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  • 57 and older

    Want to hear from people in the neigborhood of 57 or older who underwent surgery at this ripe age and are happy about it. Can it still be done, I wonder. My thorasic curve is 67 degrees and the doctor want to fuse from T3 to sacrum. Kinda scary. I would appreciate any response from oldies but goodies folks out there.

    Letty

  • #2
    hi, letty! i am not quite as "mature" as you would like, but my back hurt so badly over the weekend that i felt 100...does that count? anyway, i spoke with a woman last night who is in her her early 60's. she had the surgery done this past feb. her fusion wasn't quite as long as you are expecting, but it was long enough. i think she spent a tad longer in her brace than a younger person might, but she did not report any complications. six months post-op she is out and about ballroom dancing, working with her personal trainer, and traveling on business; she is very pleased with the results of her surgery. she is also a real dynamo and an inspiration...if she can do it, so can we!
    Sue


    Milwaukee Brace from ages 8 - 16
    T36 degrees/L56 degrees Pre-Op
    Fused T3 - S1
    Surgery done Sept. 15, 2004
    Dr. Robert G. Viere
    North Texas Spine Care @ Baylor

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    • #3
      Thank you, Sue. To say that I am very encouraged with your reply is an understatement. I wish I can talk to this amazing lady you were telling me about. Anybody else want to input on surgery after 50?

      Letty

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      • #4
        Hi Letty....

        While I'm not in the category you mention, I know plenty of people who have had surgery in their 50's and 60's. You should find a scoliosis specialist who has done plenty of scoliosis fusions on older patients. You may want to check out Dr. Behrooz Akbarnia or Dr. Susan Swank.

        Regards,
        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

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        • #5
          Thank you, Linda.

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          • #6
            Letty: Check my posts; I had an anterior/posterior revision 21 months ago and got my life back. I am working and have no pain.

            I am now 62!

            Feel free to e-mail me privately.
            Karen
            Original scoliosis surgery 1956 T-4 to L-2 ~100 degree thoracic (triple)curves at age 14. NO hardware-lost correction.
            Anterior/posterior revision T-4 to Sacrum in 2002, age 60, by Dr. Boachie-Adjei @Hospital for Special Surgery, NY = 50% correction

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            • #7
              Letty,

              I'm not over 50, I'm 49 today and 41/2 months post op from A/P surgery. I'm fused from T2 to the sacrum. At my doctor's appointment yesterday he said I still had a lot of flexibility. He also had me bend backwards!!! I was shocked! I said are you sure, can I do that! In adults they can't really tell you to much about your outcome before the surgery. I was originally told that I probably wouldn't get much correction. Well he did pretty good, my 79 thorasic curve is now 22 and my 44 lumbar curve is 18. Also my rib hump is almost gone and the best thing is that my shoulders and level! Try not to worry to much, I found the more that you talked about it the easier it was to handle. Feel free to call if you would like to talk 281-225-0439. Theresa
              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

              FUSED T2 - SACRUM 2

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              • #8
                Theresa,

                Did you have a big hump before surgery? Was it on the right side like mine? Did they take out ribs from you?

                Letty

                Comment


                • #9
                  Letty,

                  Yes my hump was pretty large and it was on the right side. He took a rib out. He said it was like the 6th or 7th rib down from the top. There is a little indent on my shoulder blade area where the rib used to be. The rib was completely removed. I still have tenderness in that area. Theresa
                  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

                  FUSED T2 - SACRUM 2

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Letty, I am 54 and 5 months post-op. I'm fused from T-1 to L-4. I'm now corrected 28 degrees and 25 degrees, quite an improvement from 52 and 78. I don't have pain, just alot of numbness and a sensation of pressure between my shoulderblades which is from all those nerves being cut. I really don't understand why my lower back to doing so great since the major curvature was there. I went back to work this week, part-time. I still get tired and can't do housework (now isn't that a bummer). The first month post-op was pure hell, but you can get through it. Good luck, Cheryl

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                    • #11
                      Thanks for your reply, Theresa. Are you glad you decided to have surgery and went through it? How about you, Cheryl? Are you happy with the result?

                      Letty

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                      • #12
                        Letty,
                        I had A/P surgery in 2002 at 53 yrs. Even tho I had some problems due to infection, I can now say I'm glad I had the surgery. I don't work outside the home, but I clean my own house (isn't that work?? LOL), garden etc. There is some stiffness that I will always have, but nothing that I can't live with
                        SandyC
                        SandyC

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                        • #13
                          Letty,

                          I'm very glad that I had the surgury done. I just feel better over all. It seemed like the scoliosis was always on my mind. The burning, tearing sensation that I was getting in my back on the left side was worrying me. Bra straps and sleeveless tops never staying put. Looking so much bigger because of the rib hump. You try to not let things bother you, but it does and you don't realize it until it's taken care of. Theresa
                          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

                          FUSED T2 - SACRUM 2

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Hi,

                            Since we are all telling each others ages.....LOL....I'm 46 and had the surgery 2 months ago.....so far so good
                            CONNIE


                            Surgery June 28th 2004
                            fused T4 -L3
                            Hip graft
                            Grown 1 1/2 inches
                            25/o upper T 15/o
                            53/o T 15/o
                            37/o L 6/o
                            Dr. Micheal Nuewirth
                            New York City

                            August 6, 2004
                            Pulmonary Embolism
                            complication from surgery

                            January 2007 currently
                            increasing pain at the T4/5
                            point irratation heardwear

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                            • #15
                              Letty, I just got back from dealing with my 84 year old mother, so I'm just now replying to your posts. My incision is from the neck to the butt. I don't remember my 2 days in icu but the next 4 weeks were horrible. I've never been on pain meds and found out that many made me sick. Of course of morphine pump was great, but you can't stay on that forever. I went off percription pain meds at 6 weeks when I broke out in hives. I now take tylenol and it does ok. I'm 5+ months post op now and generally the back is numb between the shoulderblades. It generally feels like an intense pulling sensation between my shoulder blades and sometimes a burning sensation. Clothes look much better on me now that I don't have slumped, uneven shoulders. My rib cage is now symentrical. I still have a rib hump. I had to go for surgery because the curvature was affecting my lungs and heart. Hope this answers your questions. Cheryl, age 54 P.S. Had my surgery at Cedars-Sinai in LA. Entire floor of hospital dedicated to spinal surgery. Had great surgeon. Was in hospital for 16 days total (8 in rehab). President Clinton was in hospital or 5 days for bypass surgery, so you know this is major.

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