Hi everyone!

[Guest guest]

Hello all. My name is Jen and I am new to the group. I've been a lurker for the past few days and I figure I might as well introduce myself. I will post my "bio" soon in the files section, but I figure that you regulars don't check that too often so this would be better. I had my first fusion in '91 at Genesee Hospital in Rochester, NY, and the 2nd in '95, ages 12 and 15. Cam and Martha, I saw that you had yours done at Strong, I am assuming by Dr. Haake as I know that he worked at both hospitals at that time. If it wasn't him, let me know because you have me curious. Also, incidentally, was Dr. Tebor around at that time? He assisted on my two surgeries and is still in practice...obviously Haake is retired. I was fused in my thorasic spine in '91, not sure of the details of that one, need to get info, but in '95 I was fused from C5-L4 with a single Harrington Rod. I spent two

weeks before the surgery in "traction" with the halo attached to weights on a wheelchair, and a hospital bed for sleeping at night. I then had the surgery, which was 11 hrs and I was in the hospital for 10 days. Sorry if this is getting long. I was casted by that same awful procedure with the Riker that you guys all had, that's the thing that I remember the most about my surgery, and I wore the cast with the halo attached for I believe 6 months and then another 3 months in a brace. Just to let you know, I am not sure of any details, like how "off" I was, because we seem to be having trouble locating my medical records from that time. For all of you who are not from Rochester, Genesee Hospital closed a few years back, and I guess my records and x-rays were trashed. I know I am stupid for not having copies of the stuff, but hey, I was a kid =)! A side note and then I will move on- I am still trying to

figure out why I had what seems to be the same procedure that you guys had some thirty years ago, that is what amazes me! I hate to brag, but I know that I was the "worst" case that Dr. Haake had ever seen, and he even brought my films to a conference in Australia for a second opinion! You guys all sound pretty much the same as me though... Anyways, for the past year or so I have been having SIGNIFICANT neck pain, as well as a lot of other problems, I am still not entirely sure if I am a "flatbacker" but I am always leaning forward, I guess more when I am sitting than standing, but I do still have a significant kyphosis in my thoracic area. I actually had a rib-resection in '91 that totally made me flat, but unfortunately, the ribs grew back. I went to see Dr. Tebor back in '97, which is the earliest orthopedic record that my primary physician has for me, to see if I could possibly have another one, but he was too

worried about my lungs being compromised. Sorry this is soooo long!!!!! I have an English degree, so I like to write, and I guess it is helpful to put this all to pen and paper! I went back to see Dr. Tebor about 2 years ago when the neck pain started, and he told me to take ibuprophen or naproxen every day and that basically that was all that could be done. He did take an X-ray and showed me the scarring above my fusion and said that it was arthritis and nothing could be done....yadda yadda yadda.....now I realize that that is what they say!!!! Remember, he assisted on my 2 surgeries and was my original doc but when my case got too extreme, he sent me to Haake. Oh yeah, I started wearing the Milwaukee brace when I was 5 and wore it up until the 1st surgery. I feel like I am too young to be going through all of this, but I guess the timeframe is right, as my 2nd surgery was

11 yrs ago. I will stop rambling now, I would love to get everyone's opinion!!!!!!! I have a loving boyfriend and a horrible desk job which my doc tells me that I should file a workers comp case for, even though I have only been there 3 weeks! I cannot sit and type for 8 hours straight. I am literally to the point of tears every day and no one really understands what I am going through at all!!! Martha- by the way- I know your sister's husband. My boyfriend is working on her house and they had a long conversation about you and I. We live next door to your sisters soon to be ex-husband. I am going to completely stay out of that one though!!!!!!!! I would love to chat if you want to write me privately, also, she gave me your email and I had already seen your "bio" on here!!!!!!!!! Okay now I am really done!!!!!!! Jen =)

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