One Year Anniversary Today-Yeah!

[djkinkead]

Congrats Karen! You are absolutely right--this forum has been a God-send in supporting each other. You've been great for those of us who went to surgery after you.

Enjoy the lobster and champaign!!!

[backissues]

Congratulations!!

Congratulations on your one-year anniversary!! It wasn't easy but you did it!!

You have been an inspiration to me as we were going through the recovery year together. I guess some of my competitive spirit kept me walking further and further, as you were walking further and further.

Here's a toast to you and your husband! I know how important having a loving care-giver is. Here's to a great second year of recovery. I can't wait to see you swing a golf club again (in a video) and I know you will.

I look forward to Dr. Lenke's excellent report. Will you have a CT scan at the visit to check for fusion, or is there any way that he checks for fusion?

Regards, Irene

[golfnut]

Irene,
I think we all have a bond on this forum because of our scoliosis, but I feel a special relationship with those who had surgery at approximately the same time as I did. Although most of us have never met, I talk to my friends and family about my "forum friends".
Dr. Lenke's nurse told me that they will x-ray on the 18th but that they won't do a CT scan. She also said that the CT scan is the only way to know if you are fused and that they just assume that you are fused after a year. I sure wish there was more of a guarantee so that I would feel better about attempting to play golf in a month in FL. I didn't see any of the vertical squiggly lines on the x-rays at 6 months and keep hoping and praying that they'll be there this time. Do the white squiggly lines indicate bone growth, but not necessarily fusion?
Best of luck to you, as well, with your second year of recovery. Let's keep in touch.

[mabeckoff]

Irene,
I think we all have a bond on this forum because of our scoliosis, but I feel a special relationship with those who had surgery at approximately the same time as I did. Although most of us have never met, I talk to my friends and family about my "forum friends".
Dr. Lenke's nurse told me that they will x-ray on the 18th but that they won't do a CT scan. She also said that the CT scan is the only way to know if you are fused and that they just assume that you are fused after a year. I sure wish there was more of a guarantee so that I would feel better about attempting to play golf in a month in FL. I didn't see any of the vertical squiggly lines on the x-rays at 6 months and keep hoping and praying that they'll be there this time. Do the white squiggly lines indicate bone growth, but not necessarily fusion?
Best of luck to you, as well, with your second year of recovery. Let's keep in touch.

Dr Bederman says that the squiggly lines are fusion.

Good Luck

[golfnut]

Good Report at One Year Check Up

Hi, Forum Friends,
Dr. Lenke thought my back and x-rays looked good, so I will now plan the celebration. Thanks, again, to all of you for your huge support during the past two years answering all of my presurgery questions during my 13 month wait, as well as my post surgery ones.

Now, I want to start working on my golf game. I went to the park across the street from our house one hour after getting home. I'm not too anxious! Ha! Some hits were decent, but I also had some horrible shanks!!!! Any golfer reading this knows that the shank is the most dreaded hit in golf. I am going to have to give myself a break and have some patience trying to learn to play decent golf, again. I'll try to make it to some heated driving ranges in St. Louis before heading to Florida with my husband at the end of February.

While waiting in Dr. Lenke's office, I saw several people who obviously were in a lot of pain because of their scoliosis. I saw one man who was so bent over that he could hardly see where he was walking. Hopefully, Dr. Lenke will be able to give these people a life. I didn't know until today that part of my crooked spine had fused, which is probably why five osteotomies were needed. I wanted to give Dr. Lenke a big kiss today, but refrained, and gave him a hug instead. It's so nice to be "on the other side"- especially a whole year on the other side. Let's see . . . champagne, cosmos, lobster tail . . . .bring it on!

If anyone is waiting for surgery and has questions they'd like to ask me, feel free to email me at pottoff@htc.net. I certainly don't have all the answers, but would be happy to help in any way that I can.

[walkingmom]

Congratulations!

Hi Karen,
Just wanted to send a big Hurray! to you for receiving an excellent report. It must be so exciting to get the go ahead to return to your beloved golf game. How wonderful to be able to return to a sense of normalcy. Congrats again!
Donna

[TwinmomTN]

Congratulations to you Karen! I have been anxiously waiting your post today for results on your visit. That is wonderful news.

[JenniferG]

That's as good as it gets Karen! Congratulations! It hardly seems a year since you were agonising over ever playing golf again. You must be over the moon.

[mabeckoff]

Glad to hear that all is well. Have fun relearning how to play golf

[LSKOCH5]

Congratulations on a great report! Shanks or not, had to feel just wonderful to pick up a club again. You'll be back in no time, I'm sure. And thank you so much for your care & concern during Jacob's journey. Helps so much to communicate w people who have been through it, ESP those who have had such a positive experience. What area of FL do you plan to visit?

[KathK]

Karen,

Have a smile on my face (and in my heart) just picturing you in that park swinging those clubs! Excellent, excellent news! Also, loving the mental picture I have of you giving Dr. Lenke a big hug!! These top surgeons are truly amazing people!

Kathy

[titaniumed]

Hi Karen

Hey, great news!

Try not to go too crazy at the driving range......ease into it. Your “golfing” soft tissues will need to be coaxed slowly. Push too hard, and you will awaken them.

Its like a hot sports car. You don’t “twitch it” until you have been around the block a few times.(smiley face)

Ed

[golfnut]

Thanks for your nice replies. Also, Ed, I need to not push myself too hard. I appreciate the advice.
I hope your neck is improving.

[titaniumed]

The neck is ok. The mechanical bull proves that. LOL (Rox’s thread)
I’m wondering if I should send that pic to my surgeon? Hmmm......hey, we all need a good laugh sometimes.

Ed

[Doodles]

Karen--
I'm so happy for you and your great 1 year anniversary. So glad you are able to start returning to your passion--golf! Best wishes for your second year. Janet