Dr. Keim
Hi Suzanne, I laughed at your comment about your husband - I actually got engaged and then had my surgery three months later and was in that lovely body cast the entire engagement - wasn't that fun! The day we got engaged, that afternoon it was off to a doctor's appointment. Boy if we made it through that time of our lives, we can make it through anything. We'll be married 23 year on April 30th. And he's still as supportive as then with my back issues.
The reason I didn't have Dr. Errico remove my rod is that he never even mentioned it. This was in 1998 and I never heard about rod removals until I saw Dr. Sandhu in 2000. With Dr. Errico, he sent me to Dr. Salassi, pain managment, who gave me quite a few facet shot injections and also had an cervical epidural (ouch), which really didn't make a difference; also sent me to a phsyatrist (sp?) who sent me to a physical therapy place.....no change. So the search continued.... It was such an awful time but now I feel like a new person. The Alexander Technique works with your posture. It truly has changed my quality of life. When I do get pain, I know it will be only temporary and I don't freak out. Go to http://www.alextechmetro.com. Elizabeth is the person I go to about every four to five weeks now. I've been with her for almost 2.5 years and for the first year I went once a week religiously. I would take the F train to the village as I work in the City. Now I go to Closter, NJ on Saturdays as it's not too far from my house. If you go to google.com and type in The Alexander Technique, there are numerous websites with information. It's something you have to stick with weekly for at least six months in order to really get it. When you do, you feel amazing. I have tried Yoga, physical therapy, massage therapy, accupunture, pilates, you name it, I tried it but the only thing that helps me is walking and the Alex. Tech.
Did you have alot of pain prior to your surgery? I suffered from 12 to 27. I always had pain but they never put me in a brace, just told me to do exercise. I remember like it was yesterday, Dr. Dulligan said to me when I was first diagnosed that "the only reason you should have surgery is if you wanted to be a model". Now, how foolish is that! Back then, they really knew nothing compared to today. Needless-to-say, he wasn't a fan of mine but I had no choice but to continue with him as I was so young and there wasn't many doctors that knew what they were dealing with (not that he did either!). After my surgery in 1981, I was absolutely painfree and in 1986 had my daughter with no complications during pregnancy or after. In 1997 the pain started in the shoulder blades, then went to the neck and down to the hips, etc. What a nightmare. I do not have flatback syndrome and I did go to Dr. Boachie, who in my opinion, was one of the nicest, caring doctors I have ever met. If I ever had to have anything done, he would be the one I would go to without a doubt. Let's hope that never happens.
My daughter is now a freshman in college and doing great. She was on a dance team in high shool and has contined in college. Her orthopedist is very happy with her back as her curve decreased very nicely. We know that exercise doesn't prevent scoliosis but it is certainly helping her keep herself in shape. I used to look at her back constantly, hoping she wouldn't have it and was quite upset when she was diagnosed. But, there are certainly so many things worse in this world and the techniques they use now are so different (as we both know!). Hopefully both our girls will just stay in the teens with their curves and enjoy a painfree life.
Take care, feel good and keep walking on that treadmill!
LYNN
Hi Suzanne, I laughed at your comment about your husband - I actually got engaged and then had my surgery three months later and was in that lovely body cast the entire engagement - wasn't that fun! The day we got engaged, that afternoon it was off to a doctor's appointment. Boy if we made it through that time of our lives, we can make it through anything. We'll be married 23 year on April 30th. And he's still as supportive as then with my back issues.
The reason I didn't have Dr. Errico remove my rod is that he never even mentioned it. This was in 1998 and I never heard about rod removals until I saw Dr. Sandhu in 2000. With Dr. Errico, he sent me to Dr. Salassi, pain managment, who gave me quite a few facet shot injections and also had an cervical epidural (ouch), which really didn't make a difference; also sent me to a phsyatrist (sp?) who sent me to a physical therapy place.....no change. So the search continued.... It was such an awful time but now I feel like a new person. The Alexander Technique works with your posture. It truly has changed my quality of life. When I do get pain, I know it will be only temporary and I don't freak out. Go to http://www.alextechmetro.com. Elizabeth is the person I go to about every four to five weeks now. I've been with her for almost 2.5 years and for the first year I went once a week religiously. I would take the F train to the village as I work in the City. Now I go to Closter, NJ on Saturdays as it's not too far from my house. If you go to google.com and type in The Alexander Technique, there are numerous websites with information. It's something you have to stick with weekly for at least six months in order to really get it. When you do, you feel amazing. I have tried Yoga, physical therapy, massage therapy, accupunture, pilates, you name it, I tried it but the only thing that helps me is walking and the Alex. Tech.
Did you have alot of pain prior to your surgery? I suffered from 12 to 27. I always had pain but they never put me in a brace, just told me to do exercise. I remember like it was yesterday, Dr. Dulligan said to me when I was first diagnosed that "the only reason you should have surgery is if you wanted to be a model". Now, how foolish is that! Back then, they really knew nothing compared to today. Needless-to-say, he wasn't a fan of mine but I had no choice but to continue with him as I was so young and there wasn't many doctors that knew what they were dealing with (not that he did either!). After my surgery in 1981, I was absolutely painfree and in 1986 had my daughter with no complications during pregnancy or after. In 1997 the pain started in the shoulder blades, then went to the neck and down to the hips, etc. What a nightmare. I do not have flatback syndrome and I did go to Dr. Boachie, who in my opinion, was one of the nicest, caring doctors I have ever met. If I ever had to have anything done, he would be the one I would go to without a doubt. Let's hope that never happens.
My daughter is now a freshman in college and doing great. She was on a dance team in high shool and has contined in college. Her orthopedist is very happy with her back as her curve decreased very nicely. We know that exercise doesn't prevent scoliosis but it is certainly helping her keep herself in shape. I used to look at her back constantly, hoping she wouldn't have it and was quite upset when she was diagnosed. But, there are certainly so many things worse in this world and the techniques they use now are so different (as we both know!). Hopefully both our girls will just stay in the teens with their curves and enjoy a painfree life.
Take care, feel good and keep walking on that treadmill!
LYNN
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