Today I met a 76 y.o. patient

[JenniferG]

My partner had ankle/foot surgery in Brisbane and this morning I went to pick him up to bring him home. While he was going over paperwork with the nurse, I chatted to a 72 y.o. patient doing a walk around the halls with a walking stick. She said she'd had spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis 12 days ago. She looked great, said she had very little pain and is amazed at what her doctor has achieved. She said her curve had been "over 70" and she looked quite straight to me. She asked me loads of questions and she was impressed with the way I was standing and moving and that I had no pain. She was bright and optimistic. I encouraged her to walk every day, increasing as her stamina allowed. She said she'd take my advice. Thought this story might be encouraging to older patients considering surgery.

[Kayde]

That is an awesome story. She is very brave to do that at her age although 70 anything doesn't sound nearly as old as it used to sound. I hope to become a walking fool after my surgery. Maybe with some toning sketchers. It certainly can't hurt my legs and bum to get some toning. Sitting all day does nothing good for you. I hope I do as well as her 12 days out.

[debbei]

wow, that's amazing!

How's your partner feeling after his surgery?

[JenniferG]

Thanks for asking Debbei. He's doing well. In plaster and on crutches at the moment, but not in much pain considering he has four separate cuts on his ankle/foot. He tore a tendon in his ankle and his foot crunched inwards and they did osteotomies on one side and put wedges between the bones on the other side to straighten his foot up. Also cut and lengthened his archilles tendon, and cut a tendon from the ball of the foot, threaded it up through bones and attached it at the ankle to replace the torn one. Another remarkable bodily reconstruction in our family!

Kayde, you're right, mid 70s doesn't seem nearly as old as it once seemed. I think we're all much healthier at an older age these days. Good luck!

[debbei]

Amazing. Sounds like you two will now be the 'Bionic Couple'!

[JenniferG]

It's a bit like that!

[Doodles]

Jennifer--
The explanation of your partner's surgery made me wince! Yikes. That doesn't sound fun at all. I bet you get to do the pampering for a while as I'm sure you will and that he is on the mend soon. Take care. Janet

[rohrer01]

It is all very inspiring, since I'm being forced to be in the watch and wait category until my curve reaches 60*. My doc said that would probably be somewhere in my 60's, but who's to say. I'm glad to hear that you and your partner are both feeling well. It sounds like Australia is the place to be if you need any kind of surgery!

[JenniferG]

Thanks Janet. Yes, I'm the pamperer this time round. He came home with a nerve block behind his knee. It ran out tonight so I just removed it, which is what I was told to do in the hospital. He also has to give himself anti blood clotting injections, one per night, something I had in hospital but didn't have to do once home. Anybody else heard of injecting themselves with anti blood-clotting meds after coming home? He's managed ok so far.

So yes, I think we're pretty lucky with our surgeons in Australia, but I'm surprised he's had to inject himself. As our daughter in law said, first year enrolled nurses are not allowed to give injections, but patients can??

[titaniumed]

You Aussies are a pretty tough bunch!.....76 is just a smidge over adulthood in the southern hemisphere.

I have no worries with you guys down there except for the crocodiles.....

Ed

[titaniumed]

and the recent shark attack in Perth.....which is rare for a diver to get hit.
Ed

[JenniferG]

Oooh Ed, there've been three shark deaths in that area this year. Please, if you come over for diving, stick to the East Coast. No guarantees of course, but they seem to be hungrier over the West. And they have those Great Whites over there.

[titaniumed]

Jen
Hungrier in the west. I know what you are saying....he he

I read the reports, he was diving solo at dusk, which is not wise. Fish feed at dawn and dusk. Spearfishing is also extremely dangerous. Injured fish send signals and sharks hear up to 5 miles away.

Will you keep in touch with this lady and her recovery? Tell her we all said hi.

Foot surgery sounds scarier than scoli surgery to me....at least the recovery part. Some surgeons limit some of the things we can do in our scoli recoveries, and podiatrists usually limit things like “footsie” and pogo stick competitions.....(smiley face)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stunt_pogo
Ed

[JenniferG]

I would have loved to have kept in touch with this lady but Alan was sitting in a wheelchair by this time and the wardsman was waiting for me so I left without exchanging information, which was such a shame! I've been thinking about her a lot since then, wondering how she's getting on.