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  • It sounds like you're doing great Bill! Agree with Karen and Sharon above, walking seems to be all you require. I'm three years out in March and still walk, currently every day. I asked my surgeon about pt and he said "No." When I told him I'm walking every day, he said, "Now do it twice a day."

    Great to hear your smooth progress Bill.
    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


    • Originally posted by BendyBill View Post
      Is it strange that I'm not having any physio post-op? Do you guys recommend any exercises at all? Currently I'm just walking as much as I can.

      Thanks

      B
      Hey Bill. It's not strange at all, a lot of the younger patients don't need any PT like stated above. Walking is great, if you want to do extra, in a few months when you're ready, start swimming and doing light cardio, should help. Since you're barely out of surgery, you don't want to worry about exercises or stretches or whatever, you should do many short distance walks throughout the day. Walking a far distance once a day isn't very good, especially this early on. You'll be aching for the next few days, so many short walks.

      Originally posted by BendyBill View Post
      Also... Wow... Sneezing is the worst...
      This made me lol, I feel you man. Sneezing killed me too. It gets better quick though. Just give it a few more weeks and you won't feel it anymore.

      Comment


      • Bill

        The legs really are connected.....and do so much for the back, and everything else! Walking seems to be the gold standard for scoliosis surgery recovery. Its better to do many shorter walks through the day than one long hike.

        The sneezing, coughing, and vomiting is a killer, but as your soft tissues heal and toughen up in time, it wont be a problem.

        I’m in Las Vegas. Walking through large casino’s probably isn’t the best physical therapy program.....LOL
        Its ok for me now, but immediately after surgery you are very protective of your personal space. I was always afraid the someone would bump into me.

        You sound like you are doing well, keep it up.
        Same goes for you John....Im so glad you are fixed up now.
        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


        • Right, Bill & John, no pt for Jacob either until at least 6 weeks post-op. They have him doing simple arm raises (sides & front) & alternating gentle military press (obviously w no weights), but walking 2x day - we're staying put at one mile each time. Coughing was his problem in the beginning - & then the time he was brushing his teeth & without thinking bent his neck to spit - OMGosh, that was awful. Glad you guys seem to be doing so well! Bill, how are you doing on the meds/pain? We finally seem to have a good fix on it w switching from oxycodone to hydrocodone, & will try weaning down a little later this week.
          Mom of 14yo son diagnosed Oct 2011
          Surgery 1/3/12 w Dr. Geof Cronen,
          Tampa General Hospital T3 to L1
          Jacob's pre surg curves: T58 & L31 12/28/11
          photos & xrays in "First-Time Surgery" thread "Before & After"

          Comment


          • Good to know about the physio! I'm fitting in a lot of walking at the moment - the walks in Windsor are amazing so I'm very lucky!

            LSKOCH5, I came off all meds last Friday. I know it seems early but I just didn't need them because I wasn't in any pain. The only time I have any discomfort is when I wake up (and probably what wakes me up). It seems that staying in the same position for a while stiffens me up but all I have to do is get up and move around for a while to settle it down. Does anyone else have this sleeping issue?

            That tooth brushing incident sounds horrid!! How is he doing in general? Feeling upbeat? Do send my regards to him.

            B
            Billy
            32 year old male from UK
            Fused at 25yrs
            62 degree thoratic curve
            45 degree lumbar curve
            Fused T3-L1 on 3rd Jan 2012

            Comment


            • Bill you are coming along phenomenally! Great for you! Sleep/staying in one position does seem to stiffen the body, so he is constantly moving. Doing great, as are you. Both of you have a positive mindset on surgery & recuperation & it's doing wonders. Oh - you'd appreciate- had to get him off the drumset 2x yesterday - hated to do it as he was enjoying it so. His surgeon said no drums for 6 weeks, but I think we're going to double check w him.
              Best to you Bill, and keep up the great progress!
              Mom of 14yo son diagnosed Oct 2011
              Surgery 1/3/12 w Dr. Geof Cronen,
              Tampa General Hospital T3 to L1
              Jacob's pre surg curves: T58 & L31 12/28/11
              photos & xrays in "First-Time Surgery" thread "Before & After"

              Comment


              • Bill,
                Are you allowed to try out your singing voice? I ask that, as I know it takes a lot of diaphragm and rib movement. Let us know how your progress is going in that area. Really glad to hear your recovery is going so well. You younger folks have age on your side. Best wishes for a continued smooth recovery.
                Be happy!
                We don't know what tomorrow brings,
                but we are alive today!

                Comment


                • Only 10 days of meds....things are really looking good for you! It seems that the singing gig coming up wont be a problem at all.

                  This really is good news....it truly is an advantage having surgery in the younger years.

                  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


                  • I'm happy to hear you're off meds. But remember, if you have any pain, don't hesitate to take them again. Trying to get through pain by not taking your meds isn't smart. Weaning early is better, because those meds are really addicting. Keep walking and keep us posted on how you're doing. Glad everything is working well for you. Take care.

                    Comment


                    • What's going on Bill? How you feeling?

                      Comment


                      • John, everything still going smoothly at my end! Still off pain meds and walking a few miles a day but trying my hardest not to over-do it because I'm feeling so 'normal'!!

                        Rohrer01, I haven't done any proper singing yet but have been doing a lot of breathing work since the op to loosen my ribs up and get the diaphragm working etc... It has been fairly slow progress because my ribs are still tender when I move them too much but only when I'm breathing in to capacity. I'll let you know my progress when I start again properly!

                        LSKOCH5, glad to hear your boy is doing so well. Lovely to hear how dedicated he is to the music! Hopefully you'll be peeling him away from the drums continuously for the next few weeks

                        Just got my post op xrays through this morning and thought I'd post them up here. They were taken 3 days after the op - what do you think? Sorry I can't get the lumbar spine any clearer hopefully we'll be able to see more when they take the 6 week xray.

                        The fusion is T3 to L1. It was going to be T3 to L3/4 but my bending xrays and MRI showed good flexibility in the lumbar curve. When Mr. Bowden opened me up he found a deformed vertabrae near the top that was tapered to one side so had to do some extra work there as well as having to use a hook in that area. Also, I seem to remember him saying that 2 of my vertabrae were already partly fused. Also, you can see that some of my ribs are deformed - would this be a product of the scoliosis or the other way round?

                        BPostFrontSmall.jpg

                        Hope you're all well!

                        B
                        Billy
                        32 year old male from UK
                        Fused at 25yrs
                        62 degree thoratic curve
                        45 degree lumbar curve
                        Fused T3-L1 on 3rd Jan 2012

                        Comment


                        • Originally posted by BendyBill View Post
                          John, everything still going smoothly at my end! Still off pain meds and walking a few miles a day but trying my hardest not to over-do it because I'm feeling so 'normal'!!
                          I'm glad you feel normal this early out. You do group with the teenagers as I suspected.

                          The fusion is T3 to L1. It was going to be T3 to L3/4 but my bending xrays and MRI showed good flexibility in the lumbar curve. When Mr. Bowden opened me up he found a deformed vertabrae near the top that was tapered to one side so had to do some extra work there as well as having to use a hook in that area. Also, I seem to remember him saying that 2 of my vertabrae were already partly fused.
                          Your curve looks like that of my one daughter's. It's very good you bent the lumbar out to prove it was compensatory even though it may have been large. That may be why they stopped your fusion at L1 as they did with my daughter. She also has a bit of a lumbar curve left but the surgeon said it would be stable and indeed I found a long term study on this where 20 years out the lumbar remained stable. Yours will also most likely.

                          Also, you can see that some of my ribs are deformed - would this be a product of the scoliosis or the other way round?
                          The rib deformity is due to the scoliosis. In your case, because you had a malformed vertebrae, it is due to congenital scoliosis.
                          Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

                          No island of sanity.

                          Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
                          Answer: Medicine


                          "We are all African."

                          Comment


                          • Your "after" x-rays look a LOT better than your "before" x-rays! Like Pooka1 said, if you had malformed vertebrae, then you had congenital scoliosis. This means you were born with the deformity. They can correct the rib deformity in some cases, but since you are a singer, I don't know if I'd ever go that route. I've heard/read that it reduces lung function. I'm glad your recovery is still going smoothly. You are wise to try to deep breathe before all out singing. I was really curious as to how that would work out since you have a very powerful voice that carries well. I know this takes a LOT of diaphragm work and a LOT of lung capacity. (I play the saxophone and it is the same principal if you want to "belt it out" with control/vibrato, etc.) When is your singing gig? Oh, and you said that you "felt" more crooked after your surgery than before it, but were just more squatty through the abdomen before. Well, to me you look pretty darn straight. Your shoulders are pretty even as well. Your head is tilted to one side a little bit. But that was only three days out, so you may have been loopy! I doubt anyone will perceive your body the way that you do. I'm guessing that it's just getting used to your new center of balance. Keep up the good work and I'm so glad things went smoothly for you! It would be really cool if you could post another singing session post-surgery. Hint, hint!

                            Rohrer01
                            Be happy!
                            We don't know what tomorrow brings,
                            but we are alive today!

                            Comment


                            • date is set

                              Hi. Off meds! Congradulations. That is my next goal. Feel well & we are thinking of you. Reneetina
                              60 yrs old did scuba,lift & work. Miss all.
                              1st t surgery,28 years. L4/5 fusion
                              2nd surgery 10-19; went from 2 80%+ curves to 20% + 30%.T4-S1,38 screws (loose & angled wrong), 15 fusions many fusions did not take,& horrific had/have(?) infection.
                              Lot of pain.

                              Comment


                              • Hello everyone!

                                It's been rather a long time since I last posted (about 4 months I think) and just to let you know, things are still going very well. My recovery was swift and dare I say, after the stint in hospital, not too hard. I came off all medication 10 days after the operation because I was in little to no discomfort. I carried on walking for the first month, gradually increasing the distance until I felt I could start swimming and after another few weeks I was swimming up to 1500m 4 times a week. I moved back to my flat in London just before the 3 month mark and went straight into rehearsals for a stint of performances that, before the operation, I was so worried I wouldn't be able to do. I had 8 very high energy shows per week for 2 months and no problems at all. I can feel the slight restriction that my rods have had on my flexibility but have noticed that my body is gradually finding ways to compensate. I have had the odd few days before the show where I was being lazy sitting around and not even going for a walk and that was when I noticed very slight discomfort from seizing up a little. Other than that, it's all good! Lovely compliments on how much taller I look, I'm so happy with the way my body has stretched out! My hip sticks out on the right hand side now but that is nothing compared to how I looked before!!

                                All in all, I'm so happy to have had this operation. Not that I was too bad before but, my quality of life has noticeably improved. I have my 6 month check up on the 12th July and will be sure to let you all know what the doc says.

                                I hope you are all well. I can't thank you enough for the support you gave me in the run up to the operation and during my recovery.

                                All the best,
                                Billy
                                Billy
                                32 year old male from UK
                                Fused at 25yrs
                                62 degree thoratic curve
                                45 degree lumbar curve
                                Fused T3-L1 on 3rd Jan 2012

                                Comment

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