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  • Tap Dancing Picture Added to Signature

    I know this forum is about our backs and that we all love to look at the many amazing before and after pictures. I also think it's important to see that those of us who have had surgery can eventually return to activities that we enjoyed prior to surgery. Yesterday, I was emailed a picture of my tap dancing group performing at the YMCA's benefit dinner on November 11th. I'm the one on the right. What's even better than returning to activities is when some people post-op can participate in activities that they could NOT do before their surgery. I hope to add a golf picture if I get permission from Dr. Lenke in January to play golf again.
    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/

  • #2
    Thanks for sharing!

    Karen,

    That is awesome that you are able to return to one of your pre-surgery activities. I have read many of your posts and I must say that am really inspired by how well your recovery has been. It really is important for those of us in the midst of recovery to see that a "normal" life after surgery can still be possible. I am looking forward to that point when I no longer have the constant reminder that my stubborn muscles refuse to welcome all of my new hardware to the family! Thanks again for posting!
    Donna
    Female - 49 yrs old at surgery
    Surgery 5/5/11 - Dr. Bridwell, St. Louis
    Fused T3-L3
    60 degree thoracic curve corrected to 30 degrees
    Tennis player & returning to the courts!
    http://s1050.photobucket.com/profile/walkingmom1/index

    Comment


    • #3
      That's absolutely amazing!!! I am so happy for you - - you really inspire me and it's so important to try and look past the fear and "what if's" and try to focus on the infinite possibilities of the good that may (ok, WILL) come from having this surgery. I hope and pray for as good an outcome as yours!! Congrats again.

      Michele
      1993/1995: PSF w/ Harrington rods T3-L4
      Jan. 24, 2012: ALIF of L4-L5, L5-S1 w/ cage spacer and BMP
      Jan. 31, 2012: PLIF of L1-S1 w/ pelvic anchors
      Scheduled Nov.15, 2012: Fusion T2-S1 w/ pelvic anchors to fix T12 fracture
      http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ot/myback2.jpg - BEFORE
      http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT2342x406.jpg - AFTER
      http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT1410x229.jpg - AFTER
      www.jerseyot.blogspot.com

      Comment


      • #4
        Thanks, Karen, this is the kind of stuff we need to see more of. I really wish someone would put up a video of themselves just going about some household tasks or something, so we can see that long fusions to the pelvis don't equal huge losses in function. You look great, and very natural.
        Stephanie, age 56
        Diagnosed age 8
        Milwaukee brace 9 years, no further treatment, symptom free and clueless until my 40s that curves could progress.
        Thoracolumbar curve 39 degrees at age 17
        Now somewhere around 58 degrees thoracic, 70 degrees thoracolumbar
        Surgeon Dr. Michael S. O'Brien, Baylor's Southwest Scoliosis Center, Dallas TX
        Bilateral laminectomies at L3 to L4, L4 to L5 and L5 to S1 on April 4, 2012
        Foramenotomies L3 through S1 in August 2014

        Comment


        • #5
          So happy

          I'm so happy for you. I hope to return to tap and some ballroom dance. I think my belly dancing may be over but I have my eye on Tahitian dance. And golf would be really great. It's very inspiring, had tears of joy for you. For those of us with dance in our souls it means so much. I had already decided if I couldn't go back to dance soon I would see about taking up my sax again. You have certainly given me hope. You have had an amazing recovery. Go you! Excellent Christmas gift.

          Comment


          • #6
            You look fabulous Karen! I don't think it'll be long before we see a golf shot of you, you're doing great.
            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


            • #7
              Originally posted by Mojo's Mom View Post
              Thanks, Karen, this is the kind of stuff we need to see more of. I really wish someone would put up a video of themselves just going about some household tasks or something, so we can see that long fusions to the pelvis don't equal huge losses in function. You look great, and very natural.
              Karen, that's absolutely amazing! You look like you are having a ball....so happy!

              Mojo's Mom, Titaniumed has some skiing footage of himself on here. He's fused, I believe, T2 to pelvis with pelvic anchor bolts. He also has his bending and twisting photos on his profile signature so you can see how much flexibility he still has.

              Stories like this are truly inspiring. Thanks for sharing!
              Be happy!
              We don't know what tomorrow brings,
              but we are alive today!

              Comment


              • #8
                I love it!!
                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


                • #9
                  Karen,
                  Fantastic!! It is a photo that evokes a smile. You are amazing!! We'll be seeing golf photos before long.

                  Enjoy!!

                  Irene
                  1996 x-rays (none read recently) 50 degrees thoracic, 40 degrees lumbar
                  Never braced, found out I had scoliosis at age 28
                  At time of surgery, multi-level disc spondylotic degeneration,
                  advanced lumbar degeneration, stenosis
                  65 years young and very active but no lengthy walks or standing without pain
                  Now, 67. walking and standing as much as I want
                  Surgery Dec. 7, 2010
                  T10-S1 posterior
                  Dr. Rand
                  New England Baptist Hospital, Boston,
                  http://s1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee369/itr1/

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    It is so darn awesome seeing you out enjoying life and having a ball. What a great spirit and inspiration!! You sure don't look 61....
                    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


                    • #11
                      That's wonderful Karen. You do look great! I was lucky enough
                      to be able to meet Doreen yesterday. She looks as great as she sounds
                      in her blog and posts. It's great to finally put a face with names here
                      from the forum.
                      Pam, age 49
                      Thoracolumbar curves 80 and 40 corrected to 20 degrees
                      April 20, 2012 surgery with Dr. Lenke
                      T-3 to sacrum

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by TwinmomTN View Post
                        That's wonderful Karen. You do look great! I was lucky enough
                        to be able to meet Doreen yesterday. She looks as great as she sounds
                        in her blog and posts. It's great to finally put a face with names here
                        from the forum.

                        Glad to hear that Doreen is doing well
                        Melissa

                        Fused from C2 - sacrum 7/2011

                        April 21, 2020- another broken rod surgery

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Karen--
                          That's the best picture ever! You really are doing great--wonderful. 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


                          • #14
                            Karen,
                            I am so happy for you. You look great and look like you are really enjoying your dancing. I remember when I first started skating again after my surgery. It is a feeling of joy that life is not over for those of us fused to the sacrum. Your photo should help take some of the fear away from those contemplating surgery. Thanks for posting it.
                            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


                            • #15
                              Karen

                              Very nice! You are doing well.

                              Be sure to let us know how the golf game goes. As far as skiing out here, it hasn’t snowed and we are all wondering when it will happen.

                              I’ve been extremely busy these days.
                              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

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