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±7:00 a.m. tomorrow, my hardware officially becomes a toddler :)

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  • ±7:00 a.m. tomorrow, my hardware officially becomes a toddler :)

    I still can't believe it.

    Two years ago tonight, I had my house/life ready for some sort of invasion; the enemy (friend? I wasn't sure) was coming for an extended visit. Surgery was scheduled in 11 hours.

    I'd spent almost 2 solid months getting ready. I had cooked ahead and frozen meals. I had my handicapped hanger. I had retrofit my bathroom in a manner that would have made any 98 year old proud. I had all essential belongings attached to my nightstand with VELCRO (which still makes me alternately laugh and think "*that* was awesome(ly neurotic) planning, Pam" - LOL).

    I even had crap on my list like "Have best friend (bless my best friend ... if anyone deserves to be a saint, it's her) remind me to put body jewelry back in if I don't remember.".

    Triple redundancies were in place to recover solo, and my mind was going 1000 mph: I was *certain* I'd forgotten something crucial that would derail my entire recovery.

    For those of you facing surgery/recovery tonight, I just want to tell you - there's NOTHING that critical. People told me that, and I thought they just didn't get it.

    Life won't stop while you step off the merry-go-round, and it'll be right there waiting when you feel you're ready to rejoin the playground.

    If anything's indicative of how this all-consuming focus will eventually fade, I didn't snap to my "anniversary" until I'd written the date about 8 times this morning. The biggest testament I can afford my experience is "I don't think about my back".

    How absolutely *stunning* that still is to me ...

    Pam
    Fusion is NOT the end of the world.
    AIDS Walk Houston 2008 5K @ 33 days post op!


    41, dx'd JIS & Boston braced @ 10
    Pre-op ±53°, Post-op < 20°
    Fused 2/5/08, T4-L1 ... Darrell S. Hanson, Houston


    VIEW MY X-RAYS
    EMAIL ME

  • #2
    Wow! I am just blown away - your x-rays look remarkable!!!!! How straight you are!!!!! It must be so wonderful to be on your side right now. You are a true inspiration to me!!!
    Rita Thompson
    Age 46
    Milwaukee Brace wearer for 3 years in childhood
    Surgery Mar 1st - 95 degree thoracic curve
    Surgery by Dr. Lenke, St. Louis, MO
    Post-surgery curve 25-30 degree

    Comment


    • #3
      PAM, another WOW!...I can't tell you how comorting it is to hear those words from you!!! I am becoming increasingly anal about my impending surgery...but velcroing things to the nightstand...that takes it to a whole new level! HAHA! That is hilarious! Thinking back...are there 3 things you ARE glad you were anal about and that you would suggest? I'm so glad for you...and like you did...I will be recovering solo. Thanks for the calmness.

      Laura
      Laura
      62 degrees
      49 yrs. young
      Surgery 3/31/10 with Lenke

      Before and After pics
      http://www.flickr.com/photos/13749126@N06/

      Comment


      • #4
        Hi Pam,

        Congratulation on your scoli and "neurotic" recovery.

        I hope you realize how valuable your post is and will be in the future. It will be very comforting for many people that are secrectly like you, and others that have different fears and concern. Thank you.

        Out of curiosity, what was you toenail cutting plan???

        Shari

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Shari View Post
          Hi Pam,

          Congratulation on your scoli and "neurotic" recovery.

          I hope you realize how valuable your post is and will be in the future. It will be very comforting for many people that are secrectly like you, and others that have different fears and concern. Thank you.

          Out of curiosity, what was you toenail cutting plan???

          Shari

          Girl, I had a to-do list you wouldn't believe. I pull it out every now and then when I need a laugh.

          I'm only fused to L1, so toenails weren't a priority. I *thought* waxing would be - but it turns out (who knew?) that isn't a life sustaining function. On the upside, there are people who are MORE than glad to take your money to provide either service.

          Pam
          Fusion is NOT the end of the world.
          AIDS Walk Houston 2008 5K @ 33 days post op!


          41, dx'd JIS & Boston braced @ 10
          Pre-op ±53°, Post-op < 20°
          Fused 2/5/08, T4-L1 ... Darrell S. Hanson, Houston


          VIEW MY X-RAYS
          EMAIL ME

          Comment


          • #6
            Great post Pam!

            "I don't think about my back". The ultimate goal for us all. Brilliant that you've achieved this.

            "I just want to tell you - there's NOTHING that critical." Absolutely. Life continues, things just fall into place and get done. Life goes on!

            And it IS "absolutely stunning"!
            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


            • #7
              Good thread, Pam-- and congrats! How well I remember it all-- and how we waited to hear the news... And couldn't believe you were on the phone practically in the recovery room. I'm so glad your life is without back issues these days!
              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


              • #8
                Best thread title nomination



                Two years. Time flies when you're not thinking about your back, eh?

                Good to see you posting.
                Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

                No island of sanity.

                Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
                Answer: Medicine


                "We are all African."

                Comment


                • #9
                  Just wanted to echo my congratulations to you. Not thinking about your back is a real measure of success.
                  Avis
                  1987 Lumbar Laminectomy (forget which levels)
                  2005 A/P fusion, L2 - L5, 2/2005
                  2009 2 Posterior fusions, T6 - Pelvis, 2/10 & 2/18,
                  Dr. Frank Rand, NEBH

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Congratulations Pam. I'm so happy that you are doing so well. I can't wait to be at the point where I don't think about my back any more. I'm not quite there. Some days I forget it, but not always.

                    Your velcro and bathroom for 98 year old stories crack me up.
                    __________________________________________
                    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


                    • #11
                      Congratulations....and you really should patent the velcro-to-the-nightstand configuration...LOL!!!!!
                      Chris
                      A/P fusion on June 19, 2007 at age 52; T10-L5
                      Pre-op thoracolumbar curve: 70 degrees
                      Post-op curve: 12 degrees
                      Dr. Boachie-adjei, HSS, New York

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Hi Pam,

                        Great post. You are a wonderful inspiration to us all. I still have some issues but am very grateful for what I have and am able to do with this 70 year old body of mine. Hopefully we can get those issues resolved. Your toddler hardware and my birthday today.
                        Diagnosed with severe lumbar scoliosis at age 65.
                        Posterior Fusion L2-S1 on 12/4/2007. age 67
                        Anterior Fusion L3-L4,L4-L5,L5-S1 on 12/19/2007
                        Additional bone removed to decompress right side of L3-L4 & L4-L5 on 4/19/2010
                        New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA
                        Dr. Frank F. Rands735.photobucket.com/albums/ww360/butterflyfive/

                        "In God We Trust" Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by loves to skate View Post
                          Hi Pam,

                          Great post. You are a wonderful inspiration to us all. I still have some issues but am very grateful for what I have and am able to do with this 70 year old body of mine. Hopefully we can get those issues resolved. Your toddler hardware and my birthday today.
                          Happy Birhday Sally!!!!
                          __________________________________________
                          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


                          • #14
                            Thanks Debbei.
                            Diagnosed with severe lumbar scoliosis at age 65.
                            Posterior Fusion L2-S1 on 12/4/2007. age 67
                            Anterior Fusion L3-L4,L4-L5,L5-S1 on 12/19/2007
                            Additional bone removed to decompress right side of L3-L4 & L4-L5 on 4/19/2010
                            New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA
                            Dr. Frank F. Rands735.photobucket.com/albums/ww360/butterflyfive/

                            "In God We Trust" Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Thank you- needed that perspective today

                              Dee
                              Dee - Mother of two daughters, both with scoliosis KateScoliKid (16yo) 52* Lumbar curve
                              Fusion Surgery 2/9/10 T-11->L-3 @CHKD Norfolk VA
                              Jes (20yo) T 3 -> L 3 w/ Kyphosis

                              Comment

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