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  • Questions about rod surgery

    Hello,

    I am fairly new here, I am 29 years old and have a a 40 degree curve in my upper back and approx. 47 degree curve in my lumbar area, which has cause a herniated disk and sciatica. I also have a fractured vertebrae in my lumber (L3 I think), and when my new dr. had an MRI done last week, he told me that one of the vertebrae in my lumbar area has shifted backwards.

    I am now all of a sudden having severe pain in my upper back, just underneath my right shoulder blade, which I can only assume is caused by the curve at the top of my back. I have seen a neurologist as well as an orthopedic surgeon, the O.S. is my new dr. now and I feel very comfortable with him; next week I have an epidural spinal scheduled, but I expect to probably have the rod surgery within the next 8 months or so.

    I am wondering about so many things, any info that you have would be helpful to me, I have been reading around this forum and have learned some things. I know that the surgery doesn't work for everyone, some people end up worse off, and that's what really scares me.

    On top of it all, I have a 20 month old son so this will be hard on all of us if I end up with this surgery. I am wondering if anyone else out there has had this kind of surgery at a young age such as 30-ish, and any tips or advice is much appreciated.

    Thank you for reading/listening. =)

    Ryanne

  • #2
    I am not in your position but I wanted to welcome you to this forum. Someone or someones will write to you that are in your position.

    Have a good day
    Melissa

    Fused from C2 - sacrum 7/2011

    April 21, 2020- another broken rod surgery

    Comment


    • #3
      Get your hands on this book: Scoliosis Surgery: The Definitive Patient's Reference

      So much valuable information in there, many of us here benefited from reading it. Best of luck!
      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


      • #4
        Welcome to the forum! If you can put your surgery off until your 20-month old is three, it will be a lot easier on all of you. You will not be allowed to left him/her at all -- into car seats, crib, etc, and you will not be allowed to bend to change diapers. I would guess these restrictions would be in place for you for at least six months, if not a year. I was advised to have surgery at age 30 and waited until I was 40 primarily for these reasons. My youngest was 5 when I had the surgery, but I think I could have done it when she was three. If you need to go ahead because of pain, I would arrange for full-time care for your child for several months. It's a difficult situation for all of us. I hope you find good advice here.

        Best,
        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


        • #5
          Hi....

          Welcome.

          I agree with Evelyn, but actually suggest you try to put the surgery off at least until your child no longer needs to be put into a car seat. Lifting a child is hard enough for the first 3-6 months postop, but having to bend and put them into a car seat is really difficult.

          In general, scoliosis patients seek treatment in their adolescence, teens, and in the 40s-80s, although it's not unheard of that someone around 30 needs treatment.

          Hope that conservative treatment (injections, physical therapy) can help you, at least for awhile.

          Regards,
          Linda
          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

          Comment


          • #6
            Hi Ryanne

            Welcome to the forum!

            My situation is different to yours but I do agree with the other comments hear that you wont be able to lift or bend for 6mths or so and won't really be able to help with your son/daughter, maybe a carer or waiting for surgery would help.

            I have an S shaped curve, rod at the bottom but my top curve is now 104 degrees so I'm awaiting full fusion with possible pelvis fusion. I get a lot of pain at the biggest part of my curve under my right shoulder and under my left shoulder where my shoulder sinks down a lot.
            I have regular physiotherapy and massages to try and loosen the muscles and tightness in these areas so you could try that.

            I also find sitting upright and stretching one arm straight out in front of you with fingers pointed as far as you can (so the shoulder pushes out a little) then relax and again about 5 times then the same with the other arm helps to stretch the muscles near the shoulders.
            Alternatively I sit upright and bend my neck to the side (ear towards shouder) about 5 times on each side, this seems to strentch the neck and shoulder area. Maybe you could try these.

            Jennifer- Thank's for the suggestion re the book, might take a look myself.

            Jenna
            27 yr old Female.
            Scoliosis since 12yrs, fusion to lower curve in 1998, costioplast 2001 and further corrective surgery 26 July 2012.
            Now the proud owner of a very straight spine. T1- L5 fusion.
            Mr Dunsmuir, Orthopaedic Surgeon, LGI Leeds.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by andromeda441 View Post

              I am wondering if anyone else out there has had this kind of surgery at a young age such as 30-ish, and any tips or advice is much appreciated.

              Thank you for reading/listening. =)

              Ryanne
              I am 29 and currently weighing the pros and cons of surgery. I have met with 2 surgeons and have my 3rd and last opinion scheduled for tomorrow. My biggest reason for having surgery now, versus later is that they wouldn't need to fuse as many levels if I do it now, and that is really important to me. Although, I am pretty much pain free now, I have to think about what I will be like in the future... So although I haven't had surgery, I do not plan on waiting until I do have pain to do something about it... hope that helps.
              If I were you.... I'd do as much as i can now for pain, and put off surgery so that you can care for your baby. GOOD LUCK!

              Comment


              • #8
                Welcome! Try all of the conservative treatments before considering surgery. If and when you do have surgery, check about when you should wait to have more kids [in case you want more, that is].

                Susan
                Adult Onset Degen Scoliosis @65, 25* T & 36* L w/ 11.2 cm coronal balance; T kyphosis 90*; Sev disc degen T & L stenosis

                2013: T3- S1 Fusion w/ ALIF L4-S1/XLIF L2-4, PSF T4-S1 2 surgeries
                2014: Hernia @ ALIF repaired; Emergency screw removal SCI T4,5 sec to PJK
                2015: Rev Broken Bil T & L rods and no fusion: 2 revision surgeries; hardware P. Acnes infection
                2016: Ant/Lat Lumbar diskectomy w/ 4 cages + BMP + harvested bone
                2018: Removal L4,5 screw
                2021: Removal T1 screw & rod

                Comment


                • #9
                  Hi Raynne,

                  I have not had my surgery yet but I am 29 years old as well with Lumbar 45 degrees. I think we all have some big decisions to make and many pros and cons. My daughter is almost 9 years old so I am actually hoping in my case she will be more of a help. But there are still different concerns for each of us, different ones in different areas, it's not a easy decision. I would take the other's advice about waiting a bit till your son is 3 or so. By the time you actually searched for the right Surgeon, got it all together and did research he probably be in the proper age, it's a process that takes time.

                  I find the best way to handle this is to do the constructive side of things, like go to the gym and strengthen some needed muscles which would help with recovery ( I believe stronger muscles= less stress on bones). Maybe start putting savings aside for recovery time too. Even if you end up not having surgery those things won't hurt to have.

                  I personally have a friend who had scoliosis surgery, now in her 20th, had surgery as a teen. You could never tell till I saw her scar at the pool. She said she is doing great, no pain or irritation. Just some flexibility restrictions when turning her body, like when driving.. etc her scar is almost not seen.

                  Than I met a woman in her 50th who had surgery as a teen, she said she is not regretting but it can come and be more of an issue at a later age, as your body growing older and start breaking down. I met her at the gym, she said because she works out she is doing pretty well. Her scoliosis is pretty severe, it was only partially fixed. Not sure if now days surgeries have better promising future with aging than they used to. As I found our body can start causing more problems with scoliosis at a later age if surgery was done or not, I also found it is not a guarantee either, some of us age just fine.

                  I also met another lady in her 50th who have had surgery few years previously, I think she also had disc problems. She have been taking extra calcium for years knowing she have weak spine and calcium is what nourishes the bones, she said she felt she needed stronger bones because of it. Now her bones are in an unusual excellent shape, test results showed it too. She is doing very well after surgery thanks to her strong bones.

                  If this helps.. I know it is a big decision, I have been waiting for a magic wand that can answer all my concerns, unfortunately it doesn't work that way. Good luck with everything!
                  29 years old Female
                  45 Degrees Lumbar Scoliosis T12-L4

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Book

                    Originally posted by JenniferG View Post
                    Get your hands on this book: Scoliosis Surgery: The Definitive Patient's Reference

                    So much valuable information in there, many of us here benefited from reading it. Best of luck!

                    I can't find this book at my local library, and it isn't available on Kindle. I can't afford to buy the book, I was wondering if anyone here would possibly be willing to let me borrow a copy, if I paid for the shipping? Just a thought...

                    Anyhow, thank you for the info, I will definitely try to get hold of a copy of this book.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Thanks Evelyn!

                      Originally posted by Confusedmom View Post
                      Welcome to the forum! If you can put your surgery off until your 20-month old is three, it will be a lot easier on all of you. You will not be allowed to left him/her at all -- into car seats, crib, etc, and you will not be allowed to bend to change diapers. I would guess these restrictions would be in place for you for at least six months, if not a year. I was advised to have surgery at age 30 and waited until I was 40 primarily for these reasons. My youngest was 5 when I had the surgery, but I think I could have done it when she was three. If you need to go ahead because of pain, I would arrange for full-time care for your child for several months. It's a difficult situation for all of us. I hope you find good advice here.

                      Best,
                      Evelyn

                      Thank you for your reply! I told them that I'd like to put the surgery off for 4-5 years, but my doctor told me he's afraid I would become dependent on my pain meds before then and end up an addict (he may be too late). So, I am going to try to put off the surgery until next Winter/Spring, my father lives with me and is retired, and during those seasons he is here at the house; during the summer he stays at his home in another state. But between him, my Mother and my husband, they can take my son while I'm recovering. Thanks again!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Thank you for welcoming me

                        TO Susan, Linda, & King -- thank you so much for welcoming me and your encouraging words. The support is much appreciated, as I'm sure you already know.

                        TO YB1125 & Jenna - thank you for all the info, I really feel better just knowing I'm not the only one out there...

                        I will take every reply that I have been given serious consideration, I really appreciate it everybody! I'm waiting for my insurance company to approve my next epidural injection, should happen sometime next week...but I know that's for another forum.

                        Thanks again guys, talk to you soon, and I hope you all are doing well and pain-free.

                        Ryanne

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by andromeda441 View Post
                          Thank you for your reply! I told them that I'd like to put the surgery off for 4-5 years, but my doctor told me he's afraid I would become dependent on my pain meds before then and end up an addict (he may be too late). So, I am going to try to put off the surgery until next Winter/Spring, my father lives with me and is retired, and during those seasons he is here at the house; during the summer he stays at his home in another state. But between him, my Mother and my husband, they can take my son while I'm recovering. Thanks again!
                          Hi Ryanne

                          While addiction should be a concern, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I was given Tylex (similar to Tramadol) and anti inflamatories soon after my surgery when I was 13yrs old. I'm now 27 and am still taking the same. I was admitted to hospital last year and my doctors then were concerned about me taking the pain meds long term and asked if I thought I was addicted. Whilst I normally take the max dose each day, 2 every 4 hrs (max 8 per day) but I do tend to get to 4 hours and think- do I need more or can I wait a bit. Sometimes I then only end up taking 4.

                          Good idea to hold off for a bit if you can, you can then look after your son and save some money for after care.

                          Good Luck

                          Jenna
                          27 yr old Female.
                          Scoliosis since 12yrs, fusion to lower curve in 1998, costioplast 2001 and further corrective surgery 26 July 2012.
                          Now the proud owner of a very straight spine. T1- L5 fusion.
                          Mr Dunsmuir, Orthopaedic Surgeon, LGI Leeds.

                          Comment

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