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  • Surgery Coming Up

    I can't believe that it's only 5 days until my surgery. I am being fused from T-3 or T-4 to my sacrum. I am very nervous about fusing to my pelvis. i have heard about the loss of motion but I don't really understand it. My doctor tells me that I will bend over like a barbie doll or toy soldier, but isn't that how everyone bends over already??? I don't understand this explanation. I'm only 21 and I live alone.

    Every time I do something, like the laundary or the dishes I wonder, "what is this going to be like after surgery?" or "how is my surgery going to change this?" I'm so nervous!!!

    Has anyone else fused to their pelvis? Can you feel the rods in you when you bend over? I am very active, do you always feel stiff?

    Ahh!! I feel like I'm going nuts! :[

  • #2
    I'm praying for you!

    Sweetie, willl there be anyone taking care of you when you get home? Listen, the bending will come. You will be taking little steps in getting better. I've had 3 surgeries and I don't know all the names of the vertabraes but I have a scar from my shoulders to my tail bone. It took awhile but I learned to bend at my hips to brush my teeth. If you remember, you probably bend your back and you won't be able to do that anymore. When you stand up after the surgery you will probably try and fall forward to your bed but don't panic. You have to get used to the weight of the rods and hardware but you will get used to it. I know you have a lot of questions and I want to answer any of them you want me too. You will be having a major surgery but you will get better. I only wish I could have been as young as you with I had my first surgery. I was 36 when I had the first and now I am 50 years old. The younger you are the better it is all the way around. My curve was 85% so I had an S-shape spine before.
    You take care and I will be praying for you. Write whenever you want to. Dereise......

    Comment


    • #3
      Crystal

      Its normal to be nervous about your surgeries and everyone gets jumpy before surgery. In my case, being fused all the way down really isn't all that bad at all. Its something you will get used to, I did and have no regrets at all.

      Chances are, you will need someone with you when you go home. Your doctor should have asked you about your living and care arrangements post surgery. The nurses will address this and make a determination while you are in the hospital.

      You will not be able to drive for about 6-8 weeks, so someone will have to do your food shopping for you and do some cooking.

      Who is your surgeon and where are you being operated on?
      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


      • #4
        Crystal,

        It is absolutely normal to be nervous about this surgery. We all were.

        I'm fused T3 to L3, not quite to the pelvis. Yes it was something to get used to but I did it. At first you feel very stiff (excuse my expression but at first I told my husband that it felt like I was walking around with a stick up my butt ). After some time you do get used to the new feelings. Sometimes when I overdo it, I get muscle spasms and that stiff feeling again, but it passes. In the beginning I didn't even think about bending over to brush my teeth, but now it's no problem. I can brush my teeth, wash my face in the sink, and even bend over to kiss my daughter in bed good night. I never thought I'd be able to do those things again.

        Other things you will learn how to do differently, by squatting. The grabber is a wonderful tool that they will probably give you in the hospital. To this day, 7 months later, I still use it to do laundry (picking items off the floor).

        Like Ed said, you will need someone to get food for you since it will be probably 5 or 6 weeks before you are permitted to drive.

        Good luck,
        __________________________________________
        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


        • #5
          Thank you all for your messages! They certainly helped give me hope. I'm going to be staying at my dad's house for a couple weeks after surgery, but eventually will have to ween myself into being home alone again. I'm still very nervous about my surgery, but at the same time I'm excited to not be in pain anymore. My surgery is at the Scottsdale Osborn Hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona by Dr. Duane Pitt.

          I still can't belive how fast time flew by. It still feels like I have a couple months to go, but realisticly it's only 4 days!

          Comment


          • #6
            All the very best Crystal!

            I am fused to the pelvis and at first ordinary things were difficult but I'm almost 3 months post-op now and it's getting easier. I shaved my legs yesterday for the first time. I didn't think I'd ever be able to do that. Picking things up off the floor remains difficult but is getting easier. I think time will fix most of our concerns.

            Hope everything goes well for you in surgery and throughout your recovery.

            Jen
            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
              Crystal

              Good. Doing recovery alone can be tough, I know , because that's what I did.

              I'm going to be honest. The first few weeks are going to be hard, and you will need to be resilient. You have your age going for you, so your recovery will be easier. Just being positive and having the correct attitude will help you tremendously. Adaptability is something that is needed and having the proper mindset will guarantee success.

              Squatting will be one of the things you will master! Its so much easier than doing the "tin man". There is a certain amount of movement in the lower back so if a person without a fusion bends over, there will be an arc in their back. That bending really isn't all that much, and you will realize it after you are fused.

              Its just a matter of learning all the little quirky moves, and after you learn these moves, its a snap!

              The log roll is used till you are fused, the nurses will teach you that in the hospital. After you are fused, you wont necessarily have to do a log roll any more.

              I see you were diagnosed about 6 months ago, and yes its quite a bit to absorb with the pain and the operations in such a short period of time. You are fortunate that you will not have to suffer for years and years with debilitating pain. I was dxd in 1974 and so that's been 34 years of pain and thinking about when I was going to have my surgery. The improvements have been outstanding in the last 34 years so no need to worry about that.

              One thing I would highly recommend is getting a latex foam topper 2-3 inches thick for the top of your mattress. Sleeping will be difficult in the beginning, and the foam helps tremendously.

              You will not be able to feel your rods.

              I remember the first time after my surgery that I was completely out of pain after all the years. I actually forgot what that was like and it was quite the moment. I ran around hugging everyone. Even strangers!

              If you have any questions at all, definitely ask, there are quite a few of us with years of experience dealing with scoliosis and after all the years of not having a support group and living in the "dark ages" years ago, we like to offer the support that we so desperately needed.

              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


              • #8
                Yes, you will have lot's to learn but that's ok. Just take it easy and don't beat yourself up thinking you should be healing faster. I'm so glad you are so young. That will make all the difference in the world.
                Please please let us know how you are when you can. You will be lifted up in our prayers. Love, Dereise.......Yes, make sure they give you a grabber at the hospital. I got one there along with an adjustable cane. Don't be surprised if you get taller. I went up 2 inches. I never had a waist line but do now.

                Comment


                • #9
                  log rolling

                  ok everyone, I know this is going to sound stupid but this whole log rolling thing just doesn't work for me at all. I am very coordinated and flexible, but log roll? I get stuck every dam time, then I resort to my own way of arranging myself which I think the Dr. may have a problem with. It doesnt hurt though.....I like to call it a half log roll lol......I try to make sure my back is straight but I really don't even feel like I have been fused from L5-T5......Very strange!!!!!!
                  Susan

                  Diagnosed at 10, Boston brace from 11-13 yrs old.
                  50* Lumbar w/ 5 centimeter shift to the left and slight rib hump...
                  Surgery Date: April 15 and April 22, 2009
                  X-LIF approach for disc repair L5,L4,L3,L2
                  Posterior Approach for fusions L5-T5
                  Dr. Fox @ Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
                  Nice and straight now!!!!!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Let us know how your surgery went, when you are able. Sending prayers and positive thoughts that you are doing well post surgery

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Hello everyone,
                      I had my surgery and I am now fused from t9 to my pelvis. I'm out of the hospital and at home.

                      I'm in pain all the time! I feel like the pain medicine since I have left is doing nothing. I can't sleep because no matter where I'm laying I can't get comfortable. I feel so down and out right and I don't know what to do.

                      I'm having pain down my left leg that I didn't have in the hospital. I went back and they said its not a clot, just fluid and I should walk more. I am, but I'm still in pain....if not more


                      I hate this! I'm in more pain then I was before. It doesn't seem worth it. :[

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Oh you poor thing! I don't know what to offer (but I'm sure someone will come along and offer something practical) except to say it's very early days for you and you really need to get your meds adjusted to control the pain. Can you ring your surgeon? If you are home alone, the pain, I'm sure, will seem worse. I hope you have someone caring for you Crystal.
                        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
                          Crystal
                          This is such a tough time, did you get the foam for the bed? It helps considerably with sleeping. Try taking hot baths, that's what I did. It helped with the pain. Do not slip and fall, move slow getting in and out.

                          Do you have nurses coming out to your house every day?

                          Take a stool softener every day. You don't want to get backed up.

                          Hang in there, it will get better, it will just take some time.
                          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
                            Crystal--
                            Your post just makes me sad! I so hope this changes for you. You sound more like I was the first couple weeks which now is basically a blur of pain and little memory. I'm to the pelvis too but it seems you need to have them adjust your pain medication. I agree with Jennifer; I'd call the surgeon's nurse or even your own doctor g.p. to try something different. In the hospital my "drip" was originally duadalin--something like that--it wasn't helping at all as it does for the majority. They switched to morphine which was much better for my pain. Everyone is so different. You need to insist on trying something else. I hope they will give you some relief--you are early in recovery; but this seems too much. Take care and we'll keep our fingers crossed that you find a better solution. 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


                            • #15
                              My daughter needed a series of different pillows, differnt shapes and thicknesses, intricately placed and replaced until just right, in order to be comfortable and be able to sleep when she came home from the hospital.

                              Also, are you sure your pain meds/doses are correct? It sounds like you should be more comfortable than what I take from your writing but it's hard to say.

                              Good luck.
                              Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

                              No island of sanity.

                              Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
                              Answer: Medicine


                              "We are all African."

                              Comment

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