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  • Thanks for doing that Ed. I don't have great computer skills. And sitting isn't the easiest thing.
    The xrays do tell the long journey. I counted today that the last 5 surgeries have been because of the car accident.
    I have a great surgeon and great care team now . So that truly helps.
    I can actually manage the pain with the pump and Tylenol so far.I also move a lot.and use heat. Right now I can't soak in warm water because I still can't use my right arm to help get me out of the tub. The shoulder is coming along . I see that surgeon this afternoon.
    I really don't think the scapula problem is a common problem from scoliosis fusion. But unless this shoulder doctor says differently today, it all points to a nerve injury from the fusion surgery.
    It has been a long journey. I will update later after the Dr visit. If I can get a direct copy of his X-Ray I will share it.
    T10-pelvis fusion 12/08
    C5,6,7 fusion 9/10
    T2--T10 fusion 2/11
    C 4-5 fusion 11/14
    Right scapulectomy 6/15
    Right pectoralis major muscle transfer to scapula
    To replace the action of Serratus Anterior muscle 3/16
    Broken neck 9/28/2018
    Emergency surgery posterior fusion C4- T3
    Repeated 11/2018 because rods pulled apart added T2 fusion
    Removal of partial right thoracic hardware 1/2020
    Removal and replacement of C4-T10 hardware with C7 and T 1
    Osteotomy

    Comment


    • I figured you posted your x-rays sideways so we could get our neck stretches done. I almost posted that x-ray tilted left so we could balance out our stretches....(scoliosis forum humor)

      Ask if you can have radiology burn the digitals burned to disc, and especially the STANDING SIDE views. The side views are more important, forget the curves. The whole thing, base of skull to pelvis. Get someone to pull it off the disc for you and e-mailed to your e-mail address. You have had kyphosis problems....everyone seems to forget these things, and they are more important. Change NSF to NKF "National Kyphosis Foundation" and nobody would forget. (smiley face)

      Your problems started with the original accident over 14 years ago when you started posting....If you wouldn't have had the first accident, do you think you could have made it without doing any surgeries? Thats the big question...We have to decide if we can make it the rest of our lives with our spines....scoliosis surgeons will be able to tell us that. If we have scoliosis as adults, we should go in for an evaluation (by a scoliosis surgeon only) every once in a while. They recommend tetanus vaccinations every 10 years. The best way to remember this would be to get these vaccinations at age 30,40,50 Etc. This would be a way of remembering for scoliosis evaluations.

      You don't see groups of truckers rallying against tetanus vaccinations....I guess everyone has that right to get lockjaw.

      I would imagine we probably get a tetanus or DTaP shot when we do our surgeries.....This has never been brought up here before. Hmmm....Not sure.

      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


      • Yes the sideways X-Ray was posted so we can get our neck exercises done. The stiffness of being fused is always present.
        I do have a copy of the side view but so far I can't get it to shrink to a jpeg file. I need to keep trying. I was glad to get the AP view.
        It has been a very long journey and you are correct, the first surgery was after a work accident. I had spine pain before but didn't have any treatment. I'm not sure when I would have sought. treatment.
        I had my first visit with the doctor that did the scapula fusion. He is pleased with the healing and thinks the fusion is successful. it is stiff in movement but now at PT we can move forward.. I am moving more and it has been a little sore.
        I haven't heard anyone here post about this being a complication from scoliosis surgery, but he said the ribs looked normal and that leads to the fact that is this from a nerve injury from scoliosis surgery. I just know I tried to avoid this fusion.
        Now the big thing this surgeon said to me and this is his words, that he really questioned proceeding with this surgery, he was truly worried about me dying from the surgery. I know it was electives -- fix it or don't. I know all surgery is a risk but I've not experienced someone expressing it so strong. I knew a perforated lung was a real possibility but I didn't have any medical complications except anemia. And that was handled with an iron supplement.
        I will look up the fusion hardware name and post it. But it looks like a strip of Cheerios.
        T10-pelvis fusion 12/08
        C5,6,7 fusion 9/10
        T2--T10 fusion 2/11
        C 4-5 fusion 11/14
        Right scapulectomy 6/15
        Right pectoralis major muscle transfer to scapula
        To replace the action of Serratus Anterior muscle 3/16
        Broken neck 9/28/2018
        Emergency surgery posterior fusion C4- T3
        Repeated 11/2018 because rods pulled apart added T2 fusion
        Removal of partial right thoracic hardware 1/2020
        Removal and replacement of C4-T10 hardware with C7 and T 1
        Osteotomy

        Comment


        • Jackie, The easiest way to reduce files is to get someone else to do it for you. Unless one is really interested, or getting paid to do it, I wouldn't bother...Not while doing a recovery anyway. Find a young person to do this....

          I also was warned about death. It's a hard thing to hear as a patient (the first time) and a hard thing for surgeons to convey...and these highly delicate discussions are why it took me so long to make that final decision. You know they have to tell you about these things...

          Your surgeons know you have a long extensive surgery history....hang out long enough on a Florida golf course, and chances are you will get hit by lightning at some point. Lets hope this was your last surgery.

          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 am trying to attach side view. I think it worked but it is sideways, Ed maybe you can right it.
            with my whole heart, I pray this is the last for surgery. I guess that I knew all of the spine surgeries are risky, but I was not prepared for the shoulder Doctor to express it so strongly. I did know there was a chance to perforate the lung, but it did not happen. He might have felt it is an elective surgery with big risk. And you can live without much movement in your arm. But it is done and coming along. A lot of PT to go.
            He was always a little thoughtful when I saw him before surgery, but I guess he was worried about death being the outcome. There aren't too many shoulder surgeons that do this procedure, and the one I had has the most experience with it. But on younger people and by his words without a complex spine issue.
            Attached Files
            Last edited by jackieg412; 01-31-2022, 03:00 PM.
            T10-pelvis fusion 12/08
            C5,6,7 fusion 9/10
            T2--T10 fusion 2/11
            C 4-5 fusion 11/14
            Right scapulectomy 6/15
            Right pectoralis major muscle transfer to scapula
            To replace the action of Serratus Anterior muscle 3/16
            Broken neck 9/28/2018
            Emergency surgery posterior fusion C4- T3
            Repeated 11/2018 because rods pulled apart added T2 fusion
            Removal of partial right thoracic hardware 1/2020
            Removal and replacement of C4-T10 hardware with C7 and T 1
            Osteotomy

            Comment


            • Considering all that you have been through, you plumb looks excellent. Your not leaning in any direction....It is amazing that they are actually capable of doing these surgeries. You realize that if this all happened 50 plus years ago, things would not be good. Not at all. I can see why this last surgeon might have expressed hesitancy and warnings.

              Your upper thoracic and lower cervical areas have had been a challenge and have had a lot of work done. Locating the T1 PSO is challenging and I am not a radiologist...It's fused now so I am not seeing it. I just can't imagine what you went through after the car accident with your chin on your chest.

              The side views or sagittal views show quite a bit especially if there is a kyphosis problem....Kyphosis patients with large kyphotic curves can end up with extremely challenging painful neck problems. (smug face)

              You know that they do fuse shoulders. I have been meaning to do a post on this, I will do it tomorrow.

              My hardware is 14 years old today!

              I righted your x-ray. Its below.

              Ed
              Attached Files
              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


              • Congratulations on the 14 year mark. It is a big deal to have the surgery that you had and be doing so well. I know you have had some cervical pain.
                It is always fascinating that some patients do so well and others have more problems.
                I guess , while nothing else is posted on it, this scapula thoracic fusion is a complication from scoliosis surgery. The shoulder surgeon did not find deformed ribs ,as thought early on, so the conclusion is that the winging was caused by a nerve injury.
                II do want people to know, that I did everything possible to recover the scapula without surgery. It was almost 11 years of trying.
                Very few shoulder surgeons do this procedure.
                I know it is a rare surgery. It would be interesting to see how many spine surgeons have had this happen.
                T10-pelvis fusion 12/08
                C5,6,7 fusion 9/10
                T2--T10 fusion 2/11
                C 4-5 fusion 11/14
                Right scapulectomy 6/15
                Right pectoralis major muscle transfer to scapula
                To replace the action of Serratus Anterior muscle 3/16
                Broken neck 9/28/2018
                Emergency surgery posterior fusion C4- T3
                Repeated 11/2018 because rods pulled apart added T2 fusion
                Removal of partial right thoracic hardware 1/2020
                Removal and replacement of C4-T10 hardware with C7 and T 1
                Osteotomy

                Comment


                • Thanks Jackie

                  Ed
                  Last edited by titaniumed; 02-03-2022, 12:14 AM.
                  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


                  • How Is everyone doing? How is your cervical Ed? My shoulder is doing well .
                    How common are hip problems with full spine fusion? And when should you be concerned?
                    T10-pelvis fusion 12/08
                    C5,6,7 fusion 9/10
                    T2--T10 fusion 2/11
                    C 4-5 fusion 11/14
                    Right scapulectomy 6/15
                    Right pectoralis major muscle transfer to scapula
                    To replace the action of Serratus Anterior muscle 3/16
                    Broken neck 9/28/2018
                    Emergency surgery posterior fusion C4- T3
                    Repeated 11/2018 because rods pulled apart added T2 fusion
                    Removal of partial right thoracic hardware 1/2020
                    Removal and replacement of C4-T10 hardware with C7 and T 1
                    Osteotomy

                    Comment


                    • Hey, hey there Jackie! Funny that you should mention hip problems. My R leg has been weak and sometimes numb and I blamed it on my spine problems. I had an appt with my Physiatrist who ordered hip xrays. I have zero cartilage in my R hip joint and a whole bunch of fluid in the joint space. He decided to withdraw 10 ccs of yellow fluid before injecting steroid and ?? Lidocaine. Within a few hours I had ZERO hip pain. So, now I am in the honeymoon phase and checking out possible hip surgeons.
                      Susan
                      Adult Onset Degen Scoliosis @65, 25* T & 36* L w/ 11.2 cm coronal balance; T kyphosis 90*; Sev disc degen T & L stenosis

                      2013: T3- S1 Fusion w/ ALIF L4-S1/XLIF L2-4, PSF T4-S1 2 surgeries
                      2014: Hernia @ ALIF repaired; Emergency screw removal SCI T4,5 sec to PJK
                      2015: Rev Broken Bil T & L rods and no fusion: 2 revision surgeries; hardware P. Acnes infection
                      2016: Ant/Lat Lumbar diskectomy w/ 4 cages + BMP + harvested bone
                      2018: Removal L4,5 screw
                      2021: Removal T1 screw & rod

                      Comment


                      • I really hope that helps. I had a CT scan looking for a pelvic fracture, there isn't A fracture. That is good news but it doesn't help with the pain and limping. We are trying PT and rest. Like anyone can really do the rest part.
                        I hope I can convince one of my Drs to do an MRI but the pump makes that a challenge.
                        Keep me posted Susan. I don't think it is an unusual problem with spinal fusion.
                        T10-pelvis fusion 12/08
                        C5,6,7 fusion 9/10
                        T2--T10 fusion 2/11
                        C 4-5 fusion 11/14
                        Right scapulectomy 6/15
                        Right pectoralis major muscle transfer to scapula
                        To replace the action of Serratus Anterior muscle 3/16
                        Broken neck 9/28/2018
                        Emergency surgery posterior fusion C4- T3
                        Repeated 11/2018 because rods pulled apart added T2 fusion
                        Removal of partial right thoracic hardware 1/2020
                        Removal and replacement of C4-T10 hardware with C7 and T 1
                        Osteotomy

                        Comment


                        • I am now 5 months past scapula thoracic fusion. I am working on getting the arm stronger but it is doing well. The shoulder Dr feels the fusion is solid. It isn't even that bad as far as pain level goes.
                          I have comprised for so long, it is like learning that I am really right handed naturally.
                          The surgeon was real concerned going into surgery but I managed to go thru without any major problems.
                          And I really hope this is the end of problems
                          T10-pelvis fusion 12/08
                          C5,6,7 fusion 9/10
                          T2--T10 fusion 2/11
                          C 4-5 fusion 11/14
                          Right scapulectomy 6/15
                          Right pectoralis major muscle transfer to scapula
                          To replace the action of Serratus Anterior muscle 3/16
                          Broken neck 9/28/2018
                          Emergency surgery posterior fusion C4- T3
                          Repeated 11/2018 because rods pulled apart added T2 fusion
                          Removal of partial right thoracic hardware 1/2020
                          Removal and replacement of C4-T10 hardware with C7 and T 1
                          Osteotomy

                          Comment


                          • It has been a long time since anyone posted, has something changed?
                            T10-pelvis fusion 12/08
                            C5,6,7 fusion 9/10
                            T2--T10 fusion 2/11
                            C 4-5 fusion 11/14
                            Right scapulectomy 6/15
                            Right pectoralis major muscle transfer to scapula
                            To replace the action of Serratus Anterior muscle 3/16
                            Broken neck 9/28/2018
                            Emergency surgery posterior fusion C4- T3
                            Repeated 11/2018 because rods pulled apart added T2 fusion
                            Removal of partial right thoracic hardware 1/2020
                            Removal and replacement of C4-T10 hardware with C7 and T 1
                            Osteotomy

                            Comment


                            • After all of this long journey I have received a diagnosis of chronic C-7, C-8 neuropathy. I have known that using my right arm an hand has been changing and not in a good way.
                              The neurosurgeon has referred me to a neurologist for management of symptoms. According to their message the nerve is "sick" and cannot recover.
                              I have been having a difficult time walking with limping and imbalance. I will ask if this sick nerve can also cause that.
                              This has progressed and the message said it will continue to do further progression. The idea now is medication management.
                              I would think it is from the auto accident and broken neck but I have had so many repairs of the spine.
                              Anyone else experiencing these problems? If so how do you manage?
                              T10-pelvis fusion 12/08
                              C5,6,7 fusion 9/10
                              T2--T10 fusion 2/11
                              C 4-5 fusion 11/14
                              Right scapulectomy 6/15
                              Right pectoralis major muscle transfer to scapula
                              To replace the action of Serratus Anterior muscle 3/16
                              Broken neck 9/28/2018
                              Emergency surgery posterior fusion C4- T3
                              Repeated 11/2018 because rods pulled apart added T2 fusion
                              Removal of partial right thoracic hardware 1/2020
                              Removal and replacement of C4-T10 hardware with C7 and T 1
                              Osteotomy

                              Comment


                              • Originally posted by jackieg412 View Post
                                After all of this long journey I have received a diagnosis of chronic C-7, C-8 neuropathy. I have known that using my right arm an hand has been changing and not in a good way.
                                The neurosurgeon has referred me to a neurologist for management of symptoms. According to their message the nerve is "sick" and cannot recover.
                                I have been having a difficult time walking with limping and imbalance. I will ask if this sick nerve can also cause that.
                                This has progressed and the message said it will continue to do further progression. The idea now is medication management.
                                I would think it is from the auto accident and broken neck but I have had so many repairs of the spine.
                                Anyone else experiencing these problems? If so how do you manage?
                                Hi Jackie...

                                I don't have the same issues, but I do have chronic neck pain. It took me many months, but I found someone who does sitting massage. (I have pulmonary issues, and can't lie down for any length of time.) I've been getting weekly massages, and while not resolving my symptoms, have definitely made them somewhat better. It's not inexpensive, but it's worth the cost.

                                I also have balance and gait issues. I actually lost my balance a few days ago, while applying lotion to my legs after showering. I tried to avoid falling, but lost the battle. I ended up fracturing my left foot in 2 places. While the fractures are displaced, the surgeon thinks they'll heal on their own. It's a little painful to walk, but nothing I can't live with. My biggest goal in life is to keep medical appointments to a bare minimum.

                                I know that all your issues are daunting, but hopefully you can learn to live with them.

                                --Kubda
                                Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
                                ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
                                Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

                                Comment

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