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

@sassytwo ~ WOW If you are still healing and progress no further I would consider your surgery a success also ! May I ask how many vertebra did you have fused. Before your surgery could you stand and cook without pain and how far could you walk ?

If you progress any further you will be doing marathons !

Good for you! Congrats ! ! !

Yes, I am pleased. I had a fusion from T12-S2. Stenosis and slipped disc, and scoliosis. I still feel very much a back patient, and only 6weeks into PT. The cage feeling is gone, but I still feel muscle tension and tenderness. I still love to lay on heating pad.

Walking again is such a gift as is simply standing to cook or talk in the hall.... the stuff we used to take for granted.
I walk over 3 miles a day now. And on vaca.....increased to 4-6, but I felt it by the end of the week.

I went for a 2nd swim for 15 minute (Treading water in the deep end). It felt great, but felt it the next day. As my PT says, increase in 5% increments. Slow progress but still progress.

I am optimistic, I will continue to heal, but I am back to a pretty normal life. Do not do much lifting or cleaning. I will never give up my paid housekeeping. 🙂

The people I talked to on this site that had similar surgeries, both stated it does take a year to truly feel "normal". And two years out back to some sports etc.

Hope this info is helpful.

@vikkitennis I’m happy to hear you’ve had some improvement with sitting in the car. I have not had to do the myofascial release at this point, but I know Jennifer is a proponent. Have you noticed a difference with it yet?

@sassytwo you sound like me! I swam last week and overdid it a little, but I have to say, after I got over the extra soreness, it made me feel better a few days later. My therapist has been massaging my back each session to loosen up my muscles. They were solid as a rock when I first started but she’s been slowly loosening them up and helping them to engage in my day-to-day activities.
I too love my heating pad and my big gel ice packs. There are days that I prefer one over the other 😊
I actually do a lot of lifting as I have horses and dogs and cats and everything that goes along with that. And in talking with my therapist, as long as I keep the weight close to my body and don’t lean over and put that stress on my lower back, I am good.
I am so thrilled at how much better I have felt over the past couple weeks! I know everyone heals at different rates, but this seems to be the tipping point for me and I am so excited for every week in the future!
I say this, with the hope that it gives others encouragement for their healing❤️🙏

We flew from Portugal to Boston to Phoenix, and I didn’t have the lower spine problems as before; the test will be in July, when we take two car trips to California, Last year, I was screaming after 1 hour.
However, I am taking a low-opiate buprenorphine at 25 mg for a condition associated with RLS called Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. I am not sure if that has helped the lower spinal condition.
Write to me late July, and I will let you know.

@sherrym25
Hi Sherry,
I just read your last post and I'm so happy for you. I do have a few questions. Were you using any type of assistance for walking like a cane or walker prior to surgery? How long after your surgery was it until you were able to walk and stand for extended periods of time un-assisted ? You mentioned the bone growth and I wondered if your Dr. ever recommended a bone growth stimulator. When I had L3 L4 & L4 L5 fused I wore a bone growth stimulator for 45 minutes a day for I think it was 3 months? My surgeon told me that would be equal to the development of the bone in that area for about one year. Also you procedure was minimally invasive for this type of procedure I know your hospital stay was 7 days I was in the hospital four days when I had the lumbar fusion hope the lumbar surgery provides a good foundation for my full spine fusion if that's what the doctor orders . I had a thoracolumbar curve of 50 and a lumbar curve of about 40 degrees as well as having a significant trunk shift over 7 cm. that was about a year ago now I think I need a full spine fusion but if I do I want it done with the minimally invasive procedure if that is possible?
I'm so happy for you ! You are truly an inspiration
so thank you again Bob.......
rwdixon4 (@rwdixon4);

I wonder if your PLMD is a result of your spine problems?
I’m glad to hear that you were able to take a trip without being in so much pain. I will definitely check in with you next month to see how your California trips go!
We are camping in the Bodega Bay area in August and the 3 Hour drive would have me dreading the pain of sitting in the vehicle, but not anymore 😊🙏!!!

Hi Bob, I was not using anything for walking assistance before surgery. I was very active but had a constant, drilling pain in the right side of my back, along with sciatica pain down my right hip.
I’ve been taking Garden of Life Bone Growth since right after my surgery and plan to take it for a few more months.
I’ve never heard of a bone growth stimulator! Did your doctor do any imaging that showed whether the bones have fused completely? I’m going to ask mine about it when I talk to him in August.
So what is the next step for you? It appears they straightened your lumbar curve, do you know why the doctor didn’t do your thoracic curve at the same time?
Yes, the minimally invasive surgery really worked well for me! The surgery definitely takes longer, but much less damage to the muscle and nerves. The challenge might be finding surgeons that want to do the minimally invasive surgery. It’s so much more work for them!!!
Wishing the best for you!!😊

I’m not sure why Dr Orisek didn’t treat the Thoracic Spine or go up further because there is a severe curve and rotation in my Thoracic Spine. Fortunately, I have a appointment with Dr Orisek tomorrow for my Cervical Spine. He replaced a disc in C5-C6 If for some reason Dr Orisek can’t do a fusion from T 11 to L3 I will be contacting Dr. McClendon at The Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. Was this your Surgeon Dr. Jamal McClendon Jr, MD? The bone growth stimulator looked like a steering wheel for a race car video game. you put it on with a belt around your waist with the steering wheel on your back. There is one on Ebay now "Bone Fusing Growth Therapy" and yes Dr Orisek had film and said the fusion went well. You had a 40° curve in your thoracic and lumbar spine, correct? The T11 to L4 was enough to correct that 40° curve and rotation? If I could get just the fusion from T11 to L2 as I have already had L3 L4 & L4 L5 fusion I would be so grateful.
Thank You for your comments and input, it is very much appreciated.