Adult Scoliosis: What is surgery like? Outcomes? Recovery?

Hi, If you are still looking for a Dr in Houston. Houston Scoliosis and Spine Institute Dr. Rahman. Is wonderful. I had T4 -S1 fused 2 years ago I was 58. I am 90% pain free. I 3 Dr. tell me I needed surgery. Before I couldn't walk more then 30 feet, I was in pain constantly I was unable to stand up straight. If you look on the Google reviews my before and after pictures are posted. I can't say enough about Dr. Rahman. Good Luck

@nlback22 Hey Nadine!! I was just reading through some of the recent message strings and thought of you. How are you healing?
I’m at a little over 8 1/2 months and really starting to do pretty well.
Wishing you the best!! Sherry

Hi Sherry,
I am glad to hear your doing well.😊

At a little over 3 1/2 months I have continued to progress. I walked a continuous 2 miles yesterday for the first time--I usually do a mile in the morning and one in the afternoon. I also started driving on a couple of short trips.
(Since most of my spine is fused and I am tall, I have to do a lot of maneuvers to get in a car!)
I still ice several times a day and do daily Pt-upper body one day and lower body the next.
I believe my 10 day inpatient rehab experience, after my hospitalization really propelled my recovery. (I had 3 hours of daily therapy split equally between physical therapy and occupational therapy.)
At this point, I still have to make certain I don't overdo it. I found it best if I only do one activity away from home a day.
It feels like my back is healing well. I still have some residual numbness in my right leg due to prior nerve damage in my back. My doctor stated that it takes a long time for nerves to recover and we are both are hopefull that it will dissipate over time. My pain management specialist stated it can take a year or two. I am taking nerve pain drugs still and tylenol, but that is all I have taken, ( except for 3 times early on), since I left the inpatient rehab. facility on May 29th.

That's all for now!
Best Wishes!
Nadine

How do I look on Google reviews for your before and after pictures? I have Scoliosis and can't walk more than a half block going to Mayo in Phoenix next week for evaluation.

On Google type in "Dr Ra Kerry Rahman houston tx reviews" you'll see a picture of the offices, below address phone number and then reviews. Mine is right there Kathy Nelson click on it. I was where you are now about 26 months ago. I could walk about to the curb 40/50 feet. The Tx medical Center was great. My surgery was over 12 hours. It was painful after but they give you pain meds to control it. After 1 week I went to in patient rehab at TMC for another week. Then home. Good luck

@nlback22
Nadine, I’m so glad to hear how you are doing!!!😊
I remember when I was around 3 months post op. I had just started PT and I described the muscles that ran next to my incision as “slabs”. They were extremely hard and rigid and and just trying to heal from the trauma of surgery. PT has been wonderful in loosening them up and letting them engage in my day-to-day activities. I would say for me at about month 7 things really turn the corner and the main thing I’m dealing with now is nerve pain across my back. A couple weeks ago my surgeon bumped up my gabapentin dosage during the day and it has made a world of difference! My only regret is that I did not talk to him about it months ago. Are you taking gabapentin? My surgeon said the same thing. It’s going to take a long time for the nerves to heal.
I can totally relate to your driving a car! 😀 Do you happen to have the rearview camera for backing up? That has been a lifesaver for me.
How about putting on socks and shoes? I had a long handle shoe horn that I used for quite a while and I definitely worked on making my legs more flexible to keep from bending my back!
I look forward to seeing how you heal.
Wishing you the best!😊
Sherry

Thank You Kathy,
I think I know what I'm in for now. How long can you stand without pain? I have heard you can walk a mile and even more after this surgery? How long has it been since your surgery & how far are you able to walk now? Is Dr Ra Kerry Rahman a neurosurgeon or orthopedic spine surgeon,
Thank You sooooo much for all your input and help.

Sincerely,
Bob

Hi,
It's been 26 months since surgery. Now I can walk 1 1/2 - 2 miles. I can probably stand over an hour. I have very little pain compared to before surgery. I had constant nerve pain down both legs. Dr. Rehman is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in scoliosis. I had a consultation with a neurosurgeon but wanted some who specializing in scoliosis. Physical therapy helps a lot. I just happy I am able to do everyday things. Now I take a Tylenol occasionally. Let me know if you have any other questions. Hope it helps

Hi Sherry,

Thank you for the good wishes and for sharing your experiences!

I did try Gabapentin, but it made me feel like I couldn't think clearly. With the guidance of my Pain Management Specialist, I switched to a combination of drugs each at a very low prescribed dose as I seem to be sensitive to medications. I am taking Pregabalin 25 mg., (Lyrica), in the morning, Duloxetine 20 mg. at lunch, and Low Dose Naltrexone 4.5 mg. (a compound drug) at bedtime. The combination seems to work for me.

My main nerve related issue is the varying degrees of numbness I feel in my right calf, and, occasionally, in my right foot. I had a similar situation prior to my spine surgery, but it was more severe. The surgeon freed up all my nerves so with time, he and I are hopeful that it will go away. I also have some numbness in my very low back (below my waist) and upper portion of my buttocks. It doesn't bother me though and I will see what happens over time.

The tools at home definitely make life easier! Yes, those socks can be a challenge. I purchased a device that helps me put my socks on, but it does stretch out the socks a little. I am still at the long shoe horn phase. Plus, I have elastic shoe laces in all my sneakers. And thank goodness, my car has a rearview camera for backing up.

PT is so important and such a benefit! Glad you are getting good results.

Sherry, now you have me looking forward to the 7 month milestone!

Best Wishes for your continued improvement!

Nadine

ps. Let's stay in touch!