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Scheduled first Dr/Surgeon appointment and did PT for first time - Learned ALOT

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  • Scheduled first Dr/Surgeon appointment and did PT for first time - Learned ALOT

    Thanks to the help from everyone who responded to my initial post: I have selected a doctor/surgeon whom I think I want to do my surgery. He is Dr. Edward (II) in Baltimore at Mercy Hospital. My first appointment is June 10.

    In the meantime, using original spine doctor's prescription, I went to Physical Therapy for the first time. I learned A LOT!

    I learned the muscles on the concave part of my back have grown short and will represent a challenge to the surgeon when he is trying to reattach them to my spine. Somehow that description invoked the image of the surgeon placing one foot on my back during surgery and pulling back with all his might to stretch those short muscles to make them stretch. It's neither a pretty thought or sight :-)

    SOOOO, the PT spent time working on stretching those short muscles (as well as the one muscle I hurt a few months ago) and gave me exercises to stretch those short muscles. She even used some electrodes...that was a weird feeling. I guess if you get your short muscles lengthened before surgery, it will relieve some of the discomfort after the surgery.

    Also, she suggested buying a incentive spirometer to start building up my lung capacity. I know I will have to use one after the surgery, but pre-surgery use is good too. It provides a method to measure how much better your lung capacity is getting as you practice.

    Well, that's all I know for now. I have made the first appointment: a first step.

    I think I have added a signature to my posts which has a website which shows the xrays of my very crooked spine. Let's see if that works.

    Anyway, thank you to everyone for your support in making the first step!
    Discovered scoliosis when 15 years old.
    Wore Milwaulkee Brace for 1.5 years.
    Top curve 85 degrees, bottom curve 60 degrees

    Surgery completed August 23, 2011 (during an earthquake, can you believe that?)
    Dr. Charles Edwards, II
    The Spine Center at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, MD
    Before and after xrays:
    http://www.valley-designs.com/myspine

  • #2
    Your spine looks a lot like my son's (14) did about a month ago except his was in the 110 degree range. I'm still surprised that you are not in much pain at all with that huge curve. Yes, I believe stretching out the 'short' muscles prior to surgery will indeed help b/c it wasn't until my son was in halo traction and his short muscles were pulled up to even out the longer side that he really really felt the pain of the stretch. Maybe if I had known about the stretching thing we could have worked on that before his first surgery/traction to help with the sudden pain.

    Oh, btw, my son grew 4" after his second surgery so you can count on gaining at least a few when they straighten out your spine. Keep us posted with the details!
    Son 14 y/o diagnosed January 20th. 2011 with 110* Curve
    Halo Traction & 1st. surgery on March 22nd. 2011
    Spinal Fusion on April 19th. 2011

    Dr. Krajbich @ Shriners Childrens Hospital, Portland Oregon



    http://tinyurl.com/Elias-Before
    http://tinyurl.com/Elias-After

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    • #3
      Just for the record, surgeons do nothing to reattach muscle to the spine during surgery. I think that would be an impossibility.
      Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
      Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

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      • #4
        I thought I read somewhere they did that....I thought they had to do that to straighten the spine. Sounds like I got it wrong--maybe as they straighten with the hardware they have to pull harder against the short muscles.

        Thank you for relaying correct information Linda!
        Discovered scoliosis when 15 years old.
        Wore Milwaulkee Brace for 1.5 years.
        Top curve 85 degrees, bottom curve 60 degrees

        Surgery completed August 23, 2011 (during an earthquake, can you believe that?)
        Dr. Charles Edwards, II
        The Spine Center at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, MD
        Before and after xrays:
        http://www.valley-designs.com/myspine

        Comment


        • #5
          I was thinking the same thing, looks similar to Elias’s x-ray. You have a good set of curves, there is no doubt about that.

          You will need to realize that there will be some recovery time needed....It will be easier with a posterior only surgery.

          The surgeon will have to make that call.

          Welcome to the forum
          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

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