riding the school bus

[MATJESNIC]

Parents of kids who had spinal fusions, when did your children go back on the bus? Did you wait for the surgeon to tell you it was okay? When did they start walking in the halls with everyone else? I know each child is different. But I am trying to get an idea. We have been ultra conservative.

[flowerpower]

Hi Melissa,

It was about 2-3 mos. before Joe rode on a school bus. But it wasn't an everyday thing, only being transported to extracurricular activities on occasion. As for walking crowded hallways, he added to my gray hairs by insisting on doing so upon his return to school.

Renee

[scoliboymom]

Patrick took the bus first day back to school in september at 3 1/2 months but he said it really uncomfortable with the vibrations over country roads. So I ended up driving him for the first few months til about 6 months post-op. It seemed to be better for him then. As for the halls he was fine at 3 1/2 months when he went back to school. if he had gone back at 6-8 weeks I would have worried about this endlessly.
I also think their sense of balance takes a while to come back. I have seen Patrick fall several times on the ice this winter much to my horror. He said he was fine each time but still... I envision his whole fusion coming undone!!

[laurieg6]

Alexander rode the bus after the surgeon said he could lift as much weight as he wanted - he was finally able to lift his rolling backpack up and down the stairs. He had also given up taking his pillow everywhere by then.

[txmarinemom]

... I also think their sense of balance takes a while to come back.

Patrick's Mom, that's no kidding! I totally lost my center of gravity the first 10 days or so, and constantly felt like I was listing in all directions.

I assume I was still trying to hold my body the way I had the last 30 years when almost nothing on my torso was located where it had been the last 30 years.

Everything seems much more stable now, but I've been doing tons of walking for the upcoming 5K. My training partners did get a few chuckles at first because I literally couldn't manage to consistently walk in a straight line ;-).