Re: Re: Fusion to Sacrum: Limitations

[Guest guest]

I can just picture me asking my spouse for help putting on my panties.

" On? Why would you want me to put them ON? "

;^)

Re: Fusion to Sacrum: Limitations

it is just a bit

comical if you step back and look at the picture we all paint trying

to get our undies on. I was chatting with martha on the phone the

other day and we were laughing at our spouses just watching us go at

it with a " look " on their faces...you want to ask them to please

just help, and then get ahold of yourself and get it done...

[Guest guest]

loriann262000 wrote:

>Somebody should definitely make a video called " Yoga For People Who

>Can't Put Their Underwear On.... "

>

>loriann

>

>

>

>

>

Oh, my God! Thanks so much for the good laugh!

:-)

I just about fell down laughing when I read this...

Actually, there IS a video, " Yoga for Inflexible People "

http://www.allspiritfitness.com/library/videos/bl_InflexibleYogarev.shtml

I have it, but have been too busy to play it yet.

:-)

But I force myself to go to my Chronic Pain Yoga Class once a week. I've

been going for a year.

in Oakland

[Guest guest]

Thanks to all who answered.

Joann: How exactly do you get your socks on and tie

your shoes? Do you bend down or can you bring your

foot up to your lap? Either way, I am jealous! You

mentioned you are in Oregon - anywhere near Gresham?

My brother owns the bagel shop there. My mom lives in

Vancouver, WA close to Oregon border.

: We do sound exactly alike. Both in our

limitations and in being glad the pain is gone (well,

in my case, it's not gone 100% yet but will be). I

have many more mobility questions but don't want to

inundate you with them. I am just impatient I guess. I

would rather know now if I will be able to bend enough

to clean the toilet bowl rather than wait to find out

myself. Whether I will be able to load the dishwasher,

take things out of the oven, reach the back burner on

the stove with a big pot of water.... etc.

My husband and I are discussing trading in my car for

something higher since it is difficult for me to get

my legs in. He is also remodeling our bathroom - not

because of my surgery - but we are going to consider

my current condition when selecting cabinetry, sink

level, grab bars, etc.

Thanks again, Kathi in NJ

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[Guest guest]

I own a van and it has worked out very well for me. It is much easier to

get in and out of than the Ford station wagon I used to own 4 years ago.

I have a teenage daughter who has a car. We went to the movies the other

day. and she drove me. . I had an awful time getting in and out of her

car. Big ouch.! She is a new driver and excited about getting her first

car. I don't want to hurt her feelings but next time I think we will take

my van. : ) I think anything at van level should work well for you like

an SUV's etc. Good luck

Carol

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

My husband and I are discussing trading in my car for

something higher since it is difficult for me to get

my legs in

[Guest guest]

Dear Kathi,

Making do, thats how I handle the small stuff. I do load the dishwasher, it's

the unloading that takes talent. I use the half squat, bended knee method, works

fine for me. I also have two teenagers at home, so that chore mostly falls to

them. I pile up the pots and bowls on the stove while they are gone at school

and they put them away when they get home. I do have trouble with picking up

heavy things with my arms extended. My daughter put a heavy cutting board in the

window sill of the kitchen behind the sink, and to my surprise I couldn't pick

it up. So, we just don't put it there anymore. I can put big pots of water on

the stove , but I don't put them on the back burner. I'm all about protecting my

spine, and if I have to strain to do things I either don't do it or get help.

Oh, the oven, I get help with anything that has weight to it, who wants to mess

with hot things and not having the mobility you need. The next house we move to

I'm looking for one with an wall oven. I do clean bathrooms, I use the

half-squat, knee bend method for that too. In general I can do most everything,

I've adapted, but it does take me longer. No one has told me this, but since we

can't bend, it makes sence to me that we will over use our knees, so I get as

much help as I can with things that require bending, especially while my kids

are still at home. I would be #$%@ out of luck if I injured my knees, so I'm

careful with them too. While some things get easier with time, many stay the

same, and I'm still finding things I can't do. One day I thought I'd take a bath

instead of a shower, and found that I couldn't manage to sit down in a normal

bathtub, had to sit with my legs folded under my bottom. Dr Kumar told me when

we went into this that they didn't know how I'd be ten years out, or twenty, and

so I tell him my challenges and help his patients that are about to have the

surgery, and I'm very honest with them.

I'm also protective of my neck, since I'm fused very high T-2, and since all the

T's and L's and S-1 are fused , it only makes sense that there could be wearing

out of the disks above the massive amount of fusions I have. So if my neck

tires, I lay down and rest it. I wish that they had told us when we were young

to be protective of our spines, but I've learned my lesson and I live my life so

that I'll have a much function as possible, for as long as possible. So I'm done

preaching, hope this helps, any questions, just ask!

Colorado Springs

Re: Re: Fusion to Sacrum: Limitations

Thanks to all who answered.

Joann: How exactly do you get your socks on and tie

your shoes? Do you bend down or can you bring your

foot up to your lap? Either way, I am jealous! You

mentioned you are in Oregon - anywhere near Gresham?

My brother owns the bagel shop there. My mom lives in

Vancouver, WA close to Oregon border.

: We do sound exactly alike. Both in our

limitations and in being glad the pain is gone (well,

in my case, it's not gone 100% yet but will be). I

have many more mobility questions but don't want to

inundate you with them. I am just impatient I guess. I

would rather know now if I will be able to bend enough

to clean the toilet bowl rather than wait to find out

myself. Whether I will be able to load the dishwasher,

take things out of the oven, reach the back burner on

the stove with a big pot of water.... etc.

My husband and I are discussing trading in my car for

something higher since it is difficult for me to get

my legs in. He is also remodeling our bathroom - not

because of my surgery - but we are going to consider

my current condition when selecting cabinetry, sink

level, grab bars, etc.

Thanks again, Kathi in NJ

__________________________________

Celebrate 's 10th Birthday!

Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web

http://birthday./netrospective/

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

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

advertised products.

[Guest guest]

Dear Joann,

I'm so glad to hear you are doing well. I'm from Colorado, you saw my

surgeon Dr. Kumar. I'm glad your surgery went well! I was surprised to hear that

you are from Oregon. Prior to us moving to the Denver area five years ago we

lived in Ashland, OR for four years. We still call Ashland home and hope to get

back there someday, despite the fact that it's gotten so expensive to live

there. Oregon has the nicest people and is the most visually stunning place we

ever lived. I love the Eugene area, it's so green! I try to get out to Oregon to

visit once a year, would love to call and talk to you while I'm out that way. I

wish you all the best, and so happy you are doing well!

Colorado Springs

Re: Fusion to Sacrum: Limitations

-Kathi, I don´t bend down, altho I can, sort of, but I don´t think

it´s a good idea yet. I bring my foot up to my knee and put my shoes

and socks on from there. I can always reach my right foot, sometimes

I´m a little short of my little toe-it´s so frustrating to almost

reach. My shoes I tie from the resting position on my knee, but I can

only reach the corner so my ties are askew.

I live in Eugene 100 miles south of Gresham, but my husband, who is

from Spain, have a house here and that´s where I am until April 5

when I return. I think I´m reincorporating to work on the 15th-I

teach high school so I´ll work until mid-June and then return here.

Could those of you who are revised tell me when/if you went back to

work, and how´d you do?

>

>

>

>

>

> __________________________________

> Celebrate 's 10th Birthday!

> Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web

> http://birthday./netrospective/

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

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

advertised products.

[Guest guest]

Franca,

After a bit of a scare after finding out I had not been scheduled for the day I

was told and planned childcare around, I have confirmation from Hillary for the

12th. Maybe we will end up as roommates.

Ann

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[Guest guest]

Franca,

I really don't know what happened but I suspect a lot of scrambling in

scheduling. I am happy with how things turned out and hope you are too. I am

told my surgery will be about 6 hours. I think for Rand that is pretty short, so

he should be in fine shape to work on you the following day. I am confident that

he wouldn't do back to back if it was too taxing. I bet my daughter would love

to hang out with your " big " girls. Will they come to visit you? I am schedued

for pre-screening on the 29th and will try to do the blood work on Saturdays. I

only have to bank two units. Gee, Franca, I've been waiting for this surgery and

now it feels so soon. Looking forward to meeting you, Ann

crooked_dancer <hadouni30@...> wrote:

Ann

Do I remember wrong or were you schedualed for the 15th? they must

have moved you too. I was thinking the exact thing when I found out

my dates. that would be cool. Dr R. is going to be busy, he must

operate almost every day. I'm glad you're plans for child care wasn't

affected. My two daughters have spring vacation from 18th-22 but they

are 14 and 16yrs.

See ya soon maybe

Franca

P.S. I have all my dates for donating 6units.

> Franca,

> After a bit of a scare after finding out I had not been scheduled

for the day I was told and planned childcare around, I have

confirmation from Hillary for the 12th. Maybe we will end up as

roommates.

> Ann

>

>

>

>

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

> Celebrate 's 10th Birthday!

> Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks , Carol, Joann and everyone else who

answered.

I drove my car for the 1st time yesterday (I am 18

weeks post-op). Getting in and out were the hard

parts. But also merging into traffic at an angle

because I can't see if it's clear unless I can lean

forward. So I pulled myself forward using the steering

wheel. All-in-all, I did pretty good and am gaining

confidence. Although I still may need to get rid of my

wagon for something higher (van or SUV).

In PT this week, we tried several 'tests' with my

arms. When I stand up straight with my back to the

wall and hold a ball in one hand, I can reach forward

and hand the ball to the therapist. This is true for

either arm. When I hold the ball with both hands, I

can only bring it about 6-8 inches away from my torso

and I cannot straighten my arms to hold it out. (This

is what I previously mentioned about putting pots on

the back burner of the stove). I am wondering if

stability is the cause. When the therapist holds his

hands in front of me, I can push out with both hands -

no problem. Once I moved away from the wall, I can

hold the ball out all the way away from my torso but

only if I lean backwards.

PS: - I have a wall oven but it doesn't help

since it is at standard height which requires you to

bend in, although not as low as a regular oven.

__________________________________

Celebrate 's 10th Birthday!

Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web

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