Hi everyone,
I am fairly new to the forum and have discovered that there are so many scoli patients out there, that I never really knew existed. It's wonderful to know that there are so many people to communicate with. We discovered my scoliosis when I was around 11. The only thing that was done for me was a number of exercises and a lift in my left shoe to help bring my left hip up to the same height as my right hip.
Now that I am entering my senior years, I noticed that my curve is getting worse. After two sessions of pain down my leg and physical therapy, I decided that it was time to see a scoliosis doctor in Boston. How surprised he was that with an 80 degree thorcolumbar curve, I was not in constant pain. He also told me that I don't have to have the surgery, BUT, it is very possible that as the curve gets worse I could end up with so much leg pain that I will be bed ridden. Well, I am not that physically active, but I want to be able to go for a walk, play with my granddaughters, make an attempt at being somewhat of a golfer. We also discovered that L5 has a fracture, so I know that a fusion from L5 to sacrum is in the plan. Sweeping the floor, ironing, gardening all create pain within minutes, but I do it anyway.
The doctor's plan is to go through my abdomen to put in spacers. The next day remove a rib to use during surgery for the fusion.
I have to go for my second MRI within a month of surgery, which we are planning in January. I have been reading so many threads trying to get as much information as I possibly can. Everything I do, I wonder how will I do this once I am fused. How do I put on a pair of socks, will I be able to look down as I go down a flight of stairs, how long will it take me before I can wash and dry my own hair and take a shower. I am petrified of the surgery and the recovery. What keeps me going is all the stories of people who have a life after surgery.
I would love to hear how people managed during recovery.
Libby
I am fairly new to the forum and have discovered that there are so many scoli patients out there, that I never really knew existed. It's wonderful to know that there are so many people to communicate with. We discovered my scoliosis when I was around 11. The only thing that was done for me was a number of exercises and a lift in my left shoe to help bring my left hip up to the same height as my right hip.
Now that I am entering my senior years, I noticed that my curve is getting worse. After two sessions of pain down my leg and physical therapy, I decided that it was time to see a scoliosis doctor in Boston. How surprised he was that with an 80 degree thorcolumbar curve, I was not in constant pain. He also told me that I don't have to have the surgery, BUT, it is very possible that as the curve gets worse I could end up with so much leg pain that I will be bed ridden. Well, I am not that physically active, but I want to be able to go for a walk, play with my granddaughters, make an attempt at being somewhat of a golfer. We also discovered that L5 has a fracture, so I know that a fusion from L5 to sacrum is in the plan. Sweeping the floor, ironing, gardening all create pain within minutes, but I do it anyway.
The doctor's plan is to go through my abdomen to put in spacers. The next day remove a rib to use during surgery for the fusion.
I have to go for my second MRI within a month of surgery, which we are planning in January. I have been reading so many threads trying to get as much information as I possibly can. Everything I do, I wonder how will I do this once I am fused. How do I put on a pair of socks, will I be able to look down as I go down a flight of stairs, how long will it take me before I can wash and dry my own hair and take a shower. I am petrified of the surgery and the recovery. What keeps me going is all the stories of people who have a life after surgery.
I would love to hear how people managed during recovery.
Libby
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