My first surgery was 1956-lived NORMAL LIFE WITH A FUSED SPINE
My case which I often restate: First surgery, NO Hardware, age 14 in 1956(!) by Dr. John Cobb of Cobb angle fame. Triple curves-largest ~100 deg. Fusion T-4 to L-2. Lived 44 years with a fused spine, became an RN and later nurse-anesthetist-nurse practitioner.
Curves were only slightly reduced and "balanced". Still had a significant hump and right shoulder slightly lower. Certainly not done for cosmetic reasons(never is). In my 50s my fused spine, but unsupported by NO hardware, collapsed. I began to become bent over and lost lung capacity. I elected for a revision at age 60-in 2002.
I AM NOW 70 1/2.
One does what has to be done for quality of life and health. I am PAIN FREE. To wait for the spine to get SO bad that one can hardly walk seems like folly to me. If the curves are progressing in adulthood nothing but surgery can stop it. Pains can be ameliorated somewhat with assorted therapies and medications but the source of the pain is not removed-only masked.
No one on the forum is a surgery nut and "loves" fusions. There is wide spread gratitude that a remedy exists. Doing the surgery before massive deformity, enables a better correction, faster healing and quicker return to a normal, productive life.
My case which I often restate: First surgery, NO Hardware, age 14 in 1956(!) by Dr. John Cobb of Cobb angle fame. Triple curves-largest ~100 deg. Fusion T-4 to L-2. Lived 44 years with a fused spine, became an RN and later nurse-anesthetist-nurse practitioner.
Curves were only slightly reduced and "balanced". Still had a significant hump and right shoulder slightly lower. Certainly not done for cosmetic reasons(never is). In my 50s my fused spine, but unsupported by NO hardware, collapsed. I began to become bent over and lost lung capacity. I elected for a revision at age 60-in 2002.
I AM NOW 70 1/2.
One does what has to be done for quality of life and health. I am PAIN FREE. To wait for the spine to get SO bad that one can hardly walk seems like folly to me. If the curves are progressing in adulthood nothing but surgery can stop it. Pains can be ameliorated somewhat with assorted therapies and medications but the source of the pain is not removed-only masked.
No one on the forum is a surgery nut and "loves" fusions. There is wide spread gratitude that a remedy exists. Doing the surgery before massive deformity, enables a better correction, faster healing and quicker return to a normal, productive life.
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