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  • #91
    I think that what helps me the most is a lot of sleep. I can get up, eat breakfast and then sleep until lunch. After lunch I'm sleepy again and take another nap. A few days ago I went to sleep after lunch and slept until 6pm. It sure is hard to get my two walks in on this schedule. :-)

    I'm not doing any housework or cooking. I change positions frequently, I might sit and watch tv for a while (got stuck on a reality show 'Dance Moms'), it's like watching a plane crash each episode. Then I lie in bed and read, and I eat. That's about it.

    I have a spot at the top of my incision that hurts but don't know why. It mainly hurts when I move certain ways. I wonder if they cut a muscle there, it is a deep sharp pain. Sometimes I worry I twist too much without thinking about it. I try to just turn my head but but I am fused to T4, so you think that would be OK, but I don't really know.
    Last edited by Lizardacres; 02-25-2015, 02:15 PM.
    Before 39* lumbar at age 18, progressed to 74* lumbar and 22* thoracic age 55
    ALIF Jan 13, 2015, PLIF Jan 15, 2015 with Dr William Stevens, Honor Health
    Fused T-7 to S-1 with pelvic fixation

    After 38* lumbar

    Xrays
    Before: http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...7&d=1414268930

    After: http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...6&d=1424894360

    Comment


    • #92
      I had my six week post op visit today and so far everything looks good! He gave me a copy of the operative report and I found that during surgery he decided to only fuse me to T-7 instead of T-4, which was the original plan. I pleased about this as I think it will give me more confidence driving. My lumbar spine was in worse shape than expected with some of the bone being soft, even though the DEXA was OK. I feel like I really dodged a bullet as far as how long I waited to have surgery. For women, osteoporosis is a real problem for us if you wait too long. Really, I should have done this four years ago when I was thinking about it then. It just wouldn't have worked out very well with my job then but I should have made it happen.

      Also surprising was that some bone was harvested from the right iliac crest. I really haven't had pain there so maybe they didn't take much. I had two osteotomies, at L1-L2 and L2-L3 and a half of a cage (due to deformity, they couldn't use a whole one). My lumbar kyphosis is gone as far as I can tell, I am so pleased about this. I've already bought two dresses and two bathing suits! I used to only wear slacks to work, but I'm really excited about being able to wear dresses now. Before, they just didn't fit. I gained 2.5 inches in my torso and that makes such a huge difference.

      My surgeon only did pelvic fixation on one side, which I had not seen before on this board. I asked him about this and he said that he does this most of the time and hasn't had any problems. He doesn't feel it is always necessary to do both sides. Has anybody else heard of this?

      I have hooks at the top two levels instead of screws. Why do they do this? Is it possible that hooks cause more pain as I have one painful spot near the top of the fusion on the right side only. I'm definitely more balanced looking on xray but definitely don't have the correction they get with teenagers. Oh well, if I had it done back then, it would have been a Harrington rod. Overall, I think I'm doing well and walking 1.5 miles each morning. Hope to get back to work 50% at 3 months.

      Here are my xrays from today, I tried to add them to my signature but couldn't figure out how. I added the lateral xray before surgery so you can see the lumbar kyphosis, which I have not seen a lot of on this board in case anybody is interested. It doesn't really show the big hump I had very well, a photo would have been better.

      AP: AP Feb 25 2015.JPG
      Lateral: Lat Feb 25 2015.JPG
      Lateral Before Surgery: Lat Oct 2014.JPG
      Last edited by Lizardacres; 02-26-2015, 09:18 AM.
      Before 39* lumbar at age 18, progressed to 74* lumbar and 22* thoracic age 55
      ALIF Jan 13, 2015, PLIF Jan 15, 2015 with Dr William Stevens, Honor Health
      Fused T-7 to S-1 with pelvic fixation

      After 38* lumbar

      Xrays
      Before: http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...7&d=1414268930

      After: http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...6&d=1424894360

      Comment


      • #93
        Hooks are often used when the pedicle is too thin to take a screw.

        I have two hooks at the very top of my fusion at T3 and one around T10

        I too had lots of pain at the top during early part of recovery but it's all gone now.
        30 something y.o.

        2003 - T45, L???
        2005 - T50, L31
        bunch of measurements between...

        2011 - T60, L32
        2013 - T68, L?

        Posterior Fusion Sept 2014 -- T3 - L3
        Post - op curve ~35


        Comment


        • #94
          Thanks for the info, Green m&m!
          Before 39* lumbar at age 18, progressed to 74* lumbar and 22* thoracic age 55
          ALIF Jan 13, 2015, PLIF Jan 15, 2015 with Dr William Stevens, Honor Health
          Fused T-7 to S-1 with pelvic fixation

          After 38* lumbar

          Xrays
          Before: http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...7&d=1414268930

          After: http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...6&d=1424894360

          Comment


          • #95
            Originally posted by Lizardacres View Post
            My surgeon only did pelvic fixation on one side, which I had not seen before on this board. I asked him about this and he said that he does this most of the time and hasn't had any problems. He doesn't feel it is always necessary to do both sides. Has anybody else heard of this?
            Yes, there was a poster from Bakersfield, Ca here that posted her x-ray with a single pelvic anchor a few years back.....I forget her name....

            No hooks for me, but a screw missing at T7 due to lack of clear trajectory from wedging. Males do have bigger bones and I wonder if surgeons think we are easier to operate on? Good question.

            Liz, you sound good. I know I couldn’t have gone back to work at 3 months. 3 months is early.

            One day at a time

            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


            • #96
              Here it is....Sherry 66 That was 5 years ago, my brain still works!
              http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...est&highlight=

              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


              • #97
                Thanks for finding that, Ed. I'm glad I'm not the only one. Also saw a comment from Linda somewhere that pelvic fixation on one side only is fine and that it is surgeon preference, so I feel better. I guess the main thing is that you get a good solid fusion, the hardware us only a means to an end.
                Before 39* lumbar at age 18, progressed to 74* lumbar and 22* thoracic age 55
                ALIF Jan 13, 2015, PLIF Jan 15, 2015 with Dr William Stevens, Honor Health
                Fused T-7 to S-1 with pelvic fixation

                After 38* lumbar

                Xrays
                Before: http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...7&d=1414268930

                After: http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...6&d=1424894360

                Comment


                • #98
                  Hi there,

                  I am glad to hear how well you are doing! And a very good 6-week report. I had a single side iliac screw. The purpose of the iliac fixation is mainly to prevent sacral fracture, and apparently one screw is enough. I also have two hooks at the top level (T8 on me). Dr Hart told me it is to decrease the risk proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK). There is also published literature supporting this if you care to cruise PubMed. It's always nice to know that your surgeon is doing everything possible to give you a great outcome.

                  I have essentially the same fusion as you (T8-sacrum) and I'm doing very well now at a little over 3 years out. I definitely made a lot of progress after the 2 year mark. You have a lot of improvements to look forward to, too.
                  Gayle, age 50
                  Oct 2010 fusion T8-sacrum w/ pelvic fixation
                  Feb 2012 lumbar revision for broken rods @ L2-3-4
                  Sept 2015 major lumbar A/P revision for broken rods @ L5-S1


                  mom of Leah, 15 y/o, Diagnosed '08 with 26* T JIS (age 6)
                  2010 VBS Dr Luhmann Shriners St Louis
                  2017 curves stable/skeletely mature

                  also mom of Torrey, 12 y/o son, 16* T, stable

                  Comment


                  • #99
                    I also have only a single iliac screw.

                    We did a study on bilateral vs. unilateral

                    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24785475
                    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


                    • Here is 4 pelvic screws, and alternating pedicle screws with 4 rods......it looks like a strong setup.

                      I wonder how this person turned out?
                      Attached Files
                      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


                      • Originally posted by LindaRacine View Post
                        <snip>We did a study on bilateral vs. unilateral

                        http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24785475
                        Linda,

                        I am kind of surprised to read the high rates of reoperation, pseudoarthrosis, and infection: Forty-one percent (n = 19) of the unilateral cases and 50% (n = 13) of the bilateral cases were treated with reoperation (p = 0.48). In addition, 13% (n = 6) of the unilateral and 19% (n = 5) of the bilateral cases developed L5-S1 pseudarthrosis (p = 0.51). There were no sacral insufficiency fractures. Thirteen percent (n = 6) of the unilateral and 7.7% (n = 2) of the bilateral cases developed postoperative infection (p = 0.70).

                        That's pretty eye-opening. I had thought pseudoarthrosis was something like 1% for some reason (and it was me).

                        Now back to you, lizardacres.
                        Gayle, age 50
                        Oct 2010 fusion T8-sacrum w/ pelvic fixation
                        Feb 2012 lumbar revision for broken rods @ L2-3-4
                        Sept 2015 major lumbar A/P revision for broken rods @ L5-S1


                        mom of Leah, 15 y/o, Diagnosed '08 with 26* T JIS (age 6)
                        2010 VBS Dr Luhmann Shriners St Louis
                        2017 curves stable/skeletely mature

                        also mom of Torrey, 12 y/o son, 16* T, stable

                        Comment


                        • All - I really enjoy all the sidebar conversations - they are most informative and possibly the best part :-)

                          Ed - I don't think I would have liked having all that hardware, I hope the surgeon had a really good reason for doing that! More is not always better. Kind of makes you think he was not too experienced or lacking in confidence.

                          Gayle - Your post about the hooks was very reassuring. I think my surgeon did a great job for what he had to work with but he is not much of a talker and his PA surgical assistant is not either, whom I see for some of my F/U appts. I don't know why he didn't try for a better correction but I'm sure he had his reasons. I'll try and remember to ask at my 3 month F/U appt. He told me up front that his goal for me was balance and to expect about a 40% correction. I don't even know what my final curves are, I asked this week but we got sidetracked and I didn't find out. He told my husband immediately after the surgery that my results were better than he had expected. He must have really worked on something since I gained 2.5" in height. I had a LOT of rotation.

                          It's really unbelievable to me that all the pain I was experiencing pre-op is completely gone, as is the numbness I was experiencing in my feet. It's amazing to me that I can stand as long as I want now. I also had GI problems that I suspected were related but both my PCP and the surgeon didn't think so. Before surgery, I had several bouts of stool incontinence while squatting and bending over while doing some serious gardening. What was so strange is that I had no inkling it was happening at the time; I couldn't feel it happening. It was not large amounts. Also, the last several months, I had no control over passing gas. It was kind of embarrassing at work. It wasn't just once in a while, it was ongoing in small amounts all day. This has also stopped, and I don't think it is from the narcotics as I was taking them before surgery. I had a colonoscopy not too long before surgery and was told my colon was 'flabby'. No idea what causes this but wonder if that too could possibly be related. Fortunately I don't need another colonoscopy for 10 years so I won't be finding out anytime soon.

                          This board has been so incredibly helpful and informative. I really appreciate the time and thought that everybody has put into their posts. The honesty is what makes this board so special. Thanks to Linda for making this board what it is and keeping the craziness to a minimum.
                          Before 39* lumbar at age 18, progressed to 74* lumbar and 22* thoracic age 55
                          ALIF Jan 13, 2015, PLIF Jan 15, 2015 with Dr William Stevens, Honor Health
                          Fused T-7 to S-1 with pelvic fixation

                          After 38* lumbar

                          Xrays
                          Before: http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...7&d=1414268930

                          After: http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...6&d=1424894360

                          Comment


                          • My Spotify Playlist for Walking - Dedicated to All My Scoli Friends!

                            I'm seven weeks post op now and it seems the only thing I get done everyday is my walk; naps are optional now. This is not to minimize it - I think it is the one most important thing I do everyday, with the exception of eating, although I still don't have a great appetite. I don't think my stomach will feel right until I get off the narcotics. I'm down to 2-3 Vicodin daily and am aiming to be done with them within the next three weeks if possible. Trying to get ready to go back to work but not driving yet due to the drugs.

                            Anyway, I discovered Spotify (a free app you can download for your smartphone). You don't need the premium version, but you will get some ads with the free version. So I've been playing with this app by listening to a lot of different music when I walk and I created a playlist of upbeat classics which is public. If you want some fun music to walk to, open Spotify and using the search feature, look for "A Walk in the Park - Uptempo Classics'. Just searching for A Walk in the Park is adequate.

                            If you have any suggestions for songs, send me a pm and I will consider them - no whiny songs or musicians with angst, please. Any era welcome. You will probably have to press the 'Shuffle Play' button, so they will be in random order each time you play it.

                            Caution: some of these songs make me feel like dancing - my husband reminded me that I am not cleared yet for gyrating.
                            Before 39* lumbar at age 18, progressed to 74* lumbar and 22* thoracic age 55
                            ALIF Jan 13, 2015, PLIF Jan 15, 2015 with Dr William Stevens, Honor Health
                            Fused T-7 to S-1 with pelvic fixation

                            After 38* lumbar

                            Xrays
                            Before: http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...7&d=1414268930

                            After: http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...6&d=1424894360

                            Comment


                            • I had my surgery on January 21 and feel so far behind you! I can walk around my house for anywhere from 5-20 minutes depending on the moment. My back just seizes up with muscle spasms on the right side, starting in the shoulder area and working its way down. If I try to push through it, it just gets worse and then the pain is really bad. I was hoping to return to work around 8 weeks, but that is so not going to happen!

                              Question to the group - what were your walking capabilities at what time post-op?

                              I'm so happy things are going well for you! I'll try to catch up!
                              T4-Sacrum fusion, with pelvic fixation in January 2015, Dr. Lonner in NYC
                              10 osteotomies, rotation from 25 to 2
                              Diagnosed at age 11 with double curve, 36 and 45 degrees, Braced for 2.5 years
                              At time of surgery, curves were 45 and 65 degrees
                              Chronic back pain, worsening, since age 11
                              Tried every pain management procedure, acupuncture, chiropractor, physical therapy ever created
                              Mom of 2 cuties!

                              Comment


                              • This is so not a competition. I've kept posting because I so loved reading everyone's journeys, although some made me so sad. Also I'm pretty darn bored! My work comrades tell me to just relax and heal and I am not a good relaxer. I'm a doer and it's absolutely KILLING me today that my garden needs so much work and I can't fix it.

                                I think the weather here is very much in my favor for walking. Today is breezy and 70 something. Spring officially started here last week when all the spring training teams arrived. Two couples we know have just arrived for spring training, one from Seattle and the other from Kansas City. I don't feel up to sitting through any games, but my husband is going with them. Besides, it would really make me want some beer. We will meet them for dinner tomorrow and take them around on Sunday.

                                You on the other hand are in the midst of a very long winter. It probably isn't even safe for you to walk outside.

                                Are you taking any kind of muscle relaxants? I'm at the point where I think most of my pain is now muscle spasms in my upper back and I'm taking klonopin 1.0 mg at bedtime, which is very helpful. I know I'll be off the pain killers before cutting back on the klonopin. Mornings I have the most pain because I generally haven't had pain meds for at least 12 hours. I feel like I can feel all the hardware in my upper back when I wake up. I take a pain pill, have a looong breakfast and then make myself walk, even though I don't always feel like it. Controlling the pain is very important, without drugs I doubt I would walk much either.

                                My biggest worry is fusion. My bones are in the osteopenic to soft range. I see walking as absolutely vital for me, along with nutrition and calcium and vit D. I really want this to work the first time.

                                Once I make my way to the park behind our house, I'm glad to be outside and walking. The park is about 3 miles long and has a lake, lots of ball fields, two dog parks and a big demonstration garden. Something is always going on with gourmet food trucks on the weekends.

                                So I am up to 1.8 miles this week and will try to push up to 2 miles at 8 weeks post op. Really, just this week it's feeling more natural to walk. My posture and center of balance is completely different. My quads and groin muscles felt contracted for a long time. I just walked very slowly and took small steps and worked through it. I installed an app on my phone to measure how far I walk as I don't want to overdo it either, it's called Map My Walk. We had a rainy day this week so one day I walked at the mall with hubby. I had no idea how easy it is to rack up the miles there. I ended up walking about 2.5 miles without meaning to. The local mall is nearly one mile from end to end and that doesn't count the part that goes to Nordstom.

                                Anyway, spring should come soon to your neck of the woods and it will inspire you!
                                Before 39* lumbar at age 18, progressed to 74* lumbar and 22* thoracic age 55
                                ALIF Jan 13, 2015, PLIF Jan 15, 2015 with Dr William Stevens, Honor Health
                                Fused T-7 to S-1 with pelvic fixation

                                After 38* lumbar

                                Xrays
                                Before: http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...7&d=1414268930

                                After: http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...6&d=1424894360

                                Comment

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