 1/2 years post of sub-occicpital decompression & c1 laminectomy. I cannot regularly lift more than a gallon of milk. If i do, i will suffer horribly. I may physically be able to do it at times, but i will be "chiari sick" for weeks if not months afterwards. I am permanently disabled from Chiari & the affects.
I am going to be honest here and i hope i am not being too hurtful. A slow leisurely stroll on a horse may be a possibility for you personally, eventually in a few YEARS after surgery ...but the NSG will never be able to tell you if that will be possible for you.. But true horseback riding, no NSG will ever recommend. The bouncing and jarring motion is way too much for any chiari patient. It is a shame that he misled/withheld the truth that you would never be able to do that kind of horseback riding..
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And absolutely NO patient lifting!
I wrote a long reply to this post, as well, and it was lost when I hit "Add." But anyway...it's hard to hear the truth sometimes, but here is where you will hear it. And it's important for you to know that going back to real horseback riding...and if your job is lifting patients, well, all of that really is not feasible for anyone with Chiari, post surgery or not. It's such a tragic thing that the things we love are the things that get taken away. I know.
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PS...it should have been not to lift over the weight of a gallon of milk post op!! And less than that as recent as your surgery is. sorry
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Hi, and thanks for your honesty. I will have to say I am greatly disappointed and feel I was mislead. There is no way I can do my present job in an emergency room without lifting. My employer says I am a valued employee and that they will work with me going back with restrictions for a short term. I cannot afford to change careers and will not qualify for disability.
As for the horsback riding, I don't think I have much to worry about the riding. I raised my horse, he is gentle TWH, and there is no jar, my biggist worry is pulling myself up onto him and or course the possibllty of falling off.
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