Re:Hoping older adults who had spine surgery could help me

[Guest guest]

My heart goes out to you. Knowing how intensive this surgery is, I can see

that on an older body it would be extremely difficult to recoup from. She

hasn't just lost weight from body fat, she's lost muscle mass. Rebuilding

muscle after spinal surgery is extremely tough at her age. (can't remember how

old she was, but I think over 75 (?) ) Depression is not uncommon after such

surgery not only from her weakness but from the drugs used during and after

surgery. Since it's a chemical unbalance, a anti-depression med is probably

warranted. That should be treated immediately. It also seems her blood

pressure issues should be addressed. If her surgeon is not dealing with these

issues then her PCP will. Surgeons often expect after care to be handled by

PCP.

At this point it seems she needs hope to survive and recover. Recovery is a

long haul for every adult patient. She has added years that make it even

harder. Keep fighting for her. Don't look back and regret what's already

happened...continue to hang on and fight for her as you are doing.

Jolene (surgery at 13 and 59. The latter recovery was a year long fight)

**************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money &

Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)

[Guest guest]

Jolene, Thank you so much for sharing. Every bit of info I can pass

on to my mom, that will bring her hope and reassurance, is a

treasure to me.

>

> My heart goes out to you. Knowing how intensive this surgery is,

I can see

> that on an older body it would be extremely difficult to recoup

from. She

> hasn't just lost weight from body fat, she's lost muscle mass.

Rebuilding

> muscle after spinal surgery is extremely tough at her age.

(can't remember how

> old she was, but I think over 75 (?) ) Depression is not

uncommon after such

> surgery not only from her weakness but from the drugs used during

and after

> surgery. Since it's a chemical unbalance, a anti-depression med

is probably

> warranted. That should be treated immediately. It also seems

her blood

> pressure issues should be addressed. If her surgeon is not

dealing with these

> issues then her PCP will. Surgeons often expect after care to be

handled by PCP.

> At this point it seems she needs hope to survive and recover.

Recovery is a

> long haul for every adult patient. She has added years that

make it even

> harder. Keep fighting for her. Don't look back and regret

what's already

> happened...continue to hang on and fight for her as you are doing.

>

> Jolene (surgery at 13 and 59. The latter recovery was a year long

fight)

>

>

>

> **************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL

Money &

> Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Randie, I believe you will feel better than you do now. In a month, look

back and you'll see the difference, even if it's just a little. At about 3

months, you will feel quite a bit better and want to do more than you should.

HOLD BACK! At six months, you may be able to do a lot of what you used to do,

but you'll need to take it a little easy, as it takes up to one year for the

fuse to completely heal. I wish you could get an xray at 3mo to see the new

white bone. It's exciting to see that!

Lj

Randie Meyer <taknitlite@...> wrote:

That's encouraging to me. Not to say I'm happy to hear how long it has

taken you to start getting back to " normal " , but I can feel like I'm never gonna

feel good again. I'm 50. I just had a revision surgery which was actually 2

surgeries in 5 day, so technically 4 surgeries in 4 years. I feel like all I do

is plan for surgery and recover from surgery. This time tho I'm having a hard

time believing I'll ever feel better. I guess I'm depressed. I got so run down

prior to the surgery after my rods broke and then being in the hospital for so

long and all that. I'm 7 weeks out of the 2nd one now and I wear a brace that's

hot and uncomfortable--I live in New Mexico--and I walk my dogs for maybe 20

minutes and I'm worn out. I used to be so strong and able. I could walk for

hours even when I had pain. Now, I just feel like crying all the time. I'm fused

from T4-S1. First it was L4-L5. Then it was T4-L5. Now its down to S1 and I had

the anterior. I just keep

getting less movement and still have the pain. I feel so bored and isolated, not

being able to get out and do anything. Just wanted to complain.

Re: Re:Hoping older adults who had spine surgery

could help me

Even though I am not as old as your mother, 57 now, and I had a much smaller

surgery, fusion of L4L5S1, (as I chose not to correct my thoracic curvature

which remains at 55-60 degrees), I have been amazed at how long it has taken me

to really come back. 6 months on the 27th of this month, and I am just now in

the last couple weeks regaining my stamina and walking about 2 miles a day. I

had lost alot of my muscle mass in the year preceding my surgery, due to pain

and inactivity. The first few days after surgery were awful and very painful,

and I now see that much of that pain was from my poor quads that I was placing a

big demand on but were seriously out of shape. The surgeon said " walk, walk,

walk " but I couldn't without exacerbating my continuing sciatica. I downed alot

of protein shakes and ate alot of protein bars to augment my poor appetite (now

better since I have seriously decreased my narcotic use.) These surgeries take

alot out of healthly

people, and if you're not

in your prime, it takes a big effort to come back. I'm very determined to become

strong again. But I can remember those first several weeks: they were very hard.

Good luck to your mother. Make sure she has good nutrition and is taking some

serious nutritional supplements, vitamins and minerals. I have also been on DHEA

and SAM-E, which I think helped my mental outlook.

DEBBIE

my_mamas_daughter <flookeyalafribble> wrote:

Jolene, Thank you so much for sharing. Every bit of info I can pass

on to my mom, that will bring her hope and reassurance, is a

treasure to me.

>

> My heart goes out to you. Knowing how intensive this surgery is,

I can see

> that on an older body it would be extremely difficult to recoup

from. She

> hasn't just lost weight from body fat, she's lost muscle mass.

Rebuilding

> muscle after spinal surgery is extremely tough at her age.

(can't remember how

> old she was, but I think over 75 (?) ) Depression is not

uncommon after such

> surgery not only from her weakness but from the drugs used during

and after

> surgery. Since it's a chemical unbalance, a anti-depression med

is probably

> warranted. That should be treated immediately. It also seems

her blood

> pressure issues should be addressed. If her surgeon is not

dealing with these

> issues then her PCP will. Surgeons often expect after care to be

handled by PCP.

> At this point it seems she needs hope to survive and recover.

Recovery is a

> long haul for every adult patient. She has added years that

make it even

> harder. Keep fighting for her. Don't look back and regret

what's already

> happened...continue to hang on and fight for her as you are doing.

>

> Jolene (surgery at 13 and 59. The latter recovery was a year long

fight)

>

>

>

> ************ **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL

Money &

> Finance. (http://money. aol.com/tax? NCID=aolprf00030 000000001)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

You should never bend into the curve. All exercising should be against the

curve - as if if you are tryng to straighten the faulty area. If hump is on

your left, then never lie down on your left side - always the opposite. In

other words, dont do anything to facilitate the curve curving more!

Lida

Re: Re:Hoping older adults who had spine

surgery could help me

Once you are an adult, with a long history of Scoliosis, I would imagine

that this isn't realistically possible, however

not impossible.

I also don't see how bending INTO the Curve would help straighten it.

Just some of my ponderings.

Take Care,

Brande

mymochacharter (DOT) <mailto:mymocha%40charter.net> net

you can still decrease your curve by exercises, and bending INTO the curve

twice as much as bending the other way. .

__________ NOD32 3128 (20080523) Information __________

This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.

http://www.eset.com