upcoming surgery

[Guest guest]

Wow Take a deep breath. It sounds as if your prepared. It is

not unusual to flip out days before surgery. Am I doing the right

thing? What ifs? Your right " what if " ? Will the result satisfy your

quality of life? Is it worth the risk? Unfortunately, only you can

answer that and I assume that if your scheduled, you have. Rest

assured that all the homework, surgeon visits, tests and all else

have helped prepare you for this surgery. I know your scared, by

golly, I was too. I have developed some of those complications but I

am straight by Joe and that is what I was heading for. Try to relax

and best of everything with your surgery.

>

> Hi,

> I'm a bit nervous - I'm scheduled for surgery in five days. I'm

> freaking out about the house being clean, my dog has come down

with

> a virus, and I'm worried, of course, about the surgery. It will

be

> my third, but my previous two were done when I was a teen, (I'm 31

> now), and of course they don't tell you all the possible

> complications then! I had complications during my first

> instrumentation surgery - infection, blood transfusion, etc. I

> didn't know about all the possible, although rare, complications

> too - that's scaring me. They are not doing a full ostonomy at

this

> time, but rather tackling my spinal stenosis and compression below

> my fusion at L3-5 region. I also have a segment of one of my rods

> that isn't attached to the bone that he's going to remove, and add

a

> smaller rod to support the lower spine. I guess I'm nervous

because

> I'm older, and heavier, and of course the complications the

> anathesiologist mentioned spooked me! I try to be positive, but

it's

> hard sometimes. I would love to hear how others made out with

their

> surgeries, and any words of advice, etc. Sorry about the vent!

>

> Chris

>

[Guest guest]

there's never any need to apologize for venting around here, especially when you're so close to surgery! Will there be someone to update us on how you're doing after?

I am just a little over a month past my last A/P revision operation, and I will say it's amazing how fast I was up and walking and out of there. Settling in at home is hard, because it goes so much slower, but hang in there! The group is here for you.

Sharon

[ ] upcoming surgery

Hi, I'm a bit nervous - I'm scheduled for surgery in five days. I'm freaking out about the house being clean, my dog has come down with a virus, and I'm worried, of course, about the surgery. It will be my third, but my previous two were done when I was a teen, (I'm 31 now), and of course they don't tell you all the possible complications then! I had complications during my first instrumentation surgery - infection, blood transfusion, etc. I didn't know about all the possible, although rare, complications too - that's scaring me. They are not doing a full ostonomy at this time, but rather tackling my spinal stenosis and compression below my fusion at L3-5 region. I also have a segment of one of my rods that isn't attached to the bone that he's going to remove, and add a smaller rod to support the lower spine. I guess I'm nervous because I'm older, and heavier, and of course the complications the anathesiologist mentioned spooked me! I try to be positive, but it's hard sometimes. I would love to hear how others made out with their surgeries, and any words of advice, etc. Sorry about the vent!Chris

[Guest guest]

Thanks Sharon. I am feeling more positive about it, and know, that I may need another one down the road (they are not doing a full spinal osteonomy at this point - decompression and refusing the lumbar area, with extending it another few discs).My Mom remembers being surprised how soon afterwards I was up and moving! Glad to hear you are doing so well Sharon!

Chris

From: "Sharon Green" <sharon.green18@...>Reply- To: < >Subject: Re: [ ] upcoming surgeryDate: Sun, 29 Oct 2006 19:11:03 -0500

there's never any need to apologize for venting around here, especially when you're so close to surgery! Will there be someone to update us on how you're doing after?

I am just a little over a month past my last A/P revision operation, and I will say it's amazing how fast I was up and walking and out of there. Settling in at home is hard, because it goes so much slower, but hang in there! The group is here for you.

Sharon

[ ] upcoming surgery

Hi, I'm a bit nervous - I'm scheduled for surgery in five days. I'm freaking out about the house being clean, my dog has come down with a virus, and I'm worried, of course, about the surgery. It will be my third, but my previous two were done when I was a teen, (I'm 31 now), and of course they don't tell you all the possible complications then! I had complications during my first instrumentation surgery - infection, blood transfusion, etc. I didn't know about all the possible, although rare, complications too - that's scaring me. They are not doing a full ostonomy at this time, but rather tackling my spinal stenosis and compression below my fusion at L3-5 region. I also have a segment of one of my rods that isn't attached to the bone that he's going to remove, and add a smaller rod to support the lower spine. I guess I'm nervous because I'm older, and heavier, and of course the complications the anathesiologist mentioned spooked me! I try to be positive, but it's hard sometimes. I would love to hear how others made out with their surgeries, and any words of advice, etc. Sorry about the vent!Chris

Say hello to the next generation of Search. Live Search – try it now.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/6/2007 8:04:38 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

Matsumura_Clan@... writes:

Les,

It's too early to know about Orencia, but the evidence indicates that

continuing MTX is probably safe. I'll post some of the latest information.

Good luck with your fusion!

i was told that mtx would prevent healing...same with enbrel....

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I don't post much, but read when I can. I have been on MTX for about

6 months now and have not had good results yet for my RA. Oh I get

the side effects really well. (fatigue, tired, queezy, hair loss.)

but it hasn't relieved my RA. I have also had 4 surgeries to fix dead

bones in a wrist. That too has proven to be a bust. I have joint

pain in lots of places, but my greatest pain is the wrist. My Rheummy

whants to add Orencia to the MTX treatment, but can't do so until

after I have surgery on my wrist. She says it's bad to take the

Orencia if surgery is impending. How long do you have to be off

Orencia before a surgey? I assumed that I would just wait to start

the ORnecia until after surgery which is the 19th of March. Over a

month from now. The Rheummy is concerned because she wants to get a

handle on my treatment as soon as possible. It takes a long time to

recover from fusion surgery, so I'm assuming that it will be at least

2 months after surgery before I am healed. Now we are talking about 3

or 4 months before I begin ORencia. I don't want to make my RA worse,

but don't know what else to do either. Is it safe to be on the MTX as

well with the impending surgery? I'm a bit concerned and need advice.

FYI: I forgot to mention why I need fusion surgery. The reason for the

fusion is that I had 2 bones die in my wrist and after 4 surgeries it

was decided that the only option was to remove the dead bones. That

surgery has failed, so now the only option is a wrist fusion.

Thanks for listening.

Les

[Guest guest]

Les,

It's too early to know about Orencia, but the evidence indicates that

continuing MTX is probably safe. I'll post some of the latest information.

Good luck with your fusion!

Not an MD

[ ] upcoming surgery

> Hi everyone,

>

> I don't post much, but read when I can. I have been on MTX for about

> 6 months now and have not had good results yet for my RA. Oh I get

> the side effects really well. (fatigue, tired, queezy, hair loss.)

> but it hasn't relieved my RA. I have also had 4 surgeries to fix dead

> bones in a wrist. That too has proven to be a bust. I have joint

> pain in lots of places, but my greatest pain is the wrist. My Rheummy

> whants to add Orencia to the MTX treatment, but can't do so until

> after I have surgery on my wrist. She says it's bad to take the

> Orencia if surgery is impending. How long do you have to be off

> Orencia before a surgey? I assumed that I would just wait to start

> the ORnecia until after surgery which is the 19th of March. Over a

> month from now. The Rheummy is concerned because she wants to get a

> handle on my treatment as soon as possible. It takes a long time to

> recover from fusion surgery, so I'm assuming that it will be at least

> 2 months after surgery before I am healed. Now we are talking about 3

> or 4 months before I begin ORencia. I don't want to make my RA worse,

> but don't know what else to do either. Is it safe to be on the MTX as

> well with the impending surgery? I'm a bit concerned and need advice.

>

> FYI: I forgot to mention why I need fusion surgery. The reason for the

> fusion is that I had 2 bones die in my wrist and after 4 surgeries it

> was decided that the only option was to remove the dead bones. That

> surgery has failed, so now the only option is a wrist fusion.

>

> Thanks for listening.

>

> Les

[Guest guest]

My doctor insisted on being off the orencia a month and then I had to wait 2

months after the surgery. I think my doctor wanted to be sure that if I did get

an infection that my body would be able to fight it. Luckily I had no

infection. My surgery was Oct 4 and I had my first dose of Orencia Dec 4.

Joyce

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

You sound like you are doing as much as possible to get yourself ready

for the big day. I have you on the calendar too so we can all keep

track as the big day draws closer....even though I am sure you are

beginning to feel the pressure of those last few weeks right now.

I don't know what the differences are in the procedure that you are

having vs what most of us have. Perhaps you can point us to a link or

more specific information on what exactly a " vertebral column

resection " is. How is it different from the usual osteotomy with cages

and supporting implants if you know?

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Yay Kathy for being brave enough to move forward with this! I wish

you the best of luck as you prepare for your big day And of

course I'll be keeping you in my thoughts as the time approaches!

>

> Hi All! I am scheduled for revision surgery on Aug. 22 with Dr.

Ondra at Northwestern. He will be doing a Posterior Vertebral Column

Resection with re-instrumentation and re-fusion. The reason he has

chosen that technique is because I need correction in both the

sagittal and coronal planes. This allows for greater correction and

less complications. His nurse told me he's done this procedure

alot. She said Lenke and Bridwell are starting to do some of them,

now, too. I haven't seen it talked about on this list, and wonder if

any lurkers have had it. He expects I will be hospitalized 10 days,

and may need to go to rehab (I have a weak leg due to S-1

radiculopathy.) Any words of advice, I'm open!! I have read the

lists of what to take, and have been following all those who have had

surgery recently. This will be my second revision, so I do know what

to expect (more or less, my last surgery was 1983, and I think the

mind tends to forget the worst stuff!!). Please

> wish me luck, and I send continued best wishes to ,

Melinda, Tami and ALL who are recovering. Kathy W.

>

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

> Need a vacation? Get great deals to amazing places on Travel.

>

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

If you want a mentor to call you and keep tabs, let us know.

We will find someone for you. Best of luck.

[Guest guest]

Cam - from what I understand, it's basically a type of osteotomy (along with PSO, SPO), that involves removing the vertebral body along with the posterior elements. Ondra's nurse copied a chapter from Textbook of Spinal Surgery written by Bradford and Glazer. It states that "The main purpose of VCR is to achieve spinal balance. This evolving technique (1997 textbook) is useful for a few patients with complex and rigid spinal deformities associated withe coronal and sagittal imbalance. VCR - a spinal shortening procedure - makes it possible to correct the most severe deformities safely without distraction, thus avoiding the high risk of neurologic deficit associated with other techniques. Furthermore, VCR, performed in conjunction with advanced instrumentation techniques, increases the possibility of achieving a successful arthrodesis without requiring external immobilization. I also found a couple articles on PubMed, including

one by Boachie. I have a little trouble visualizing exactly what happens with the vertebra, but I hope to get a more detailed description next week when I go for pre-op. Kathy W.cammaltby <cammaltby@...> wrote: Kathy,You sound like you are doing as much as possible to get yourself ready for the big day. I have you on the calendar too so we can all keep track as the big day draws closer....even though I am sure you are beginning to feel the pressure of those last few weeks right

now.I don't know what the differences are in the procedure that you are having vs what most of us have. Perhaps you can point us to a link or more specific information on what exactly a "vertebral column resection" is. How is it different from the usual osteotomy with cages and supporting implants if you know?Take Care, Cam

oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not web links.

[Guest guest]

- thanks for the offer. That would be great! Kathy W. <vclark@...> wrote: Kathy,If you want a mentor to call you and keep tabs, let us know.We will find someone for you. Best of luck.

Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who knows. Answers - Check it out.

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

Interesting. Please be sure to give us the full story after you get

done next week!

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

I sent a personal email to you