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I truly doubted if I would ever play decent golf after my surgery and I was okay with that. Enjoying beautiful scenery and good friends is by far the most important aspect of the game of golf. After not playing for close to 15 months, I started trying to develop a new swing with no twisting and surprisingly, my game last summer, while challenging, was better than I had hoped. After placing fourth and second in two tournaments that I had preivously won before surgery, I decided that I really wanted to win the annual Waterloo Country Club Championship for my scoli friends. It gave me extra incentive to think of winning it for the "team". This was my 25th win of the tournament, but other than the first win, this one was the most meaningful. The club's awards banquet was last night and the presenter of the trophies said after major back surgery and not playing for over a year, "She's back." I attached a new picture in the photobucket link in my signature. Thanks so much for all of your presurgery support and also during my recovery.
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Karen
Surgery-Jan. 5, 2011-Dr. Lenke
Fusion T-4-sacrum-2 cages/5 osteotomies
70 degree thoracolumbar corrected to 25
Rib Hump-GONE!
Age-60 at the time of surgery
Now 66
Avid Golfer & Tap Dancer
Retired Kdgn. Teacher
See photobucket link for:
Video of my 1st Day of Golf Post-Op-3/02/12-Bradenton, FL
Before and After Picture of back 1/7/11
tap dancing picture at 10 mos. post op 11/11/11-I'm the one on the right.
http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/k630/pottoff2/ -
Way to go! Glad that you are doing greatMelissa
Fused from C2 - sacrum 7/2011
April 21, 2020- another broken rod surgery -
Loved your golf swing!
SusanAdult 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 & rodComment
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Congratulations, Karen! You look beautiful and happy in that picture.I am stronger than scoliosis, and won't let it rule my life!
45 years old - diagnosed at age 7
A/P surgery on March 5/7, 2013 - UCSFComment
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Way to go Karen. Congratulations!Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
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Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixationComment
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Karen,
You rock! What an inspiration!
Evelynage 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
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Heartiest congratulations Karen!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 freeComment
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Good show!
I knew you could do it after I grabbed that driver about a year ago and gave it a whirl. I’m not a golfer, but it sure seemed like I had more control with my swing. It felt pretty good. What do you think? Does full fusion add more control with the swing?
Ed49 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=1228779258Comment
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Amazing Karen! What an inspiration you are!
Vic
30 yr old, Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, Dbl compensatory curve, diagnosed age 14
Rt Thoracic approx 60 degrees
Lft Lumbar approx 60 degrees
Proposed 2 stage A/P fusion T4-L4 or L5 (TBC)
Consultant - Stewart Tucker, RNOH
Seeking Second opinion - James Wilson Macdonald, Manor Hospital, Oxford
Love my friends, family, the island of Mallorca, and eating great food!
My Pre-Surgery X-Rays
(Front Xray) http://i48.tinypic.com/mvlusw.jpg
(Side Xray) http://i48.tinypic.com/s2f6na.jpgComment
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Way to go
Karen,
Golf is something that I do a few times a year. I am absolutely terrible at it. You are my inspiration to go out there and do a better job after I have my surgery. Sounds like I will have to tell my golf partner that she is going to have to wait a year for me to get into the swing of things. LibbyComment
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Aw, Karen, that is so COOL! Thanks for sharing! You are amazing!
nancyAge 58
Surgery w/ Dr Lenke August 23, 2010
original curves 91 thoracic, 86 lumbar
fused T1 to sacrum, new curves 50 and 45Comment
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You are truely amazing!T10-pelvis fusion 12/08
C5,6,7 fusion 9/10
T2--T10 fusion 2/11
C 4-5 fusion 11/14
Right scapulectomy 6/15
Right pectoralis major muscle transfer to scapula
To replace the action of Serratus Anterior muscle 3/16
Broken neck 9/28/2018
Emergency surgery posterior fusion C4- T3
Repeated 11/2018 because rods pulled apart added T2 fusion
Removal of partial right thoracic hardware 1/2020
Removal and replacement of C4-T10 hardware with C7 and T 1
OsteotomyComment
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You can be our Poster Child for what you have accomplished on the golf course following surgery! Way to go!Female - 49 yrs old at surgery
Surgery 5/5/11 - Dr. Bridwell, St. Louis
Fused T3-L3
60 degree thoracic curve corrected to 30 degrees
Tennis player & returning to the courts!
http://s1050.photobucket.com/profile/walkingmom1/indexComment
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very fun news
Congratulation on your win. Reading your post and others like it help me stay positive about my surgery.44 years old, right thoracic curve 63 degrees, thoracolumbar major curve 75 degrees, thoracic kyphosis 39 degrees.Comment
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Congratulations! It amazes me how so many of us adapt to do things we used to do...but in a slightly different way. For now the new ways are our new 'normal.'
Keep up the good work!!__________________________________________
Debbe - 50 yrs old
Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
Told by Dr. my curve would never progress
Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees
Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degreesComment
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