Guest guest Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 Hi Ann, I did see Dr. Rand this past week, on the 17th. I liked him very much and think I will opt for having my fusion continued down the remaining two disks that have degenerated. He seems to think that just fusing will take care of my tendency to lean forward and this puzzles me. I assumed I'd need osteotomies to increase my back curve. I really wish I'd thought to print out a copy of the questions on this messageboard's database.(Doh!) From what he tells me, in order to perform revision surgery, one or more of three things need to be present. Degenerative disk disease, Imbalance of the spine (that whole plumb line thing from the neck to the sacral area), and Spinal Stenosis (I think it was spinal stenosis, honestly, with all the medical terminology, I get pretty confused) I have DDD and the imbalance, though from what I've read on here, my leaning is not nearly to the degree that many are experiencing. I can stand straight when I get up in the morning, but am pitched forward after sitting for any length of time. Once I start moving, I'm better, but still feel stiff and kind of herky jerky. Anyway, Dr. Rand's assistant will be calling me this week to start the whole blood donating process in preparation for the surgery. It feels so quick, I really need to talk to him again now that I've had a chance to process everything a bit. Not that's he's pressuring me to have surgery right away, not at all. But my symptoms are progressing pretty quickly and physical therapy only helps to a certain degree. I really feel like my life has been on hold these past several months and the idea that I'll be able to resume a more normal life after surgery is sounding REALLY attractive to me! Have to end here. My thoughts were with Corina while at EB Hospital and I hope she's doing well after her surgery. Best wishes, all. More later. Dianne S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2004 Report Share Posted March 23, 2004 Hi Ann, Having decided to go forward with surgery, I'm waiting to hear from Rand's assistant. She told me that he'll go over my films and plot out exactly what he'll do and we'll proceed from there. At my appointment he had suggested continuing the fusion into L5. He mentioned L5 1 and L5 2, does anyone know what the heck that means? I assumed L5 was one disk. Anyway, whatever they're called, there are two unfused disks, one quite degenerated, the other not as bad. He feels that fusing them will straighten me up as well, as the degeneration is more advanced in the front of the disks, which would explain my leaning forward, my pelvic tilt, and the difference in my ribcage (it seems to be moving ever lower down my back in the past year or so) I'll keep you posted as I find out more. At this point I definitely want to talk to Rand again about questions that have come up since my appointment (such as L5 having subnumbers?) I'm hoping to go to the N.E. lunch, but am not sure of the surgery date yet. They said it would take a couple of months to stockpile my blood for transfusions, so I may be in surgery as soon as June, we shall see. How about you, Ann, do you have a date for your surgery yet? I know that you were planning on have your fusion extended, but I'm still so new to this board that I'm having trouble keeping up with all the posts. All my best, Dianne S. Rhode Island Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2004 Report Share Posted March 24, 2004 Hey Dianne, I was told by the radiologist doing my myelogram a couple years ago, the numbers 1 and 2 indicate the top or the bottom ofa disc. But it could mean something different coming from an ortho. When will you be in NEBH? I have an appt with Rand April 22. xoxo's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2004 Report Share Posted March 24, 2004 Hi , Thanks, that's what I thought it might mean, but wasn't sure. I'm still waiting to hear from Rand's office re: my next appointment, will keep you updated. How's your little one that was sick the other night, feeling better I hope? My fifteen-year-old is home from school today, but have a suspicion he's faking ill to sleep the day away. I miss rocking my babies! All my best, Dianne S Rhode Island (this post may show up twice, when I attempted to send it last time, it disappeared, so I'm rewriting it to err on the side of caution) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2004 Report Share Posted March 24, 2004 , I agree with everyone who read that post about rocking your five year old! What a lucky little girl (boy?)! I had four in 4-1/2 years, and cherished any time I could spend alone with one! I'm sure you are a very caring Mom! Carole M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 Hi Ann, Regarding the " sub numbers " (I just referred to them that way, kind of jokingly, by the way) mentioned in a post that Rand may have been referring to the top and bottom of the disks. Fusion class you say? I know nothing of this! Clearly I need to talk to Dr. Rand a bit more. His assistant called me yesterday while I was out, so am just waiting til after the lunch hour to call back. It would be great to attend the fusion class with you, though. As far as my pain goes, it's much less acute. I can walk while remaining pretty straight, but really have to concentrate to do so. It takes a while to get started, like when I get out of the car my husband or kids will just charge ahead, where it takes me some time to straighten out the kinks and loosen up. How about you? Also, when you banked blood for your transfusions, how did you space that out, every three weeks or so? All my best, Dianne S. Rhode Island. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 Hey Dianne, My little one is better, just a cold now. She suffered from sleep apnea at the age of 3 and have to have a tonsillectomy. I tend to baby her when she gets ill. My 13 year old has been home for 4 days. Poor guy, I thought he was faking it but he's been really sick. So he got babied too. He loved every minute of it. LOL Not more than I did though. Golly I can't believe he's 13 almost 14. PHEW! Did your son try to put a heating pad to his forhead? LOL Definitely keep me posted about your Dr. Rand visit. Are you going to need an MRI or a myelogram before you see him? xoxo's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2004 Report Share Posted April 1, 2004 " I gave up my career to stay at home with my babies. No regrets at all. We made lots of sacrifices but well worth it all " >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I did too. No regrets. Spending time with my 3 kids was a good investment of my time and energy. But I did expect to revive my career when the kids grew up. What I didn't count on was being disabled from HARMS just when I finally had the opportunity to get back to my career. That was a unpleasant surprise. : O ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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