Re: Upcoming revision surgery...

June 28, 2004

Thanks ,

I'll find out more after my July 7th appt.

It's a roller coaster of events but we're all getting there.

xoxo's

You sound MUCH MUCH stronger than previously.

June 28, 2004

,

AMEN and BRAVO to your father's advice!! I happen to be one who DID wait for

something easier... something better... something less invasive...ANYTHING LESS

than what my revision surgery entailed!! Unfortunately, by the time I finally

gave in to the inevitable, I ended up with permenant, irreversible nerve damage

and neuropathy in both of my legs; I continue to be under the care of a

wonderful Pain Management physician, and probably always will, short of a

miracle!

My suggestion is as always...if you find the revision surgeon you are

comfortable with...whom you feel can give you the best care possible, then dive

in!! The end results are well worth all that revision surgery entails!

All the best,

Beth

> Hello again Friends,

> I had my discogram Friday. I found out my fusion is T-4 to L-2. The

> disocgram reproduced pain at the L-2/L-3 level. It is totally amazing

> how pain can be reproduced during a discogram.

> I did have pain at the other discs below this point, but the bulk of

> my pain is no doubt in the L-2/L-3 area.

> I find out July 7 just how the doc wishes to treat me.

> Psychologically, I'm ready. I have a support group ready and willing

> to help me with meals, transporting children, housecleaning, and

> whatever else. I think it's real important to have a support system

> at the ready.

> , I'm really keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. I'll

> tell you what my dad told me on the telephone the other day... " Stop

> waiting for new techniques to come about. Just do what needs to be

> done now. If you wait too long, you could be looking at irreversible

> damage which might not be able to be helped at all. " When he put it

> that way I realized something; What if all my waiting leaves me

> damaged to the point where I can never play with my kids ever again

> or enjoy walking hand in hand with my husband? I'd have some serious

> regrets then, wouldn't I?

> I need to go lie down now. I can only stay erect for so long before

> the pain gets to me. I just wanted to share some personal insight to

> whomever will listen because I believe we can all help one another.

> xoxo's

>

> Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

> Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

> advertised products.

>

June 29, 2004

I, too, second 's father's advice. When I was deciding whether

to have revision, my choices seemed to be " live with increasing pain

and potentially cause myself irreversible damage for five years and

THEN have this horrible operation " and " have this horrible operation

and get it over with so I'm on the other side of it and I can just

deal with whatever kind of pain I have afterwards, " I had to go with

getting it over with. (Well, it took a year to actually schedule and

get prepped for the surgery, but it was more like getting it over

with than putting it off indefinitely.)

And in sum, I can sleep on my back, ride a bike, keep up with my

kids, walk a mile or two, dance a little, and pretty much do whatever

I want except wear Blahniks, sit at a desk all day, or jump out of

airplanes.

Elissa

> ,

>

> AMEN and BRAVO to your father's advice!! I happen to be one who DID

wait for something easier... something better... something less

invasive...ANYTHING LESS than what my revision surgery entailed!!

Unfortunately, by the time I finally gave in to the inevitable, I

ended up with permenant, irreversible nerve damage and neuropathy in

both of my legs; I continue to be under the care of a wonderful Pain

Management physician, and probably always will, short of a miracle!

>

> My suggestion is as always...if you find the revision surgeon you

are comfortable with...whom you feel can give you the best care

possible, then dive in!! The end results are well worth all that

revision surgery entails!

>

> All the best,

> Beth

>

> > Hello again Friends,

> > I had my discogram Friday. I found out my fusion is T-4 to L-2.

The

> > disocgram reproduced pain at the L-2/L-3 level. It is totally

amazing

> > how pain can be reproduced during a discogram.

> > I did have pain at the other discs below this point, but the

bulk of

> > my pain is no doubt in the L-2/L-3 area.

> > I find out July 7 just how the doc wishes to treat me.

> > Psychologically, I'm ready. I have a support group ready and

willing

> > to help me with meals, transporting children, housecleaning, and

> > whatever else. I think it's real important to have a support

system

> > at the ready.

> > , I'm really keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

I'll

> > tell you what my dad told me on the telephone the other

day... " Stop

> > waiting for new techniques to come about. Just do what needs to

be

> > done now. If you wait too long, you could be looking at

irreversible

> > damage which might not be able to be helped at all. " When he put

it

> > that way I realized something; What if all my waiting leaves me

> > damaged to the point where I can never play with my kids ever

again

> > or enjoy walking hand in hand with my husband? I'd have some

serious

> > regrets then, wouldn't I?

> > I need to go lie down now. I can only stay erect for so long

before

> > the pain gets to me. I just wanted to share some personal insight

to

> > whomever will listen because I believe we can all help one

another.

> > xoxo's

> >

> > Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod

Malalignment

> > Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or

endorse any

> > advertised products.

> >

June 30, 2004

OK, that did it! If I can't jump out of airplanes, I'm canceling my surgery.

Joyce