January, February, March 2009 surgeries...

[Susie*Bee]

That sounds great, Debbe! You'd be the perfect one-- "been there, done that" type thing in the same area. Looking forward to hearing from you sometime hopefully on the 20th.

[JenniferG]

Thanks Debbe and Susie!

[bbest]

I am having a posterior fusion @ L2-L4, osteotomy @L3 and rod removal and reinstrumentation on February 5th, 2009 at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC by Dr. William Lauerman.

[debbei]

Good luck Brandi!

[discombobulated]

Brandi, your surgery plans sound a little like what I had done.

I know it's still a while off for you, but best of wishes with it all.

Be well.

[bbest]

Thanks!

Discombulated, I'd be interested in knowing what your experience was like. Did you post it on the forum? How long were you in the hospital? How does this recovery compare to that of your initial surgery?

[Doodles]

New here

Hi--I guess you can add me to the list. I've been reading the many helpful posts here for a few months and decided it was time to jump in. I will be having surgery T3-Pelvis with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis on March 30, 2008. Thanks for all the helpful information you all provide. Janet

[Susie*Bee]

Hi Doodles/Janet! Welcome! Glad to have you as a poster now. I'll get you added to this right now. March will be here soon-- and with it, a little relief from this frigid weather some of us are having! Brrrrr! It's supposed to be something like -25º with the windchill factor tomorrow morning.

[Nancy Joy]

Welcome Janet! Glad you joined us (well, wish you didn't have a reason too but.......) Welcome aboard!

[JenniferG]

Welcome from me too Janet. This is a great place to come for advice and support.

[debbei]

Welcome Janet! Without this forum I would have been in the nuthouse before surgery! I will never, ever forget these people, the support they gave me was very special.

[discombobulated]

Welcome aboard, Janet - though of course, I wish we were meeting under better circumstances

----

Brandi - my journey this time around has indeed been recorded on the forum...I will update a little tonight if I can stay awake long enough But if it helps, you can find the thread here.

Of course every surgery & every surgeon is different in approach, but I've honestly found this surgery to be MUCH easier than my first 2 times - a massive surprise to me since it was a much more complex, longer surgery, & I had a few minor complications. I don't really know why it should have been so much easier, but with only a couple of notable exceptions, I definitely had such better pain control this time around. My greatest pain was "nerve pains", where nerves seemed to almost constantly misfire, causing severe cramping in my legs. This was due to swelling & inflammation around areas of the spinal cord where my surgeon performed the 2 vertebral osteotomies (cut out a wedge of bone from each of 2 vertebrae to get better correction). I believe the osteotomy/ies aren't too commonly done, & once the meds were tweaked to get them under control, I have since had a much easier recovery.

Please do remember, though (esp. if you read through that thread), that my experiences (esp. complications) have been very much affected by my previous medical conditions. I'm sure your surgery will go great guns & I hope its outcomes for you are as successful as they have been for me If you think I can be of use, please feel free to drop me a PM.

Best wishes.

[Beckymk]

Sneaking over from the under 18 board....

Susie said I could. LOL!!!

My DD is having surgery March 9 at Shriner's in Chicago.

I have no idea from where to where -- basically top of her back to "not quite at to the bottom". I know bad mom...it's just I keep forgetting all the jargon. It's basically in my signature but that was her top curve. Her bottom curve actually got to over 50 degrees so they are fusing both curves. Hence, I don't know just how far down.

I know it will be a posterior fusion and she is to be in the hospital 4 or 5 days depending on how things go.

I certainly HOPE it's warmer in March....they called off school today due to the cold and that's a rarity here.

[Doodles]

Thanks for the welcome everyone!

You guys are so nice and welcoming. I've been lurking for so long I almost forgot I was now a "poster" and could check to see what everyone had to say. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions as time goes on. It's great to read all of this from the people who get it! Janet

[pmsmom]

I am having a posterior fusion @ L2-L4, osteotomy @L3 and rod removal and reinstrumentation on February 5th, 2009 at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC by Dr. William Lauerman.

I saw your post and want to let you know that I've heard nothing but good things about Dr. Lauerman.

We decided to use him to follow my dd's case (she's 15) and we live 3 hours away from DC.

I am confident that you will be in excellent hands!

Take care,
Marian