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

The SCS was removed mid-March.
I have felt well, with sitting in a car, driving the worst. I do realize, sitting in a car has improved.
I also am trying myofascial release PT.

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?

We tank you for the update post-surgery.
You are such a native person, and I know that has a lot to do with the healing process.

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’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.

Hello! This is the beginning of My Journal, through my journey, to have a spinal fusion surgery that will take place on December 11, 2024 at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona.
This is my quick intro and I will add to it as the days go by.
In December 2023 after a 31 year career of firefighting and a lifetime of riding horses, I finally went to my doctor and told her that I could not handle my back pain anymore and that I need to figure out what was going on with it!!!
After x-rays, an MRI, and a CT scan, I was diagnosed with a 40 degree scoliosis curvature of my spine.
Looking at the images, made it very clear to me where my pain originated. I consulted with a surgeon at UC Davis in California and was scheduled for a T10 to L4 fusion surgery on October 1, 2024.
I research and pray about everything. This brought me to the Mayo Clinic. I reached out to the Phoenix clinic and sent them my imagery and medical files and they called me the following week and said that a surgeon had accepted me as his patient.
Their soonest evaluation appointment was a month after my scheduled surgery at UC Davis so I canceled that surgery and then met with the surgeon at the Mayo Clinic.
The surgeon was kind and attentive and very articulate as to my situation and what he thought would be best as far as correcting my curve and relieving my pain.
I left his office excited and hopeful at a future with less pain, with a surgery date scheduled for December 11, 2024 for a minimally invasive spinal fusion that would be, at the most, a T11 to L4 fusion. The minimally invasive surgery would take much longer than the open surgery, but would not do as much damage to my body and would most likely not require a blood transfusion and would quite possibly create less pain and a quicker healing time.
I am a single mom with a young daughter. We live on 5 acres with three horses, three dogs, four cats, ten chickens and two fish.
I have a list that I am working on every single day to get things in order for my surgery. My parents live on my property with us. My mom will take care of my daughter throughout my healing. One of my sisters is flying with me to Arizona, and I am prepared for us to stay in the hospital for a few days and then in a hotel for a few days to heal enough to fly home.
I am now almost 3 weeks away from surgery. I am planning to take a carry-on and a personal item. I have front button up and snap up shirts, lightweight clothing and everything else that I can think to pack to get me through the first week of surgery.
I have a room reserved at the Sleep Inn that is 4 miles away from the Phoenix Mayo Clinic. I also have a reservation at the Help in Healing Home that is on the 8 acre Phoenix, Mayo Clinic property. There are pros and cons to each facility. The sleep in provides a free shuttle on every half hour, but does not have a recliner in the room. The help and healing home, which is only $50 a night, is walking distance from the hospital but requires you to have a rental car and you share the kitchen, living room, pantry, and library with five other rooms.
The Sleep Inn has nice amenities and was the most affordable hotel that I found. After weighing out the pros and cons of having Uber, drop us off the airport versus being in pain and having to deal with returning around car, I am choosing to stay at the Sleep Inn.
This is my first entry on my journey and I am going to call it a night. I would love to hear anyone’s feedback, ideas, tips to help me and others navigate through this process. It’s scary and yet I am so hopeful. Thank you so much!

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.