First of all, I want to thank everyone for their responses to my post-op forum posting last month after I got home.
I had my first post-op visit with Dr. Boachie August 21st and it was a bit of a surprise. I have developed kyphosis below the fusion (T2-T12), and am getting more
surgery Sept. 21st to fuse L1-L4. I have actually lost height since the surgery (they didn't tell me how much--I wish I'd asked). The kyphosis has developed because
of my soft bones. I was diagnosed with osteopenia eight years ago and have taken osteoporosis medications (Actonel, Boniva, Atelvia) for over five years.
The x-rays taken right after surgery looked good. The x-rays done last week looked dramatically different because of the post-distal kyphosis ( I believe that is the
right term). I think I look more round- shouldered since the surgery, too. I hope that doesn't mean I am getting kyphosis above the fusion, too. I didn't ask about
that. (I'm always lecturing my mother about how shehas to ask her doctor more questions but I tend to do the same thing.) I am going to have an osteotomy and a
cage. Is it usual to get a written report on your surgery soon afterwards? I think there was a thread about this topic recently but I can't find it. Also, is it usual to
get a written report on exactly what is planned for upcoming surgery? I think Melissa said her doctor sent her a detailed report about his plans.
At the end of the visit, I at least remembered to ask what my correction was. My thoracic curve went from 60 to 26, and the lumbar curve went from 52 to 33 (it's
unfused). At my pre- op visit Dr. B. said that on my bending x-rays the lumbar curve corrected to 16 degrees. That is why he wanted to take a chance on doing a
selective fusion and preserving lumbar mobility. He had told me ahead of time I might need the fusion extended--I just wasn't expecting it so soon. By the way,
Dr. Neuwirth, the first doctor I saw, recommended a fusion from T5-T12. (My pre-op curvature numbers that were formerly in my signature were based on the
x-rays I had last December with Dr. Neuwirth.) I guess the selective fusion would have worked if it weren't for my Gumby-like bones.
I have to write an e-mail to Dr. Boachie with all my questions. Do you think it is crazy to ask if I could be fused to the sacrum? I know that would be a very long
fusion but so many of you fused to the sacrum seem to be doing so well.
I am very afraid of ending up like my 80-year-old mother, who was told she had very mild scoliosis when she was in college. (It was never measured and wasn't at
all apparent.) Even though she had osteoporosis, she was very active and pain-free until she was 78. She took a variety of osteoporosis medications for many years, which reduced her diagnosis to osteopenia. From age 78 to 80 she became more and more bent over, and ended up with a spontaneous sacral fracture a year
ago. The KUMC Spine Center in Kansas City diagnosed her with lumbar scoliosis of 48 degrees, lateral listhesis 3-4, degenerative disc disease of L2345, stenosis,
and collapse of S-1. She is in constant pain and has trouble walking and sitting up to eat without leaning over to the side. I don't feel the KUMC was very helpful.
When I went there in 1974 Dr. Marc Asher was my doctor, who was a well-known scoliosis specialist, but I don't know if there is anyone expert there now. She has
other health problems and would never want to have surgery, and it seems doubtful any doctor would recommend it. She has been on Forteo for a year now.
Anyway, my point is maybe I would rather get all the fusion done before it is too late for surgery.
If you are fused to L-4 is it inevitable that eventually you will need to be fused further down?
Thank you so much. I don't know what I would do without this forum.
Mary
Age 54
Surgery with Dr. Boachie 7/5/11, Fused T2-T12
Pre-surgery T60, L52
Post-surgery T26, L33
Next surgery scheduled 9/21/11
I had my first post-op visit with Dr. Boachie August 21st and it was a bit of a surprise. I have developed kyphosis below the fusion (T2-T12), and am getting more
surgery Sept. 21st to fuse L1-L4. I have actually lost height since the surgery (they didn't tell me how much--I wish I'd asked). The kyphosis has developed because
of my soft bones. I was diagnosed with osteopenia eight years ago and have taken osteoporosis medications (Actonel, Boniva, Atelvia) for over five years.
The x-rays taken right after surgery looked good. The x-rays done last week looked dramatically different because of the post-distal kyphosis ( I believe that is the
right term). I think I look more round- shouldered since the surgery, too. I hope that doesn't mean I am getting kyphosis above the fusion, too. I didn't ask about
that. (I'm always lecturing my mother about how shehas to ask her doctor more questions but I tend to do the same thing.) I am going to have an osteotomy and a
cage. Is it usual to get a written report on your surgery soon afterwards? I think there was a thread about this topic recently but I can't find it. Also, is it usual to
get a written report on exactly what is planned for upcoming surgery? I think Melissa said her doctor sent her a detailed report about his plans.
At the end of the visit, I at least remembered to ask what my correction was. My thoracic curve went from 60 to 26, and the lumbar curve went from 52 to 33 (it's
unfused). At my pre- op visit Dr. B. said that on my bending x-rays the lumbar curve corrected to 16 degrees. That is why he wanted to take a chance on doing a
selective fusion and preserving lumbar mobility. He had told me ahead of time I might need the fusion extended--I just wasn't expecting it so soon. By the way,
Dr. Neuwirth, the first doctor I saw, recommended a fusion from T5-T12. (My pre-op curvature numbers that were formerly in my signature were based on the
x-rays I had last December with Dr. Neuwirth.) I guess the selective fusion would have worked if it weren't for my Gumby-like bones.
I have to write an e-mail to Dr. Boachie with all my questions. Do you think it is crazy to ask if I could be fused to the sacrum? I know that would be a very long
fusion but so many of you fused to the sacrum seem to be doing so well.
I am very afraid of ending up like my 80-year-old mother, who was told she had very mild scoliosis when she was in college. (It was never measured and wasn't at
all apparent.) Even though she had osteoporosis, she was very active and pain-free until she was 78. She took a variety of osteoporosis medications for many years, which reduced her diagnosis to osteopenia. From age 78 to 80 she became more and more bent over, and ended up with a spontaneous sacral fracture a year
ago. The KUMC Spine Center in Kansas City diagnosed her with lumbar scoliosis of 48 degrees, lateral listhesis 3-4, degenerative disc disease of L2345, stenosis,
and collapse of S-1. She is in constant pain and has trouble walking and sitting up to eat without leaning over to the side. I don't feel the KUMC was very helpful.
When I went there in 1974 Dr. Marc Asher was my doctor, who was a well-known scoliosis specialist, but I don't know if there is anyone expert there now. She has
other health problems and would never want to have surgery, and it seems doubtful any doctor would recommend it. She has been on Forteo for a year now.
Anyway, my point is maybe I would rather get all the fusion done before it is too late for surgery.
If you are fused to L-4 is it inevitable that eventually you will need to be fused further down?
Thank you so much. I don't know what I would do without this forum.
Mary
Age 54
Surgery with Dr. Boachie 7/5/11, Fused T2-T12
Pre-surgery T60, L52
Post-surgery T26, L33
Next surgery scheduled 9/21/11
Comment