If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
is it true that after having posterior spinal fusion done that you are all puffy and swollen in your face???
if so, how long does that seem to last?
thanks
25 yr old female =^_^=
Thoracic curve 48 degrees (with kyphosis)
Lumbar curve 23 degrees
surgery from t5-l1 25 July 2005
Two rods and 16 screws later . . . 0 degrees YAY!
Yes, but only for the first day or 2. Belive me when I say that will be the least of your worries. :-)
--Linda
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
We were told that our daughter's face might be swollen immediately after surgery. This is apparently due to fluid accumulation from lying face down for an extended period while under anaesthesia. As it turned out, she wasn't swollen at all. She looked absolutely beautiful (had an awful lot of tubes coming out of various places though....), so there is clearly some variability. If there is swelling, it is very temporary.
Cheers - Patricia
Patricia
Scoli Mum from New Zealand
Daughter Caitlin's surgery 2nd May 2005
Posterior fusion T3 - L1
My daughter was swollen after surgery. When I saw her in recovery, she was a lot less swollen then I expected. The staff in the recovery room told me that about 50% of the swelling was already gone. I literally watched the swelling leave her face and by the morning after surgery, her face was completely normal.
My mother said I actually only had minimal swelling- people who knew me would notice, but not those who didn't. I just looked a little chubby for a day or two. It goes away, and doens't have a lasting effect. Nothing to worry about.
Blair
Dec 15th, 2003 @ age of 20
Posterior Fusion and CD Horizon instrumentation T2-L1.
Surgery by Dr. Herkowitz- Beaumont Hospital of Royal Oak, Michigan
Excellent correction of 52 degree single left thoracolumbar curve. Slight curve remains in unfused lumbar region but seems stable.
February 5, 2005- Failed Scar Revision Surgery
September 17, 2005- 2nd Failed Scar Revision.
Be sure and let the family members who might see you right after the surgery know that you may be quite swollen in the face. I know it frightened my parents and husband when they saw me with the swelling. It did go away pretty quickly however.
Thank you all for your responses. My doctor didn't tell me that and I have been doing quite a bit of reading on the procedure trying to prepare myself both physically and mentally.
hopefully I won't look too much like a chipmunk in the days following the procedure.
25 yr old female =^_^=
Thoracic curve 48 degrees (with kyphosis)
Lumbar curve 23 degrees
surgery from t5-l1 25 July 2005
Two rods and 16 screws later . . . 0 degrees YAY!
Honestly, you won't care a bit about how you look.
My doctor didn't warn me either, and it was quite a shock to my boyfriend.
--Linda
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
I've another question. Do doctors still tend to use stitches or do they use staples to cover the site????
25 yr old female =^_^=
Thoracic curve 48 degrees (with kyphosis)
Lumbar curve 23 degrees
surgery from t5-l1 25 July 2005
Two rods and 16 screws later . . . 0 degrees YAY!
It depends entirely on the surgeon (or whomever is closing). I think the most frequent method for closing these days is internal, disolvable stitches, with steri-strips (tape) on the skin.
--Linda
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
oh, okay. thanks abunch.. sorry to bombard you guys/gals with all of these questions.
~Shelley
25 yr old female =^_^=
Thoracic curve 48 degrees (with kyphosis)
Lumbar curve 23 degrees
surgery from t5-l1 25 July 2005
Two rods and 16 screws later . . . 0 degrees YAY!
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
Shelly, My incision down my spine was closed last year with stitches. The anterior incision through the ribs was closed with staples, the anterior incision throught the belly was closed with steri-strips, and my hip graft was closed with internal stitches. This year's posterior incision is closed with staples. They are no fun! I get them out Friday and can't wait. Also about the swelling, last year I was swollen all over alot! This year the surgery was shorter and very little swelling.
Theresa
April 8 & 12, 2004 - Anterior/Posterior surgery 15 hours & 7 hours
Thorasic - 79 degree down to 22
Lumbar - 44 degree down to 18
Fused T2 to sacrum June 2, 2005 - Pedicle subtraction osteotomy @L3 7 hours MAY 21, 2007 - Pedicle subtraction osteotomy @ L2, extended the fusion to S2 and added pelvic instrumentation 9 hours
. . . This year's posterior incision is closed with staples. They are no fun! I get them out Friday and can't wait. . .
Theresa, I wish you all the luck in having those staples removed. I've never had to have stitches/staples or anything of that nature. the only surgery i've had before was a tonsillectomy/adendoidectomy (sorry if I mutilated that one) Just trying not to 'freak out' and cover all of my bases. :/ Looks like I'll have to call my doctor in the morning just to make sure.
25 yr old female =^_^=
Thoracic curve 48 degrees (with kyphosis)
Lumbar curve 23 degrees
surgery from t5-l1 25 July 2005
Two rods and 16 screws later . . . 0 degrees YAY!
Comment