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Today I met a 76 y.o. patient

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  • Today I met a 76 y.o. patient

    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.
    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

  • #2
    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.

    Comment


    • #3
      wow, that's amazing!

      How's your partner feeling after his surgery?
      __________________________________________
      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


      • #4
        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!
        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


        • #5
          Amazing. Sounds like you two will now be the 'Bionic Couple'!
          __________________________________________
          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


          • #6
            It's a bit like that!
            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


            • #7
              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
              Janet

              61 years old--57 for surgery

              Diagnosed in 1965 at age of 13--no brace
              Thoracic Curve: 96 degrees to 35 degrees
              Lumbar Curve: 63 degrees to 5 degrees
              Surgery with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis--March 30, 2009
              T-2 to Pelvis, and hopefully all posterior procedure.

              All was posterior along with 2 cages and 6 osteotomies.

              Comment


              • #8
                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!
                Be happy!
                We don't know what tomorrow brings,
                but we are alive today!

                Comment


                • #9
                  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??
                  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
                    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
                    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


                    • #11
                      and the recent shark attack in Perth.....which is rare for a diver to get hit.
                      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


                      • #12
                        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.
                        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


                        • #13
                          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
                          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


                          • #14
                            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.
                            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

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