Age at time of surgery

[JennyRN]

I would love to know at what age everyone had their surgeries. And how long of a recovery time did you have?
I am 30 with surgery to be coming soon.

[RitaR]

I am 46 years young.... Ha! And, surgery in a week....Yikes!!!!!!

[LynnMarie74]

Hi there! I was 34 when I had my fusion. I was out of work for 12 weeks, but felt human again after about 8 weeks. I started feeling "myself" again about 6 months out. It was a long ride, but worth it and would do it again in heart beat! Good luck with your sugery!!


Lynn

[briarrose]

I had the surgery when I was 26. I started back to school at 3 months post-op. It was very difficult going back that soon. I could have used another month to recover. I remember thinking in January that I felt pretty much almost fully recovered (I had my surgery in May).

Shell

[sheri66]

Hey Jenny,I had my surgery in Aug.2009 and I was 43.I am still recovering but it is getting better.I still wear a brace but this week I get to start weening myself.I am glad I had the surgery.My hip and leg pain is gone.I am just trying to get used to doing things different since I am fused to pelvis.Good luck with your surgery.I hope you have a good outcome.
Sheri

[Jimbo]

I am am 28 and was fused T3-L4 one month ago

I am lovin it too

[LindaRacine]

Hi...

I was 42 at the time of my surgery, and had a very long recovery.

I've come to believe that age has little to do with recovery. I routinely see 70 and 80 year old patients who have scoliosis fusions, who recover as quickly as teenagers. I think it's more an issue of how fit one is at the time of surgery.

Regards,
Linda

[Singer]

I was 52 and had a long recovery. I started part-time office work a year after surgery but still felt pretty delicate; I made a ton of progress between 18 months and 2 years post-op. I was extremely fit going into surgery and sailed through the actual operation, but I had some nerve damage from the anterior incision which took a long time to resolve.

[Susie*Bee]

I was 56. Other than being a little "plump" I was pretty healthy and am strong. I had a long recovery-- although my surgeon said I was doing great. I think a lot of factors come into play for length of recovery... length of fusion, "extras" that are done during surgery, osteopoenia, arthritis, DDD, etc. If that is part of what one considers "fit", then that is a part you have no control over. I just know that the surgery left me extremely weak and I worked very hard with PT (both there -- as in formal PT, at 6 months post-op and again at 11 months post-op, and doing the routine on my own) for a long time to build endurance/stamina so I could return to work. But I don't have a desk job. My arms and legs became very weak from the surgery-- and I tired soooo easily. I'm good to go now-- although I prefer a quiet evening at home after a day's work.

I will venture to say that in general, younger people without other problems recover quicker than older people. And people whose fusions aren't as long also recover quicker. There are exceptions to everything, of course.

[debbei]

I would love to know at what age everyone had their surgeries. And how long of a recovery time did you have?
I am 30 with surgery to be coming soon.

I was 46; had PT starting at 8 weeks for 3 months, started exercising at 5 months, went back to work at 8 months. Going back to work whooped my butt at first; I'd come home and take a nap every day. I feel pretty much like my old self (but without the pain now) and I'm at 16 months.

[txmarinemom]

I had surgery at 39 ... and was back playing softball at 7 months.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is how much the length of the fusion - and the approach - can affect recovery time. It's not a given, but A/P patients generally take more time to recoup.

Mine was a relatively short segment fusion (T4-L1), and it was done posterior only. It's just impossible to comparemine to SusieBee's or Singer's.

Also, I often wonder is people with extreme corrections aren't more prone to challenges - especially in early recovery. Using Singer's case again (sorry Chris! ;-), going from 70° to 12° is huge: I think the amount of adjustment your body goes through can't be underestimated.

Regards,
Pam

[megz]

im 27 and was fused from T2-Pelvic..I had surgery Jan 11 and Jan 14 of this year..I can feel and improvement every week that goes by. =) Good luck!

[naptown78]

I was 48 when I had my orig surgery and I feel like I haven't stopped recovering. But then I wasn't as lucky and had some complications. Going in again in less than a month for a revision. I went back to work at 5 months. My curve was a large curve too and my approach was A/P and had a long fusion T4 to sacrum. I too feel that the younger people seem to recover like lightning!

[loves to skate]

OK, I'm the old one here. I had my surgery at age 67. It was a tough recovery for me, but I guess it is for everyone. I was in good physical condition before surgery except that I came down with a very nasty cold 5 weeks before my surgery so I wasn't able to go to the pool to keep up with my water therapy. I probably could have gone back to work part time at 4 or 5 months post-op but thank God I was already retired. I was able to go back to roller-skating at 11 months post-op.
Sally

[JenniferG]

I was 57, almost 58. I went into surgery very fit. I was fused T4-pelvis. I felt good at 3 months and at 6 months went to Malaysia on a swimming/snorkelling/trekking holiday. I kept my bag at 10 kilos. I'm almost one year and life is back to normal and I'm pain free. I know I've been lucky, I can't believe my good luck, I pinch myself daily to ensure I'm not dreaming. I just hope my luck doesn't run out.