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

Spine Health | Last Active: Feb 8 1:06pm | Replies (87)
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@kre22

Sherry,
Your message is tough to read. Very scary. Quite frankly, at 78 years of age, I doubt if I could handle that. I have a 52 degree curvature with daily low back pain, mostly manageable, so far. At times, my back doctor has mentioned a “total back” fusion, though not lately; instead, mentioning other treatment options, such surgery being a last resort as we all know. Anyway, thanks! I wish you well and thanks for the voluminous, informative message.
Peter

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Replies to "Sherry, Your message is tough to read. Very scary. Quite frankly, at 78 years of age,..."
sherrym25 | @sherrym25 | Feb 6 5:05pm

Hi Peter, you are so right….it is scary. I never would have done it except I couldn’t imagine spending the rest of my life with a curve and pain, that were both going to keep getting worse.
And I will say, without the slightest doubt, I would make the same decision to have surgery if I had it to do over again.
You might have said this in a prior post, but do you know how many and which vertebrates the surgeon would want to fuse? The lumbar surgeries definitely seem to have the most pain involved.
I’m happy that you are mostly managing your pain. Have you used a Tens unit? It has sticky pads and sends electrical impulses into your muscles.
It’s helped me for short periods of time.
Wishing you the best.
Sherry

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