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

@sherrym25 as long as you have a support system in place. & my challenge is controlling the pain right now.

I'm confused is this current ? Also I want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving !

@sherrym25 I am somewhat sure I asked you if your fusion was an open surgery or the minimally invasive ? But I don't remember what one it was?

So busy this time of year hope you are enjoying these holidays !

Bob

@rwdixon4 hi Bob, mine was minimally invasive but it’s still pretty invasive. Open surgery allows the surgeon to get in and access your spine better. I remember your x-rays and it makes sense that Dr. McClendon wants to have more access because he has to make several corrections to your spine. I truly don’t think you could be in better hands with him.🙏
And Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Sherry

@sherrym25 thanks so much! T10 to s1 is now fused. Your info pre-surgery helped me prepare so much!!!

Congratulations on your progress! Lifting feed and cleaning gutters?!!! You must be doing really well!

That therapy sounds like a hurts so good type of thing. I’m ready to get started.

Do you still “feel” the hardware? That has been an “ick” thing for me when I lie down at night. I have to work on emptying my mind and not thinking about it. Are you able to move freely in bed? How long must the log roll continue?

When did you travel without pain?. Getting in the car is such an ordeal. I can’t imagine when I’ll be able to take a trip. Not to mention the pain I feel from every bump in the road.

When did you leave the walker behind when going out in public? That feels limiting but my husband is afraid someone will knock me over if I don’t have something.

Lastly, do you wear a medical id? I’ve been told it would be a good idea but it feels a bit extra. But someone doing cpr right now would do me in I’m afraid.

I’m sure your horses are “chomping at the bit” for you to return to your previous status with them. Praying the X-rays show positive results and you get the green light to get back to doing what you love.
Blessings, k

@rwdixon4 I’m fused t10-s4. It was open and the surgery wasn’t that bad. It was long and major but I had prepared for that part well. I trusted my doctor completely. I have an amazing husband and we watched videos of the various things to expect after surgery: getting in/out of car and a bed; brushing your teeth; getting dressed; using the bathroom; sitting in a chair - all things seemingly intuitive but you have to make accommodations and those are hard! The videos were helpful.

Due to the complexity of my surgery, I am entering week 5 and just now able to get myself into and out of bed. Our kitchen is not set up for someone who cannot bend, lift or twist so cooking for myself would be an incredible challenge. I am able to move food from fridge to microwave but it’s a process.

It is definitely a time like this when you learn who your rock steady friends are. Some are not going to be able to handle the level of need you might require. They aren’t bad friends - just not the kind of friend that can help at the level you will need.
Consider filling up your freezer and pantry with healthy sources of protein and iron. You are going to need the best nutrition to get you back on your feet.

These were just quick thoughts. Please reach out if you have further questions. This forum was a great resource of encouragement for me. Wishing you the best!
Happy thanksgiving!🦃

@karenoharmon thank you for sharing your surgery procedure and how you are getting along. I’ll be having T10 to pelvic floor done but first they have to undo the fusion of L2-5. I would appreciate it if you could share as to where I would find these videos. Im 78 and in pretty good health otherwise.

@glassart youtube has video blogs from people who have gone through similar surgeries. There are also videos by occupational therapists and physical therapists that have good information about the skills you will need to adjust to. That really helped me get my mind ready for post-op. You can search once you are on the youtube app for scoliosis surgery recovery videos, back surgery recovery videos by ot; EquipMeOT is really good! You can also search for your specific surgery.

I can't remember who, but someone in the forum recommended doing lots of squats prior to surgery, so I did them all the time! Squats and lunges; getting up and down from a chair using my legs only; deep belly breaths; lots of walking; lots of swimming was recommended but we didn't have access to that.

You are wise to being careful about this decision. For me, i asked myself would my life be better a year from now because I chose to have the surgery, or would it be worse because I did not? The pain was making everything challenging for me. Post-op pain has not been anywhere as bad as pre-op. I also asked people that knew me. Not one person in my life thought I should continue suffering as I had been the last 12 years.

I really hope this help.
Blessings, k

@karenoharmon thank you! I’ll be doing research diligently.

@karenoharmon It makes me so happy that I was able to help!! Thank you for telling me😊
Yes, I really am doing well and thank God every day for it!
I started physical therapy at around 3 months post op. I specifically asked for a therapist who had worked with spine surgery patients and it has been wonderful. She mostly does deeper muscle massage to help the muscles re-engage along with the new awful 🤣 skin rolling thing. I’m kidding…it’s not that bad and it sure helps.
I really don’t feel the hardware. I think of it as part of me now. I need it to feel better and it’s doing its job!
I like that you are working to think about something else when it bothers you.
The log rolling in bed should continue for a long time to keep you from twisting your back. I still do it and it has become so “normal” that I don’t even think about it. Just pretend that you have rods in your back that keep it straight….oh wait, you do😂 But seriously, for the first few months I slept on my back with a pillow under my knees. Then I started intermittently using the pillow and now I sleep normally on my back or on my side and I have those long body pillows that I hug and use between my knees when on my side. It really helps to keep my spine aligned and not hurt my hips.
It was probably around 7 or 8 months when I stopped feeling the little jolt of pain from stepping wrong off a curb or the bump and twist as the car went over a speed bump. I remember driving and thinking “what if I get in an accident? And what would it do to my back?” But I believe it’s important to be careful with the situations that I put myself in, while knowing that I can’t control everything.
It will get easier….I remember gauging my progress on a weekly timeline. And that was how I could see that it was getting better.
I didn’t go out in public a lot, and when I did, it wasn’t in busy places. I agree with your husband about someone accidentally knocking you down and it’s good to be on the safe side. I think you will know when you are ready to leave the walker at home. Your surgery is so recent that you just need more time to heal.
I do not wear a medical ID. But speaking as someone with medical experience, if you are in a position to need cpr, you don’t need to worry about your back. CPR will be done the same way, no matter what, to get you breathing and heart pumping again.
Yes my horses are full of energy and bored. At least it’s been rainy and cold so they are preferring to stand in the barn.
I will update on the results of my xray after I hear from my surgeon.
Healing from this kind of surgery is slooooowwww but I am getting close to feeling normal. Yay!!
Keep asking questions if you have them.😊
Wishing you the best,
Sherry

@karenoharmon This was soooo helpfullll to me you answered so many questions I had and some I didn't even ask yet. Thank you so much for this! ! ! ! ! ! These are just some of my takeaways from your post ~ ~ ~

youtube app for scoliosis surgery recovery videos, back surgery recovery videos by ot; EquipMeOT is really good! You can also search for your specific surgery.

Squats and lunges; getting up and down from a chair using my legs only; deep belly breaths

Would my life be better a year from now because I chose to have the surgery, or would it be worse because I did not?

The pain was making everything challenging for me.

I asked people that knew me. Not one person in my life thought I should continue suffering as I had been the last 12 years.

Post-op pain has not been anywhere as bad as pre-op.
This is so MAJOR it may be the thing that helps me make my decision to move forward ~ all of these combined will do it 💕

It is definitely a time like this when you learn who your rock steady friends are. Some are not going to be able to handle the level of need you might require. They aren’t bad friends just not the kind of friend that can help at the level you will need. WOW this is so well put everyone that is about to go forward with this type of surgery should hear this! ! ! 💕

Thank You so much for all your input it is truly priceless !

Bob