Advice on post-scoliosis surgery management?

@paltavilla1
Hi, I had a T11 - L4 spinal fusion three months ago by Dr. McClendon. I think he did an amazing job and the scoliosis pain that I had prior to surgery is completely gone.
I don’t know how to link the discussion here, but there are a few of us who have posted information that would help with your post-op question. If you use the search option, you should be able to find them. And if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me.
When is your surgery scheduled for?
Sherry

Sherry I am scheduling with nurse Ruth now. I hope to schedule late August or early September.

Thank you SO for responding! I really appreciate it.

Might we be able to connect voice to voice at some point?

I love nurse Ruth! She is so great to work with.
Yes, we can absolutely talk about surgery. I will private message you and send my email too.

Hi Sherry,

I just had my surgeries (ALIF on 12/30/2025 & all the posterior rods & hardware on 1/2/2026. Straightened the COB (?) angle from 75-80 degrees to down to about 20. Am almost 65 years old. I was just wondering how your recuperation went and how you feel now. Thanks for any info.

@elainep I trust that you are starting to feel better? I had t10-pelvis Oct. 28, 2025 and it really took until that third month before I could say I was starting to live again. Pain was not really a problem after the third week from surgery. Learning how to adjust to feeling the hardware was a challenge. It just felt icky, and at times it still does. @sherrym25 was a great encouragement! Learning to be kind and patient with yourself is key. Trying to think long range instead of trying to rush things has helped. If i had to say what has been the most challenging, I would say the sensitivity around my waste. My nerves are like an angry cat and on high alert. This means that touching my skin or even clothes touching my skin is met with intense response. It is kind of like a bad sunburn. PT is addressing that but it feels like I take one step forward and 2 steps back. We are trying to figure out the triggers and how to manage the response. Take care of yourself. Please reach out with specific questions as they come up. This is an amazingly supportive group! Blessings!

Hi @karenoharmon! Thanks for the encouragement! Seems everyone’s recuperation from any surgery is sooo different! I cannot imagine the nerve sensitivity that you are experiencing….or the fact that you said any other pain was not really an issue after 3 weeks. My level of pain and discomfort has been more than I expected. Weaned myself off the oxy & muscle relaxer except for bedtime at a little over 6 weeks. Surgical staff would not renew meds at that point so had to ask my PCP. I am now 9 weeks past my 2nd surgery (ALIF was a few days before that one). I now take half of the low(est) doses at bedtime….the pain from the waist up is definitely getting so much better now…..but the lower back fusion area is still simply miserable by bedtime….i pace the floor a lot at night…and still cannot sleep in bed (I sleep in a recliner cushioned with a blanket). On the bright side, I can breathe soooo much easier now & the searing pain I used to have across my left back & pelvis & left leg is gone! I am actually some inches taller (thus more room to breathe now that my organs are not squashed!🤣), too. I expect to be able to start PT, hopefully, at the 3 month point. In the meantime, I walk 2-3 miles per day now, and I am very happy that I had the courage to go through with these surgeries, I expected it to be a long recuperation…but at least I am feeling sooo much better now than I was a couple weeks ago (except at night…which I hope will get better in a few more weeks). Is your nerve pain improving at all?

Hi @elainep! You are a rock star to be walking 2-3 miles a day!!! That's awesome! Doesn't it feel good to take those deep breaths?! This forum is a great source for tricks and ideas to try to work through the frustrations that we didn't know to ask about. I'm sorry that you are still dealing with the pain. Is it the fact you feel the hardware or does it genuinely hurt? Being able to feel the hardware just grossed me out. So we positioned a goose down duvet insert under me - it's not too soft, just fluffs out the space a little. I would lay down and do deep belly breaths and listen to Lectio365 nighttime prayers. I usually fell asleep before they finished. Enjoy those added inches! Think it's too late for us to try out for WNBA? Be blessed!

Hi, Kadeoh! I am now at almost 16 weeks post both surgeries & was wondering how you are feeling now, too! Yes, I’ve had to deal with a lot of pain in this healing process ….not just an ick-factor awareness of hardware….the horrible pain in my lower back/sacroiliac finally faded away at around the 8-10 week point……so I was finally able to sleep in bed with some extra plush blankets under me for cushioning. At that point, it was my upper back (waist up) that the pain got worse….up the middle of my spine & out under my shoulder blades. Pins & needles & shooting, stabbing pains in addition to severe ache. I guess it is just part of the healing process….perhaps the inflammation is calming down and the muscles & nerves are adjusting to the hardware more. Gabapentin takes the edge off some of this pain during the day. Still have some oxy & muscle relaxer left, as needed, for bedtime, but I only take 1/2 doses.
I must say that the past month or so has been difficult due to this constant pain……I really thought it would be so much better at this point. Then my best friend reminds me of how far I’ve come & he says he notices improvement each week ….My physical therapist (got the orders for PT after my 3-month follow-up) also tells me that I’m doing great & I need to be more patient & forgiving of myself & that it will be a long healing process. I do enjoy that I can breathe easier (except there is an ick-factor of feeling like my back muscles are pulling/pushing against a “cage” if I take a really deep breath). So weird!!!! This recuperation has come with lots of strange, painful sensations! So, overall, glad to be in PT & doing home PT exercises & walking 3-4 miles per day or so. Just feel really down on some days cuz of the pain. Got a grabber tool & a sock aid & an extra long shoe horn so I can fully dress myself independently now. I must say that learning how to use these tools & how to dress when unable to bend at the waist anymore has looked like quite a comedy movie, at times! Guess WNBA might eliminate me from draft since I cannot pick the ball up off the ground if I drop it, though! lol! Anyway, here’s to determination & looking ahead to a better quality of life than what we had before surgery!