Re: leaning forward off balance and gait

[Guest guest]

Yes, it's hard to know. I did not go for a revision until there was absolutely

no question in my mind. I still need another revision, but there is just no

comparison between how I am now and how I was before my first revision. I was

barely walking, could not support myself without leaning on my forearms, spent

two days trying to psych myself up to carry a load of trash or laundry down a

couple flights of stairs . . . Just no comparison.

Perhaps I could wait longer this time, till my pain has me even crazier. I am

totally " cured " compared to how I was before the first revision. I guess I am

still waiting for someone to call a halt to this surgery. Maybe I am being a

perfectionist and risking horrible adverse consequences.

Hmmm . . . .

I think this is what journalists a few decades ago called " the revolution of

rising expectations. " One revision got me nearly perfect, maybe another revision

will get me even closer.

Or maybe it is lowered expectations. I am used to living with terrible pain,

why not just live with more terrible pain? Why go for more streamlined hardware

and a correction of 10 or 11 cm. better, when the stakes are potentially so

high?

Hmmm . . . .

Re: leaning forward off balance and gait

Hi Sharon,

Just read your post re " getting fixed " . You know, I've begun to wonder if

" getting fixed " is actually worth it! I actually cannot remember a truly

satisfied consumer of this particular surgery. My gait is already a problem.

My

center is off and I cannot walk a straight line. I always know that I am

wearing two of the same shoes and, frankly, my current pain regimen is not as

awful

as some have been. Soooooo, it's going to take some salesmanship to sell me

the revision surgery. To date, I have only one scoliosis surgery.

Carole M.

[Guest guest]

,

Beautifully put!

Thank you for expressing this. I know that you speak for many others, including

me.

Re: leaning forward off balance and gait

Hi Sharon,

Just read your post re " getting fixed " . You know, I've begun to wonder if

" getting fixed " is actually worth it! I actually cannot remember a truly

satisfied consumer of this particular surgery. My gait is already a

problem. My

center is off and I cannot walk a straight line. I always know that I am

wearing two of the same shoes and, frankly, my current pain regimen is not

as awful

as some have been. Soooooo, it's going to take some salesmanship to sell me

the revision surgery. To date, I have only one scoliosis surgery.

Carole M.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Alas, I can't take personal credit for the razor on a stick idea.

Almost all my good tips on how to deal with range of motion

limitations were obtained from an internet hip replacement support

group. Similar in greatness to this Feisty group - just with focus

on a different body part!

Also, I saw your post about your concerns about anesthesia and

its adverse effects on you after your last surgery. Since there have

been new advances in flatback surgery in the last couple years, isn't

there the chance there have also been advances in

anesthesiology....? In any case, I'd recommend writing down all your

concerns about anesthesia and pain medication side effects so that

you remember to tell them to your anesthesiologist (and your NS).

I'm not implying you wouldn't remember - I'm probably just projecting

about my own limitations in this area!!

One other tip from the hip patients for what it's worth. (I don't

know if this translates to spine surgery.) Somebody who had past

problems with side effects from pain meds asked their OS to write an

order in advance to allow a change in the meds if he or she started

having similar problems, so as to avoid the usual delay that ensues

as the hospital staff tries to reach the OS for authorization.

As always, best wishes,

loriann

> Very ingenious, Lori!

>

>

> Re: leaning forward off balance and gait

>

>

> Hi ,

>

> I'm not post-revision, but the combination of my hip problems and

T5-

> sacrum spinal fusion makes me unable to reach my right leg much

past

> my knee. I use thick rubber bands to secure a razor to a

dressing

> stick (purchased at a medical supply store). Any long stick with

a

> razor attached might work just as well or better to allow you to

> reach.

>

[Guest guest]

Would Dr. Leonard's catalogue be helpful? I think it could be reached by

going to

Dr.Leonard.com I didn't actually try it, but it is worth a try.

Carole M.

P.S. this was about sock and stocking puller uppers.

[Guest guest]

and ,

Thank you for expressing your feelings regarding revision surgery. I think

that there are many very brave people on this site! I just got nervous and

started having some trouble discerning my own need for revision surgery. After

all, I think I may be the oldest person in the whole group! I find that this

is something I have to take into consideration these days! I am pretty sure

that I am in for nearly a year of surgery and recuperation with regard to my

hands. That just makes me even older if I would like to have revision surgery.

Believe me, I would love to stand my whole 5'5 " tall and straight! I just

think that would never happen and is a bit of a " pipe dream " to quote my

departed

father. I, too, was told that my curvature was " arrested " and that after

puberty the curves would no longer increase. Bull crap!!! They just didn't

increase, they were leaping and bounding!

We all just have to remember that, as much as we all identify with one

another and feel " the same " , we also are as different as night and day in some

respects. Not one person should be made to feel that the wrong choice was made

by

him/her. That would be hurtful and would serve no purpose at all.

Before I REALLY get on my soapbox, I shall sign off, wishing everyone a

pain-free existence!

Sincerely,

Carole M. the older

[Guest guest]

Dear a,

I was reading through old posts and saw that I didn't answer your question. I

use grabbers all day long, I have one in every room, various styles, still

looking for the perfect grabber. I've even learned to restring them. I watch how

much I bend down using my knees, just don't want to over use them. I'm lucky I

still have kids at home and I leave stuff like putting dishes in lower cabinets

for them. We are moving in June and I'll look for a house with a wall oven, I

hate trying to put stuff in the oven and forget the broiler. My husband makes

sure in restaurants that we get seated at tables not booths, they just don't

work for me, and I trend to get food down the front of me because I'm trying to

sit on the edge of the booth seat. I got a lot of good ideas from group members

on the bain of my existance, shaving my legs. I need to work on getting my lower

body strength up to par. I've recovered enough that I'm doing some lunges and

stuff to help me. Thank you for input, nice to have somone in the same boat to

talk with!

Denver

leaning forward off balance

and

> gait

> > >

> > >

> > > -

> > >

> > > have you ever thought to ask one of your docotors to do

a

> gait

> > analysis of

> > > you. Hospitals do it especially for children that are

> having

> > their legs

> > > shortened/lengthened or manipulated. Why is it the

older

> > population doesn't

> > > deserve that intense degree of scrutiny to try and

get " IT "

> > right. Thinking

> > > back, did my revision surgeon ever ask me to walk up

and

> down

> > hallways and

> > > scrutinize how I walk. NO. Just stand turn touch your

toes

> walk

> > 5 feet walk

> > > back. sit and talk about it all and make a decision

based

> on 2

> > minutes of

> > > visual cue and some films to cut open and revise the

human

> > spine. Why

> > > aren't the biomechanics studies a bit more intensely?

> > > wishing you many peaceful moments

> > > TwistedSister in NJ

> > > 1982 Scoliosis Harrington fusion, 1998 Revision A/P

Surgery

> for

> > Flatback

> > > Syndrome, 1998 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, 1999

> > Degenrative SI Joints,

> > > 2000 Weight Loss Surgery, 2000 Spinal Hardware

Removed,

> 2001

> > Cervical

> > > bulging discs, 2002 Arachnoiditis, 2002 GERD, 2002

> Adhesions,

> > 1993 Mitral

> > > Valve Prolapse, 1996 Fibromyalgia, 2001 Kidney Stones,

> > > 2003 Interstitial Cystitis, May 2003 Anterior spine

> hardware

> > removal

> > > ** LIFE IS UNCERTAIN.............EAT DESSERT FIRST **

> > > Harrington Rod scoliosis people and other post-op

multiple

> > spine surgery

> > > people may interested in the following website

dedicated to

> > Flatback

> > > Syndrome and revision/salvage spine

surgery... " Salvaged

> > Sisters of

> > > Scoliosis " website on Delphi Forums at:

> > > http://forums.delphiforums.com/adultscoliosis/messages

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington

Rod

> > Malalignment Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not

control

> ads

> > or endorse any advertised products.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > ----------------------------------------------------------

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> > >