One Year Anniversary Today-Yeah!

[titaniumed]

Karen
Very nice form! Have you noticed having more control, more stability in your club head path? It was something that I noticed when I gave it a whirl....club head speed was controlled, I guess the only way to know is to increase this speed slowly over time.

The fear is not rod breakage, its having a pseudarthrosis or non-union, which will result in breaking hardware.....and in one of Dr Lenke’s books can happen out at 5 years. Its in this book.
http://www.qmp.com/modern_anterior_s...s_surgery.html

Integrity of fusion mass is the question here, and at what time period....they don’t know, the studies have not been done. I did my tests by shoveling about 5 yards of landscaping rock at 15 months. One yard weighs 4050#. I thought it was a pretty good test.....I needed to know. Of course, I’m fine.

I’m wondering if a “compromised” level under stress will correct itself. Will the integrity improve under stress? It seems logical with bone remodeling.....I wish I knew. I wish we knew. Maybe a bone scientist will chime in?

Should we walk on eggshells forever? When can we push the limits?.....These are questions that require some thought and a whole bunch of typing....I think that since you are where you are at in your recovery, doing quite well, that you will shine.

Glad to hear Fido is ok. I call all dogs Fido’s.....smaller dogs, Fidomatics and all cats Bad kitty’s. Its easier that way.
Ed

[golfnut]

Thanks, Ed. Dr. Lenke told me at a year there is nothing I could do that would cause the rods to break, so I guess I should just swing away. Thanks for sending the link. I went at it gradually in Florida-starting with 6 holes (called back to the animal hospital), 9 holes, and eventually three days in a row of 18 holes. I didn't notice any more tightness than usual after playing three days in a row. Back to the pseudoarthrosis . . . Dr. Lenke even mentioned that it was discovered in a patient at 9 years post op! Wouldn't it be nice to think that you are "normal" and wouldn't have to worry about revision surgery? I kno there is no point in worrying, because it won't change anything, so we might as well live it up! I hope your neck feels better! "Fido" is doing great!

[Confusedmom]

My thinking is this: It's either going to fuse in the first year or so, or it's not going to fuse at all. So, we have to be extremely careful in the first year. Then, we go under the assumption it's fused. If not, we'll find out when the rods break. There's no point in walking on eggshells for the rest of our lives, because if it's not fused after a year or so, it's not going to fuse without more work. That is just my thinking, of course. But, I plan to be very, very cautious the first year, and then start to live my life as normally as I can after that.

I'm so glad you're back to golf and it's not causing you extra soreness!!!

Evelyn

[golfnut]

Evelyn,
I think you nailed it with your statements.

[backissues]

It's great to hear your vacation had a happy ending for all. I'm so excited for you that you were able to play so much golf without any back issues. Spring is here with more golf now and in the future. Enjoy!!

Irene