I've been lurking around here for a little while, and finally decided to join and start sharing. I know people have lots of experience with surgery and short-term, and I'm hoping to be able to help with more long term issues.
I guess I'll share my story... Sorry about the length.
I am 24, and its been almost 9 years since I had my fusion, and about 6 1/2 years since I had my hardware removed. I never wore a brace.
My scoliosis (idiopathic) was caught when I was 11 in a yearly check up, and was referred to a surgeon for monitoring immediately. By the time I was14, it had progressed to a 58* C curve. Bracing was discussed at the time, but my surgeon and parents decided against it. With in 6 months, my curve had progressed to 64* and I was scheduled for surgery. I decided on cadaver bone (my parents and doc thought it should be my decision), and I was able to give 2 units of blood before the surgery.
March 31, 2000, I went in for surgery. I think It was about 7 hours and I was fused from T2 to L3. I had no complications in recovery and was home in 6 days. I think it was about 10 days after surgery the first time I went out of the house. My dad had to go to Borders to pick something up, and I begged to go with him because I was getting stir-crazy in the house. I think I just stayed by the door reading magazines becuase it was too umcomfortable to walk around much, but it was exciting to be out of the house.
I was back to school in 3 weeks full time, but was allowed to leave class at anytime to go lie down in the nurses office. All my teachers and classmates knew about my surgery so I didn't even need to say anything half the time. My friends all knew where to find me, and would bring my books and bag to me if I left them in class. I have read that a lot of people start back to school part time, but I liked having the freedom to participate when I felt up to it, and after a week back to school, I rarely needed to leave class.
in June of 2000, I performed in a dance recital. My mom was my instructor, and we worked together to coreograph parts for me in a lyrical number.
I spent the summer of 2000 working at a horse camp, teaching kids to groom and tack up horses, as well as teaching begining lessons.
By October, 6 months post-op, I began training for the up comming Cross-country ski season. I was able to keep my spot on the varsity team, and raced at the state championships less than a year post-op.
In May 2001, a little over a year post-op, I was FINALLY given the ok to start riding horses again.
Since 2001, I have continued riding horses and dance. I got a job as a trainer in '04, teaching young and in experienced horses to be used for Hunter Jumper school horses, and Competed in the summers over 3' jumper courses. I have taken my share of crashes, and been slammed into countless walls and fences, but none of it has had a negative impact on my back or fusion, and all my x-rays have been fine in yearly check ups.
I currently am living in Chicago, where I work as a bike messenger, and am generally on a rode bike carrying a heavy bag 30 hours a week. Ive been hit by cars and flown over my handlebars, and still no problems with my fusion. I've also been rock climbling, snow boarding, cliff diving, and down hill mountain biking.
I do get occasional back pain, specifically minor muscle spasms around my right shoulder blade and along my rib-hump, but daily stretching and the occasional aleve takes care of it.
So yeah... Surgery really hasn't affected me, and my fusion doesn't stop me from anything anymore. I'm happy I went through with it, and most people don't notice my back. It's always funny when I tell people and they seemed shocked to hear that my spine is fused. After 9 years, minimized mobility feels totally normal, and I think it would feel really odd to have an unfused spine now.
I guess I'll share my story... Sorry about the length.
I am 24, and its been almost 9 years since I had my fusion, and about 6 1/2 years since I had my hardware removed. I never wore a brace.
My scoliosis (idiopathic) was caught when I was 11 in a yearly check up, and was referred to a surgeon for monitoring immediately. By the time I was14, it had progressed to a 58* C curve. Bracing was discussed at the time, but my surgeon and parents decided against it. With in 6 months, my curve had progressed to 64* and I was scheduled for surgery. I decided on cadaver bone (my parents and doc thought it should be my decision), and I was able to give 2 units of blood before the surgery.
March 31, 2000, I went in for surgery. I think It was about 7 hours and I was fused from T2 to L3. I had no complications in recovery and was home in 6 days. I think it was about 10 days after surgery the first time I went out of the house. My dad had to go to Borders to pick something up, and I begged to go with him because I was getting stir-crazy in the house. I think I just stayed by the door reading magazines becuase it was too umcomfortable to walk around much, but it was exciting to be out of the house.
I was back to school in 3 weeks full time, but was allowed to leave class at anytime to go lie down in the nurses office. All my teachers and classmates knew about my surgery so I didn't even need to say anything half the time. My friends all knew where to find me, and would bring my books and bag to me if I left them in class. I have read that a lot of people start back to school part time, but I liked having the freedom to participate when I felt up to it, and after a week back to school, I rarely needed to leave class.
in June of 2000, I performed in a dance recital. My mom was my instructor, and we worked together to coreograph parts for me in a lyrical number.
I spent the summer of 2000 working at a horse camp, teaching kids to groom and tack up horses, as well as teaching begining lessons.
By October, 6 months post-op, I began training for the up comming Cross-country ski season. I was able to keep my spot on the varsity team, and raced at the state championships less than a year post-op.
In May 2001, a little over a year post-op, I was FINALLY given the ok to start riding horses again.
Since 2001, I have continued riding horses and dance. I got a job as a trainer in '04, teaching young and in experienced horses to be used for Hunter Jumper school horses, and Competed in the summers over 3' jumper courses. I have taken my share of crashes, and been slammed into countless walls and fences, but none of it has had a negative impact on my back or fusion, and all my x-rays have been fine in yearly check ups.
I currently am living in Chicago, where I work as a bike messenger, and am generally on a rode bike carrying a heavy bag 30 hours a week. Ive been hit by cars and flown over my handlebars, and still no problems with my fusion. I've also been rock climbling, snow boarding, cliff diving, and down hill mountain biking.
I do get occasional back pain, specifically minor muscle spasms around my right shoulder blade and along my rib-hump, but daily stretching and the occasional aleve takes care of it.
So yeah... Surgery really hasn't affected me, and my fusion doesn't stop me from anything anymore. I'm happy I went through with it, and most people don't notice my back. It's always funny when I tell people and they seemed shocked to hear that my spine is fused. After 9 years, minimized mobility feels totally normal, and I think it would feel really odd to have an unfused spine now.
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