Re: (CA) Round 2 - Update 7

[Guest guest]

Hi ...

was worried you didn't get the voice mail she left after you

guys got disconnected. So she asked me to post it just incase.

's Cell:

760-473-3038

When I spoke to her, well she said the place was just plain icky.

So she is needing a pick me up.

Hugs...

>

> Hi...

>

> I haven't spoken to her yet, but should be in her new facility:

>

> Upland Rehabilitation And Care

> 1221 East Arrow Hwy

> Upland, CA

> 91786

> Phone Number: (909) 985-1903

>

> Regards,

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

Is the place so bad she will leave or is there an alternative on the

horizon?

Thanks for letting us know. Cam

[Guest guest]

Cam,

I couldn't get a real good picture of the place from her. She is in a

room with 2 other ladies. One elderly woman who is very hard of

hearing, the other one a 52y gal who has had a stroke, saying she

was very nice. I think she just wants to be home and that place isn't

it.

There was no mention of any alternate place to go. She had said they

were having trouble finding a place for her before she left UCSF.

I sure wish she would have come here, but then, this isn't home either.

>

> ,

>

> Is the place so bad she will leave or is there an alternative on the

> horizon?

>

> Thanks for letting us know. Cam

>

[Guest guest]

My understanding is that doesn't think she could ever give

herself the IV antibiotics, and pretty much won't entertain even

trying it. Since her insurance company won't allow two visits from

visiting nurses every day, she has to be in a facility.

actually did talk about coming to stay with me for the duration,

but I'm in the middle of a kitchen remodel, so I strongly discouraged

that idea.

I wish there were other alternatives, but I don't know that any exist.

--

> >

> > ,

> >

> > Is the place so bad she will leave or is there an alternative on the

> > horizon?

> >

> > Thanks for letting us know. Cam

> >

>

[Guest guest]

- Enjoy your posts; your involvement with others, like MANY of

the members here, is noted and appreciated. Curious tho' if IV

antibiotics is unusual or the " norm " in your neck of the woods? Or

has special circumtances? I am still in the " how come that? "

stage to many things you folks talk about... like not knowing what a

TLSO was or that bone fusion electric aid thing you talked about in

your Story. I did not have any of that stuff in 12/2003 revision and

wonder if that is partly why S1 fusion failed and I have flatback post-

op now? Later, Marty

--- " Racine " wrote:

.... doesn't think she could ever give herself the IV

antibiotics...

[Guest guest]

Hi Marty...

had surgery two weeks ago because she found herself leaning

significantly to the right about 3 weeks post-op from surgery. When

they opened her up, they found an infection. So, she'll be on IV

antibiotics for about 6 weeks total.

I'm afraid I'm confused by the rest of your post. I think you may

have confused me with another. I can, however, tell you that TLSO

stands for Thoraco Lumbosacral Orthosis, which is like the Boston

brace many kids wear for their scoliosis.

Regards,

> ... doesn't think she could ever give herself the IV

> antibiotics...

>

[Guest guest]

... you are right! I have been trying to read everyone's stories

in FILES, one at a time. I think it was Cam with TLSO and electric

stim bone growning thing. Ooops. Thanks, tho'. Marty

--- " Racine " wrote: > Hi Marty...

.... I'm afraid I'm confused by the rest of your post. I think you may

have confused me with another.

[Guest guest]

Marty,

I was discharged with a perscription for a Bone Growth Stimulator.

Here is a link to what mine looked like:

http://www.orthofix.com/ofint/ssabout_frame.htm

You wear it 4 hours a day for 9 months and then you are guaranteed a

fusion or they pay for it. Dr Rand says he has been ver satisfied

with them. Insurance agreed to pay for it. Likewise the use of Bone

Morphogenic Protein in the cages at L4 and L5.....insurance paid and

Dr Rand feel it increases the odds for a good solid fusion.

I was discharged with a brace which I was to wear when out of the

home for 3-4 months postop. I really liked wearing it because it

made me feel a little more secure that if I should fall I wouldn't

get out of whack...although I never did fall. I also liked that

while having it on when out for a walk it reminded me how to hold

myself in the new posture so I felt that it helped train the muscles

necessary to hold me up.

I was discharged with a cane but only used it for a week or two to

help get out of bed to a standing position early on.

I do hope you will question any surgeon you consider about what

steps they would initiate to insure a solid fusion the next time

around while you are interviewing potential candidates!

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Cam,

Thanks so much for answering my questions. I tho't I had done my

research before hand the first revision-go-'round. That's why I chose

Crandall in Phoenix. He was using BMP... but he choose to not alter my

original fusion mass, other than to attach rods. No osteo-whadda-ya-

call-ems (bone wedges removed to create lordis?), no cages, either...

no brace, no Stimulator. Very frustrating. Plus, again, pressure to

have it done before I lost my insurance due to divorce back then.

I also appreciate the words of advice on future potential candidates.

(You know, ya think ya know... but ya don't know!) Peace, Marty

--- " cammaltby " wrote: Marty,

> I was discharged with a perscription for a Bone Growth Stimulator.

.... Likewise the use of Bone Morphogenic Protein in the cages at L4

and L5.....Dr Rand feel it increases the odds for a good solid fusion.

I was discharged with a brace which I was to wear when out of the home

for 3-4 months postop. ... I do hope you will question any surgeon you

consider about what steps they would initiate to insure a solid fusion

the next time around while you are interviewing potential candidates!

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

---

Marty,

Ditto to what Cam described, I had the same Dr.as her and pretty much

the same course of action. I am still wearing the bone growth

stimulator, 4 hours a day. I don't really like it but I never miss a

day or an hour!! I suck it up and do it, I find it annoying, I do

like my brace though, for the same reasons Cam used hers....I think I

am not speaking incorrectly when I say, Cam and I seem to have had

the same good results, she is several months ahead of me but I feel

like I am making the good progress she made and continues to make,

which makes me feel so hopeful...although I have no need to ask

Dr.Rand if I can go skiing....maybe a long bike ride this summer but

NO skiing for me!!!!! But good for her if she wants to!!!!, PA

In , " cammaltby " <cammaltby@...>

wrote:

>

> Marty,

>

> I was discharged with a perscription for a Bone Growth Stimulator.

> Here is a link to what mine looked like:

>

> http://www.orthofix.com/ofint/ssabout_frame.htm

>

> You wear it 4 hours a day for 9 months and then you are guaranteed

a

> fusion or they pay for it. Dr Rand says he has been ver satisfied

> with them. Insurance agreed to pay for it. Likewise the use of Bone

> Morphogenic Protein in the cages at L4 and L5.....insurance paid

and

> Dr Rand feel it increases the odds for a good solid fusion.

>

> I was discharged with a brace which I was to wear when out of the

> home for 3-4 months postop. I really liked wearing it because it

> made me feel a little more secure that if I should fall I wouldn't

> get out of whack...although I never did fall. I also liked that

> while having it on when out for a walk it reminded me how to hold

> myself in the new posture so I felt that it helped train the

muscles

> necessary to hold me up.

>

> I was discharged with a cane but only used it for a week or two to

> help get out of bed to a standing position early on.

>

> I do hope you will question any surgeon you consider about what

> steps they would initiate to insure a solid fusion the next time

> around while you are interviewing potential candidates!

>

> Take Care, Cam

>