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  • 6 Months and So Happy

    Can't believe that today is that magical 6 month date I've had my eyes on since I had the surgery back on december 27th 2010.

    I had my visit with my surgeon last week, and everything is looking great! I don't have to wear the bone stimulator any more (woohoo!) and I can now start bending and twisting (although he did say the less i do both of those the better)

    I am only taking 1 flexeril (muscle relaxer) a day now, usually before bed, and 2 gabapentins (for the residual nerve pain in my leg).

    I am getting a massage every other week, and that has REALLY helped with muscle stiffness in my neck and the leg pain. I still lay on my back, and she doesn't go near my incision. I also bought a foam roller, and that has really helped too with the tight muscle that runs down the side of my leg, that had been getting pain signals for the last 4 years from my compressed nerves. Now that it's not getting as strong a signal, massage really helps where it never really helped at all pre-op.

    I am sleeping a lot better now, even compared to a month ago. I hardly wake up at all when I need to roll over. It's amazing how much you can improve in just a month.

    I am doing more now at only 6 months post-op than I have in years. I drove 2 hours by myself up to visit family last weekend, for the first time in at least 3 years. I had no pain while driving, and no pain after. AHMAZING. My attitude and spirit have been lifted as my pain continues to decrease. I was never much of a "downer" but now that I feel better, I realize how awful I just felt all the time. Now I want to go out and do things, make trips, hang out a little later, because I know I won't "pay" for it later in more pain. I can also work longer and harder, without the constant distraction and frustration of an aching back and leg.

    So, for all of you out there about to make the plunge, I'm living proof that this surgery can radically improve your life. It was the hardest, scariest thing I've ever done. But I would do it all over again if I had to. I can't believe I've had such a smooth recovery, and I am so thankful.

    Blessings!
    Rebecca
    Rebecca
    Age: 28
    Dx w/ scoli @ age 12 S curves T-40* L-42*
    wore night bending brace as teenager
    Curves changed to 50's plus or minus
    herniated disc L2-3, Discectomy October 2007
    fusion L2-3 November 2008
    Revision L2-3 Fusion, Removal of hardware August 2009
    Curves measuring 52 T&L September 2010
    Fused T4-L4, all posterior December 27th 2010
    gained almost two inches in height

    Before and After Exterior
    Before and After X-rays
    My blog: http://herscoliosisjourney.blogspot.com/

  • #2
    Good job! Congratulations!
    Ed
    49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
    Pre surgery curves T70,L70
    ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
    Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

    Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

    My x-rays
    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

    Comment


    • #3
      It's great to hear you so happy and coming along so well. Great for those thinking about surgery to read too. Keep up the good work Rebecca!

      Jen
      Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
      Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
      T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
      Osteotomies and Laminectomies
      Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

      Comment


      • #4
        Rebecca,
        Congrats! What an encouraging post! I am so happy for you, and look forward to my 6 month milestone as well. Keep up the good work!
        Lori in PA, 52 yrs. old
        T54/L72
        Surgery 6/7/11, T3-S1, all posterior, with pelvic anchors
        Gained 2 inches!
        Dr. Boachie, HSS, NYC
        12/10/13 Hardware Removal for infection
        Lost 2", gained PJK!

        Comment


        • #5
          Congratulations, Rebecca. Thanks, again, for sending me some good exercises. It was nice to finally do something to get my heart beat up a little.
          I'm glad you are doing so well!
          Karen

          Surgery-Jan. 5, 2011-Dr. Lenke
          Fusion T-4-sacrum-2 cages/5 osteotomies
          70 degree thoracolumbar corrected to 25
          Rib Hump-GONE!
          Age-60 at the time of surgery
          Now 66
          Avid Golfer & Tap Dancer
          Retired Kdgn. Teacher

          See photobucket link for:
          Video of my 1st Day of Golf Post-Op-3/02/12-Bradenton, FL
          Before and After Picture of back 1/7/11
          tap dancing picture at 10 mos. post op 11/11/11-I'm the one on the right.
          http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/k630/pottoff2/

          Comment


          • #6
            Congartulations! believe it or not you will continue to improve more and more. A year from now you won't believe the difference!

            Keep up the good work!
            __________________________________________
            Debbe - 50 yrs old

            Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
            Told by Dr. my curve would never progress

            Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
            Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
            Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees

            Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
            Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degrees

            Comment


            • #7
              I'm so happy to hear you are doing so much better. Thanks for the update.

              Congratulations!!

              Wishing you continued improvement. I know what you mean about how amazing it is to do the things you could only wish to do before the surgery.

              Best wishes,
              Irene

              Comment


              • #8
                you all the BEST =)

                If this is what 6 months feels like, I can't even imagine a year or more. Thanks for always being here, and sharing your lives. It's been a life changing thing being a part of this forum, and I am so appreciative. I don't know I would have made the leap so soon if I had to figure this all out on my own. And then i would have been missing out on my life right now, and probably be in worse shape as each year ticked by.
                Rebecca
                Age: 28
                Dx w/ scoli @ age 12 S curves T-40* L-42*
                wore night bending brace as teenager
                Curves changed to 50's plus or minus
                herniated disc L2-3, Discectomy October 2007
                fusion L2-3 November 2008
                Revision L2-3 Fusion, Removal of hardware August 2009
                Curves measuring 52 T&L September 2010
                Fused T4-L4, all posterior December 27th 2010
                gained almost two inches in height

                Before and After Exterior
                Before and After X-rays
                My blog: http://herscoliosisjourney.blogspot.com/

                Comment


                • #9
                  That's how I feel too. We're the lucky ones. I often think of Joyful and her tragic outcome and wonder how she is, (and who her surgeon was.) Fortunately her awful outcome is rare, most of us are very glad we had our surgery and marvel at the improvement in our lives and marvel at our surgeon's skills.

                  Best wishes for the remainder of your recovery peachrush!
                  Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
                  Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
                  T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
                  Osteotomies and Laminectomies
                  Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    "That's how I feel too. We're the lucky ones. I often think of Joyful and her tragic outcome and wonder how she is, (and who her surgeon was.) Fortunately her awful outcome is rare, most of us are very glad we had our surgery and marvel at the improvement in our lives and marvel at our surgeon's skills."

                    Jennifer, I remember reading Joyful's posts, right when I first joined the discussion over a year ago. Does ANYBODY know what happened to her? It is a sobering reminder that things can go wrong, and there are no guarantees. I think about her too, and pray for her family. I wish we knew her surgeon too, just to be able to put it out there...

                    Anyway, I agree with you too, we are the lucky ones!
                    Rebecca
                    Age: 28
                    Dx w/ scoli @ age 12 S curves T-40* L-42*
                    wore night bending brace as teenager
                    Curves changed to 50's plus or minus
                    herniated disc L2-3, Discectomy October 2007
                    fusion L2-3 November 2008
                    Revision L2-3 Fusion, Removal of hardware August 2009
                    Curves measuring 52 T&L September 2010
                    Fused T4-L4, all posterior December 27th 2010
                    gained almost two inches in height

                    Before and After Exterior
                    Before and After X-rays
                    My blog: http://herscoliosisjourney.blogspot.com/

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      I think often of Joyfull's post and now that I am going to have surgery again. Both times something happened to me that could have been terrible and I thank God for looking out for me.

                      Melissa
                      Melissa

                      Fused from C2 - sacrum 7/2011

                      April 21, 2020- another broken rod surgery

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        I think Joyful's surgeon was Dr. Lonner.
                        Karen

                        Surgery-Jan. 5, 2011-Dr. Lenke
                        Fusion T-4-sacrum-2 cages/5 osteotomies
                        70 degree thoracolumbar corrected to 25
                        Rib Hump-GONE!
                        Age-60 at the time of surgery
                        Now 66
                        Avid Golfer & Tap Dancer
                        Retired Kdgn. Teacher

                        See photobucket link for:
                        Video of my 1st Day of Golf Post-Op-3/02/12-Bradenton, FL
                        Before and After Picture of back 1/7/11
                        tap dancing picture at 10 mos. post op 11/11/11-I'm the one on the right.
                        http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/k630/pottoff2/

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Peachcrush,

                          So happy for you!!! I remember when you were considering surgery. Wish I was 6 months out now!!

                          Joyful had a good surgeon; I think her experience is just a tragic testimony to what can happen with any surgery of this magnitude.

                          Prayers and gratitude for all those who have good outcomes!!!

                          Evelyn
                          age 48
                          80* thoracolumbar; 40* thoracic
                          Reduced to ~16* thoracolumbar; ~0* thoracic
                          Surgery 3/14/12 with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis, T4 to S1 with pelvic fixation
                          Broken rods 12/1/19; scheduled for revision fusion L1-L3-4 with Dr. Lenke 2/4/2020
                          Not "confused" anymore, but don't know how to change my username.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            congrads on 6 months postop
                            Kara
                            25
                            Brace 4-15-05-5-25-06
                            Posterior Spinal Fusion 3-10-10
                            T4-L2
                            Before 50T
                            After 20T

                            Comment

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