Update , almost a year post op Revision surgery

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and blessings to all. My

flatback surgery was last February and I am coming up on the one year

mark. I just wanted to give you an update as to how I am doing.

Last February I had my flatback surgery with all the bells. I had it

done at NYU medical center. I have to say, I feel great. I never would

have believed that I would ever be able to live even one day pain free

again. I am happy to say that at least for the last couple of moths I

have been virtually pain free except for the occasional Tylanol. In

October I walked an entire mile around a lake in upstate New York. In

November I walked around the strip (The boardwalk where the casinos

are). It was a blast. I couldn't believe I was actually able to walk

that much. I could barely walk up the block from my house last January.

At this time last year I was barely functional. Walking was very

difficult for me then. I had to lean on shopping carts,lean on

people, and always walk with a cane, everywhere. I had to take

frequent breaks and sit down due to the spinal stenosis. I was

popping pain pills like candy. My life had become so small. I barely

wanted to get up in the morning and face another day of pain.

The difference is enormous now. My pain has decreased to almost

nothing. My attitude and outlook are much more positive now. And I am

grateful for every day that I have with my " New and Improved " bionic

body. My stamina isn't up to par yet, but I am getting there with each

passing day. When I get tired, I listen to my body and go rest. We

need to put ourselves and our heath first for a change.

I don't take my new found freedom for granted though. Who knows what

the future will hold. But for now, I am just trying to adjust and

start enjoying my life again. I feel like I have been given a second

chance. You won't catch me out snow skiing, water skiing, iceskating,

jumping from airplanes and the like. I still walk somewhat slowly and

gingerly and I thank God for any painless steps I can make now. I

figure, I don't want to tempt fate so I lead a somewhat less action

oriented

life now, but I'll take this to how I felt pre revision anyday.

I do have some minor daily inconveniences. Like for instance, trouble

getting my shoes and

socks on. Often I have to ask my husband and grown kids to tie my

shoes and or or put my socks on for me. It's a little humiliating but

I take it in

my stride. And no one seems to mind at all. I think they also probably

feel that this is a minor inconvenience to them also, compared with

how they had to see me suffer in pain and disability these last 9

years. Going to the bathroom is another challenge. (Number 2) that

is. As was elaborated on in the " wiping " thread spoken of earlier in

the Feisty site a year or so ago. I could sure use some pointers in

that area. LOL!

Shaving my legs and cutting my toenails is very difficult for me now.

I am still working on solutions in that area. This is were the guy

flatbackers have there advantage. They don't have to shave their legs.

Lucky them. : )

Driving can be hard sometimes when you need to

actually twist or turn around to see traffic before you merge on to

streets, highways etc. Parallel parking is challenging also due to the

extra stiffness created from the long fusion.

Airports are another fun place to go as a " metaled up " Feisty member.

You tend to set off alarms all over the place and have to put up with

getting

wanded, frisked, and virtually treated like a " terrorist/bad guy when

you go through security. Yikes! It's just another strange indignity we

as Scoliosis and Flatback veterans have to put up with.

But in my estimation all of this is a small price to pay for the gift

that has been given me. A new life.! Albeit somewhat altered,and

certainly a hard

won new life. But

still, for the time being at least, it is once again a good life for

me now.

Sometimes I do lament about the years that have been virtually lost

to me due to the

pain and disability. This is a

given. We have lost a lot. And so have our family and friends. We have

been dealt some rough cards here. I must mention though, that all of

you here and this Feisty group has been integral to my survival,

sanity, and recovery in many ways. The comeradery as well as the

good medical information and moral support has made a huge difference

in my life. I just had to mention that and thank everyone here..both

new and older veteran members of the Feisty site.

There really is no way around this difficult malady except to go

through it and decide on the best course of action. And we all

have to walk that particular path alone. Making the very best choices

we can;

while hoping that eventually things will turn out for the better.

I know the

future is precarious for all of us with this strange deformity. It

certainly is both a sobering and humbling experience. So, for now I

still

take it one day at a time, while praying for new medical

innovations to continue to make scoliosis and spinal surgery better

and better each year.

I want for all of us Feisties to be mobile, pain free and functional

once again. Hopefully living out our years, having a full and quality

existence ahead.

Happy New Year to everyone, and my best wishes for a great year ahead.

love Carol (NY)