My journey with a T11 to L4 spinal fusion - 40 degree scoliosis curve

Yes, Sherry?
I have annual X-rays to monitor the curve. I too am very active.
PC
Wish you the best.

Hi Sherry—
Archie here— I’m reading this on 12/11. I hope that all went well and you’re on your way to recovering. I would love to follow your Progress. You probably grew 4“ getting straight. I also have scoliosis in low back and neck—,so I used to be 6‘ and now I’m 5‘8“!! But I’m 80so allthis huge surgery doesn’t feel like an option. But I wish you well, and hope for an update! Archie

Update 12-13-24

Well, good morning 😊 I had planned to post an update sooner, but I was also prepared for the reality that I wouldn’t be feeling up to it.

My surgery day (Wednesday) began with reporting to the hospital at 5:30 AM. My sister is my caregiver and staff collected her contact information and advised her that she would be updated via text or phone call throughout the whole procedure.

At 7 AM, they took me back to surgery prep, where I received my gown, leg air compression wraps, and had my IV started.

Staff allowed for about two hours of surgery prep time. As soon as I was settled on the gurney, my sister came in and stayed with me for the remaining hour until they wheeled me off to surgery.

My surgery started at around 9 AM and was completed at around 4:30 PM. I was placed in a recovery room for about two hours before my sister was able to see me.

Not long after that, my surgeon, Dr McClendon came in to check on me and said the surgery went very well.

I have a high pain tolerance. But I had an extremely tough time that night, through the morning, and until the next afternoon when they were finally able to find the right pain medication that worked for me. Please don’t let this discourage anybody looking to have surgery in the future. Dr. McClendon was very clear that people react differently and some people have less pain than others. Unfortunately, I am one who has more pain

At around 3 o’clock on Thursday, after I was getting some small results from pain medication, the physical therapy team worked with me to stand and walk across the room and then sit in a chair. I was only able to sit for 30 minutes before turning to bed, but it was a success. Throughout this process, I die not had issues with nausea because they had provided to me via IV. But when I walked across the room, I became very nauseous. They told me it was the anesthesia and other medication’s moving through my system to get flushed out.

That evening at around 6 PM I got up again and sat in the chair for a full hour.

I felt better after I got in bed both times. Even though it hurt a lot, it obviously helped my body to move into different positions and to sit up straight. It was interesting how the pain changed in my back when I was standing.
I have a 45° curve where the Apex of the curve goes to my right side. When I stood up the muscles along the left side of my spine hurt so much that I had to use my left hand on the walker to support and keep weight off my left leg. The muscles on the left side of my spine have not done a lot of work over my life because of the curve and the were definitely getting stretched yesterday.

I had an amazing five or six hours of sleep last night. The nurses just came in a few minutes ago to do their handoff fe night to day shift. I let my dayshift nurse know that I have airline tickets home for Sunday and she smiled and said we have a lot of work to do!

I’m going to order breakfast now and then hopefully start doing some walking.

The staff here is amazing! There are so many people coming and going as they complete their tasks, but I have to give a shout out to Dr. McClendon and my day/night nurses, Joslin and Patrick.

Thank you so much to those of you who have reached out to me and if you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask, and I will respond when I am able. And thank you so much for your prayers.🙏🥰

I will update again!
Sherry

Update 12-13-24

Well, good morning 😊 I had planned to post an update sooner, but I was also prepared for the reality that I wouldn’t be feeling up to it.

My surgery day (Wednesday) began with reporting to the hospital at 5:30 AM. My sister is my caregiver and staff collected her contact information and advised her that she would be updated via text or phone call throughout the whole procedure.

At 7 AM, they took me back to surgery prep, where I received my gown, leg air compression wraps, and had my IV started.

Staff allowed for about two hours of surgery prep time. As soon as I was settled on the gurney, my sister came in and stayed with me for the remaining hour until they wheeled me off to surgery.

My surgery started at around 9 AM and was completed at around 4:30 PM. I was placed in a recovery room for about two hours before my sister was able to see me.

Not long after that, my surgeon, Dr McClendon came in to check on me and said the surgery went very well.

I have a high pain tolerance. But I had an extremely tough time that night, through the morning, and until the next afternoon when they were finally able to find the right pain medication that worked for me. Please don’t let this discourage anybody looking to have surgery in the future. Dr. McClendon was very clear that people react differently and some people have less pain than others. Unfortunately, I am one who has more pain

At around 3 o’clock on Thursday, after I was getting some small results from pain medication, the physical therapy team worked with me to stand and walk across the room and then sit in a chair. I was only able to sit for 30 minutes before turning to bed, but it was a success. Throughout this process, I die not had issues with nausea because they had provided to me via IV. But when I walked across the room, I became very nauseous. They told me it was the anesthesia and other medication’s moving through my system to get flushed out.

That evening at around 6 PM I got up again and sat in the chair for a full hour.

I felt better after I got in bed both times. Even though it hurt a lot, it obviously helped my body to move into different positions and to sit up straight. It was interesting how the pain changed in my back when I was standing.
I have a 45° curve where the Apex of the curve goes to my right side. When I stood up the muscles along the left side of my spine hurt so much that I had to use my left hand on the walker to support and keep weight off my left leg. The muscles on the left side of my spine have not done a lot of work over my life because of the curve and the were definitely getting stretched yesterday.

I had an amazing five or six hours of sleep last night. The nurses just came in a few minutes ago to do their handoff fe night to day shift. I let my dayshift nurse know that I have airline tickets home for Sunday and she smiled and said we have a lot of work to do!

I’m going to order breakfast now and then hopefully start doing some walking.

The staff here is amazing! There are so many people coming and going as they complete their tasks, but I have to give a shout out to Dr. McClendon and my day/night nurses, Joslin and Patrick.

Thank you so much to those of you who have reached out to me and if you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask, and I will respond when I am able. And thank you so much for your prayers.🙏🥰

I will update again!
Sherry

@archie2
Good morning Archie! I’m looking forward to seeing how much I’ve grown too! I’ve always thought I had a short torso and long legs. It wasn’t until last December that I was diagnosed with my scoliosis curve. It’s when I look back I can see it’s been getting worse.
From everything that I have researched and from what I’ve heard from others, I don’t think your age would be an issue with surgery as long as you have a support system in place.
Your caregiver will need to integrate into your hospital staff as you transition out after surgery.
Surgeon said my surgery went very well, my challenge is controlling the pain right now. That being said, there’s nothing that has happened so far that would prevent me from doing the surgery again. I know everything I’m feeling is related to the surgery.
Do you know the degree of your curvature?

Update 12-13-24

Well, good morning 😊 I had planned to post an update sooner, but I was also prepared for the reality that I wouldn’t be feeling up to it.

My surgery day (Wednesday) began with reporting to the hospital at 5:30 AM. My sister is my caregiver and staff collected her contact information and advised her that she would be updated via text or phone call throughout the whole procedure.

At 7 AM, they took me back to surgery prep, where I received my gown, leg air compression wraps, and had my IV started.

Staff allowed for about two hours of surgery prep time. As soon as I was settled on the gurney, my sister came in and stayed with me for the remaining hour until they wheeled me off to surgery.

My surgery started at around 9 AM and was completed at around 4:30 PM. I was placed in a recovery room for about two hours before my sister was able to see me.

Not long after that, my surgeon, Dr McClendon came in to check on me and said the surgery went very well.

I have a high pain tolerance. But I had an extremely tough time that night, through the morning, and until the next afternoon when they were finally able to find the right pain medication that worked for me. Please don’t let this discourage anybody looking to have surgery in the future. Dr. McClendon was very clear that people react differently and some people have less pain than others. Unfortunately, I am one who has more pain

At around 3 o’clock on Thursday, after I was getting some small results from pain medication, the physical therapy team worked with me to stand and walk across the room and then sit in a chair. I was only able to sit for 30 minutes before turning to bed, but it was a success. Throughout this process, I die not had issues with nausea because they had provided to me via IV. But when I walked across the room, I became very nauseous. They told me it was the anesthesia and other medication’s moving through my system to get flushed out.

That evening at around 6 PM I got up again and sat in the chair for a full hour.

I felt better after I got in bed both times. Even though it hurt a lot, it obviously helped my body to move into different positions and to sit up straight. It was interesting how the pain changed in my back when I was standing.
I have a 45° curve where the Apex of the curve goes to my right side. When I stood up the muscles along the left side of my spine hurt so much that I had to use my left hand on the walker to support and keep weight off my left leg. The muscles on the left side of my spine have not done a lot of work over my life because of the curve and the were definitely getting stretched yesterday.

I had an amazing five or six hours of sleep last night. The nurses just came in a few minutes ago to do their handoff fe night to day shift. I let my dayshift nurse know that I have airline tickets home for Sunday and she smiled and said we have a lot of work to do!

I’m going to order breakfast now and then hopefully start doing some walking.

The staff here is amazing! There are so many people coming and going as they complete their tasks, but I have to give a shout out to Dr. McClendon and my day/night nurses, Joslin and Patrick.

Thank you so much to those of you who have reached out to me and if you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask, and I will respond when I am able. And thank you so much for your prayers.🙏🥰

I will update again!
Sherry

Hi Sherry, Thanks for taking the time to share your journey. Very helpful for what to expect with my similar surgery! I am happy to hear your Doc said surgery went well and the tweaks were made in medications to be able to manage the pain better!!! What hospital are you in that you are flying home? Sounds like you have a great medical team and loving support from your sis! Hope your flight isn't too long! Tamra

Hi Tamra, it was definitely wonderful to hear my surgeon say that it went well!! Even though the minimally invasive approach was a lot more work for him, we knew that it would be much better for me in the long run for the healing process. It’s also been so great to have my records and labs, etc., available immediately on my patient profile online. I was able to see pictures of x-rays of my back that they took during the surgery.
I had my surgery at the Phoenix Mayo Clinic. I am going to provide another general update because a few things have changed regarding my timeline to return home.😊