Hello all,
I woke up this morning at around 6:15 and thought back to the morning of my surgery. That was about the time I needed to get up to shower and head off to the hospital. So much has happened in the last year I can't believe it.
Everyday since my surgery I have continually improved. I actually have my life back the way it was before all hell broke loose with my back. I went from being able to only run errands for a max of three hours per day to skiing two days ago! I haven't found anything I can't do. (Well, I can't bend forward to touch my toes or do side bends but I really don't need to!) I am back in heels, dancing, doing everything I use to do before my surgery but now am pain free. Rollerblading and scuba diving are the last two things I have yet to get back to. I tear up at the thought of how lucky I was to have this surgery. Those of you who are facing surgery are truly embarking on a new life. I bet most of you who have had this surgery feel this way. Sure, there were times I was worried about my up coming surgery. As I did my research and got questions answered here on the forum I became more and more confident about my decision. I actually looked forward to it after the vacation my husband and I took 6 weeks prior. I was ready to get on with my life and that is exactly how it has been for me. My back actually looks normal now. Straight, no hump and I have a waist on both sides. My scar is a reminder of the mental and physical battle that I won!
I think the most important thing that I can pass on to those of you facing this surgery is to keep a positive attitude heading into it. You can't continue to have doubts once you make your decision to have surgery. You must face it head on and realise your curves aren't going to correct themselves. We are so fortunate to have this surgery available to us. I knew going into this there were risks. However, the life I would have had without surgery was not one I wanted to live. I really believe a positive attitude through this whole journey helped me to recover faster and better then my Dr. or Physical Therapists ever thought I would.
Surgery 2/22/06 Lumbar curve 49* corrected to 8* At age 43 Fused T10 to L4
I woke up this morning at around 6:15 and thought back to the morning of my surgery. That was about the time I needed to get up to shower and head off to the hospital. So much has happened in the last year I can't believe it.
Everyday since my surgery I have continually improved. I actually have my life back the way it was before all hell broke loose with my back. I went from being able to only run errands for a max of three hours per day to skiing two days ago! I haven't found anything I can't do. (Well, I can't bend forward to touch my toes or do side bends but I really don't need to!) I am back in heels, dancing, doing everything I use to do before my surgery but now am pain free. Rollerblading and scuba diving are the last two things I have yet to get back to. I tear up at the thought of how lucky I was to have this surgery. Those of you who are facing surgery are truly embarking on a new life. I bet most of you who have had this surgery feel this way. Sure, there were times I was worried about my up coming surgery. As I did my research and got questions answered here on the forum I became more and more confident about my decision. I actually looked forward to it after the vacation my husband and I took 6 weeks prior. I was ready to get on with my life and that is exactly how it has been for me. My back actually looks normal now. Straight, no hump and I have a waist on both sides. My scar is a reminder of the mental and physical battle that I won!
I think the most important thing that I can pass on to those of you facing this surgery is to keep a positive attitude heading into it. You can't continue to have doubts once you make your decision to have surgery. You must face it head on and realise your curves aren't going to correct themselves. We are so fortunate to have this surgery available to us. I knew going into this there were risks. However, the life I would have had without surgery was not one I wanted to live. I really believe a positive attitude through this whole journey helped me to recover faster and better then my Dr. or Physical Therapists ever thought I would.
Surgery 2/22/06 Lumbar curve 49* corrected to 8* At age 43 Fused T10 to L4
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