Re: Re Duragesic Pain Patch

[Guest guest]

I'm with you on that one, Jolene!

Carole M.

[Guest guest]

Hi Jolene,

I guess it is possible about the sleep apnea and scoliosis. I just think my

body doesn't require a lot of sleep. I am not really tired when I wake up

which is usually after about 5 hours of sleep. By the afternoon I feel like a

quick cat nap. Ever since I had the kids, I became a very light sleeper.

My mother said I was always a light sleeper.

I pretty much go all day and try to keep moving because like so many of us

once you sit down, it is hard to get going again. I always say its like my

muscles just seize up. However, after reading about so many people and their

problems before and after surgery and still being on pain meds, I feel very

lucky that I can function fairly well.

Kathy

[Guest guest]

...

While the most popular spine implants in use today have names like

Isola, Miami Moss, etc., they're really very similar to the C-D

instrumentation that you already have. They're all considered

universal implant systems.

During revision surgery, previously fused areas can be straightened by

utilizing osteotomy techniques. This is usually only done to restore

balance.

Regards,

[Guest guest]

I had revision surgery with Dr. Boachie. My original surgery was posterior

only with Cotrel Debousset hardware (done in 1997 at age 37). Like yours

after about 2 years my back started to collapse. To make a long story short I

had pain in the upper part where the rod was. Original doctor thought it was

painful hardware syndrome and removed about 4 inches. After that my fusion

fractured.

Found Dr. Boachie and had my revision surgery in 2000.I had anterior/

posterior revision surgery. He removed the top part of the hardware. Fused me

through the front and refused through the back area and replace some of the

hardware. Don't know what kind, it looks like the same. He left the bottom

because that fusion part was fine.

I think the collapse of the spine has nothing to do with the hardware. How

it was explained to me is that sometimes, not for all people, but when you

are only fused through the back there is still some movement in the front of

the discs. After a while (like a paper clip that keeps being bent back and

forth) the fusion can fracture. You are made more stable if they fuse through

the front and back at the same time. There is no movement that way. I've

read that prominant thoracic curves are particular vulnerable to this problem.

That is what I had.

Good luck to you. Dr. Boachie is absolutely the best for this kind of

surgery.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

As far as my revision surgery went even with the collapsing of the first

surgery, I have to say I was never in much pain. I was uncomfortable but not

really in pain.

I think, but I'm not sure, with the old fusion what he did was chip out some

of the old stuff, cut the hardware on the top where the fusion was not good.

Fused the thoracic part through the front and redid it in the back with new

bone and hardware. He attached the new hardware to the old hardware on the

bottom. I had no problem with the fusion on the bottom. I hope this makes

sense. Dr. Boachie can explain it to you better. I was a lot straighter

after this surgery and also because of the thoraplasty the rib hump was greatly

reduced which wasn't done in the first surgery (going just through the back).

It is a big surgery but definately worth it. I was mad that I had to go

through another big surgery when the first one failed and very hesitant about

this surgery. If you can afford to come to New York I can definately say

without hesitation that Dr. Boachie is well worth it. When I was researching

surgeons I flew to Miami and went to see Dr. Schufflebarger because I had read

about him. I wasn't thrilled with him. I had found out that he does the hard

part of the surgery and then lets others finish and you probably never see

him again. Dr. Boachie was at my side every day at the hospital checking on me

and he never left the OR. As a matter of fact Dr. Schufflebarger had

recommended Dr. Boachie to me knowing I was coming to New York.

I hope this helps. Keep in touch and good luck.

Kathy