hey ryan, im sienna(14 also) and just had spinal fusion 2 weeks ago on March 13. although i had did have shewermans kyphosis, which is a hunch and not an s shape, it is basically the same process' to repair. I had T2-L2 fused from the front (anterior) and the metal rodding in the back (posterior). surgery went smooth and only took about 10 hours, which was faster than expected.
I was in Shriners' for 8 days but 7 after the sugery. the first day was just preperation. looking back it wasnt too bad. i was up sitting in a chair by the second day and walking stairs the 3rd (that was kinda a joke). the doctors all try and get you up and walking as much as possible, when they do it is a pain but just remember it is for the best! they said it to me all the time and i complained but now that i look back i feel better and know that is what got me out in 7 days also record timing for anterior/posterior!!
it was in my opion, well worth it. i have grown an inch so far, but this was only 2 days after surgery and i was slouching when they measured me. i expect to grow a total of an 1 and 1/2 to 2 inches.
the pain is uncomfortable...as you can assume from any surgery. it is important that once at home you first start out with constant medication and dont let the pain become to much where the medicine doesnt work. i had some expericneces to where i waited to take it and i was in tears because I was still in pain after taking the max dose of medicine. today was my first day with almost no meds. i took 2 vikodin at 8am and was in a comfy state until 6:30 that night!!!
I feel the worst pain is actually in my front side. they went through and took out a rib to use as bone graft for my back, so im brused and stuff so it hurts to put pressure in that area. lucky for you, you will not be experiencing that. my back dosent bother me to much during the day. at night i still get quite a bit of back pain and I think that is because i am not in motion and im am moving less than during the day, obviously that happens while sleeping I think that my muscles get tight or something because I wake up around 1am in quite a bit of pain. As I said before, I find that I need pain medication before going to be and at night but not much at all during the day anymore. if i could describe the pain i would say that it pain is more in the muscles and skin and not so much in my spine itself. it feels like bad bruising or like you pulled something.
I played basketball which of course will not be happening this season. it is hard to be told that you can't do something that you love. my doctor also told me that i should never sky dive or water ski. that really bothered me not becuase it was something that i was planning to do or do now but i guess because now i can't even if i wanted to. now it doesn't bother me as much and i guess you get used to it.
It has only been 2 weeks so I am living "post op" life. Let me know if you have any more questions. I'll update you if anything new developes. keep me posted. i hope all goes well for you and i think you will be just fine!!
~Sienna
posterior/anterior fusion T2-L2
March 13 Shriners - Sacramento
I was in Shriners' for 8 days but 7 after the sugery. the first day was just preperation. looking back it wasnt too bad. i was up sitting in a chair by the second day and walking stairs the 3rd (that was kinda a joke). the doctors all try and get you up and walking as much as possible, when they do it is a pain but just remember it is for the best! they said it to me all the time and i complained but now that i look back i feel better and know that is what got me out in 7 days also record timing for anterior/posterior!!
it was in my opion, well worth it. i have grown an inch so far, but this was only 2 days after surgery and i was slouching when they measured me. i expect to grow a total of an 1 and 1/2 to 2 inches.
the pain is uncomfortable...as you can assume from any surgery. it is important that once at home you first start out with constant medication and dont let the pain become to much where the medicine doesnt work. i had some expericneces to where i waited to take it and i was in tears because I was still in pain after taking the max dose of medicine. today was my first day with almost no meds. i took 2 vikodin at 8am and was in a comfy state until 6:30 that night!!!
I feel the worst pain is actually in my front side. they went through and took out a rib to use as bone graft for my back, so im brused and stuff so it hurts to put pressure in that area. lucky for you, you will not be experiencing that. my back dosent bother me to much during the day. at night i still get quite a bit of back pain and I think that is because i am not in motion and im am moving less than during the day, obviously that happens while sleeping I think that my muscles get tight or something because I wake up around 1am in quite a bit of pain. As I said before, I find that I need pain medication before going to be and at night but not much at all during the day anymore. if i could describe the pain i would say that it pain is more in the muscles and skin and not so much in my spine itself. it feels like bad bruising or like you pulled something.
I played basketball which of course will not be happening this season. it is hard to be told that you can't do something that you love. my doctor also told me that i should never sky dive or water ski. that really bothered me not becuase it was something that i was planning to do or do now but i guess because now i can't even if i wanted to. now it doesn't bother me as much and i guess you get used to it.
It has only been 2 weeks so I am living "post op" life. Let me know if you have any more questions. I'll update you if anything new developes. keep me posted. i hope all goes well for you and i think you will be just fine!!
~Sienna
posterior/anterior fusion T2-L2
March 13 Shriners - Sacramento
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