twisting limitations with full fusion.

[golfnut]

Irina,
I kept my cleaning lady that I had during my first six months after surgery, but now she only comes once a month. I have mopped the kitchen and bathroom floors on my hands and knees and it didn't bother me, but that was a year after my surgery. (They are also not large rooms.)

[titaniumed]

I read your mind, Ed :-) Do you have any pain after you bend and scrub?

I am a neat freak and some people jokingly ask me if we leave in this house or only use it as a show room, ha-ha. So, knowing myself, question of how to keep your house clean after the surgery (if I have it) is important to me.

Irina.

No.

After surgery, you will feel “discomfort” and “gripping” from the muscles running over the screw heads in the thoracic spine....its either that or a combination of the healing of the paraspinal’s that are located in the center of the back, 4 inches wide. It took me a year to get over this....At 14 months post, I was shoveling large amounts of landscaping rock, really putting things to the test. PT is a good thing, the arm bike was extremely beneficial for me during my shoulder recovery.(8 months post scoli surgeries) I would not have learned this if I hadn’t broken my shoulder.

I used to say I stopped improving at 2 years, but I have improved some from the second year to my fourth year...

On the subject of cleaning, I was looking for a pic or movie of Lily Munster “dusting” the house on the Munster’s.... You know, where the dust is just pouring out of the hose? I thought that was hilarious. Yvonne De Carlo and Fred Gwinn did a fantastic job at their roles.....I’m still laughing and its been a half a century...

If things get a little dusty, you need to find the episode I’m talking about because laughing during your recovery is a necessary thing. It clears the lungs and acts as a mental diversion. Its funny how this works so well.....
Ed

[Terrik]

Ed, you are such an inspiration

I am stil on the 70% sure surgery needs to happen - and looking toward Spring 2013 - but boy those fears can make one crazy. I will need to be fused from T-3 to sacrum with pelvic fixation, and like so many of us, am worried about the flexibility and how I will take care of myself (live alone and have no family). I live in NYC and the surgeon will either by Boachie or Lonner, leaning more toward Lonner.

I was wondering if anyone who has had a long fusion has a picture of how they bend over? I love Ed's pictures that show his twisting ability - Ed you are amazing. I am just curious how it looks to bend to pick something up? Is it totally a squat or can you bend over at all? I wish there was a video to see the movements one can make after all is said and done. Ed - I just gave you a project... So, if Ed or any one has a picture(s) to share, I sure would love to see it - as I am sure others would too. Maybe it would finally erase my fears that I will be moving like a robot and incapable of having flexibility. I hear you all say, it is different - just so hard with no visual images. And I know this is a concern for so many of us on the pre-surgery side.

Thanks in advance!

[golfnut]

I was fused from T4 to sacrum in January, 2011. I don't feel that I move robotic at all. In my signature, I have posted a vidoe of my first game of golf after surgery. I know I am swinging with more speed and turning now several months later. I am also tap dancing and performing with my group again. I usually go down on one knee to get something off of the floor, but can also do a one legged stance and reach if I'm holding on to something. I hope my knees hold out for me because I'm doing a lot of squatting with golf . . . putting the ball on the tee, marking and replacing the ball on the green, etc. I'm also doing a lot of squatting pulling weeds in the landscaping. I kept five grabbers in the house during the first 6 months after my surgery.

[Terrik]

Golfnut - loved your video -

I would never know looking at your form and swing that you had scoliosis surgery and I like that quick deep with the knee to pick up the ball. Thanks for sharing and inspiring.

[titaniumed]

Its great to see Karen playing golf again.....I knew when I drove a few balls last year that it wouldn’t be a problem for her to get back into the swing of things.

I have a skiing video I keep throwing up here....I’m in the red jacket.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tEyp...&feature=email

Terrik

I can bend over and get my fingertips about 4 inches above the floor. Usually, if I need to pick something up, I squat down.

It would be a good thing to go and visit a local support group in NYC. You can also PM any of us here including me, to call on the phone. Sometimes there is too much to type.
I did my recovery alone.

That would be a great thread to start, titled Solo recovery.

Ed

[king14]

I wish there was a video to see the movements one can make after all is said and done. Ed - I just gave you a project... So, if Ed or any one has a picture(s) to share, I sure would love to see it - as I am sure others would too. Maybe it would finally erase my fears that I will be moving like a robot and incapable of having flexibility. I hear you all say, it is different - just so hard with no visual images. And I know this is a concern for so many of us on the pre-surgery side.

Thanks in advance!

Me too! I have never met someone that had scoliosis surgery. I've watched a zillion of amazing, energetic, teens/young adults surgery videos on youtube, but I wanted to see how life was AFTER that. everyday life.
thank you so much for the videos, both of you!!

It gives so much hope for those who haven't yet taken the plunge!!

[mabeckoff]

How I envy you Ed

[titaniumed]

Energetic teens? Ok, is 97 old enough? Check this out.

Banana George is fused and is a barefoot waterskier. He is my inspiration..... He was fused in 1954, and still rocks. I wonder how many crashes he has had in the last 56 years? Hmmm..... This man really proves that there is life after fusion. He doesn’t have rods, they used casts back in those days.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...eorge%22_Blair

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JankgaPZp9w

King, if you have never met another fused scoli, it would be good to attend a local scoli meeting. Of course, the best meeting is at UCSF, it’s the one that Linda organizes. I truly hope more forum members show up at the next meeting......the surgeons and doctors answer any and all questions....It runs all day long. They are a great group.

Here is a list of support groups off Linda’s site.
http://www.scoliosislinks.com/SupportGroups.htm

Ed

[titaniumed]

"George is one of the healthiest people I have ever treated," says his physician, Robin Baker of Winter Haven. "Notice I'm not saying the healthiest 88-year-old. He'd be healthy for someone in his 20s or 30s. It's all in the exercise, healthy eating and a positive attitude."

Long before George Blair was known as Banana -- decades ago, when he was in his 20s -- he was not the healthy specimen he is today. He tried to stay active, but he suffered from a bad back. It was a congenital problem, scoliosis, made worse by an unfortunate episode in 1934.

"During a college break, for the fun of it I rode across the country on the rails," he says. "Some hobos tried to steal my beans. I wouldn't give up my beans, and they threw me out of the boxcar. It really hurt."

He tried to stay in shape.

"When my kids were small, I'd jump over them on ice skates. But you know what? I was miserable. Hurt all the time. Felt like an old man."

He submitted to surgery, spinal fusion, when he was 39. His doctor suggested he take up swimming. He couldn't swim and still hates to be in the water without a flotation vest. "I sink like a stone. No buoyancy." He went to Fort Lauderdale for a vacation. Sitting near the Intracoastal Waterway, he watched an armada of skiers fly past. At a ski school, an instructor said, "If you can walk, you can ski."

"You got to be kidding," George said. "I'm in a back brace!"

http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/20/ne...s_appeal.shtml

[king14]

Here is a list of support groups off Linda’s site.
http://www.scoliosislinks.com/SupportGroups.htm

Ed

fabulous Ed, THANK YOU!. I really have found a wonderful place here on this thread!!!

[POLIOSURVIVER]

My first message on the forum

Hello everyone,
I am Connie from Florida and I have a very advanced scoliosis (122 thoracic anspd 100 lumbar), diagnosed in my early youth, when i was about 14 years old, I had a thoracic fusion done many years ago, now my curvatures progress about 4-5 degrees/year. I wad told that my scoliosis is a consequence of polio I contracted when I was almost 2 years old, in the old country.
I had an initial consultation with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis in November 2011 and I am scheduled for fusion from T3 to sacrum in October 1st, 2012.
Is this site where I found, as a guest, a lot of info and I first heard of Dr. Lenke and his magic. By he way, thank you all, for all the blogs and the pictures, they are very helpful for patients like me.
Now, I have a huge dilemma: I do not feel comfortable and go ahead with my surgery, (which, by the way, is very risky, due to the high degree of curvatures) unless I go ahead and see, physically , with my 2 eyes, a person who had the surgery and is willing to share with me some of he experience, live, in person.
So, please, respond to my message and share with me your experience, I am aware that it is very private and not pleasant to remember the pain and frustration, but, try to understand my position. And
where can I find support, other than this forum, where people going through same experience, share with
each other? My email address: tstraw2002@yahoo.com. You can contact me by email, if
you are willing to help? I am not a whiner, but this is really, really major staff. Thank you very much.
Connie
55 years old, thoracic 122, lumbar 100, scheduled for surgery on Oct. 1st, 2012 with Dr. Lenke

[JenniferG]

Hi Connie and welcome! Considering your large curves, I believe you have found just the right surgeon to help you. From all my years on this forum, Dr. Lenke appears to be the choice of those requiring a big surgery and I think most here would agree, he is your best bet or one of the best.

One thing I would suggest, is starting a new thread of your own, which will attract more attention so that you get more replies. There are plenty of us here with fusions around the same length yours will be, though not many with curves as big. Just ask any questions that enter your head, we're very willing to share and encourage, and many here are very knowledgeable. Best of luck!

[golfnut]

Connie,
I had my surgery in January of 2011 with Dr. Lenke. I have had a smooth recovery so far and have never regretted having the surgery. I'll send you an email.
Karen

[Doodles]

Connie--
I agree you have picked the right surgeon. He takes the most difficult cases. My curves were about 96 and 68 with a considerable rib hump. Cosmetically I don't feel as good as some do but my curves were big. Yours are bigger and he would do the best job, I feel. He's a great doctor. If I hadn't had the surgery 3 years ago, I don't know where I would be now. Pain would have been even more significant and the curves would have certainly been more and more pronounced. It was progressing the last couple years before my surgery at an even faster rate as I aged. Mine was done at 57. I think the sooner the better.
Generally, my pain is much much less. Sometimes I do too much and find I have several not so good days. I don't look "robotic" like some worry about. Most people wouldn't notice the remaining rib hump or my lean to left unless I was wearing a bathing suit. I gained an inch and a half which stretched out my very squished torso. It was a long recovery for me and I seemed to be on meds much longer than most. I do lots of exercising nearly every day to keep as much flexibility as possible. Zumba is my favorite but I had to go to just twice a week because it was giving me hip trouble. It's really fun--I would do it every day!
I tried to just give you all angles here and I would definitely do it all over again--don't ask me that the first couple months though!--it was a necessity and I'm glad I did it. Dr. Lenke can help you if anyone can.
Where do you live? I am worthless at posting pictures, etc. Even my kids tried a few years ago and couldn't do it on here for some reason, so I gave up on that. I hope this helps and good luck to you! Janet