How many levels fused?

[KathK]

I'm a "perfect 10"......just had to throw that in (smiles).....T9 to sacrum....

Ed, Amy...still smiling at your posts....

[Elisa]

I'm a "perfect 10"......just had to throw that in (smiles)

Good one!

If Elias is going to be fused from T2-L1, is that 12 levels or do they count below the highest level and above the lowest level. Will he be a perfect '10' too? :-)

[mgs]

I'm too tired to count that, Elisa, but. . .my understanding is that a level is the "in between" the vertebrae, where the surgeon does the work. . .so, if you are fused from L-1 to L-2, you are fused 1 level (2 vertebrae involved). . .In my case, I am fused from T-3 to L-3, so 12 levels (as said the 4th year resident who was present at my surgery, and did my follow-up while I was hospitalized).

Bueller?

[mbeckoff]

[QUOTE=titaniumed;119845]

Jen
Chris and Melissa are the actives with the most levels fused. T2-pelvis with a few neck levels.

Do we win a prize for having the most levels fused? I could use a prize these days

Melissa

[sarahcant]

info

I found my paperwork here goes posterior spine fusion T-3-S-1 iliac wing fixation, transforminal lumbar interbody fusion L-5-S-1, instrumentation, allograft, autograft. So can anyone explain what it all means?




Sarahcant
March 15 Dr. Errico

[Lorz]

I am not fused yet, but will be soon, either T3 or T4 to S1, so I guess I will be in the 14 range.

Amy- I am with you, I am definitely con-fused! Your post are hilarious, I love to read them. Always makes me smile!

Ed- I liked your ex joke too. I think it is a testimony to what a great guy you are, if yours offered to take care of you.(one way or another!) If you ever move to PA, I have a terrific single friend I'd love for you to meet...!!

[titaniumed]

Thx Guys. I will try to keep up some of the humor...

Lori,
I grew up in NJ and moved out west for skiing 31 years ago. Its doubtful that I would move back.

After you are fused, you seem to get cold often for some reason.

If anything, I would move to a warmer place in the future. Fly south for good. I have my “bear traps” right now, and I’m playing hookie today from work. A winter storm has moved in. Once it passes, I’m good.

Amy
Confusion. No way.... Scared? Maybe a little. I could see it when you came out here, we all have that special look.

Scoliosis surgery can be a scary thing. Maybe not as bad as when Josie Wales deals with Ten Bears in the movie “The Outlaw Josie Wales”, but still pretty unnerving.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4e3-YK3rVA

I guess we are all warriors sometimes.
Ed

[kennedy]

11 vertebrae T4-L2

[mgs]

[QUOTE=titaniumed;120000]Thx Guys. I will try to keep up some of the humor...

Lori,
I grew up in NJ and moved out west for skiing 31 years ago. Its doubtful that I would move back.

My husband is from NJ. . .Livingston, to be exact. Where are you from? I LOVE NJ!!

And, of course I am cold . . .I live in the friggin' tundra. I was cold before I was fused, I am cold since I've been fused. . .and I will die cold(unless my husband retires, and we move to Boca). ..

[Lilysaidwhat]

[QUOTE=mgs;120007]

Thx Guys. I will try to keep up some of the humor...

Lori,
I grew up in NJ and moved out west for skiing 31 years ago. Its doubtful that I would move back.

My husband is from NJ. . .Livingston, to be exact. Where are you from? I LOVE NJ!!

And, of course I am cold . . .I live in the friggin' tundra. I was cold before I was fused, I am cold since I've been fused. . .and I will die cold(unless my husband retires, and we move to Boca). ..

And this is why, when my husband had a residency interview in Ann Arbor, I told him to cancel it or be prepared to receive a rent check in the mail each month from somewhere warmer from me.

[titaniumed]

I grew up in Wayne, about 10 miles north of Livingston.

And talking about cold, I am being talked into going to Alaska in June, and I have noticed that there is a SRS Doc up there. Dr James Eule. WOW!
Sure would be nice to hear from somebody in Alaska.

SRS will meet up there in 2014.
http://www.conventionplanit.com/article.php?sid=3512


Ed

[mgs]

I grew up in Wayne, about 10 miles north of Livingston.



Ed

When Paul's parents were alive, we went to Livingston annually. Every year, I'd buy another large serving bowl at Fortunoff's in Wayne. It's been 12 years since our last visit - funny what a person remembers.

I wonder if that one SRS doc in Alaska has a busy practice.

[foofer]

Hey everyone...

Thanks for all the positive feedback- makes me feel fun again!

Lori- I'm feeling kinda sad that we won't be roomies with Dr B this June. Actually, my out-of-network insurance is not working with him at all, so I'm having to recalculate my strategy. Always a challenge. Wah.

Lynn- Definitely need to start that thread soon. Yes, thank God for daughters. Mine informed me that she would set up office wherever I end up, surgeon location-wise, and that my husband was only allowed there for a week - then he had to go home and she would take over completely. She's actually just like him- looks like him, has the same bio make-up and is the only one who can order him around. It's really funny. If I end up at HSS, maybe I can ask Lilysaidwhat to be another advocate.

Ed, Okay, busted. Dazed, confused, AND scared. Mostly scared that my outcome will be worse than I am now. Seems like most of the docs I've seen have all encouraged me to wait, which is different than most advice I've read on the forum. My work sched would allow for spring of any year to be an "easy" time for surgery, and this being the first spring that disability insurance kicked in, and now that it's here...well, maybe next spring, when I'm 57, the magic year for scoli surgery in women.

I feel like Josie Wales this winter, and "Ten Bears" is my job, but they are not giving blood- only me....a half high-five. Everyone else at work is struggling big-time. It's like "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" and we are at the final scene. Two more weeks to go, and then lay off til June.

Kristy, when you had your revision, did you have Harrington rods, and did they replace them? I just ran into an acquaintance last night who is about to have a third scoli surgery, and they will fuse one more level- L5, but she said they will use more harrington instrumentation?! (Rather than re-do it all?) This was one of those situations where I wanted to butt in and give advise- go get a second opinion, go to a revision specialist-please, but I kept quiet...?? Scary.

Irene- you are in my thoughts and prayers.

KathK- Love the perfect 10. Yes!

*Sorry about the hijack*

[LisaB]

I'm fused 12 levels, I believe. T3-L1 and L4-S1.

[theizzard]

t6 to sacrum however many that is. but I also have two artificial hips and that must count for something right?
avis