Another blow

November 26, 2008

Well, today I had to go to the doctor. Not my back doctor, another

one, but they weigh you and take your height. Well, I started out at

5'2 " , then I had my scoli surgery at 16 and grew to 5'4 " , now, since

I'm curving again, I'm back to 5'2 " . It never really gets better does

it? Just one more thing to deal with. I guess it's not that big of a

deal but it makes me feel like such a freak of nature. Who else

changes height so many times in their life? Oh well...it could be much

worse so I'll take it.

November 27, 2008

" freak of nature " .....this term you used, , is what I feel. It is a

horrible thing for a woman to label herself or society, but in this body

perfect (or have surgery to create it) world it seems to fit. On the other

hand

it's a miracle we can function with our spines turning and twisting as they do.

I need to remind myself, I am not my spine. Body image is badly bruised

with scoliosis.

Others thoughts......

Jolene

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November 27, 2008

, the same thing happened to me! I was always 5'5 and knew besides the

pain something was wrong when I was as tall as my 5'2 step-daughter! I measured

myself and yes 5'2! I would suggest an xray by your back Dr. If I didn't I

wouldn't have found out my kypho curve was 116 degrees and had my surgery on Nov

15th.

I had previously had hardware removed due to pain, my DR says now we should not

have done that. The rods and screws held me up. On Dec 4th, I get my staples

out! I am also going to ask if he used a cage as well. Take it easy, Do you

have any hardware? I am taking it easy, I still have not left the house, I

don't want to have any problems with not fusing. Staci

From: <ladams9200@...>

Subject: Another blow

Scoliosis Treatment

Date: Wednesday, November 26, 2008, 9:19 PM

Well, today I had to go to the doctor. Not my back doctor, another

one, but they weigh you and take your height. Well, I started out at

5'2 " , then I had my scoli surgery at 16 and grew to 5'4 " , now, since

I'm curving again, I'm back to 5'2 " . It never really gets better does

it? Just one more thing to deal with. I guess it's not that big of a

deal but it makes me feel like such a freak of nature. Who else

changes height so many times in their life? Oh well...it could be much

worse so I'll take it.

November 27, 2008

, the same thing happened to me! I was always 5'5 and knew besides the

pain something was wrong when I was as tall as my 5'2 step-daughter! I measured

myself and yes 5'2! I would suggest an xray by your back Dr. If I didn't I

wouldn't have found out my kypho curve was 116 degrees and had my surgery on Nov

15th.

I had previously had hardware removed due to pain, my DR says now we should not

have done that. The rods and screws held me up. On Dec 4th, I get my staples

out! I am also going to ask if he used a cage as well. Take it easy, Do you

have any hardware? I am taking it easy, I still have not left the house, I

don't want to have any problems with not fusing. Staci

From: <ladams9200@...>

Subject: Another blow

Scoliosis Treatment

Date: Wednesday, November 26, 2008, 9:19 PM

Well, today I had to go to the doctor. Not my back doctor, another

one, but they weigh you and take your height. Well, I started out at

5'2 " , then I had my scoli surgery at 16 and grew to 5'4 " , now, since

I'm curving again, I'm back to 5'2 " . It never really gets better does

it? Just one more thing to deal with. I guess it's not that big of a

deal but it makes me feel like such a freak of nature. Who else

changes height so many times in their life? Oh well...it could be much

worse so I'll take it.

November 27, 2008

Hi Staci,

I'm glad to hear you are doing so well after your recent surgery. I

wouldn't leave the house either if I were you, but maybe go outside

and at least sit for awhile. The fresh air might do you good.

Sometimes, that's the best medicine.

Yes, I do have hardware. I have 2 harrington rods, wires, nuts, bolts,

fused from the top of spine to L3. I had that done when I was 16. Now,

my L4-S1 region is curving. Currently it's at 25 degrees. I recently

had 2 back x-rays in July and Sept. and was told I need surgery to fix

the scoli but it wouldn't help the pain. It sounds like several people

on the board have had similar surgeries and some suggest it and others

don't. At the current time, it's just not feasible for me. I have a

little one and money is a factor. Plus, if it's not going to help my

pain, then why bother. It's a no win situation.

I had to laugh yesterday after the doc appt. because the first thing I

thought of is " what to I tell the DMV for my height? " Stupid I know

but seriously, well this year I'm this height and next year, oh, I'm

this height. They will think I'm completely crazy! Oh well, I've

been 5'2 " before so I can do it again. I had wondered why I was

always stepping on my pant legs lately...this explains it. My left

pant leg is especially bad because that's the side I'm leaning to.

I am Italian so I guess people could call me the Leaning Tower of

!

Again, good to hear you are doing well,

>

> , the same thing happened to me! I was always 5'5 and knew

besides the pain something was wrong when I was as tall as my 5'2

step-daughter! I measured myself and yes 5'2! I would suggest an

xray by your back Dr. If I didn't I wouldn't have found out my kypho

curve was 116 degrees and had my surgery on Nov 15th.

>

> I had previously had hardware removed due to pain, my DR says now

we should not have done that. The rods and screws held me up. On

Dec 4th, I get my staples out! I am also going to ask if he used a

cage as well. Take it easy, Do you have any hardware? I am taking

it easy, I still have not left the house, I don't want to have any

problems with not fusing. Staci

November 28, 2008

I hear ya. I've gone from 5'10.75 to 5'9.75 to 5'11 to 5'9.75 and now I'm back

at 5'11. Hope it sticks this time! Do you know why you're curving again after

all these years?

________________________________

From: <ladams9200@...>

Scoliosis Treatment

Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 7:19:43 PM

Subject: Another blow

Well, today I had to go to the doctor. Not my back doctor, another

one, but they weigh you and take your height. Well, I started out at

5'2 " , then I had my scoli surgery at 16 and grew to 5'4 " , now, since

I'm curving again, I'm back to 5'2 " . It never really gets better does

it? Just one more thing to deal with. I guess it's not that big of a

deal but it makes me feel like such a freak of nature. Who else

changes height so many times in their life? Oh well...it could be much

worse so I'll take it.

November 29, 2008

Hi Randie,

I'm curving again because my L4-S1 area has scoliosis in it now. I'm

fused everywhere else but there. I'm at 25 degrees. So, now I'm tilting

to the left. I thought after having my initial surgeries 13 years ago,

I'd be fine. Not the case though. Now, I'm back to pain every day and

the ugliness that follows me in everything I wear. Nothing fits right,

my left pant leg at the bottom is all torn up from walking on it while

my right pant leg is a little bit too short. Etc...But the surgery is

way too risky and won't help my pain so I'm just dealing with it...for

now.

>

> I hear ya. I've gone from 5'10.75 to 5'9.75 to 5'11 to 5'9.75 and now

I'm back at 5'11. Hope it sticks this time! Do you know why you're

curving again after all these years?

November 30, 2008

That's the surgery I had back in Jan/Feb, in addition to the revision. I'm still

suffering, actually more so than before the surgery. I was so straight after the

big one, but my ribs started moving to the left and then the rod broke. I guess

one must've already been broken. So I went for the whole thing, per my surgeons

advice. I wonder often if I'd be better off if I'd just had the revision and not

the extra fusion to S1, but he thought I needed it. It seems a hard surgery to

recover from. I get such a bad spasm in my left groin area. I thought for awhile

it was the screws but now I wonder if it's just my body having a hard time

adjusting to my pelvis being moved. I had a 45 degree lower curve, even after my

upper was corrected from 55 to 20. so now I look very straight but I hurt so

much I never really go anywhere. I'm so underweight I think ppl look at me and

think I'm anorexic or dying of cancer. Those who are overweight think being thin

is so great,

but it has it's downside. I have no energy, among other things. But anyway,

that's my current story. Pain, pain, pain.

________________________________

From: <ladams9200@...>

Scoliosis Treatment

Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2008 9:45:21 AM

Subject: Re: Another blow