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  • A new perception...

    Hi all!! I have been taking a meditation class through the local hospital for several years, and have made a wonderful friend of the instructor. I am a pretty upbeat and positive person, but I still get days when I worry or stress over making the right decision. With surgery being only a week away, I have been a little more preoccupied, and she has noticed it. She invited me to meet her today to work on it. I thought I would share what she had me visualize today.... (She knows I am most stressed about the permanence and lack of mobility.)

    Have you ever watched ballerinas? They have such regal posture. It is erect, it is graceful, yet it is STRONG. They move in all these crazy positions, but they always keep their back straight and erect. As if they are in a stiff corset. She told me that will be ME!! A strong, regal, graceful woman; not a woman with limitations! What a great image instead of the one I sometimes have of being stiff and rigid. Same posture, just a totally different way of looking at it. When I try to load the dishwasher, I won't awkwardly lean over- I will PLIE'!!! Doesn't that bring to mind a much more elegant stance, rather than to stoop??? This simple change of perception on fusion has made a huge difference on how I look foward to my outcome. I hope this helps some of you with the same concerns. It makes me think of that song "I Hope You Dance". Soon I will be dancing around the house, too!!!!!
    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=

  • #2
    I think that is a great way to think of it! That should ease some other minds too. Thanks for sharing that and very best of luck to you! You're going in with a very good attitude! 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


    • #3
      Love it, Jenee'...You are going to do great. You are going to make women wish they had scoliosis, so they could get it fixed and look like you!

      This reminds me a little of a conversation I had with my 28 yr old daughter who is part of a hip-hop dance co. I was lamenting about possible surgery- How in the world am I going to dance around the kitchen with a rod up my spine, no gyrating, no wild moves? She said, "Are you kidding? We'll make up such cool moves for you..."

      Scoli kitchen fusion dancers...yes!
      Amy
      58 yrs old, diagnosed at 31, never braced
      Measured T-64, L-65 in 2009
      Measured T-57, L-56 in 2010, different doc
      2 lumbar levels spondylolisthesis
      Exercising to correct

      Comment


      • #4
        I love your daughter, Amy!

        Jenee, I believe you WILL have great posture. And there's absolutely no reason why you wouldn't be graceful with it. And you will love being a bit taller, which will go nicely with your new, graceful, great posture!
        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


        • #5
          Skiing video with full fusion

          Jenee

          Dancing around the house? How about skiing? you betcha!

          Here is a video from last Saturday. That’s me in the red jacket!

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tEyp...&feature=email

          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


          • #6
            Thanks, guys!!

            So Ed, I've been trying to visualize skiing in my head. With fusion to S1, will I experience that upper/lower body separation again? I can't imagine that wonderful feeling of my lower body swinging like a pendulum beneath my quiet upper body...
            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


            • #7
              And Amy...should we hit the road with our show?? I love the sound of "Scoli fusion kitchen dancers". Maybe a new career direction????? I think I'm going to be in the market...
              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


              • #8
                Jenee

                At first, in your recovery, things are stiff. Things seem impossible but in time you will see what is possible! The hardest part of skiing is putting the boots on.

                You cannot tell I’m fused. I figured I would make this video to show you what its like.

                Being fused all the way down is not what most people think. I do have quite a bit of mobility!

                You know that turns in skiing are exerted by edging and weight transfer through your boots. I used to ski in a full brace years ago which didn’t allow any movement in my torso, and had no issues at all.

                I think if anyone who is used to wearing a full brace, will have an idea what its like to be fully fused. Remember those days?
                There is much more mobility in being fused than in wearing a brace...due to other soft tissues.

                Maybe I will make another video with my full range of motion....it will surprise many people.

                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


                • #9
                  Nice video, Ed!

                  A ROM video would be timely....I think Jess from NYC needs it.

                  Scoli Fusion Ski Team?!

                  Dancing, skiing....anything to keep moving and loving life.

                  Amanda posted this on Facebook:

                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc4HGQHgeFE
                  Amy
                  58 yrs old, diagnosed at 31, never braced
                  Measured T-64, L-65 in 2009
                  Measured T-57, L-56 in 2010, different doc
                  2 lumbar levels spondylolisthesis
                  Exercising to correct

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    thanks for the ski video, Ed

                    now dancing..that'd be cool to see!

                    jess

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by jeneemohler View Post
                      Hi all!! I have been taking a meditation class through the local hospital for several years, and have made a wonderful friend of the instructor. I am a pretty upbeat and positive person, but I still get days when I worry or stress over making the right decision. With surgery being only a week away, I have been a little more preoccupied, and she has noticed it. She invited me to meet her today to work on it. I thought I would share what she had me visualize today.... (She knows I am most stressed about the permanence and lack of mobility.)

                      Have you ever watched ballerinas? They have such regal posture. It is erect, it is graceful, yet it is STRONG. They move in all these crazy positions, but they always keep their back straight and erect. As if they are in a stiff corset. She told me that will be ME!! A strong, regal, graceful woman; not a woman with limitations! What a great image instead of the one I sometimes have of being stiff and rigid. Same posture, just a totally different way of looking at it. When I try to load the dishwasher, I won't awkwardly lean over- I will PLIE'!!! Doesn't that bring to mind a much more elegant stance, rather than to stoop??? This simple change of perception on fusion has made a huge difference on how I look foward to my outcome. I hope this helps some of you with the same concerns. It makes me think of that song "I Hope You Dance". Soon I will be dancing around the house, too!!!!!
                      What a great way to look at !

                      Melissa

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Thanks for the video, Ed! I have to say I was afraid your friend with a camera was going to hit a tree, though!!!

                        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


                        • #13
                          Evelyn

                          Oh no, he wouldn’t do that! Sonny Bono was skiing on painkillers BTW, and on old settled thick snow. Not good.

                          I just wanted to show what’s possible with a full fusion. Maybe it will install hope for future fusion patients. I always feel better with exercise!!!!! Before being fused, and after.

                          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


                          • #14
                            Thanks Ed! A great clip!
                            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

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