Hello everyone,
I had a major lumbar curve around 70 degrees and have a thoracic curve about 60 degrees. I had 2 part surgery on November 15th and 22nd. The first surgery went smoothly and I did not even need a blood transfusion. After the second surgery I was supposed to be fused from sacrum to T3 but I started bleeding heavily and the surgeon fused sacrum to T8 only. I lost one and a half liters of blood and required 8 units of replacement blood. The surgeon said that I could come back in a few months to fuse T7 to T3. I already have a cervical fusion from C4 to C7. If I get fused to T3 I will only have T1 to T3 unfused, and the doctor said that the chances are good that I will have to get those fused sometime in the future. He also said that my thoracic curve will not worsen, since I am fused above and below and I may even get some correction. So now I have a 15 degree fused lumbar curve and a 60 degree thoracic curve. I guess I am disappointed with the results somewhat since my shoulder levels are still uneven. But I tried on some dresses today and I still looked pretty symmetrical. I'm thinking of postponing the surgery for the thoracic fusion as long as possible. I hate making these decisions, I agonized over whether to fuse all the way to the sacrum as the doctor left the decision up to me. Next summer I am going to Philadelphia and will take my xrays with me for some opinions. I would love to hear from anyone in this predicament, but I get the feeling that I'm unique. I hope this post makes sense, I'm still taking those nasty oxycontins.
I had a major lumbar curve around 70 degrees and have a thoracic curve about 60 degrees. I had 2 part surgery on November 15th and 22nd. The first surgery went smoothly and I did not even need a blood transfusion. After the second surgery I was supposed to be fused from sacrum to T3 but I started bleeding heavily and the surgeon fused sacrum to T8 only. I lost one and a half liters of blood and required 8 units of replacement blood. The surgeon said that I could come back in a few months to fuse T7 to T3. I already have a cervical fusion from C4 to C7. If I get fused to T3 I will only have T1 to T3 unfused, and the doctor said that the chances are good that I will have to get those fused sometime in the future. He also said that my thoracic curve will not worsen, since I am fused above and below and I may even get some correction. So now I have a 15 degree fused lumbar curve and a 60 degree thoracic curve. I guess I am disappointed with the results somewhat since my shoulder levels are still uneven. But I tried on some dresses today and I still looked pretty symmetrical. I'm thinking of postponing the surgery for the thoracic fusion as long as possible. I hate making these decisions, I agonized over whether to fuse all the way to the sacrum as the doctor left the decision up to me. Next summer I am going to Philadelphia and will take my xrays with me for some opinions. I would love to hear from anyone in this predicament, but I get the feeling that I'm unique. I hope this post makes sense, I'm still taking those nasty oxycontins.
Comment