Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Four Months Post Op

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Four Months Post Op

    Today is Jill's four month anniversary of her surgery. I can only say that the words post-op are a lot better than pre-op. She is doing so well. If anyone saw her they would never know she had gone through such an extensive and invasive surgery as she did. She is in school, carries a 20 lb backpack, and looks and acts just like any other student. She has no pain except a sore hip if she is walking/standing too long...and that we are treating with twice a week physical therapy sessions. For those parents and your children who are worried about the surgery, I must say that it is tolerable and that you will get through it. Jill was a great patient, she endured the experience without tears, and was released after 5 days. Our memories of her experience are not clouded with fear or pain, but with the great tenderness we received from her caregivers, the doctors, nurses, and aides. It was, and is their job to help you, and you should never be afraid to ask for more meds, or to be re-positioned, for some juice or milk, or for help to the bathroom. Don't suffer in silence. Jill was really fortunate to receive an epidural and I can't say enough good things about that. If you have the option, ASK for it. It worked really well for her. Today, Jill wears NO BRACE and as far as I can tell, she will not need to wear one ever again. She sees her surgeon in two weeks for her third post-op checkup. He told her last time, that her correction was so good, he would probably use her xrays in a text book. You and your children, like us, will be happy this is behind them, and please remember that you will get through this and you have many supporters who are here for you.
    Jill's Mom - Surgery, Children's Memorial Hospital - June 4th, 2004

  • #2
    Jill's mom (and Jill),

    Your post brings tear to my eyes as the mom of a little girl who is facing this surgery in the next 12 months. We so need to hear these positive experiences!!!

    Who's your doc, by the way... I am keeping track of good experiences to share with others.

    Thanks,
    Susanna
    Susanna
    ~~~~~~
    Mother of a 17 year old daughter. Her "S" curve was 40 degree thoracic from T3 to T9, and a 70 degree rotatory thorcolumbar from T9 to L4. She was operated on March 9th, 2005 by Dr. Boachie-Adjei at the Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC. She was fused from T11 to L3, using an anterior approach, and the major curve corrected to 20 degrees. She's doing great!

    Comment


    • #3
      I am so happy to hear Jill had such a good experience. Thanks so much for sharing with us. I agree that an epidural is wonderful for post-op pain management. Braydon has had an epidural twice after surgery. Those were his most quickest recoveries because his body was allowed to rest for a day or two. It's great to hear she's back in school, doing things other teens should be doing. Wonderful news. Keep up the great work!
      Carmell
      mom to Kara, idiopathic scoliosis, Blake 19, GERD and Braydon 14, VACTERL, GERD, DGE, VEPTR #137, thoracic insufficiency, rib anomalies, congenital scoliosis, missing coccyx, fatty filum/TC, anal stenosis, horseshoe kidney, dbl ureter in left kidney, ureterocele, kidney reflux, neurogenic bladder, bilateral hip dysplasia, right leg/foot dyplasia, tibial torsion, clubfoot with 8 toes, pes cavus, single umblilical artery, etc. http://carmellb-ivil.tripod.com/myfamily/

      Comment


      • #4
        four months post op

        thanks jills mom for sharing. My 14 year old is having surgery nov 3 (less than a month away now) if it weren't for these positive stories i would be more of a wreck than i already am. I just pray ours goes as well. thanks for sharing
        jennifer

        Comment


        • #5
          Jill's mom,
          Thankyou for the words of comfort, Tears come to my eyes also.
          It's so incredible to think our little babies must endure this.
          I guess we should be gratefull something can be done and they don't have to suffer this way their whole life.
          We go for pre-op Oct 21st!!

          Keep us posted,
          mamakay
          now 16 yr old daughter
          with worsen 65 degree upper curve
          surgery Nov 3, 04

          Comment


          • #6
            Hi everyone,
            So glad to hear that Jill is doing well. Congratulations!
            I haven't been on this site for months. My daughter who had a double spinal fusion surgery in april just had her six month checkup. She is doing great with no pain. Doctor said everything is going well and she doesn't have to go back to see him till her one year anniversary. He ended her restrictions on lifting and bending, and also took her off her brace and bone stimulator. Just wanted to say good luck to everyone who is awaiting surgery or in recovery. Just coming on here after being away for months made my stomach tighten. Reading these entries made me feel nervous all over again. Every night when I say my prayers of thanks for my daughter's recovery, I still say prayers for all those who still have surgery ahead. May God be with all of you. Keep positive! Everything will work out and you will be on the road to recovery, both physically and emotionally.

            Comment


            • #7
              Its been around 2 months since my posterior operation. I also had an epidural. Im still in my spinal brace/corset i have to wear it for another 6 weeks. Still feeling a bit tierd, and my hip and leg hurt if i stand for too long!

              Comment


              • #8
                *sorry i had Anterior operation.

                Comment


                • #9
                  So good to hear a positive result!
                  My daughter goes back to see her consultant tomorrow. I have a feeling that he's going to say that her curves are progressing and that we need to be moved up the waiting list so it is really encouraging to hear about things going right.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    how long

                    hey
                    thats great to here I was wondering though cause I am going to be having surgery on Nov3rd. how long until you can carry a backpack or anything ruoghly????? that would be a big help cause I love school

                    Alexandra Jones

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      How soon you can carry things depends on a lot of things. Your doctor will put restrictions on you to start with. The size of the fusion makes a big difference to alot of your recovery as does your overall fitness and wellbeing before hand. Don't worry about your school baooks if you can't carry them yourself there are lots of other ways to cope.
                      Does this make 4 people with the same surgery date?
                      Cheryl.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        It often depends on the Doc, and exactly "what you had done". But it seems to be a pretty standard, that for the first three months its no schoolbag, basically no carrying at all. Except for light stuff like a carton of milk, or a small file and a pencil case (for school).

                        After the three month mark ish, then some of your "restrictions" begin to be lifted. For my doc, this was when I could carry a "not a full load" schoolbag (ie only a couple of books and my file). But I also had a very nice sister, who was in my school as well and she carried my schoolbag for me most days (nice sister ;-) . A fusion doesn't start to become solid until the six month mark, thats why there's lots of restrictions until then.

                        One thing you might want to see about, is if your school is willing to (if you push most schools will) provide you with a set of books for school, ie the textbooks you need in each class, so that you can leave yours at home. My school did this for most of my subjects, and other subjects I usually shared with one of my friends, or borrowed the teachers copy.

                        Alison.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Cheryl,
                          Yes I think this does make the 4th person to have a surgery date of Nov 3rd.
                          Has anyone had an experience with how long it is before your allowed to drive again. I hope it's really long bc my daughter just got her license and can't wait to drive soon as possible after her surgery. Great....
                          I think her back has progressed much worse in the 4 months she was diagnosed. She was to have a posterior and now I wonder what is an anterior and reasons for having it?
                          Well good bye for now and take care all,
                          Kay
                          now 16 yr old daughter
                          with worsen 65 degree upper curve
                          surgery Nov 3, 04

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Hey Kay,

                            I had my A/P surgery on April 9th & 13th, 2004. My doctor let me start driving again at the 2 month mark. It takes a little adjusting for the driving. I'm not able to turn as easily to look over my shoulders. You definitly need to use all of your mirrors at all times. Yesterday was my 6 month mark and I still haven't driven on the freeway during bumper to bumper traffic. I went back to work a month ago but I don't need to use the freeways to get there. Before you committ to telling her when she can drive again (of course with the doctor's permission) go in the car with her and she how she is able to turn to see over her shoulder. Just an idea. Theresa
                            Theresa

                            April 8 & 12, 2004 - Anterior/Posterior surgery 15 hours & 7 hours
                            Thorasic - 79 degree down to 22
                            Lumbar - 44 degree down to 18
                            Fused T2 to sacrum
                            June 2, 2005 - Pedicle subtraction osteotomy @L3 7 hours
                            MAY 21, 2007 - Pedicle subtraction osteotomy @ L2, extended the fusion to S2 and added pelvic instrumentation 9 hours

                            FUSED T2 - SACRUM 2

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              I had my surgery before I learnt how to drive (fusion at 13, permit at 16.5, and this is just some little "ideas" on how you can minimised the looking over the shoulders. My looking over my shoulders ability is still not perfect (I have to twist my whole body around to look in the back window), so a lot of my learning to drive experience was learning ways to get around it.

                              My parents brought my sisters and my car after my surgery. We found a car that had a large rear view mirror (they made me sit in all the cars..... fun) and that I did not have to turn around to look at my blind spots. If we hadn't found one, they would have replaced the mirror, which they say isnt too difficult or too expensive

                              The rest is what I wrote for my mate, to post on another website (I got my permit just before she did, and someone was having problems with driving after surgery, and I wrote it and she posted it)

                              "It is possible to reverse the car without turning over your shoulder (I can only do it if I physically move my whole body around. Here are some tips that might help

                              :If you are able, twist your butt around in the seat so that you are sitting on an angle. You should find it easier to look out the back of the car to reverse (to do this you need to either take your seatbelt off or put it so it is just around your waist)

                              :It is possible to reverse without turning over your shoulder. It does take a bit of planning and thought but. You first need to work out about how many cars away from a car park bay you need to be to get into it (From memory it is about 1.5 to 2 car bays away. You reverse the car as normal (checking your mirrors lots) until you have started to get the car into the bay. Then move the mirrors downwards until you can see the lines. Then judging with the lines as a guide manoevere the car into the spot.

                              :You can get extra bits put onto the mirrors to make them bigger/ to eliminate blind spots. Getting a larger rearview mirror might be something worth looking into. There are also little "spots" that eliminate the blindspots (make the mirror more concentrated). You would be able to find them in auto stores or in places that sell specialised disability equipment.

                              I learnt to drive and reverse by relying very heavily on the mirrors. It took me a bit longer to pass my test than most, but when I passed it I passed it first time and manual license as well. I still use the mirrors quite heavily, but are now able to reverse by moving my butt around in the seat and looking out the back of the car that way, I still can't do it like "normal" people who twist there neck. I found that my physiotherapy (physical therapy) helped with getting my neck a little bit more movement in it (it is still pretty stiff cause of how high the fusion was in relative terms)."

                              Good luck to your daughter for her surgery and I hope some of what I wrote might be of help when she starts driving again.

                              Alison

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X