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  • Recovering from surgery

    Hi everyone,
    Well I'm finally back to being able to do a few of the "normal" things of life. I had surgery on June 21st. Actually I had three surgeries in a week's time. I had 28 hours (total) of surgery. My case was pretty complex. I was at UC Davis Medical Center for five weeks. I developed a bacterial infection that was very hard to locate. Once located I was put on antibiotics and released from the hospital within a few days. I spent all summer convelesing and am still taking life very easy and need a lot of rest. I am very happy with the results and even though the surgeries, etc. were a very big ordeal I am happy I went through it. I got a 50% reduction in my curvatures and gained an inch and a half in height. I had quite a bad lumbar hump which is now completely gone! I am currently wearing a brace when I am up and about walking or sitting but I only have about six weeks to go and I will be free of the brace. If anyone has an specific questions regarding my surgery or recovery I'd be happy to answer them if I can.
    Regards,
    Susan

  • #2
    Glad to hear from you, Susan. Here's hoping for a full recovery for you.

    Letty

    Comment


    • #3
      Susan,
      welcome back to the sight, we missed you...I hope you are getting plenty of rest....28 hours of surgery is a very long and complex surgery , my surgery was only 6 hours...I'm sorry U had a complication..R U OK now???Can U tell us more about the infection?How did U know U had one?Feel better
      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

      Comment


      • #4
        Spincon58,
        I developed a fever about 2 1/2 weeks after surgery when I was still in the hospital. They thought pneumonia was the cause since I had a lot of fluid in my lungs due to receiving 7 units of blood post-surgically. They extracted fluid from my lungs and cultured it but it came up negative. They cultured everything they could get their hands on and came up with nothing. Since my chest xrays looked clear I was sent home. This was at three weeks and my temp. was 99-100 degrees at this time. I was only home two days and my fever climbed to nearly 103. I went back to the hospital via emergency room and was re-admitted for two more weeks while they did more sophisticated tests, ie; radioactive catscans that finally showed the infection site in my back. Taking a needle they extracted fluid and cultured it and said I have a bacterial infection called Serratia. Not sure on the spelling. It's a bad bacteria and not very common. I am on Cipro twice daily and feeling fine now. I may have to take it for a long time as the bacteria can hide out in the hardware areas. I see an infectious disease specialist at UC Davis regularly and get blood tests. Thanks for your concern.
        Susan

        Comment


        • #5
          Oh Susan,
          Thank god you did not need another surgery...someone was looking after you...I wish you continued good health and know that i'm here for support..Recovery is very hard..as I'm finding out now...I walk around with my xrays so I can put in perspective of the extreme amamount of trauma that was done to my spine...It makes me relealize that I need more time for healing....Don't rush anything, and feel better.
          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

          Comment


          • #6
            spinal hardwarey

            Susan,
            You mentioned the possibility of an infection in the hardware in your back. What kind of procedure did they perform on your back? a fusion? what was the hardware they used?
            Kathleen

            Comment


            • #7
              Kathleensrose,
              I was fused from T4-Sacrum. The doctor put in the common steel rod, screws, wires from both the anterior spine and posterior spine. I do not have an infection in the hardware. I have a bacterial infection in my back and may be on antibiotics for an extended amount of time because the bacteria can "hide out" around the hardware. That's about it for now. I have monthly blood tests and will see my infectious disease doctor in November to see how he thinks I'm doing.
              Susan

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