Re: mobility questions

[Guest guest]

My mobility is actually better in that I can stand for long periods of time and I can walk a mall with no problems. I couldn't do that prior to revision. I am also upright.

I am 8 months post-revision.

I am able to drive and started about 4 weeks after surgery. I do have to use my mirrors much more because I can't turn around to look. But I am learning to use the mirrors quite well and safely.

I am still on no bending and twisting restrictions so I have to squat or get down on one knee to pick things up. I just like it better than using a grabber at this point in the process. I can't wait for my one year to be up so I can try yoga again and get my hamstrings stretched out so I can touch my toes again.

Peggy

[ ] mobility questions

I know everyone is somewhat different... With that said, I have some questions for those of you who are post-revision.How mobile are you compared to your level of mobility after/since your original scoli surgery? How long has it been since your revision?How has revision affected your ability to drive?What things are you doing differently now than you were pre-revision?(better or worse)Thanks.Jeri > > The good news is that I can't think of anyone here who still has pain following revision who wouldn't do it again. Perhaps this is because the act of getting upright again gives back so much mobility and function that whatever background pain remains is signifigantly more managable. I just don't know. Hopefully others in that situation who are several years uot from surgery will explain their experience and feelings. I know a lot of folks lurk here who are tend not to want to post their story when it doesn't have a "perfect ending" for fear of scaring people away from the surgery. Their view would be helpful to you (and others) I think.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your input, Peggy. I know I'm getting hyper about posting

in these last few days before I go in...

Another reminder to self... stretching hamstrings as I write so

that'll be one less pain in the 'neck? butt?' to deal with after

surgery.

I've gotten 4 grabber/reachers from Freecycle! I plan to have one in

most rooms of the house. Hey! Squatting is really good for leg

strength...

Getting back to driving seems to be similar to what I remember from

the first scoli surgery.

Jeri

> >

> > The good news is that I can't think of anyone here who still

has

> pain following revision who wouldn't do it again. Perhaps this is

> because the act of getting upright again gives back so much

mobility

> and function that whatever background pain remains is

signifigantly

> more managable. I just don't know. Hopefully others in that

situation

> who are several years uot from surgery will explain their

experience

> and feelings. I know a lot of folks lurk here who are tend not to

> want to post their story when it doesn't have a " perfect ending "

for

> fear of scaring people away from the surgery. Their view would be

> helpful to you (and others) I think.

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Jeri,

I had about 11 good years following my Harrington Rod surgery, then gave birth to my first child and everything went downhill from there. At first it was pain running down my leg to the ball of my foot on the right side, and also hip pain. Really restricted how far I could walk. As years went along( !984-2000) I lost more and more function, couldn't stand long enough to check out groceries at the store, or even cook dinner without a stool, and forget walking, I was extreamly limited walking.

Now for the good news. Since revision, I walk as much as I want for as long as I want. Mind you I take smaller stride lenghts( most of us are like that following revision), so it takes more steps to get places but I get there. I can stand for as long as I want, did 2 hours at the DMV last summer, amazing. I'm painfree, level and upright, a huge blessing.

My first revision was Jan of 2002, and my second Dec 2002, so I have been fused to the sacrum for 6 years. I'm fused T1 to the sacrum.

Driving is a bit more of a challenge for me since I'm fused so danged high, mirrors help, but I do depend a bit on my passengers to help with a lane change to the right, that is the hardest for me, my kids don't even have to be asked they just tell me if it's clear. Getting in and out of cars since I'm fused so high is also tough, I don't do low to the ground cars( say a Honda civic or Accord), it will hurt me so I just don't do it. I also have trouble with cars with small door openings, as I only have my head to dip getting in, imagine having a board strapped to the entire length of your spine, thats how it is to me. I need to have my car doors open very wide to get my legs in and out of the car, I have trouble lifting my legs in and out and need to help them along with my hand sometimes. Not many of us have this trouble, but some do. Closing the door can be tricky if it's open real far, I need to scoot to the edge of the seat and struggle to get it, my reach is different afterwards.

Some things suck after revision, but would I trade them for the pain, hell no. I have trouble getting at my feet due to how many levels I'm fused and my hardware configuration. So cutting nails is awful, and shaving my legs is very difficult. All the car stuff listed above. I wear my shoes slipped on as I can't tie them normally, and lifting my legs from a seated position is hard, I have to use my hands to help them along( probably nerve damage). Lifting things with my arms outstreached is very different, I have less strength. I can not bend, have little forward movement, I get around it with squats and grabbers. Like I said this stuff sucks, but know I'm a bit special with what I can and can't do given my particular spine, you may have much more movement than me, but know you'll be forever changed by this, and you'll have to make your own adjustments to what you have left. We each have similair surgeries, but our spines and what is done to them are as individual as we are, and who does the surgery, what levels are fused, and how hardware is configured all plays a part. My best advice is follow all the rules your doc gives you to a tee, take your time healing and don't push.

Am I better, you bet! I'd do it again tomorrow if need be, and I've already done it twice. The surgery and recovery is tough, but so worth it in the long run, at least it was for me.

Colorado Springs

[ ] mobility questions

I know everyone is somewhat different... With that said, I have some questions for those of you who are post-revision.How mobile are you compared to your level of mobility after/since your original scoli surgery? How long has it been since your revision?How has revision affected your ability to drive?What things are you doing differently now than you were pre-revision?(better or worse)Thanks.Jeri > > The good news is that I can't think of anyone here who still has pain following revision who wouldn't do it again. Perhaps this is because the act of getting upright again gives back so much mobility and function that whatever background pain remains is signifigantly more managable. I just don't know. Hopefully others in that situation who are several years uot from surgery will explain their experience and feelings. I know a lot of folks lurk here who are tend not to want to post their story when it doesn't have a "perfect ending" for fear of scaring people away from the surgery. Their view would be helpful to you (and others) I think.

[Guest guest]

Jeri,

Don't worry about " getting hyper about posting " right before your

surgery. I went crazy with that before my revision this past summer,

and posted tons of questions & worries in the last few days I had

so many last-minute questions, and was SOOOO nervous about

everything. I had a bad case of the " what ifs " and was scared out of

my mind. It was so reassuring to have everyone here to talk to I

don't know what I'd done without everyone's advice and reassurance

who had been through it already!

> > >

> > > The good news is that I can't think of anyone here who still

> has

> > pain following revision who wouldn't do it again. Perhaps this

is

> > because the act of getting upright again gives back so much

> mobility

> > and function that whatever background pain remains is

> signifigantly

> > more managable. I just don't know. Hopefully others in that

> situation

> > who are several years uot from surgery will explain their

> experience

> > and feelings. I know a lot of folks lurk here who are tend not

to

> > want to post their story when it doesn't have a " perfect

ending "

> for

> > fear of scaring people away from the surgery. Their view would

be

> > helpful to you (and others) I think.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Peggy--you're still on bending restrictions and you were down on your

hands and knees scrubbing your floor??? HMMMMMM!!!!!????

Carol V.

> >

> > The good news is that I can't think of anyone here who still

has

> pain following revision who wouldn't do it again. Perhaps this is

> because the act of getting upright again gives back so much

mobility

> and function that whatever background pain remains is

signifigantly

> more managable. I just don't know. Hopefully others in that

situation

> who are several years uot from surgery will explain their

experience

> and feelings. I know a lot of folks lurk here who are tend not to

> want to post their story when it doesn't have a " perfect ending "

for

> fear of scaring people away from the surgery. Their view would be

> helpful to you (and others) I think.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeri,

How mobile am I after this revision compared to the mobility after

the first? I am not sure I have the question right. The first time I

ws 15 and a whole lot more mobile than I am now. I was younger and in

much better shape then now and you know what, I was a whole lot less

fearful of hurting myself than I am this time round. I can certainly

move around a whole lot better than before the second revision. My

revision was 22 months ago. Driving was pretty much a no for 8 weeks

post surgery after that it was local driving only for a while. The

deal is whether or not you can slam the brakes if you have to and can

you see all angles, hence the mirrors. Things that are different?

Well, I am a lot straighter so I have to constantly be aware of my

posture mostly because my mind wants to favor the position it was in

before so a whole lot of core muscles need to be strengthened at some

point after surgery (doctor dependant). I can stretch and I can see

the sky (not just out of the corner of my eye). I can walk at length

if I choose to, without that God awful pain in my hips. My limits are

exactly as they were after the first surgery. No more, no less. I

have been released to do any athletic activity that I deem doable but

to proceed with caution. The only thing that is worse, is well, I am

not quite as straight as I would have liked and I now have neuropathy

that I did not have before surgery. I still have myofascial release

done once a week and I have HOPE it may clear though the doctors do

not think so. So, yes, I had a major complication and still suffer

from it BUT still, I walk and I play with my eight year old and life

is good. Best of luck with yours.

> >

> > The good news is that I can't think of anyone here who still has

> pain following revision who wouldn't do it again. Perhaps this is

> because the act of getting upright again gives back so much

mobility

> and function that whatever background pain remains is signifigantly

> more managable. I just don't know. Hopefully others in that

situation

> who are several years uot from surgery will explain their

experience

> and feelings. I know a lot of folks lurk here who are tend not to

> want to post their story when it doesn't have a " perfect ending "

for

> fear of scaring people away from the surgery. Their view would be

> helpful to you (and others) I think.

>

[Guest guest]

Carol, I was told at 6 months that I could garden on my hands and knees. When I quipped that I could scrub the floor, Dr. Rand didn't say otherwise (though I still clean my floors standing up, for the most part). At the time I was told I could do hands and knees, I still was restricted from bending over while standing.

Sharon

[ ] Re: mobility questions

Peggy--you're still on bending restrictions and you were down on your hands and knees scrubbing your floor??? HMMMMMM!!!!!????Carol V.> > > > The good news is that I can't think of anyone here who still has > pain following revision who wouldn't do it again. Perhaps this is > because the act of getting upright again gives back so much mobility > and function that whatever background pain remains is signifigantly > more managable. I just don't know. Hopefully others in that situation > who are several years uot from surgery will explain their experience > and feelings. I know a lot of folks lurk here who are tend not to > want to post their story when it doesn't have a "perfect ending" for > fear of scaring people away from the surgery. Their view would be > helpful to you (and others) I think.>

[Guest guest]

No, I used a Swiffer. I only had to get on my knees to reach under the stove. I think I practically laid on the floor so I could reach under there. I am allowed to get down on my knees - the position is really no different than sitting at the computer.

Peggy

[ ] Re: mobility questions

Peggy--you're still on bending restrictions and you were down on your hands and knees scrubbing your floor??? HMMMMMM!!!!!????Carol V.> > > > The good news is that I can't think of anyone here who still has > pain following revision who wouldn't do it again. Perhaps this is > because the act of getting upright again gives back so much mobility > and function that whatever background pain remains is signifigantly > more managable. I just don't know. Hopefully others in that situation > who are several years uot from surgery will explain their experience > and feelings. I know a lot of folks lurk here who are tend not to > want to post their story when it doesn't have a "perfect ending" for > fear of scaring people away from the surgery. Their view would be > helpful to you (and others) I think.>

[Guest guest]

Jeri, I am four months post op. I feel better than I have in years. My brace was taken off at three months post op. I was very sore for a few days after taking off the brace. I am much more mobile now than before. I was driving at six weeks. The only meds. I take is one percocet at bed time. At four months Dr. Laurerman suggested visiting the gym. I go three times a week, however each doctor is different. Make sure you always follow doctors orders. Take care and good luck, Sheilabocce_fun <bocce@...> wrote: I know everyone is somewhat different... With that said, I have some questions for those of you who are post-revision.How mobile are you compared to your level of mobility after/since your original scoli surgery? How long has it been since your revision?How has revision affected your ability to drive?What things are you doing differently now than you were pre-revision?(better or worse)Thanks.Jeri > > The good news is that I can't think of anyone here who still has pain following revision who wouldn't do it again. Perhaps this is because the act of getting upright again gives back so much mobility and function that whatever background pain

remains is signifigantly more managable. I just don't know. Hopefully others in that situation who are several years uot from surgery will explain their experience and feelings. I know a lot of folks lurk here who are tend not to want to post their story when it doesn't have a "perfect ending" for fear of scaring people away from the surgery. Their view would be helpful to you (and others) I think.

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