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  • Any teachers?

    Are any of you that have been (or are going) through this teachers and if so, how long were you off work? I still have a 5 week wait until my first app't. and there are a million things going through my mind. As a music teacher, the holiday season is crazy with performances and was hoping to be able to suck it up, take vicodin and plan surgery after C-mas. However, other people have said to me (esp. those who know how much pain I'm dealing with), take the first date they can give you. I'm an intinerant teacher who travels to different bldgs. lugs instruments around, constantly setting up/tearing down chairs, etc. so it's not like I'm in a single classroom all day long. Just wondered how long it took until you felt like you could be at school again? Would I need to miss an entire semester?? Fortunately, I have a lot of sick days, so that's not an issue. Just thinking about planning my life in the next few months...
    Anne


    Anne in PA
    Age 58
    Diagnosed at age 14, untreated, no problem until age 50
    T4 to sacrum fusion
    63 thoracic now 35, 92 lumbar now 53
    Dr. Baron Lonner, 2/2/10
    Am pain-free, balanced, happy & an inch taller !

  • #2
    I am actually a reading specialist and I had a lot of guilt that I did his at the beginning of the school year. But I was finishing my grad work until the end of July and then my parents had a fiftieth anniversary celebration in mid August. But I didn't want to wait until the next summer. I told my principal 4-6 weeks. Now I'm waiting to see exactly how that will work. Just make sure you check your FMLA and short term disability benefits.
    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


    • #3
      It depends...

      Anne-- so much of it depends on how old you are and the length of your fusion and any other procedures that may be done too. I was older (56) when I had my surgery and thought I'd be able to return after summer, but there was no way... I actually ended up taking the whole next year off and was glad I did. You can see in my signature the extent of my surgery. I consider my job at an elementary school as being a pretty high energy/active job, being in charge of the library and teaching K-5 -- 21 classes weekly, each for 45 minutes, plus I have lunch and recess duties. Returning to my position was an all or nothing situation and I had a rough enough time after taking the year off! Again, it depends on how you are doing. Talk to your surgeon about it, but make sure he/she understands what your job is like. Mine had originally thought 3 months would be sufficient, but he was really thinking of it as more like a desk job... Best wishes!
      71 and plugging along... but having some problems
      2007 52° w/ severe lumbar stenosis & L2L3 lateral listhesis (side shift)
      5/4/07 posterior fusion T2-L4 w/ laminectomies and osteotomies @L2L3, L3L4
      Dr. Kim Hammerberg, Rush Univ. Medical Center in Chicago

      Corrected to 15°
      CMT (type 2) DX in 2014, progressing
      10/2018 x-rays - spondylolisthesis at L4/L5 - Dr. DeWald is monitoring

      Click to view my pics: pics of scoli x-rays digital x-rays, and pics of me

      Comment


      • #4
        I am not a teacher, but I naively told my work I would be off 6 weeks also. I am at 3 months and not nearly ready to be able to work. I am 59 years old though and had a pretty long fusion so that has to be accounted for. Just be very careful what you sign up for. It is easier to come back earlier than you expect than to be stressed over taking longer than you expect.
        Paula

        June 15, 2009 Posterior Fusion T4-L5
        Thorasic: 48° --> 8°
        Lumbar: 65° --> 8°
        Age: 58
        Dr. Von Rueden Austin, Texas

        Comment


        • #5
          I retired June 08 after 34 1/2 years of teaching English--mostly middle school. Then I got the surgery. My first many months were getting myself ready and now I seem to do nothing but exercise and lie flat for a couple hours in the afternoon. I had a lot done and am older than you but I wouldn't have been able to go back for a long time. I'm just past 5 months now. I may do some very selective subbing but I told them not even to try calling until Nov. One thing I worry about the most is the hyper kids and trying to navigate the crowded hallways without getting knocked down etc. It is really hard to say since everyone is so different but lugging instruments etc. could be quite difficult and not sure how soon you could lift that much weight. Be sure to check that part out. Good luck. Janet
          Janet

          61 years old--57 for surgery

          Diagnosed in 1965 at age of 13--no brace
          Thoracic Curve: 96 degrees to 35 degrees
          Lumbar Curve: 63 degrees to 5 degrees
          Surgery with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis--March 30, 2009
          T-2 to Pelvis, and hopefully all posterior procedure.

          All was posterior along with 2 cages and 6 osteotomies.

          Comment


          • #6
            i was a special ed teacher in manhattan, & worked with the kids bellevue didnt want! then became a social worker, working with the same kids...in a building 5 stories high, no elevator, & 100 years old! i retired early due to pain (no surgery)...i think it is way too grueling to teach in pain...with or without surgery...& itinerant would be worse! also, carrying things is ridiculous..i have herniated discs & can barely lift a 9 pound dog! i think with surgery & rods, it would be even more dangerous...you wouldnt want to ruin something that you & the doctors worked so hard to fix!

            you know, if need be, people qualify for disability after being out 6 months...sometimes it is necessary even temporarily!!

            best of luck
            jess

            Comment


            • #7
              I'm not a teacher, but went back to my physically undemanding job at about 8 months. I felt that I was 'ready' to go back definitely by 6 months post op. Even when I did go back, it took me a few months to get used to being back. I'd come home and take naps every day for well over a month.

              Before I went back to work,, and was feeling pretty good, I did quite a lot around the house, but the difference was, I'd be able to take short naps, or even just lay down for 30 minutes to rest my back. That's what I really missed once I started work.

              I'm not sure how old you are, but the thought of 4-6 weeks--for me would have been impossible. I feel that at that point I was in very early recovery.
              __________________________________________
              Debbe - 50 yrs old

              Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
              Told by Dr. my curve would never progress

              Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
              Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
              Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees

              Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
              Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degrees

              Comment


              • #8
                I am an elementary teacher. I had my surgery at the end of April so that I could start the next school year. Unfortunately, I am 4 months post op and NOT ready at all to be at school...so I haven't begun yet! I do not have the pain or pain meds under control enough to be a good teacher nor do I have my brain power or stamina back. I'm not sure when I'll be back. Luckily...I have a VERY understanding principal who wants me to be fully healed when I come back. Do be careful with disability...from what I've heard...if you even set your foot in the room for an hour and decide you can't handle it you lose your disability and have to start all over.

                Again, every surgery is different and each person's response different.

                Always Smilin'
                Colleen

                1982 fused T2-L1
                pre op 45 - post op 33 (left thoracic)
                pre op 53 - post op 18 (right thoracic)

                recheck 2006
                right thoracic 57
                lower lumbar 34

                surgical revision April 28,2009
                revision T3-L1; new fusion L1-L4
                unsure of degrees at this point

                Comment

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