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  • pre-op tomorrow!

    Well friends, it's almost here!

    I have my pre-op appointment tomorrow, and the surgery on Monday the 27th. I can't believe how fast these weeks have gone by. I'm glad I don't have to wait so long, I don't know how many of you all wait years...I'm already sick of this roller coaster of emotions and I've only had my surgery date for a few weeks!

    Depending on when you ask me, I alternately feel sick to my stomach with fear, or calm and brave with assurance I'm doing the right thing.

    Overall, my sciatica has gotten so bad the last 3 months, it is a daily reminder of why I'm doing this now. I now have to lay down after taking a shower because the pain is so bad just from standing for 10-15 mins. I hope this is resolved by the surgery...we'll see. I had an MRI done and I'll get the results tomorrow when I meet with my surgeon, so hopefully I'll know what exactly is causing it. He thinks it's either a herniated disc at L4-5 or lower, or my stenosis has gotten much worse. Either way, with my curves being what they are, I would have to do a full fusion to fix either problem.

    I have such a hard time picturing myself fused for the rest of my life, but I have a harder time picturing trying to start a family with the constant worry of my spine progressing and my pain progressing.

    Anyway, just wanted to check in. My husband says he'll post on here for me when I'm out of surgery.

    Thanks for any prayers sent my way!
    Rebecca
    Age: 28
    Dx w/ scoli @ age 12 S curves T-40* L-42*
    wore night bending brace as teenager
    Curves changed to 50's plus or minus
    herniated disc L2-3, Discectomy October 2007
    fusion L2-3 November 2008
    Revision L2-3 Fusion, Removal of hardware August 2009
    Curves measuring 52 T&L September 2010
    Fused T4-L4, all posterior December 27th 2010
    gained almost two inches in height

    Before and After Exterior
    Before and After X-rays
    My blog: http://herscoliosisjourney.blogspot.com/

  • #2
    I hope everything goes great tomorrow for you Peachrush7, I'll be thinking of you. Tomorrow is also my daughter's 17th. birthday so it will be a good day for both of you.
    Son 14 y/o diagnosed January 20th. 2011 with 110* Curve
    Halo Traction & 1st. surgery on March 22nd. 2011
    Spinal Fusion on April 19th. 2011

    Dr. Krajbich @ Shriners Childrens Hospital, Portland Oregon



    http://tinyurl.com/Elias-Before
    http://tinyurl.com/Elias-After

    Comment


    • #3
      Good Luck! We will be thinking of you and looking forward to hearing all about how successful it was. Before you know it, you will be out of surgery, healing, and on your way to an improved quality of life. Rest, heal, and take joy in the fact that we live in a time that this is available to us. I am so thankful that I won't keep progressing until my last day on earth! Keep us posted.
      Jenee'-52
      Bend, Oregon

      Braced 3 years in high school
      Lumbar 70'+ Thoracic 70'+
      I had 3" shrinkage in 6 months...

      Surgery Jan 10, 2011
      9 hours
      T3 to S1 with pelvic fixation
      Both curves now 35'

      Possible revison for Flatback Syndrome
      Non-fusion
      Loose/broken hardware-awaiting CT results

      Here is the link to my before and after pics..
      http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt......&highlight=

      Comment


      • #4
        Good luck sweetie. I know you'll be ok. It must be rough to go through a holiday with this just on the other side. ((Hugs))
        __________________________________________
        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


        • #5
          Good Luck!!
          Scoliosis Diagnosed at age 12. Wore Milwaukee brace for 2 years.
          Now age 32
          Pre-op curves: C86-T98-L37
          Surgery date: 12/6/2010 (anterior) 12/10/2010 (posterior)
          Fused T2 to L5 with thoracoplasty.
          Post-op curves: C48-T47-L17
          Dr. Robert Pashman
          Cedars Sinai, Los Angeles, CA
          Before and after xrays :
          http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...5&d=1292969215

          Comment


          • #6
            Good luck tomorrow! I'll be thinking of you and sending prayers your way. Do have your husband post.

            Evelyn
            age 48
            80* thoracolumbar; 40* thoracic
            Reduced to ~16* thoracolumbar; ~0* thoracic
            Surgery 3/14/12 with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis, T4 to S1 with pelvic fixation
            Broken rods 12/1/19; scheduled for revision fusion L1-L3-4 with Dr. Lenke 2/4/2020
            Not "confused" anymore, but don't know how to change my username.

            Comment


            • #7
              All the best

              Tomorrow at this time you will be "on the other side". I wish you the best and will keep you in my prayers. Positive thoughts sending your way.

              Lynn
              1981 Surgery with Harrington Rod; fused from T2 to L3 - Dr.Keim (at 26 years old)
              2000 Partial Rod Removal
              2001 Right Scapular Resection
              12/07/2010 Surgical stabilization L3 through sacrum with revision harrington rod instrumentation, interbody fusion and pre-sacral fusion L5-S1 - Dr. Boachie (at 56 years old)
              06/11/14 - Posterior cervical fusion C3 - T3 (Mountaineer System) due to severely arthritic joints - Dr. Patrick O'Leary (at age 59)

              Comment


              • #8
                Best of luck. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow and looking forward to your husband's post. It is hard to imagine being fused the rest of your life, but it sounds like you really need it for a better quality of life.
                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
                  Very best of luck to you and prayers for you and your surgeon! 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


                  • #10
                    Good luck Peachrush! Hope you get a great correction and have a smooth recovery.
                    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


                    • #11
                      surgery today!!!!

                      thank you everyone for the well wishes and prayers!!! how sweet to see this right before I'm about to walk out the door this morning.

                      I'm calm right now, and actually got a few hours of sleep last night. I go under at 7:30 a.m. eastern time, and the surgery starts at 8:30. It looks like they are going to fuse from T4-Sacrum, all posterior. By the end of the day I should be closer to the 5 feet 10 inches I should have been instead of the 5 feet 8 I am. Maybe I can still get a job as a runway model after this, who knows....=)

                      Thanks again for all the support. It is amazing how much comfort it gives me as I face this huge challenge.

                      ....See you on the other side!!!!!!
                      Rebecca
                      Age: 28
                      Dx w/ scoli @ age 12 S curves T-40* L-42*
                      wore night bending brace as teenager
                      Curves changed to 50's plus or minus
                      herniated disc L2-3, Discectomy October 2007
                      fusion L2-3 November 2008
                      Revision L2-3 Fusion, Removal of hardware August 2009
                      Curves measuring 52 T&L September 2010
                      Fused T4-L4, all posterior December 27th 2010
                      gained almost two inches in height

                      Before and After Exterior
                      Before and After X-rays
                      My blog: http://herscoliosisjourney.blogspot.com/

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Peachrush7 surgery update!!!!!!!!!!!

                        Hello Forum,

                        While I have read your posts over the past couple of months, I haven't written anything and I am doing so because my wife just got out of surgery......

                        IT WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (so far as we can tell as of now)


                        I didnt realize until right now how scared/nervous/anxious/incapacitated I have become over the past few months with the thought of my wife getting this surgery, but I am so so glad that she did and that it is is over.

                        Her surgery lasted about 7 hours total and according to the doctor, he was able to get a really great correction. There were not complications and he actually DIDN'T have to fuse down to the sacrum which will be a lot different when it comes to long-term mobility possiblity. While he is a relatively conservative doctor, I do know that if he thought there was a need for it, he would have done it, but he didn't see the need.

                        In fact, she was supposed to go into ICU for two days, but they decided that she won't even need to go into ICU at all. She will still probably be here for about a week, but this is definitely the perfect time because there are not very many people here this week.

                        Now my super-model wife can actually audition for America's next top model with the added heighth!

                        Seriously though, she is my biggest hero and I have never met someone more brave than her. When she sat there this morning getting ready to go into surgery, she was such a trooper and I know she could be an amazing example to others who want/need this surgery, but have been too scared to do it.

                        Thank you for all of your prayers and your encouragement... since all of you have and/or are going through this similiar type of thing, you know just how much this support means to others going through things.

                        Anyhow, I am sure my wife will be back on here as soon as she can, but most importantly she wanted me to let everyone know that she is safe and it was a good surgery!
                        Rebecca
                        Age: 28
                        Dx w/ scoli @ age 12 S curves T-40* L-42*
                        wore night bending brace as teenager
                        Curves changed to 50's plus or minus
                        herniated disc L2-3, Discectomy October 2007
                        fusion L2-3 November 2008
                        Revision L2-3 Fusion, Removal of hardware August 2009
                        Curves measuring 52 T&L September 2010
                        Fused T4-L4, all posterior December 27th 2010
                        gained almost two inches in height

                        Before and After Exterior
                        Before and After X-rays
                        My blog: http://herscoliosisjourney.blogspot.com/

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Wonderful News!

                          This is great news! Please send her my best and that I wish her a speedy recovery.

                          Thanks for posting.

                          Lynn
                          1981 Surgery with Harrington Rod; fused from T2 to L3 - Dr.Keim (at 26 years old)
                          2000 Partial Rod Removal
                          2001 Right Scapular Resection
                          12/07/2010 Surgical stabilization L3 through sacrum with revision harrington rod instrumentation, interbody fusion and pre-sacral fusion L5-S1 - Dr. Boachie (at 56 years old)
                          06/11/14 - Posterior cervical fusion C3 - T3 (Mountaineer System) due to severely arthritic joints - Dr. Patrick O'Leary (at age 59)

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Excellent news, and thanks for the update.

                            As you know, this whole experience is no small thing. . .and I think what you wrote speaks volumes about the love you two feel for each other and about the strength of your marriage. You are certainly an impressive younger couple!!!

                            I'll be checking back for updates.
                            Fused T-3 to L-3, Aug 25
                            Hardware removal surgery, Nov 2, 2010
                            Fused T-10 to L-2, osteotomy, Feb 22, 2011

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Thanks for posting -- so glad her surgery was a success. You sound like a great husband!
                              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

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