Success stories, anyone??

[sai]

hi everyone

i just wanted to know there are lots of success stories out there-but i think sometimes people dont want to brag too much about how well things are going just incase they jinx it, i know this sounds silly but i think it is true.

personally i ant stop telling anyone that will listen he he

i am now nearly 8 months post op and feeling on top of the world-if you look at my history you can read lots of positive comments as iv had nothing but good to say and truely feel this way. btw-i am planning on doing a sponsored walk for cancer research in june so that just shows you how well it is all going.

Sai

[Suzy]

Hi Brynn,

I sent you a pm Regarding how successful my outcome was but thought I should post here as well for those who need to hear about ALL the successful scoliosis surgeries that are happening.

I had my T10 to L4 fusion 2/22/06 at age 43. I am back doing everything except water skiing (Per my Dr.) and touching my toes (I don't need to). I am pretty much pain free and think the only reason I have a little bit on some days is because I am living my life at full speed again. This includes wearing my favorite high heels even while out shopping. I just noticed a few weeks back that I even have my normal walk back. I am not walking stiff, my hips move side to side again. I had to grin and laugh when I realised it (I was walking down the mall) I must have looked psycho laughing to myself! There are quite a few success stories on here now. I noticed with a lot of good outcomes the people drift away. It is too bad because there are way more then just those of us who have posted so far. Best wishes.

[SusanGP]

I just had my surgery on the 5th of Dec so I am still new to the game. However, I am so happy that I did this. It was not an easy decision for me at age 63 but it has turned out to be the right one. I have little to no pain---most of it is just surgery related such as nerves waking up etc. My only draw back has been the fact that I fell 3 weeks ago and broke my hip. That really threw me a curve. It has been much more painful and depressing than my back. My fusion was a long one--I had 6 disc replaced, bone spurs removed around S1 and fused from T9 to S1. No surgery is fun, wanted or easy but once you are on the road to recovery I think you will be glad you did it.
Linda G.

Hi Linda G and everyone else. I feel computer illiterate tonight. I haven't replied to any posts before and am not sure if I am puttiing this in the right place. I am so glad to hear some success stories, especially from someone my age. I will be 60 in October and am so scared as I know I am going to have to have surgery. I can't live like this any longer. I have a 63 degree C curve in the thoracic and lumbar area and it is moving up. The pain is so bad my quality of life is practically non-existent. My current ortho surgeon in recommending anterior/posterior surgery with fusion of T9 or 10 to L3 or 4. I have lots of arthritis spurs, stenosis, degenerative disc disease, neck problems too and more but it's late and I can't spend too much time here. I was scheduled for surgery last August and chickened out. Now in May I will be getting one more opinion from a surgeon at Oregon Health Science University in Portland. I will go from there. Anyway I am so glad I found this forum, now I need to learn how to use it and talk to all of you because I feel so lonely and so tired of the pain.

[Theresa]

Susan,

Let me be the first to welcome you to our little world! I think you did pretty good. You found this site and even posted your first message, that was the hard part. Now the easy part, just writing down whatever is on your mind. There is usually someone on here that can help in one way or another. And if we can't answer a question, at least we can listen when you just need to vent sometimes. If you what to search the archives for something, just click on the word search in the blue bar just above and type something in the box and hit enter. Also, if you scroll down on the first page, you can select how far back you want you pages to go. If you just want the past two weeks to show all the time, then click on two weeks. If you want longer, click on one of the other selections. You can also click on someone's name and it will ask if you want to see all posts by that person or all the threads that were started by that person. You can also go on user CP (upper left side), click on edit signature, and enter what you want to print at the end of your message each time that you post.

Once again, Welcome!

[dawney]

I am a little over 6 monthes post op and having the surgery was the best thing for me. I was fused to the iliac crest and have not lost as much mobility as you would think. I am still recovering but I did pilates and walking. I am still stiff and I still take a tylenol with codeine once in a while if I over do it. I too am back in the swing of things and forget that I still need to watch
I definitely feel like a success story. A lot of people tell me my face looks different. I think that is because before the surgery I had pain stamped on my face every day.
Good luck to you.

[brynnski]

Hello again, everyone:

I'm so pleased that people are still posting on this thread. It's really helping me to hear from you all, and I can see there are others who are being helped too. Thanks!!

Linda: How are you now? Are you healing from your broken hip? I'm so sorry this happened to you, and just when your recovery was going so well. I hope you're better!
Suzy: Thanks for letting us know about your successful surgery. I hope to hear more (didn't get a pm yet. Did you send one to me?) The idea of living life at full speed again is exciting, to say the least. You sound like you're really enjoying it!
SusanGP: You and I have a lot in common. I, too, will be 60 in October. My largest curve (mine is lumbar) is around 60 degrees. My fusion will be much like yours. I have pain, spurs,DDD, etc. too. Reading about the successful surgeries of others like us is helping to calm my fears about surgery. Welcome to this Forum. It is a great place to connect with others who are in the same boat. And the people here are supportive and quite knowledgeable. I'm looking forward to hearing more about you....
Sai: You're able to be so active now! Wow!
Ashley: It helps me just to know that you're already asking about exercise at your 3 month check up. Yoga and Pilates are my two favorites, and I'm so glad that your doctor says they will be good for those who are fused at T10 to L5! I was afraid I'd have to give up yoga, especially forward bending poses. Have you heard if you'll be able to do those?
Chris: I've been doing the same thing lately, asking myself how I'd be feeling if I was told I couldn't have this surgery. My pain has been less recently. It tends to flare up and then decrease again (over and over according to how active I am.) But I have not forgotten how bad I was feeling just a few weeks ago!

Brynn

[tommyo]

I know four people personally who have had this surgery and have no after recovery pains or problems, they just don't post on the internet. Two are middle aged women, one middle aged guy and one 18 year old guy. They don't seem to think it was such a big deal??!! They can't understand my worrying whether to have it or not.

[spincon58]

Hi Brynn,
I am a born worrier!!..but I'd like to tell you this was my downfall before I had my surgery...I was so absorbed with fear that I would not listen intentively when the doctor would give instructions...I really made myself emotional sick from worry..and what did it get me>???? nothing!/...worring does nothing....its an human response that helps and does nothing!!!!but make u crazy!!!If I could give advice before surgery would be to have total trust in your doctors and just leave everything to a higher devine....because onces your under anesth...your out and nothings in your control..What helped me ..I kept thinking this is something i have to do and it will be over soon...like going to a dentist...but to be honest and not scare you with worry...this surgery was very very painful to me...maybe i didnt have enough pain meds and i know everyone is different..but for me...my pain could not be controled...I also brought in a hospital bed...this was helpful and it made getting in and out of bed easy....or bring an recliner in the home....anyway I know u didnt ask for this advice ..just talking!!if u need me just email me!!

[Shari]

Everyone here has given such good advice and valuable insight. I just want to add, that a caring and concerned Dr. will always give you all the information you may need to make this life changing decision!!! And I think if you have a Dr. that tells you that you may need additional surgery down the road if you are fused to L-5, that shows they are a very caring and knowlegable person.

My Dr. explained to me from the begining that being fused to L-5, that there was a risk that there "MAY" be a need for additional surgery down the road, because of the stress that area will be under. He never said it was an absolute, but that it could happen. He also mentioned that if it would be neccessary, that it would be an easy surgery compared to what I was about to go through.

I also think that if we adapt and adjust to our new backs in a safe way, it may not be necessary, but there's no guarantee. But is there ever a guarantee with anything in life???

Shari

[SusanGP]

Thanks brynnnski and Theresa!!! for your reply and welcoming me to this forum. It was so wonderful to get on here and see a welcome.
Thanks brynnski for the info, I will use it hopefully tomorrow - put info at the bottom of my message, etc. It is again late and I must get some rest. For some reason I start feeling a little better late at night, don't know if it is all the pain meds building up and finally helping or what.
Theresa, guess I will remember your birthday. Guess we do have more than one thing in common.
I have to start gathering up all my mri's, CT's, myelograms, x-rays, etc. for my appointment with new doc in May. I get so tired of filling out all the forms etc. to see a new doc. I have been searching for some time now.
Thanks again to all who welcomed me and I will get back on soon to talk and see if I can help anyone along with the help I get.
I am just sooooo glad I found this forum. I don't feel so alone now. It is wonderful to hear success stories. It gives me hope where all I have had is fear.
Susan

[Frosty]

Most surgeries are a success. Of course you shouldn't expect miracles. Scoliosis is incurable but the great majority have a good outcome from surgery.