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2 Years Post-Op Update
(*Note* Sorry, I think I might've posted this in the wrong section. I meant to post it in a different section.)
Hey everyone! Okay, so I just wanted to share some of the stuff that my surgeon said at my most recent appointment (plus I have a couple of questions...questions that I probably should've asked at my appointment, but I tend to blank out all the time at appointments and such).
Overall it was a really great appointment. In the words of my surgeon, it was "graduation day" for me from his office. I was given no follow-up date, although he did say that if I ever have any problems or need to see him I'm more than welcome no matter what my age. Okay, so moving on to what happened during the appointment. For some background info, I was fused to L3. But with the way my curve went I could have been fused to L4 or L5. My surgeon just wanted to give me as much flexibility as possible (which I am very thankful for, since I dance). Because he did this, though, my spine was slightly curved underneath the fusion. According the xrays I just took, that curve got a bit worse and is starting to tilt my pelvis again. He told me not to worry about it and that it shouldn't get any worse than it is now. Although now I am wondering how it even got a little worse, considering my last appointment was when I was almost a full year post-op and any "settling" should've been done by then. Anyone else have this problem? Probably something I should've asked when I was there, but again, I kind of blanked out.
Also, I told him about pain I've been having for a while now. I have both general achy-ness (sp? lol), as well as some pretty sharp pains at the top of my fusion. He told me that the hardware looks good, so the only thing I can really do is yoga/pilates/anything to keep strong and flexible. He told me that the upper back can sometime be problematic because the muscles apparently run across at the upper back, while they run vertically at the lower back. So I guess pain is just a long-term side effect of this kind of surgery? Kind of depressing lol.
Anyway, just wanted to share and hear from others who may have been told similar/the same things. I am incredibly happy that I was dismissed from my doctor and feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders lol. Of course, now I'm just slightly worried that the part of my spine that is curved again will cause problems in the future. But he said not to worry, and if it does cause problems it probably won't be for a very long time. So I am still extremely happy. Oh, and sorry this is so long. If you actually read it all, thank you very much.
Hey everyone! Okay, so I just wanted to share some of the stuff that my surgeon said at my most recent appointment (plus I have a couple of questions...questions that I probably should've asked at my appointment, but I tend to blank out all the time at appointments and such).
Overall it was a really great appointment. In the words of my surgeon, it was "graduation day" for me from his office. I was given no follow-up date, although he did say that if I ever have any problems or need to see him I'm more than welcome no matter what my age. Okay, so moving on to what happened during the appointment. For some background info, I was fused to L3. But with the way my curve went I could have been fused to L4 or L5. My surgeon just wanted to give me as much flexibility as possible (which I am very thankful for, since I dance). Because he did this, though, my spine was slightly curved underneath the fusion. According the xrays I just took, that curve got a bit worse and is starting to tilt my pelvis again. He told me not to worry about it and that it shouldn't get any worse than it is now. Although now I am wondering how it even got a little worse, considering my last appointment was when I was almost a full year post-op and any "settling" should've been done by then. Anyone else have this problem? Probably something I should've asked when I was there, but again, I kind of blanked out.
Also, I told him about pain I've been having for a while now. I have both general achy-ness (sp? lol), as well as some pretty sharp pains at the top of my fusion. He told me that the hardware looks good, so the only thing I can really do is yoga/pilates/anything to keep strong and flexible. He told me that the upper back can sometime be problematic because the muscles apparently run across at the upper back, while they run vertically at the lower back. So I guess pain is just a long-term side effect of this kind of surgery? Kind of depressing lol.
Anyway, just wanted to share and hear from others who may have been told similar/the same things. I am incredibly happy that I was dismissed from my doctor and feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders lol. Of course, now I'm just slightly worried that the part of my spine that is curved again will cause problems in the future. But he said not to worry, and if it does cause problems it probably won't be for a very long time. So I am still extremely happy. Oh, and sorry this is so long. If you actually read it all, thank you very much.
I still find it really interesting that it can increase over the years. I guess it's not like progression when you're growing, where it just stops when you're done...it seems to be more like the spine trying to return to it's original curved state. Idk. But at least I don't have to worry about it now. And even if I did need to get it extended (though hopefully not!) at least I'd have many years with more flexibility as opposed to it all being taken away to begin with. That little bit of flexibility means a lot to me as a dancer! Lol. I wish you the best of luck if you do in fact have to get your fusion extended! Thanks for the help.
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