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Sandy's Fusion Aug 13

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  • Sandy's Fusion Aug 13

    9 days til the big day and counting. Got a 2nd opinion from Geoff Cronen in Tampa, FL not aware that he works a lot with my 1st choice surgeon, Anthony Moreno. They did Tatiana together, a young Ukranian girl with a 120 degree curve no one the world over would touch. Things for me look good, I'll be having 2 pairs of skilled hands for the surgery with both docs working together. Cronen trained with Lenke in St. Louis, a renowned surgeon often mentioned on these blogs, and Moreno has the Moreno Spine & Scoliosis Center, a specialized practice.

    Bending xrays show I'm very flexible and they think they can do T9 to the pelvis instead of the original T2 estimate. They expect a correction of 68 degrees to 20ish degrees, and the thoracic curve should balance without being included in the fusion. Hopefully that will give me a bit more flexibility. They've opted for Titanium instead of stainless for whatever reason. The fusion will include bone grafts from myself and some (artifical) bone morphogenic protein. I might not even have to be braced after, and they will send me home with a bone stimulator to help with healing.

    Got my IVC filter yesterday to prevent clots from the long surgery. Completed all the cardiac and pre-op testing today. Now just waiting for the big day. Starting to freak a bit. Your prayers and best wishes are beyond appreciated! I'll post my progress when I can. --Sandy
    Sandy

    Thoracic curve was 55 degrees, now 30
    Lumbar curve was 68 degrees, now 26
    Rib rotation was 17 degrees, now 0
    Degenerated discs and sacral arthritic spurs, plus significant spondylosis
    Fused 8/13/09 at age 43 from T-9 to pelvis with iliac screws anchoring hardware to the pelvis, plus osteomies by Drs. Anthony Moreno and Geoff Cronen, Tampa, FL

  • #2
    Best of luck Sandy.
    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

    Comment


    • #3
      Sounds like you'll be in good hands Sandy.

      My thoracic curve was reduced from 68 to 22 and I'm very happy. I look straight. You'll be happy with that, I'm sure. It took away my rib hump without removing ribs.

      Good luck, we'll be thinking of you. There are a few surgeries in August. Wishing all a successful surgery and a smooth recovery!
      Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
      Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
      T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
      Osteotomies and Laminectomies
      Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

      Comment


      • #4
        Hi Sandy
        you are in my thoughts & prayers....with those skilled doctors, you will do well...

        take care....know that many are thinking of you...
        jess

        Comment


        • #5
          Just want to chime in my best wishes for you. It does sound like you'll be in good hands.

          Please keep us posted as you can afterwards but most importantly I'm wishing you an easy, healthy, and quick recovery!
          ValleyGirl - age 54

          Diagnosed @ age 11
          Milwaukee brace 1967-1971 -- hated it!
          Never rechecked since 1971 until "tweaked" something in lower back in July 2008.
          Now curve is T38*, L53*
          Surgery scheduled for 9/8/09


          Fused T10 - S1 on 9/8/09

          Comment


          • #6
            Sandy, Best wishes of a great correction and a speedy, uncomplicated recovery.
            Vali
            44 years young! now 45
            Surgery - June 1st, 2009
            Dr David Hall - Adelaide Spine Clinic
            St. Andrews Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia
            Pre-op curve - 58 degree lumbar
            Post -op - 5 degrees
            T11 - S1 Posterior
            L4/5 - L5/S1 Anterior Fusion

            Comment


            • #7
              9 days!! Down to the single-digit in the countdown!!!

              Best wishes and a cyber hug!

              I hope to see quite a bit of you in these next "pre" days - this place does help with the anxiety, doesn't it?!?!?!! As jumpy as I can be during this waiting period, the info and the cameraderie of this board in just invaluable.

              And, hopefully, you'll be feeling up to posting not-too-long afterwards, so we can hear all about everything.

              Good luck to all of us Girls of August!
              Fused T-3 to L-3, Aug 25
              Hardware removal surgery, Nov 2, 2010
              Fused T-10 to L-2, osteotomy, Feb 22, 2011

              Comment


              • #8
                Sandy,
                Just take it easy, take one day at a time, and remember, we are all thinking of you. Best wishes!
                Lesley
                Les, Biker Babe, age 56 (at time of first surgery)
                Fused T2 to S2, posterior only, 8 Apr 08
                T3 fracture repair and revision, Mar 09
                Broke left lower rod and pelvic screws removal, Dec 09
                Scheduled to remove all hardware, replaced everything instead due to non-fusion, Nov 10
                Remove top 2" of rods and screws, Feb 14
                Pre surgery degrees: L40, T45
                Post surgery degrees: L8, T10

                Happy, joyous and pain-free!
                Surgeon: C Timothy Floyd, MD, Boise Orthopedic Clinic

                Comment


                • #9
                  8 days and counting...

                  Thanks for the well wishes. One more doctor appt and then the big day. So much to finish up!
                  Sandy

                  Thoracic curve was 55 degrees, now 30
                  Lumbar curve was 68 degrees, now 26
                  Rib rotation was 17 degrees, now 0
                  Degenerated discs and sacral arthritic spurs, plus significant spondylosis
                  Fused 8/13/09 at age 43 from T-9 to pelvis with iliac screws anchoring hardware to the pelvis, plus osteomies by Drs. Anthony Moreno and Geoff Cronen, Tampa, FL

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    I wish you the best of luck! I remember being where you are now...millions of emotions! Hope you have a speedy recovery!
                    .: St@ci :.
                    28 years old
                    Mama to two daughters
                    Diagnosed at 12 with double curves.
                    No treatment.
                    Decided on surgery 16 years later.
                    Thoracic curve - 65
                    Lumbar curve- 63
                    Surgery was on January 15, 2009.
                    Fused T2-L3
                    No more curves now!

                    Happier now than ever!
                    http://www.lifeiscrooked.blogspot.com

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      God Bless and Good Luck
                      45L/40T
                      Surgery 25/1/2010
                      Australia

                      Knowthyself

                      Scoliosis Corrected 25/1/2010 by Dr Angus Gray, Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Sydney. Fused T3-L4.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Sandy,

                        You're sounding great! I will be thinking of you. I've seen about three doctors in the past week getting ready for my surgery. It's a lot to take in! thanks for keeping the August group in the loop. It's so helpful knowing that we're all getting ready at the same time!
                        Kathy, 43
                        Diagnosed as a teen
                        Boston brace 2 years
                        63 degree lumbar curve
                        Surgery August 26, 2009
                        Anterior approach fused T12-L4
                        now 28 degrees

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Less than 3 days to go!

                          Trying to get everything ready. Hubby and I painted the entire outside of the house this weekend. I am so sore! Paying bills. Training my sub at work. Starting to freak out, but I know it will all be ok.
                          Sandy

                          Thoracic curve was 55 degrees, now 30
                          Lumbar curve was 68 degrees, now 26
                          Rib rotation was 17 degrees, now 0
                          Degenerated discs and sacral arthritic spurs, plus significant spondylosis
                          Fused 8/13/09 at age 43 from T-9 to pelvis with iliac screws anchoring hardware to the pelvis, plus osteomies by Drs. Anthony Moreno and Geoff Cronen, Tampa, FL

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Awww Sandy, I totally feel you, but you are gonna do GREAT!! You have all of us and your family rooting for you!!
                            .: St@ci :.
                            28 years old
                            Mama to two daughters
                            Diagnosed at 12 with double curves.
                            No treatment.
                            Decided on surgery 16 years later.
                            Thoracic curve - 65
                            Lumbar curve- 63
                            Surgery was on January 15, 2009.
                            Fused T2-L3
                            No more curves now!

                            Happier now than ever!
                            http://www.lifeiscrooked.blogspot.com

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Sandy, best wishes for a peaceful 9 days in getting done what has to be done before surgery, don't worry so much, from my experience it seems to fall into place if you can delegate some of the stuff out to family and friends! It's funny how the scoliosis community is so small -- when I went for my 2nd opinion from a Dr. Neuwirth (some of the members here have used him) I found out that the surgeon I chose actually studied under him.
                              Dolores A
                              June 4, 2009 Anterior L3 - S1
                              June 8, 2009 Posterior T4 - Pelvis
                              Mark Agulnick, MD FAAOS
                              NY Spine & Scoliosis Center

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