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  • 6 months postop

    had my 6 month postop visit in st. louis; as i was told beforehand, i saw one of the fellows (Dr Rahman), will see Dr Lenke at 1 yr f/u; xrays were taken and showed good healing with resolution of curves; i have no pain; my energy level has very slowly improved as has my balance; the weakness in my left quad is gone and i climb stairs without reaching for a railing or tiring; lower back still a little numb; foot drop almost resolved; biggest negative is the loss of flexibility: can put on my socks but it's at the end of my stretch, have to fold my legs under me to clip my toenails; about to test it all in a few wks when my wife and i take a 10 day trip to the Galapagos Islands which will involve a lot of hiking
    junosand
    59 yo recently retired otolaryngologist (ENT surgeon)
    schedule oct 2010 for T11 - sacrum fusion, all posterior approach with pedicle screws, steels rods, revision decompression left L3-4, right L4-5 & L5-S1, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion L3-4 L4-5 L5-S1
    with titanium cages
    Dr Lenke, WashU/Barnes/Jewish St. Louis

  • #2
    What a good report!! It sounds like a great trip. . .and I'll be interested to here how it all went, when you return. A trip w/significant hiking involved. . .you're braver than I am (but I'm pretty un-brave). Have a wonderful time!
    Fused T-3 to L-3, Aug 25
    Hardware removal surgery, Nov 2, 2010
    Fused T-10 to L-2, osteotomy, Feb 22, 2011

    Comment


    • #3
      I am glad you had a good 6 month report. I had been wondering how you were doing since we haven't heard from you lately. Have you started physical therapy?
      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


      • #4
        Congrats Junosand. Enjoy your trip. I hiked up and down mountains on Tioman Island (off the East Coast of Malaysia) with a backpack, right on 6 months post-op, snorkled as well, and it was fine.

        It sounds like some minor problems are fixing themselves and I have every reason to believe they will improve much more in the next six months. I thought I was as good as it got at 6 months, but at 12 months I was much better, most particularly, my flexibility. Then at 2 years, my flexibility was even better. It's all looking rosy for you now!
        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
          Good report.

          It took me 2 years to get over the fatigue at age 51. I was 90% at 12 months, and another year for the last 10%. Using these figures, you still have plenty of improvement coming.

          The Galapagos islands is every divers dream..... I have been all over South America on many trips through the 60s and 70s, but we never made it to the Galapagos. Should be an outstanding trip.....

          Have fun, careful walking on the lava.
          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


          • #6
            Another great report. I'd say you are doing fantastically for 6 months. Enjoy your hiking vacation but plan some rest too. Janet
            Janet

            61 years old--57 for surgery

            Diagnosed in 1965 at age of 13--no brace
            Thoracic Curve: 96 degrees to 35 degrees
            Lumbar Curve: 63 degrees to 5 degrees
            Surgery with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis--March 30, 2009
            T-2 to Pelvis, and hopefully all posterior procedure.

            All was posterior along with 2 cages and 6 osteotomies.

            Comment


            • #7
              Junosand,
              Congratulations on a successful recovery. It takes older folks a lot longer to gain our stamina back. Mine took three years to return. Have a wonderful trip, but try not to over do.
              Sally
              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


              • #8
                Thanks for the update. I was concerned that all was well when there were no postings for some time.

                Congratulations on your 6 mo. post-op report.

                Have a great trip!!

                Comment


                • #9
                  Glad to hear you're doing well! And BTW, took your advice and scheduled with Dr. Lenke myself.

                  ,
                  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.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    reply

                    glad to hear it, ConfusedMom; at least for me, dr lenke does not recommend formal PT after you return home; at the 6 week followup, he told me i could workout on my own with no restrictions other than to use general good judgment and not overdo it

                    thanks for all the replies; it's particularly encouraging to hear that many continue to improve up to 2-3 yrs postop; one can always hope
                    junosand
                    59 yo recently retired otolaryngologist (ENT surgeon)
                    schedule oct 2010 for T11 - sacrum fusion, all posterior approach with pedicle screws, steels rods, revision decompression left L3-4, right L4-5 & L5-S1, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion L3-4 L4-5 L5-S1
                    with titanium cages
                    Dr Lenke, WashU/Barnes/Jewish St. Louis

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      glad to hear you're doing so well! getting away from the house after months of being stuck there lifted my spirits. we went down to west palm last week, and just being somewhere else was amazing.

                      hope you have a great trip!!!!
                      Rebecca
                      Age: 28
                      Dx w/ scoli @ age 12 S curves T-40* L-42*
                      wore night bending brace as teenager
                      Curves changed to 50's plus or minus
                      herniated disc L2-3, Discectomy October 2007
                      fusion L2-3 November 2008
                      Revision L2-3 Fusion, Removal of hardware August 2009
                      Curves measuring 52 T&L September 2010
                      Fused T4-L4, all posterior December 27th 2010
                      gained almost two inches in height

                      Before and After Exterior
                      Before and After X-rays
                      My blog: http://herscoliosisjourney.blogspot.com/

                      Comment

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