Guest guest Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 As Marty said in another post, it's nice that you and have had each other all these years as friends to shore each other up and help each other. I have never had a friend that had scoliosis--not 32 yrs. ago and not now. It's hard being a " Lone Ranger " . I did find the Mammography technician at the local hospital here had scoli surgery around the same time I did, but she (and her sister) had theirs at Shriner's in San Fran. Shriners didn't do the surgery with Harrington rods (don't know if that was common practice then, or what) She has a lot of pain, but her spine is fused with CEMENT--not Bone chips--- like the rest of ours are. She just tries to live with the pain, and really doesn't like to talk about the whole thing much. Last year I tried to tell her about flatback and revision surgeries, but she tuned me out. She does have a daughter with scoliosis, but funny thing, it's her ADOPTED daughter. Fortunately, neither of my daughters have shown any tendency toward this problem (thank God). I'll be looking forward to visiting with you and in July. I'll have my X-rays and test results with me--maybe we can compare our X-rays, etc!!!! (show our scars, whatever people do that compare " war " stories)-- LOL!!! Carol (CA) > > > > > > Hi Carol! > > > > > > Yes 's appointment is at 10:15 and mine is at 11:15 > also. > > And I will > > > definitely be joining you as I will be at and Bob's > mercy, > > being as > > > I am staying with them for 4 days. So unfortunately, my hubby > > will not be > > > joining us. It will be great to meet you! You will be able to > see > > Dr. Hu's > > > work first-hand too. I believe that's what had decide > to > > have her > > > surgery, when they came to see me at the hospital and saw how > > straight and tall I > > > stood! And also how well I was doing at only 2 weeks post- op. > It > > got rid of > > > all her nightmares of having our original surgery in 1977. (We > > also had > > > those at the same time and hospital). > > > Looking forward to meeting you - > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Hi Carol...am sitting here just giggling..imagining us sitting in a restaurant, lifting shirts and comparing scars....each of us saying..well check this bad boy out! oh lordy..and our husbands sitting patiently rolling their eyes.... > > > > > > > > Hi Carol! > > > > > > > > Yes 's appointment is at 10:15 and mine is at 11:15 > > also. > > > And I will > > > > definitely be joining you as I will be at and Bob's > > mercy, > > > being as > > > > I am staying with them for 4 days. So unfortunately, my hubby > > > will not be > > > > joining us. It will be great to meet you! You will be able to > > see > > > Dr. Hu's > > > > work first-hand too. I believe that's what had decide > > to > > > have her > > > > surgery, when they came to see me at the hospital and saw how > > > straight and tall I > > > > stood! And also how well I was doing at only 2 weeks post- > op. > > It > > > got rid of > > > > all her nightmares of having our original surgery in 1977. > (We > > > also had > > > > those at the same time and hospital). > > > > Looking forward to meeting you - > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 - I KNEW there was a reason my Bob wouldn't be coming! (P.S. if you're planning on having a whose scar is better contest, I'm afraid I'll have you both beat out!) > > > > > > > > > > Hi Carol! > > > > > > > > > > Yes 's appointment is at 10:15 and mine is at 11:15 > > > also. > > > > And I will > > > > > definitely be joining you as I will be at and Bob's > > > mercy, > > > > being as > > > > > I am staying with them for 4 days. So unfortunately, my > hubby > > > > will not be > > > > > joining us. It will be great to meet you! You will be able > to > > > see > > > > Dr. Hu's > > > > > work first-hand too. I believe that's what had > decide > > > to > > > > have her > > > > > surgery, when they came to see me at the hospital and saw > how > > > > straight and tall I > > > > > stood! And also how well I was doing at only 2 weeks post- > > op. > > > It > > > > got rid of > > > > > all her nightmares of having our original surgery in 1977. > > (We > > > > also had > > > > > those at the same time and hospital). > > > > > Looking forward to meeting you - > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Carol - I'm afraid I have to fess up. Yes, and I had gone through jr. high and high school together and had our first surgeries together. But then, as life usually does, we lost contact as we both went on to raise our families. We actually didn't meet up again until our 30th year high scool reunion in 2000. So I too went most of my adult life feeling like the Lone Ranger never knowing anyone else with scoliosis/Harrington Rod surgery! ~CA ~ > > > > > > > > Hi Carol! > > > > > > > > Yes 's appointment is at 10:15 and mine is at 11:15 > > also. > > > And I will > > > > definitely be joining you as I will be at and Bob's > > mercy, > > > being as > > > > I am staying with them for 4 days. So unfortunately, my hubby > > > will not be > > > > joining us. It will be great to meet you! You will be able to > > see > > > Dr. Hu's > > > > work first-hand too. I believe that's what had decide > > to > > > have her > > > > surgery, when they came to see me at the hospital and saw how > > > straight and tall I > > > > stood! And also how well I was doing at only 2 weeks post- > op. > > It > > > got rid of > > > > all her nightmares of having our original surgery in 1977. > (We > > > also had > > > > those at the same time and hospital). > > > > Looking forward to meeting you - > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Ditto...Lone Ranger here too...but I always knew was out there, wondering how she was doing...and it helped.. > > > > > > > > > > Hi Carol! > > > > > > > > > > Yes 's appointment is at 10:15 and mine is at 11:15 > > > also. > > > > And I will > > > > > definitely be joining you as I will be at and Bob's > > > mercy, > > > > being as > > > > > I am staying with them for 4 days. So unfortunately, my > hubby > > > > will not be > > > > > joining us. It will be great to meet you! You will be able > to > > > see > > > > Dr. Hu's > > > > > work first-hand too. I believe that's what had > decide > > > to > > > > have her > > > > > surgery, when they came to see me at the hospital and saw > how > > > > straight and tall I > > > > > stood! And also how well I was doing at only 2 weeks post- > > op. > > > It > > > > got rid of > > > > > all her nightmares of having our original surgery in 1977. > > (We > > > > also had > > > > > those at the same time and hospital). > > > > > Looking forward to meeting you - > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Hi Carol... I think this woman may have misunderstood what she was told. I've got dozens of books on scoliosis surgery, written as far back as the 1800's, and have never come across anything about fusion being done with cement. Before Harrington rods, patients were put in casts or traction to straighten the spine somewhat, then the spine was fused (using morselized bone). The patient stayed in a cast, and most were immobile, for 9 mos. to a year. Regards, > > As Marty said in another post, it's nice that you and have > had each other all these years as friends to shore each other up and > help each other. I have never had a friend that had scoliosis--not 32 > yrs. ago and not now. It's hard being a " Lone Ranger " . I did find the > Mammography technician at the local hospital here had scoli surgery > around the same time I did, but she (and her sister) had theirs at > Shriner's in San Fran. Shriners didn't do the surgery with Harrington > rods (don't know if that was common practice then, or what) She has a > lot of pain, but her spine is fused with CEMENT--not Bone chips--- > like the rest of ours are. She just tries to live with the pain, and Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 I believe is right. Maybe the girl's doctor had talked in terms of the chopped up bone as being like cement, or cementing her vertebrae together. My sister had one of those non-instrumented fusions in 1968, and she had the bone graft procedure just like me, only without the rod. I'm actually surprised the SF Shriners were still not using Harrington rods in the 1970s (if indeed this person had her fusion then). My 1971 fusion was done at the Springfield, MA Shriners, with Harrington rod. Sharon [ ] Re: Dr. Hu appointments Hi Carol... I think this woman may have misunderstood what she was told. I've got dozens of books on scoliosis surgery, written as far back as the 1800's, and have never come across anything about fusion being done with cement. Before Harrington rods, patients were put in casts or traction to straighten the spine somewhat, then the spine was fused (using morselized bone). The patient stayed in a cast, and most were immobile, for 9 mos. to a year. Regards, > > As Marty said in another post, it's nice that you and have > had each other all these years as friends to shore each other up and > help each other. I have never had a friend that had scoliosis--not 32 > yrs. ago and not now. It's hard being a " Lone Ranger " . I did find the > Mammography technician at the local hospital here had scoli surgery > around the same time I did, but she (and her sister) had theirs at > Shriner's in San Fran. Shriners didn't do the surgery with Harrington > rods (don't know if that was common practice then, or what) She has a > lot of pain, but her spine is fused with CEMENT--not Bone chips--- > like the rest of ours are. She just tries to live with the pain, and scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Hi Sharon... It would be interesting to see if we could compile information from the 50's, 60's and 70's, to see if we could figure out when surgeons in various cities started using Harrington rods. Today, when new devices are developed, they can have surgeons around the world trained very rapidly. I think that manufacturer's reps are often the trainers. Back then, Dr. Harrington had to do all of the early training himself. Regards, > > I'm actually surprised the SF Shriners were still not using Harrington rods > in the 1970s (if indeed this person had her fusion then). My 1971 fusion > was done at the Springfield, MA Shriners, with Harrington rod. > > Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 She wasn't the first person to tell me that, either. When I was going to have my surgery done, an older woman who had scoliosis surgery done in the 1960's talked to me about hers. Her sister lived in our small town and she heard I was going to have it done, so she had her talk to me. That lady said they used cement on her for her surgery, also. I don't know WHERE she had her surgery done. I'm not arguing, but that's what both of them said. I know the technician had hers at Shriner's in SF, and she said they do a lot of EXPERIMENTAL SURGERY-- trying new things and such. After she told me that I was glad that I hadn't had mine done at Shriner's at that time. It seemed Children's and my surgeon were doing more " up-to-date " stuff. I'll ask her again when I see her in a few months for my annual mammo. Carol > > > > As Marty said in another post, it's nice that you and have > > had each other all these years as friends to shore each other up and > > help each other. I have never had a friend that had scoliosis-- not 32 > > yrs. ago and not now. It's hard being a " Lone Ranger " . I did find the > > Mammography technician at the local hospital here had scoli surgery > > around the same time I did, but she (and her sister) had theirs at > > Shriner's in San Fran. Shriners didn't do the surgery with Harrington > > rods (don't know if that was common practice then, or what) She has a > > lot of pain, but her spine is fused with CEMENT--not Bone chips--- > > like the rest of ours are. She just tries to live with the pain, and > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 Yes, her fusion was done in the 1970's. (at SF Shriner's) When we were comparing our histories, we are about the same age, and she and her sister both had their surgeries within a year or so of mine in 1974 (I don't remember date) She does not have a rod or rods of any kind, just the fusion. Carol > > > > As Marty said in another post, it's nice that you and have > > had each other all these years as friends to shore each other up and > > help each other. I have never had a friend that had scoliosis-- not 32 > > yrs. ago and not now. It's hard being a " Lone Ranger " . I did find the > > Mammography technician at the local hospital here had scoli surgery > > around the same time I did, but she (and her sister) had theirs at > > Shriner's in San Fran. Shriners didn't do the surgery with Harrington > > rods (don't know if that was common practice then, or what) She has a > > lot of pain, but her spine is fused with CEMENT--not Bone chips--- > > like the rest of ours are. She just tries to live with the pain, and > > > > > > > > > scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 That would be interesting, . Maybe Dr. Harrington made it to Boston before he made it to San Francisco. Sharon [ ] Re: Dr. Hu appointments Hi Sharon... It would be interesting to see if we could compile information from the 50's, 60's and 70's, to see if we could figure out when surgeons in various cities started using Harrington rods. Today, when new devices are developed, they can have surgeons around the world trained very rapidly. I think that manufacturer's reps are often the trainers. Back then, Dr. Harrington had to do all of the early training himself. Regards, > > I'm actually surprised the SF Shriners were still not using Harrington rods > in the 1970s (if indeed this person had her fusion then). My 1971 fusion > was done at the Springfield, MA Shriners, with Harrington rod. > > Sharon scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 18, 2006 Report Share Posted May 18, 2006 That's very interesting, Carol. A quick Google search brought examples of both, the descriptive explanation that bone graft acts like " cement " , and mentions of actual surgical techniques that employ cement. http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a & rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial\ _s & hl=en & q=scoliosis+fusion+cement & btnG=Google+Search Sharon [ ] Re: Dr. Hu appointments > She wasn't the first person to tell me that, either. When I was going > to have my surgery done, an older woman who had scoliosis surgery > done in the 1960's talked to me about hers. Her sister lived in our > small town and she heard I was going to have it done, so she had her > talk to me. That lady said they used cement on her for her surgery, > also. I don't know WHERE she had her surgery done. I'm not arguing, > but that's what both of them said. I know the technician had hers at > Shriner's in SF, and she said they do a lot of EXPERIMENTAL SURGERY-- > trying new things and such. After she told me that I was glad that I > hadn't had mine done at Shriner's at that time. It seemed Children's > and my surgeon were doing more " up-to-date " stuff. I'll ask her again > when I see her in a few months for my annual mammo. > > Carol > > > >> > >> > As Marty said in another post, it's nice that you and > have >> > had each other all these years as friends to shore each other up > and >> > help each other. I have never had a friend that had scoliosis-- > not 32 >> > yrs. ago and not now. It's hard being a " Lone Ranger " . I did find > the >> > Mammography technician at the local hospital here had scoli > surgery >> > around the same time I did, but she (and her sister) had theirs > at >> > Shriner's in San Fran. Shriners didn't do the surgery with > Harrington >> > rods (don't know if that was common practice then, or what) She > has a >> > lot of pain, but her spine is fused with CEMENT--not Bone chips--- >> > like the rest of ours are. She just tries to live with the pain, > and >> > > > > > > > > > scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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