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Ti-Ed 5 Years post op

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  • Ti-Ed 5 Years post op

    Well, I’m sitting here thinking it was 5 years ago that I walked into the hospital for my scoli surgeries. After a 34 year wait, I felt like a fish being reeled in after it gives up in the last 10 feet. The fight was finally over.

    I was dropped off by my neighbors, walked in, paid $1000 and sat there and waited around 30 minutes. I then went downstairs and they hooked up an IV. Another 30 minutes later, they wheeled me back upstairs to the staging area by the operating room. My surgeon told me that I wouldn’t see him and that my vascular surgeon would start things off with my anterior He came by and asked me if I was nervous. I told him that I should be, and he then inserted an IV into the top of my wrist in 1.6 seconds and said that they had to get going, we have a long day today....I was out in 4 seconds. Vascular surgeons are really quick with IV’s.....

    I woke up around the 6th day, didn’t remember anything other than being woke up by Dr Menmuir asking permission for the second surgery.(posterior) He turned a valve and that was that....What a handy valve! In and out in 2 seconds.

    It worked out well even with a 2 year recovery. If I were to do it all over, I would have had surgery at age 40 instead of age 49, and I would have paid for a private room.

    I cant say it was the best decision I ever made, since there really was no decision. Waiting till the pain is out of control wasn’t worth it.

    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
    Warm congratulations, Ti Ed, for your accomplishments in deciding on the surgery and making it through to the other side in rare form as always. Attitude is everything.

    You are our treasure. :-)

    Thanks so much.

    Sharon
    Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

    No island of sanity.

    Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
    Answer: Medicine


    "We are all African."

    Comment


    • #3
      Five years, Ed! You are an inspiration and comfort to all of us!!!

      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


      • #4
        Congratulations, Ed! We are very lucky to have you here.
        I am stronger than scoliosis, and won't let it rule my life!
        45 years old - diagnosed at age 7
        A/P surgery on March 5/7, 2013 - UCSF

        Comment


        • #5
          Wow Ed congrads
          Kara
          25
          Brace 4-15-05-5-25-06
          Posterior Spinal Fusion 3-10-10
          T4-L2
          Before 50T
          After 20T

          Comment


          • #6
            A long road my friend. Congratulations.
            Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
            ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
            Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

            Comment


            • #7
              Ed,
              Many of us here look up to you and your never ending positivity! I for one am thankful to have had you to keep perspective through my process. Happy 5 year anniversary!
              Tamena
              Diagnosed at age 12 with a double major curve

              Braced till age 15

              SSBOB T12-L2 Anterior age 34. (October 22,2012) Dr. Robert Gaines Jr. ( Columbia, MO)

              Revision Surgery T2-Sacrum with Pelvic Fixation Prosterior age 35 (November 13,2013) Dr. Michael Kelly (St. Louis, MO)

              Revision Surgery L4/L5 due to BMP Complication age 36 (November 20,2014) Dr. Michael Kelly (St. Louis, Mo)

              Revision Surgery due to broken rod scheduled for October 19, 2016 with Dr. Michael Kelly (St. Louis, MO)

              Comment


              • #8
                Thank you, Ed, for your posts on this board. They encourage so many people! Scoliosis surgery is never easy. Your posts create a path of optimism for us to follow. I really appreciate it.

                I'm like you and wish I'd had surgery when I was younger. I tried several times but two surgeons and one doctor told me I was too old. Of course I wasn't too old but it's a shame that those professionals weren't willing to at least tell me why they thought I was too old. I believed them. I'm glad I didn't get surgery with any surgeon who was not a specialist in scoliosis.

                You are an inspiration to us. Thank you for sticking around, even though you are well enough to move on. We appreciate you.
                1973 Age 15 diagnosed with scoliosis but told too old for surgery.
                2001 age 43 told too old for surgery, did physical therapy & traction.
                2001 to 2008 Intermittent use of home traction machine and TENS unit.
                2009 traction no longer effective - physical therapy.
                2011 More physical therapy. 2012 Collapsing scoliosis - MRI before surgery
                At age 53, surgery on October 2nd, 2012 with Dr Hey
                Fusion with titanium rods and bolts from T1 to pelvis.
                Post op x-ray

                Comment


                • #9
                  When it was my turn to make the decision, you were one of a handful who gave great advice and encouragement. You knew it would be good for me and did what you could to help me make/stick with the right decision. This forum needs the long-termers, because anyone making the decision today, wants and needs to know that years down the track, the chances are good that they will be good. Your great attitude, your humour, your knowledge and experience is very important here, so I hope you'll stay with this forum for many years to come.

                  Congrats on a brilliant five years!
                  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


                  • #10
                    Hey, friend! Congratulations are definitely in order! You've been to He** and back and are able to tell others in a very grand way all about your personal trek. Thanks from me also, for always being there for so many folks. You are wise beyond your years... (big smile!) Shoot-- that just reminded me I need to change my signature. I turned 62 yesterday. Feeling really good!
                    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


                    • #11
                      Ed,
                      Congratulations on your 5 year anniversary. You are such an asset to this forum. You certainly gave me encouragement during my pre-surgery stressful months and I still read your advice to others. You always nail it. Your positive attitude is contagious and so beneficial to all of us! Thanks for staying involved in the forum after so many years. I know it takes a lot of your time to reply to all of us but just know that it is appreciated.

                      Happy Birthday, Susie Bee, yesterday. We're the same age.
                      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


                      • #12
                        Aww....shucks. I’m all choked up now....(sniffle-sniffle and other assorted guttural,nasal,sinus,bovine,wheezing,related mechanical type vibrations transmitted through the air “and” internet)

                        Bovine?....yes, I heard an emotionally charged “moo” in there.

                        Its been a sort of duty, or obligation for me to post and try to help those struggling with ”Our thing”. Since its not a disease, I will call it our thing....(smiley face)

                        Our thing has been a long road for sure......but one thing I know about our thing, is that it’s not such a bad thing, and a good thing since I have gotten to know all of you...... Hope that makes some sort of sense and not overly mushy.....Many guys are not mushy. Were from Mars remember?

                        I wish I could spend more time reading and posting like I did in my recovery.....work keeps me very busy these days.

                        Its been a real pleasure posting here....its nice to have an interest in the same subject together, sitting around the table chatting with one another. I owe a sincere thank you to NSF and Linda Racine for this forum....its something that I could have used back in the 70’s when I had to make my own decisions and wondering what was going to happen.

                        I have many e-mails come in, which is fine, but I do like to have the group input on things.....very important. I have always enjoyed brainstorming and covering all the bases which is why the forum is so important, besides, my surgeon wanted me here.

                        Doctors orders, you know?

                        Ed
                        Last edited by titaniumed; 01-29-2013, 08:40 PM.
                        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


                        • #13
                          Congrats Ed! You are a true asset to the forum. Thank you for all you contribute!

                          Pam
                          Pam, age 49
                          Thoracolumbar curves 80 and 40 corrected to 20 degrees
                          April 20, 2012 surgery with Dr. Lenke
                          T-3 to sacrum

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Way to go Ed! You are a inspiration .I hope that someday I will have some more quality of life
                            Melissa

                            Fused from C2 - sacrum 7/2011

                            April 21, 2020- another broken rod surgery

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Ed,
                              Thank you for sharing your story. I'm in a predicament now where my right rotator cuff is injured because of my curvature (impingement syndrome of the right scapula). It's extremely painful and my arm is weak with limited range of motion. Sooo, my physiatrist is sending me back for a surgical consult. PT failed to make the shoulder any better. I think of you when the pain is really bad. How you went through all of the stuff you did with a BROKEN shoulder. I know my curves aren't that bad compared to most of you. I don't know if surgery is looming around the corner for me this time or if it would evenl help. However, I look to people like you that care to share. There's light at the end of this tunnel. Thank you.
                              Be happy!
                              We don't know what tomorrow brings,
                              but we are alive today!

                              Comment

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