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  • The "Where is Ed"? thread

    Sometimes people need vacations. We dream of relaxing and taking time off, and usually that happens unless you are like me. I'm exhausted now, and need a second vacation! Whew!

    I was just following FDR's advice from his "fireside chat" from Many Glacier,Mt in 1934, which was to get out and visit the park, Glacier National park in Montana. If he, who was wheelchair bound could do that, well then, so could I.
    http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=14733

    Sometimes there are places that we dream about visiting. The places I dream about just happen to involve some effort to get to and well, I must say that I am very pleased with the way my spinal surgeries turned out. On one of my hikes, I ended up at a place called "Iceberg lake" which was approx 10 miles roundtrip with a 2100ft elevation gain and loss. I carried approx 40 lbs in a backpack, and didn’t have any back issues at all. The knees are another story. Sometimes you have to push past the pain. Its something I learned as a scoliosis survivor.

    After driving through a few states, I ended up at Mt Hood in Oregon for some summer skiing but didn’t ski due to the re-paving of their parking lot. Oh well, no worries. That will happen another day... Upon camping the Cascade range I ended up near Mt Bachelor and ran into a scoli in the woods of all places. She is retired and is hosting at a historical site for the summer. We talked for hours, and she was amazed at how far scoliosis surgery has come through the years, and in how I was doing all these things after being fused. Things like skiing, motorcycling, hiking, lifting 75 lb rocks to complete a fireplace ring, carrying large tree limbs through the woods etc. She will post after the summer is over as there is no internet in the mountains..... just lions, tigers and bears, oh my!

    Its good to be back.
    Here are a few pics.
    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

  • #2
    Totally awesome, Ed!

    I have been wondering perhaps most of all if I could ever again carry anything of significant weight (so much of independence seems to boil down to this).

    This heartens me greatly - not that I expect to ever have "man" muscles but carrying a heavy purse and being able to push a luggage cart are indispensable for travel.. I didn't think I ever could again (and it's so important for me). I'm thoroughly sick of being accompanied everywhere by a walker.

    And what a view! Great just to borrow it -- a spiritual vista suggesting the endless possibilities you epitomize. Thank you!
    Not all diagnosed (still having tests and consults) but so far:
    Ehler-Danlos (hyper-mobility) syndrome, 69 - somehow,
    main curve L Cobb 60, compensating T curve ~ 30
    Flat back, marked lumbar kyphosis (grade?) Spondilolisthesis - everyone gives this a different grade too. Cervical stenosis op'd 3-07, minimally invasive

    Comment


    • #3
      I can lift heavy rocks,"carefully" but a purse would kill me since the weight is offset.

      It might not be a bad idea to use a small hip belt as a purse, it would take the weight off the shoulders, and arms, and lower the load off the spine.

      Try walking poles, or ski poles or maybe a cane and see if that works. They are much easier to deal with.

      Borrow the view, the benefits are endless... better to just go there. I really didn’t know what I could do, but really couldn’t answer the question without trying.... I needed to know.

      A few more
      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
        Awesome pictures, Ed! What a wonderful experience that must have been. It is unbelievable what all you are able to do physically. You are definitely an inspiration to others coming along behind you. My son is the hiker in our family. He just hiked Mount Whitney in June and brought back some beautiful pictures. Would love to think I'll be able to do some short hikes again in a year or so.
        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
          Fabulous pictures, Ed!!
          Chris
          A/P fusion on June 19, 2007 at age 52; T10-L5
          Pre-op thoracolumbar curve: 70 degrees
          Post-op curve: 12 degrees
          Dr. Boachie-adjei, HSS, New York

          Comment


          • #6
            Great pictures Ed. I live in Houston, Texas and am just jealous of you wearing a jacket in July.

            Glad to see you doing so well. It is an inspiration. Going to Colorado in August, look forward to doing a little light hiking.

            Melissa

            Comment


            • #7
              It is always so good to hear from you, Ed! The pics are great-- especially the one with you in it. The other ones are GRAND, but people pics always personalize things... (I've got you in my scrapbook, though, remember???) Thanks for always keeping in touch here!
              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


              • #8
                Ed--Itinerary is pretty much what we've come to expect--75 pounds rocks and all! Always amazing what you are able to do. Pictures are great. Thanks for the update. Janet
                Janet

                61 years old--57 for surgery

                Diagnosed in 1965 at age of 13--no brace
                Thoracic Curve: 96 degrees to 35 degrees
                Lumbar Curve: 63 degrees to 5 degrees
                Surgery with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis--March 30, 2009
                T-2 to Pelvis, and hopefully all posterior procedure.

                All was posterior along with 2 cages and 6 osteotomies.

                Comment


                • #9
                  great pics ed that pics of the mts are amzing
                  Kara
                  25
                  Brace 4-15-05-5-25-06
                  Posterior Spinal Fusion 3-10-10
                  T4-L2
                  Before 50T
                  After 20T

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Beautiful scenery Ed! I just returned from a trip to Lassen and did a little hiking myself, though not a backcountry/backpacking trip like you did! I sure hope that I'll be able to continue with the hiking post-surgery. You are an inspiration to us pre-surgical folks, for sure.
                    Laurie
                    Age 57
                    Posterior fusion w/thoracoplasty T2-L3 Oct 1, 2010
                    Thoracic curve corrected from 61* to 16*
                    Lumbar curve, unknown measurement
                    Disfiguring back hump GONE!!
                    Dr Munish Gupta
                    UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Thanks for the pics Ed. It's so great to see you enjoying life so much. And you really do look like the new 31.
                      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


                      • #12
                        GOOD FOR YOU ED!! I'm glad you had such a good time. 40 lbs on the back is impressive!!
                        __________________________________________
                        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


                        • #13
                          Your hiking and skiing is an inspiration! (I like the term scoliosis survivor!).

                          Also, thanks to all "on the other side" who continue to post and provide answers and inspiration!

                          But, what happened to the Ed with the bolts in his neck ....
                          Kathy
                          46 yrs at surgery, now 50
                          71 degree thoracolumbar curve corrected to 34 degrees
                          8/2/2010 surgery with Dr. Lenke

                          posterior T9 to sacrum with pelvic fixation

                          4 osteotomies and 1 cage
                          http://s1066.photobucket.com/albums/...athK_08022010/

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            I agree with Susie Bee - I loved the fabulous scenic shots but I especially loved to see the picture of you - great pictures Ed. You inspire and encourage all of us. Thank you sooo much!
                            Lynette - 44 years old.

                            Pre-surgery thoracic 55 degrees
                            Pre-surgery lumbar 85 degrees

                            Post-surgery thoracic 19 degrees
                            Post-surgery lumbar 27 degrees

                            Surgery April 1st 2010.

                            Posterior spinal fusion from T9 to sacrum.
                            Dr. Cronen at University Community Hospital - Tampa, FL.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Absolutely awesome pictures!!
                              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

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