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Just wanted to share post-surgical success!!!

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  • Just wanted to share post-surgical success!!!

    I know a lot of people who come to this form are driven here looking for answers because they are unhappy with or unsure about what to do about their scoliosis/kyphosis, etc.

    Well, I just wanted to share with you all how I am doing at almost 2 years post-op. I am fused from T2-L2 posteriorly, for kyphoscoliosis. While I admit that the first 6 weeks were really rough, it was all downhill from there. I went back to college full time (I am 22 now, I was 20 when I had surgery), and at about 5-6 months I started to exercise again, as sports were a really important part of my life beforehand (I played basketball mainly).

    This past Sunday, I completed my FIRST HALF-MARATHON!!! That's 13.1 miles!! Believe me, I was SO excited when I finished. I placed 12th in my class, with a time of 1:47:42 (that's 8 minute, 14 second miles!) I have been running 30-35 miles a week since January, and my back has never felt better. I feel like it got a lot stronger along the way too. I have also learned to slalom since my surgery.

    Anyways, I just wanted to give some hope to other people out there who are nervous about what is going to happen to them after surgery. I know that not everyone has this good of an outcome, but if you really push yourself to get better, it is possible! Check out my 1/2 marathon pictures here----->
    http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...0&l=521a44cd9b

    Also, my surgery pictures are here if you are interested!!!
    aBbiE
    22 yr old F,KU college student
    Kyphoscoliosis...
    Scoliosis (25T, 23L) diagnosed @ 14 yrs old; curves June 08 were 45T, 32L with 18 degree rotation
    Kyphosis of 65 degrees...
    I am missing a lumbar vertebrae

    Surgery 6/30/2008 with Dr. Lawrence Lenke
    Fused T2-L2


    before/after pics
    all smiles!

  • #2
    Wow you got an amazing correction!

    Lenke is an artist.

    Congrats on the 1/2 marathon! Very inspiring.
    Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

    No island of sanity.

    Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
    Answer: Medicine


    "We are all African."

    Comment


    • #3
      Hi Abbie

      You have done well! I just cannot believe how far you run. I'm lucky if I can walk 100 feet across the parking lot to go skiing!
      LOL (skiers joke)

      Ed
      49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
      Pre surgery curves T70,L70
      ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
      Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

      Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
      http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

      My x-rays
      http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

      http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

      Comment


      • #4
        Abbie -- Thanks so much for sharing your story. How inspiring!

        Glenda
        Glenda
        Age 66 Georgia (63 at time of surgery)
        Bi-lateral laminectomy 2006
        Kyphoscoliosis, approx 38* lumbar scoliosis, stenosis, disk herniations, lower back and hip pain, w/radiating pain, stinging and numbness in legs.
        A/P fusion (T10-S2) 5/17/10 and 5/20/10
        Dr Yoon, Emory Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital, Atlanta, GA
        Pleased with outcome

        Comment


        • #5
          I agree with Pooka, that's an amazing correction. What is that 0 degrees?!
          Vali
          44 years young! now 45
          Surgery - June 1st, 2009
          Dr David Hall - Adelaide Spine Clinic
          St. Andrews Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia
          Pre-op curve - 58 degree lumbar
          Post -op - 5 degrees
          T11 - S1 Posterior
          L4/5 - L5/S1 Anterior Fusion

          Comment


          • #6
            Congratulations on your accomplishment and your excelent surgical outcome!
            __________________________________________
            Debbe - 50 yrs old

            Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
            Told by Dr. my curve would never progress

            Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
            Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
            Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees

            Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
            Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degrees

            Comment


            • #7
              Congratulations! That is great news!
              36 year young cardiac RN
              old curve C 29, T 70, L 50
              new curve C 7, T 23, L 20
              Surgery June 11, UCH, Dr. Cronen T2-L5, posterior
              Revision December 20 L5-S1 with pelvic fixation
              and Osteotomy to L3 at Tampa General Hospital

              Comment


              • #8
                Abbie,
                Congratulations on your marathon and on your straight back. Thanks for sharing your pictures. Was Dr. Lenke your surgeon?
                Karen

                Surgery-Jan. 5, 2011-Dr. Lenke
                Fusion T-4-sacrum-2 cages/5 osteotomies
                70 degree thoracolumbar corrected to 25
                Rib Hump-GONE!
                Age-60 at the time of surgery
                Now 66
                Avid Golfer & Tap Dancer
                Retired Kdgn. Teacher

                See photobucket link for:
                Video of my 1st Day of Golf Post-Op-3/02/12-Bradenton, FL
                Before and After Picture of back 1/7/11
                tap dancing picture at 10 mos. post op 11/11/11-I'm the one on the right.
                http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/k630/pottoff2/

                Comment


                • #9
                  Abbie, Congrats on your marathon and your fantastic recovery...and for having the guts to go through BOTH! I have to ask you...I had surgery with Lenke almost 4 weeks ago. My curve was 62 degrees thoracic. When I look at myself in the mirror now from the front, I seem to be curved the other way now. My right shoulder used to be higher, but now my left shoulder is higher and I look bent the other way. Do you remember feeling that when you were just 4 weeks post op? I'm hoping it is normal and my body will readjust.
                  Thanks in advance for your thoughts and best of luck to you!
                  Laura
                  62 degrees
                  49 yrs. young
                  Surgery 3/31/10 with Lenke

                  Before and After pics
                  http://www.flickr.com/photos/13749126@N06/

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Radiogirl View Post
                    Abbie, Congrats on your marathon and your fantastic recovery...and for having the guts to go through BOTH! I have to ask you...I had surgery with Lenke almost 4 weeks ago. My curve was 62 degrees thoracic. When I look at myself in the mirror now from the front, I seem to be curved the other way now. My right shoulder used to be higher, but now my left shoulder is higher and I look bent the other way. Do you remember feeling that when you were just 4 weeks post op? I'm hoping it is normal and my body will readjust.
                    Thanks in advance for your thoughts and best of luck to you!
                    Your body will most likely readjust over the next few months. I saw it happen twice so I'm fairly confident in saying this.

                    My one kid was despondent over the change in high shoulder before and after surgery and was hammering me over it. The surgeon said it would settle and it did. She is even. Both kids are even.
                    Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

                    No island of sanity.

                    Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
                    Answer: Medicine


                    "We are all African."

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Yay, Abbie! I am soooo proud of you and your accomplishments. And I was so surprised so much time has passed by! I have your pic in my scrapbook, you know! Keep up the great work-- and thanks so much for letting us all know! Hugs, Susie
                      71 and plugging along... but having some problems
                      2007 52° w/ severe lumbar stenosis & L2L3 lateral listhesis (side shift)
                      5/4/07 posterior fusion T2-L4 w/ laminectomies and osteotomies @L2L3, L3L4
                      Dr. Kim Hammerberg, Rush Univ. Medical Center in Chicago

                      Corrected to 15°
                      CMT (type 2) DX in 2014, progressing
                      10/2018 x-rays - spondylolisthesis at L4/L5 - Dr. DeWald is monitoring

                      Click to view my pics: pics of scoli x-rays digital x-rays, and pics of me

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Good for you, Abbie, that's amazing. Congratulations for having the courage to do this while you were young and could get such a successful outcome!


                        Anne in PA
                        Age 58
                        Diagnosed at age 14, untreated, no problem until age 50
                        T4 to sacrum fusion
                        63 thoracic now 35, 92 lumbar now 53
                        Dr. Baron Lonner, 2/2/10
                        Am pain-free, balanced, happy & an inch taller !

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Abby,
                          You look amazing. Thank you for sharing your photos. They brought tears to my eyes. It reminded me of when I went back to roller skating a year after my surgery. You are so beautiful in so many ways. Take care of that beautiful body of yours and enjoy the life you so richly deserve.
                          Sally
                          Diagnosed with severe lumbar scoliosis at age 65.
                          Posterior Fusion L2-S1 on 12/4/2007. age 67
                          Anterior Fusion L3-L4,L4-L5,L5-S1 on 12/19/2007
                          Additional bone removed to decompress right side of L3-L4 & L4-L5 on 4/19/2010
                          New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA
                          Dr. Frank F. Rands735.photobucket.com/albums/ww360/butterflyfive/

                          "In God We Trust" Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            That's fantastic news Abbie!

                            Radiogirl, I too now have the opposite shoulder higher than the other. Where as I was once wedged on my right side and sloping down in that direction, my right shoulder is now higher. I still have a 22 degree curve (down from 68) so I don't expect to be 100% straight, but I wasn't expecting to lean in the other direction!

                            It doesn't have any affect on me, and it's not noticeable to others, so I'm ignoring it - afterall I ignored my scoliosis for about 45 years, I can ignore this!
                            Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
                            Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
                            T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
                            Osteotomies and Laminectomies
                            Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Insipiration

                              Thanks and Congrats! I have told my soccerr/basketball daughter that she is and has been capable of playing and getting back to her base with hard work and effort. I will share this with her in hopes she feels the same way I do about your accomplishment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Comment

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