Dear Friends,
When I had my major scoliosis surgery 11 years ago, I read EVERYTHING on the forum. Here's what was missing = follow-up info from those who had surgery a while back.
So, I vowed that I would share THAT and a way we can all help 3rd-world scoliosis children.
THIS YEAR'S UPDATE: I was fused from T4 to L4 in 2008. After recovery, I was relatively pain-free for nine years. Five years ago at age 61, I did a solo trip around the world for four months, mostly in 3rd world countries like Myanmar, Vietnam, Nepal, Africa, etc. I always found someone to pick up my gear when I got off planes and yet I could do most everything except lifting.
About two years ago, I began having significant pain below L4 and last year I was fused L4 through the sacrum with pelvic anchors last year. I am struggling with pain at the base of the sacrum, and I am planning to do some consultations. However, I am functional enough to continue traveling. I just returned from five weeks on the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. With an inflatable neck pillow (only inflated 25%) placed on car/plane seats with the open part of the pillow faced toward the back of the seat, I could keep pressure off the sacrum. I was able to do all the driving on this trip and fly coach. So, despite the sacral pain, I am managing. I continue to be grateful to those who've dedicated their professional lives to help us scolis with these complicated surgeries.
OTHER IMPORTANT SHARE: In Ghana, Africa, surgeries are being done on children with extreme scoliosis who would lose their lives without intervention. The non-profit is FOCOS. Every year, I donate to help African kids suffering with scoliosis. If you have been able to get help with YOUR scoliosis, consider helping children without resources. The western doctors who work at FOCOS donate their expertise, but funds are needed for all the other aspects of performing these surgeries. GO HERE to learn about FOCOS: http://www.orthofocos.org/ and go here to see a video of what they're doing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbc3...ature=emb_logo. It's heart-warming.
When I had my major scoliosis surgery 11 years ago, I read EVERYTHING on the forum. Here's what was missing = follow-up info from those who had surgery a while back.
So, I vowed that I would share THAT and a way we can all help 3rd-world scoliosis children.
THIS YEAR'S UPDATE: I was fused from T4 to L4 in 2008. After recovery, I was relatively pain-free for nine years. Five years ago at age 61, I did a solo trip around the world for four months, mostly in 3rd world countries like Myanmar, Vietnam, Nepal, Africa, etc. I always found someone to pick up my gear when I got off planes and yet I could do most everything except lifting.
About two years ago, I began having significant pain below L4 and last year I was fused L4 through the sacrum with pelvic anchors last year. I am struggling with pain at the base of the sacrum, and I am planning to do some consultations. However, I am functional enough to continue traveling. I just returned from five weeks on the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. With an inflatable neck pillow (only inflated 25%) placed on car/plane seats with the open part of the pillow faced toward the back of the seat, I could keep pressure off the sacrum. I was able to do all the driving on this trip and fly coach. So, despite the sacral pain, I am managing. I continue to be grateful to those who've dedicated their professional lives to help us scolis with these complicated surgeries.
OTHER IMPORTANT SHARE: In Ghana, Africa, surgeries are being done on children with extreme scoliosis who would lose their lives without intervention. The non-profit is FOCOS. Every year, I donate to help African kids suffering with scoliosis. If you have been able to get help with YOUR scoliosis, consider helping children without resources. The western doctors who work at FOCOS donate their expertise, but funds are needed for all the other aspects of performing these surgeries. GO HERE to learn about FOCOS: http://www.orthofocos.org/ and go here to see a video of what they're doing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbc3...ature=emb_logo. It's heart-warming.
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