1-Year Anniversary - How time flies...

[LaurieAnne]

This week has been a special and emotional time for me...not only am I 1-year post op but today I turned 30...kind of bittersweet. Overall things are still way better than before surgery but I am still living with some aches and pains on a daily basis, but in general, I cannot complain. My back, cosmetically, is still not perfect but it is a VAST improvement! In some ways I still feel deformed especially if I lean forward and see my back (via picutre) but I just have to focus on the positive and realize nothing's perfect. I am getting back to some of my pre-op exercise routine and I have been released to do whatever feels okay....which sometimes isn't much of anything but one thing I am learning is that I can often push things and overtime it hurts less. I am so thankfull for all your posts and support. I know I don't post a lot but I am still on here and read a fair amount. This forum really helped calm my fears about surgery and I don't know that I would have had the courage to do it without your help so thank you to everyone for your posts. I am going to make a more concerted effort to respond more often on here because I know how much it helped me. I know it is hard to find the time but it makes such a difference for others. Even though things are not perfect and I believe still improving, I believe surgery was the right decision for me because I did have severe curvatures and was in a lot more pain before surgery than I am now. I also hear popping and cracking sounds at times...but they seem to be completely normal based on everyone else's experiences. While it's tough thinking back over the last year and all that's transpired and all that hasn't, I do believe the worst is behind me and the future can only get brighter.
Stay strong and if you have a chance ~ check out my 1-year pics.

[patty22]

congratulations!

on being one-year post-op. i wish you continuous improvements in the time ahead.

[Mojo's Mom]

Deformed? Laurie, you're gorgeous. Thanks for posting, it is a HUGE help to those of us who are still awaiting surgery.

[Elisa]

Checked out your pics and you look awesome LaurieAnne! And you're feeling good too which of course is even more important. I can't wait until my son reaches his one year mark. I had a look at his scar the other day and it isn't nearly as bright pink as it was, more like a baby pink now.

[LindaRacine]

A really beautiful improvement. Congratulations!

[mabeckoff]

What a wonderful improvement. Enjoy your new straight body

[Doodles]

LaurieAnne--
Congrats on one year! You look fantastic! I know it's different when you are only 30 but I'd give anything for such a good-looking back!! Wow. Janet

[JenniferG]

Congrats Laurie! Your back looks wonderful!

[golfnut]

Laurie,
Your new back pictures look fantastic! I know you will continue to feel better physically. I still have some aches, as well, but I think it just takes time for the muscles and nerve endings to completely heal. Thanks for sharing your story. I remember (way back) turning 30 and I wasn't thrilled either. I just couldn't imagine leaving my 20's. None of my other big numbers have bothered me as much, although I thought 50 sounded terribly "old"!

[mariya]

Happy Birthday!

Hi Laurie,

First, Happy Birthday to you! I just turned 30 last month as well and still can not feel it or believe it
Congratulations on your 1 -yr post op!!! You look amazing after the surgery)))
Posts like yours inspire me alot! I look forward to reading more about your recovery and all the stories everyone posts.

If you don't mind, can you please share the type of pains you used to have before surgery and what was your main complain was before the surgery and what were your limitations. I also have big curves, although not as severe as yours were but candidate for surgery and lately have been expiriencing more pain.

Thank you for your update and may you continue to do well in your recovery !

Mariya

[loves to skate]

Laurie,
Your back looks great as does the rest of your body. Are you a swimmer by any chance? You have such nice broad shoulders and a small waist. Happy Birthday by the way. I think turning 30 is the hardest, because it means that now you are truly mature. Enjoy your youth and your new back. The years go by way to fast.
Sally

[LaurieAnne]

Hi Laurie,

First, Happy Birthday to you! I just turned 30 last month as well and still can not feel it or believe it
Congratulations on your 1 -yr post op!!! You look amazing after the surgery)))
Posts like yours inspire me alot! I look forward to reading more about your recovery and all the stories everyone posts.

If you don't mind, can you please share the type of pains you used to have before surgery and what was your main complain was before the surgery and what were your limitations. I also have big curves, although not as severe as yours were but candidate for surgery and lately have been expiriencing more pain.

Thank you for your update and may you continue to do well in your recovery !

Mariya

Hi Mariya,

Thank you for the birthday wishes! I have been an avid exerciser since age 13 so daily exercise (often intense) has been a routine for many years. Over the years I have had back pain but I could tolerate it and often just push on anyway. Well, the last year and half to two years it had gotten harder to exercise at my usual level due to increasing back pain. My curve was also worsening despite chiropractic intervention since age 13. My lung capacity was decreasing again making it difficult to be active and I was often short of breath just resting due to my left ribs and lung being compressed. I also had severe pain episodes in my sacrum. They would come on while just walking and stop me in my tracks. It felt like something came apart in my sacrum. I would try to slowly take a few step and usually it would stop but the 3 months prior to my surgery the episodes lasted longer and I had fairly constant tingling and numbness in my feet. So my activity level tanked in August 2010 and my surgery was Dec 2010. I found extremely challenging just to get through a day at work and I came home to bed. It severely limited my social life and was very depressing. Then with the coming surgery and not much I could do besides laying down, that began to take a toll on my mind. Looking back though, this forum seriously made the BIGGEST difference because I could talk to people who ACTUALLY went through it and came out better (at least it seems most do) on the other side. My pain now is less though I do still have it daily. I have not had the same sharp pain in my sacrum, it is different now and I mostly get it only when I bend. I am going to see an orthopedic at Barnes in January who specializes in sacral imbalances to see if there's anything that can be done. It is a VERY LONG recovery process but I still don't regret it. I have a new found confidence I never had before. You don't realize all the areas of your life scoliosis impacts or how bad things are until you experience better. I know not all surgeries turn out great, but I think a real key is getting a great surgeon. PM me anytime with questions. I hope I can help people just as I have been helped and encouraged by so many here. God bless!

[LaurieAnne]

Laurie,
Your back looks great as does the rest of your body. Are you a swimmer by any chance? You have such nice broad shoulders and a small waist. Happy Birthday by the way. I think turning 30 is the hardest, because it means that now you are truly mature. Enjoy your youth and your new back. The years go by way to fast.
Sally

Thank you for the kind words Sally ~ I have never been a swimmer, just an avid exerciser since I was 13. I learned as much as I could about health, nutrition and exericse and I just worked out on my own at home and stayed active in cheerleading in high school. I have had othe people ask me about being a swimmer and honestly it was a sport I never thought about before but given my 6 foot arm span that probably would've been a good use for it...ha! It is interesting how even when we think we have grown so much as the years go by we grow and mature even more. I hope this next decade is much better and I am really able to enjoy life.

[titaniumed]

Hey LaurieAnne

Happy birthday and happy 1 year anniversary!

In looking at your “pre” photos, you had a large lower left bump, just like mine. That was our spine you know.....

You did the right thing. I can attest to the pain involved in waiting with large lumbar curves. I waited till I was 49, and my 40’s were painful. I know this now, since I became used to the pain, and now that I’m completely healed, I know what its like once again to be pain free.

Lookin pretty good there....
Ed