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soon to be 6 years post-op

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  • soon to be 6 years post-op

    hey everyone sorry I haven't been active in a while. march of 2010 I had my Spinal Fusion surgery for my scoliosis. it been a tough road from my diagnosis, bracing for a year to stop the progression of the curve but that didn't work. so during my 12 grade year in high school I went under the fusion surgery which I dreaded for 6 years. My recovery was uneventful other then a infection scare. but the stiches was just infected. im still in chronic pain from it. but now i'm suffering from gastrointestinal issues
    Kara
    25
    Brace 4-15-05-5-25-06
    Posterior Spinal Fusion 3-10-10
    T4-L2
    Before 50T
    After 20T

  • #2
    Hi
    I hope that you start feeling better soon

    Melissa
    Melissa

    Fused from C2 - sacrum 7/2011

    April 21, 2020- another broken rod surgery

    Comment


    • #3
      Hi Kara,

      Wow, that's amazing it's 6 years! You are such a trooper, with your sinus surgery and foot surgery also behind you. I am happy for you that all those surgeries are done. But you mention chronic pain...I didn't realize you had chronic pain in your back, and I'm sorry to hear that. Also about your recent gastrointestinal issues. I hope you can find relief from those soon.

      Do you have any fun plans for Halloween?

      Take care, and congratulations on your almost 6 years!

      Gayle
      Gayle, age 50
      Oct 2010 fusion T8-sacrum w/ pelvic fixation
      Feb 2012 lumbar revision for broken rods @ L2-3-4
      Sept 2015 major lumbar A/P revision for broken rods @ L5-S1


      mom of Leah, 15 y/o, Diagnosed '08 with 26* T JIS (age 6)
      2010 VBS Dr Luhmann Shriners St Louis
      2017 curves stable/skeletely mature

      also mom of Torrey, 12 y/o son, 16* T, stable

      Comment


      • #4
        Kara!

        I always look forward to your updates but am so sorry to hear that you now have pain. Can I ask where in your back is the pain? I hope you get some help for that. Maybe some PT can help?

        Best regards,
        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


        • #5
          Thanks everyone. My gastrointestinal issue was dianosed with IBS. My chronic pain is in my lower back under my fusion
          Kara
          25
          Brace 4-15-05-5-25-06
          Posterior Spinal Fusion 3-10-10
          T4-L2
          Before 50T
          After 20T

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by kennedy View Post
            Thanks everyone. My gastrointestinal issue was dianosed with IBS. My chronic pain is in my lower back under my fusion
            Kara,

            I am sorry you are having pain issues. I hope your surgeon can tell you why you are having pain in your lower back and can help you with that.

            Good luck.
            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


            • #7
              Kara: Yikes! 2016 will hopefully be a better year for you! Follow-up with your surgeon if the pain continues. I have found that I need to call often to give updates on my pain.

              Good luck! Sorry that you are in pain. That sucks!

              Hugs, Susan....also in pain and tired of my situation also!
              Adult Onset Degen Scoliosis @65, 25* T & 36* L w/ 11.2 cm coronal balance; T kyphosis 90*; Sev disc degen T & L stenosis

              2013: T3- S1 Fusion w/ ALIF L4-S1/XLIF L2-4, PSF T4-S1 2 surgeries
              2014: Hernia @ ALIF repaired; Emergency screw removal SCI T4,5 sec to PJK
              2015: Rev Broken Bil T & L rods and no fusion: 2 revision surgeries; hardware P. Acnes infection
              2016: Ant/Lat Lumbar diskectomy w/ 4 cages + BMP + harvested bone
              2018: Removal L4,5 screw
              2021: Removal T1 screw & rod

              Comment


              • #8
                sharon the thing is the surgeon who did my surgery is now in st louis at washington university.
                Kara
                25
                Brace 4-15-05-5-25-06
                Posterior Spinal Fusion 3-10-10
                T4-L2
                Before 50T
                After 20T

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by kennedy View Post
                  sharon the thing is the surgeon who did my surgery is now in st louis at washington university.
                  Yes but a new set of x-rays or some other tests with a new surgeon might get you an answer as to why you are having pain below your fusion. That is not normal for people with one curve like I think you have. My kids have similar fusions and do not have pain below their fusions. One is almost 8 years out and the other is more than 6 years out. Even people with Harrington rods didn't tend have problems with only a thoracic curve. They should tell you why this is happening and figure out how to help you.
                  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


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Pooka1 View Post
                    Yes but a new set of x-rays or some other tests with a new surgeon might get you an answer as to why you are having pain below your fusion. That is not normal for people with one curve like I think you have. My kids have similar fusions and do not have pain below their fusions. One is almost 8 years out and the other is more than 6 years out. Even people with Harrington rods didn't tend have problems with only a thoracic curve. They should tell you why this is happening and figure out how to help you.
                    I had two curves
                    Kara
                    25
                    Brace 4-15-05-5-25-06
                    Posterior Spinal Fusion 3-10-10
                    T4-L2
                    Before 50T
                    After 20T

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by kennedy View Post
                      I had two curves
                      Yes but the bottom one wasn't structural, was it? I thought you just had a thoracic curve and a compensatory lumbar curve. My daughter's lower curve was almost 40* as I recall but she could straighten to to less than 10* so even though it was a "big curve" it wasn't structural and didn't need to be fused.

                      Did your lower curve decrease to match your fused curve all by itself after surgery? Is it bigger or smaller now than before surgery?
                      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


                      • #12
                        it was 40 degrees before surgery after it was 17 at my last x-ray in 2014 it was 21 degrees for both
                        Kara
                        25
                        Brace 4-15-05-5-25-06
                        Posterior Spinal Fusion 3-10-10
                        T4-L2
                        Before 50T
                        After 20T

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by kennedy View Post
                          it was 40 degrees before surgery after it was 17 at my last x-ray in 2014 it was 21 degrees for both
                          Okay your new surgeon should have all these records and hopefully will tell you if you curve is stable. It seems stable from that you posted. I think your lower curve has to be non-structural since it straightened out to match the fused curve all by itself. But the surgeon will have to tell you.

                          Good luck, Kara.
                          Last edited by Pooka1; 12-13-2015, 08:25 PM.
                          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


                          • #14
                            good point sharon
                            Kara
                            25
                            Brace 4-15-05-5-25-06
                            Posterior Spinal Fusion 3-10-10
                            T4-L2
                            Before 50T
                            After 20T

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by kennedy View Post
                              good point sharon
                              Will you see a new surgeon near your 6th anniversary in March? Did you pick a new surgeon yet?
                              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

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