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  • 8 week checkup

    Just got back from St Louis. There are no nonstops between Indy and St Louis. Went through Kansas City this morning and Chicago tonight. Three of my 4 flights today were delayed. I should have driven but wasn't sure I was up for a 41/2 hour drive two days in a row. Anyway, the good news is that Dr Bridwell said that I'm doing great. My x-rays look the same as the 9 day post op x-rays. No loose screws or dislodged hardware. I can ditch the walker (he said that I could wean myself off the walker) and I don't need to go back for the 4 month post op visit; I can wait and go back at 6 months! (the end of Feb) He told me to keep walking and he would start me on an exercise program (in addition to walking) at 6 months post op. I'm at 2 miles a day and will work up to 3 miles. So I'm happy and relieved.
    Age 56
    Wore a Milwaukee Brace for 3 years in hs
    Fused L4-S1 for high grade spondylolisthesis Jan '09 in Indy
    Thoracic 68
    Surgery Aug 31, 2010 T3 to L1
    Dr Bridwell St Louis
    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...1&d=1289881696

  • #2
    Great news!

    Yeah, Lisa! I'm so happy for you! I'm sorry that you had delayed flights though. I'm sure that made for a long day! I fly to St. Louis tomorrow and am a bit nervous about traveling.

    I found that I really needed to wean myself off of the walker. I started with just short distances without it and worked my way up. I actually used mine until 10 weeks post-op.

    What did Dr. Bridwell say about bending and lifting restrictions? Just curious.
    Kathy
    46 yrs at surgery, now 50
    71 degree thoracolumbar curve corrected to 34 degrees
    8/2/2010 surgery with Dr. Lenke

    posterior T9 to sacrum with pelvic fixation

    4 osteotomies and 1 cage
    http://s1066.photobucket.com/albums/...athK_08022010/

    Comment


    • #3
      Same bending, lifting, twisting restrictions at least for 2 more months. I think the first 4 months are the most critical. Good luck tomorrow. One of my girl friends went with me today; my husband is out of town. It really helped since I was dragging the walker! It does allow you to pre board; one big benefit! Let me know what you find out!
      Age 56
      Wore a Milwaukee Brace for 3 years in hs
      Fused L4-S1 for high grade spondylolisthesis Jan '09 in Indy
      Thoracic 68
      Surgery Aug 31, 2010 T3 to L1
      Dr Bridwell St Louis
      http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...1&d=1289881696

      Comment


      • #4
        Great news Lisa. Good to hear your news.
        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


        • #5
          Lisa,
          Great news. I was just sure you would get a good report. It has to feel good to be well on your way to recovery.
          Karen

          Surgery-Jan. 5, 2011-Dr. Lenke
          Fusion T-4-sacrum-2 cages/5 osteotomies
          70 degree thoracolumbar corrected to 25
          Rib Hump-GONE!
          Age-60 at the time of surgery
          Now 66
          Avid Golfer & Tap Dancer
          Retired Kdgn. Teacher

          See photobucket link for:
          Video of my 1st Day of Golf Post-Op-3/02/12-Bradenton, FL
          Before and After Picture of back 1/7/11
          tap dancing picture at 10 mos. post op 11/11/11-I'm the one on the right.
          http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/k630/pottoff2/

          Comment


          • #6
            Excellent, Lisa!

            Keep letting us know how it's going. Please.
            Amy
            58 yrs old, diagnosed at 31, never braced
            Measured T-64, L-65 in 2009
            Measured T-57, L-56 in 2010, different doc
            2 lumbar levels spondylolisthesis
            Exercising to correct

            Comment


            • #7
              I'm so happy for you. Oh, to be on the "other side." Keep up the recovery.

              Irene

              Comment


              • #8
                Lisa

                Just doing all those flights without scoliosis would be tough!

                Things will get better and better each day....

                Ed
                49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                My x-rays
                http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                Comment


                • #9
                  Good news Lisa! I'm so happy for you and it's so great to see how you are just plugging along...you are an inspiration for everyone contemplating surgery :-)))
                  May 2008 Fusion T4 - S1, Pre-op Curves T45, L70 (age 48). Unsuccessful surgery.

                  March 18, 2010 (age 50). Revision with L3 Osteotomy, Replacement of hardware T11 - S1 , addition of bilateral pelvic fixation. Correction of sagittal imbalance and kyphosis.

                  January 24, 2012 (age 52) Revision to repair pseudoarthrosis and 2 broken rods at L3/L4.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Thanks, Kristie. Seeing you and how well you were doing before I went under the knife was a real inspiration for me!


                    Ed - The nice thing about dragging the walker was being able to pre board each flight. A girl friend went with me which made it easier!

                    Thanks, everyone! Hopefully the 6 month checkup will be just as positive!
                    Age 56
                    Wore a Milwaukee Brace for 3 years in hs
                    Fused L4-S1 for high grade spondylolisthesis Jan '09 in Indy
                    Thoracic 68
                    Surgery Aug 31, 2010 T3 to L1
                    Dr Bridwell St Louis
                    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...1&d=1289881696

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Lisa, That's great you had good news at the docs office. You had quite a trip to get there. I recently had my first post op into Manhattan, a little over 2 hours, just happy I brought my trusty pillow for the ride. I didn't use the walker for too long but I really felt like I was getting back to normal when I stopped using it. Except it's a great way to keep people at a distance! Happy to be posting with you post op!
                      Debra
                      Age 45
                      Pre - surgery Thoracic 69, Lumbar 48
                      Post-surgery Thoracic 37, Lumbar 39 (unfused)
                      Fused T4-T12
                      Milwaukee braced, 11 years old to 15 yo
                      Surgery Sept. 1st, 2010 Dr. Boachie

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Hi Debra- yes, our surgeries were one day apart and I am so glad we are on the other side and doing well. Keep up the good work!!
                        Age 56
                        Wore a Milwaukee Brace for 3 years in hs
                        Fused L4-S1 for high grade spondylolisthesis Jan '09 in Indy
                        Thoracic 68
                        Surgery Aug 31, 2010 T3 to L1
                        Dr Bridwell St Louis
                        http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...1&d=1289881696

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Great news Lisa!!! Cams appt is next Monday and we are hoping to ditch the walker too!
                          Kelly
                          mom of Cameren 12 yrs. old
                          Chiari,retroflex odontoid,syringomyelia,scoliosis
                          Chiari decompressions 6/2005,5/2006
                          Syringopleural shunt 6/2009
                          Boston Braced off & on 6.5yrs
                          scoliosis surgery- 9/15/10 T4-L4 Dr. Bridwell
                          Fell & broke finger,surgery 3/2011

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Great news! So wonderful to hear!
                            Heidi
                            35 year old mother of 2 lil girls
                            60 degree thoracic
                            44 degree lumbar
                            Oct. 11, 2010 surgery
                            Dr. Lenke St. Louis
                            1 year follow up: 15 degree thoracic, 22 lumbar
                            fused T1 to L1

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Wow, that's great Lisa that you don't have to go back for six months!! Glad it went well.

                              Evelyn
                              age 48
                              80* thoracolumbar; 40* thoracic
                              Reduced to ~16* thoracolumbar; ~0* thoracic
                              Surgery 3/14/12 with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis, T4 to S1 with pelvic fixation
                              Broken rods 12/1/19; scheduled for revision fusion L1-L3-4 with Dr. Lenke 2/4/2020
                              Not "confused" anymore, but don't know how to change my username.

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