Surgery or Not?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 01/25/2003 7:18:07 AM Pacific Standard Time,

Scoliosis Treatment writes:

Lap wrote,

> ... " her lumbar curve is about 45

> degrees and thoracic curve is about 35 degrees ...She

> has no symptom. "

Do you mean she has no pain, instead of symptom? The curves are the symptom

on scoliosis. Many teens (not all) have no pain because they are flexible

and have young spines. Often the pain described on this list is from those

of us that are older. I had an upper curve of over 60 and had no pain until I

was 38. Getting a second/third opinion from an experienced scoliosis doctor

is good advice. Don't delay because curves can progress quickly in some

teens. Let the list know where you live and you'll get some doctor

recommendations and first hand experience. Jolene

[Guest guest]

Good luck . I know what you are going through.

--- <karendave56@...> wrote:

> We had our drs appointment in Boston today. We were

> glad we went

> He dosent seem to think that its any rush to have

> the surgery.

> My daughter has heard from the Dr the Benifits of

> having the surgery

> and What could possiably take place during surgery.

> She said she

> wanted the surgery, All I asked her was to go home

> and research with

> me And pray about it! And than make her decission.

> If she plans to

> go through with it she will have it in september

> sometime. Im really

> not sure whos x-rays are right when we went to

> U-mass her X-rays

> showed a curve of 51 degrees. At childrens it showed

> a curve of 56

> degrees. I dont know if they just measure

> differently but if not she

> has increased 5 degrees in

> less than 3 months. For the people who say she is a

> child and

> shouldnt have any input in her care or what happens

> to her body Im

> sorry but I dont believe that. she and I are doing

> research online and

> asked lots of questions at or Dr appointment today.

> I believe that

> she is old enough and smart enough to make a good

> decission with the

> right information. I thank you all for your input

> though it is very

> helpful

>

> God Bless

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

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[Guest guest]

, if you read this in time and are so inclined

can you ask the dr tomorrow if he has any opinion of

Dr. Harry Shufflebarger in Miami? Thank you.

--- <karendave56@...> wrote:

> We had our drs appointment in Boston today. We were

> glad we went

> He dosent seem to think that its any rush to have

> the surgery.

> My daughter has heard from the Dr the Benifits of

> having the surgery

> and What could possiably take place during surgery.

> She said she

> wanted the surgery, All I asked her was to go home

> and research with

> me And pray about it! And than make her decission.

> If she plans to

> go through with it she will have it in september

> sometime. Im really

> not sure whos x-rays are right when we went to

> U-mass her X-rays

> showed a curve of 51 degrees. At childrens it showed

> a curve of 56

> degrees. I dont know if they just measure

> differently but if not she

> has increased 5 degrees in

> less than 3 months. For the people who say she is a

> child and

> shouldnt have any input in her care or what happens

> to her body Im

> sorry but I dont believe that. she and I are doing

> research online and

> asked lots of questions at or Dr appointment today.

> I believe that

> she is old enough and smart enough to make a good

> decission with the

> right information. I thank you all for your input

> though it is very

> helpful

>

> God Bless

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

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[Guest guest]

Dear , curves measure differently in the morning and afternoon. It's great

that you and your daughter will pray about it.

Lj

<karendave56@...> wrote:

We had our drs appointment in Boston today. We were glad we went

He dosent seem to think that its any rush to have the surgery.

My daughter has heard from the Dr the Benifits of having the surgery

and What could possiably take place during surgery. She said she

wanted the surgery, All I asked her was to go home and research with

me And pray about it! And than make her decission. If she plans to

go through with it she will have it in september sometime. Im really

not sure whos x-rays are right when we went to U-mass her X-rays

showed a curve of 51 degrees. At childrens it showed a curve of 56

degrees. I dont know if they just measure differently but if not she

has increased 5 degrees in

less than 3 months. For the people who say she is a child and

shouldnt have any input in her care or what happens to her body Im

sorry but I dont believe that. she and I are doing research online and

asked lots of questions at or Dr appointment today. I believe that

she is old enough and smart enough to make a good decission with the

right information. I thank you all for your input though it is very

helpful

God Bless

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

One sleepless night before my sugery, I found a diary of fusion

surgery written a young girl on the internet. It was very

interesting and gave me some of the information that doctors forget

to provide. It was written day by day starting before the surgery

until several months after the surgery. Maybe it will give your

daughter some realistic information about what to expect. The

unknown is usually what we fear the most.

Bev from Ohio

> We had our drs appointment in Boston today. We were glad

we went

> He dosent seem to think that its any rush to have the surgery.

> My daughter has heard from the Dr the Benifits of having the

surgery

> and What could possiably take place during surgery. She said she

> wanted the surgery, All I asked her was to go home and research

with

> me And pray about it! And than make her decission. If she plans to

> go through with it she will have it in september sometime. Im

really

> not sure whos x-rays are right when we went to U-mass her X-rays

> showed a curve of 51 degrees. At childrens it showed a curve of 56

> degrees. I dont know if they just measure differently but if not

she

> has increased 5 degrees in

> less than 3 months. For the people who say she is a child and

> shouldnt have any input in her care or what happens to her body Im

> sorry but I dont believe that. she and I are doing research online

and

> asked lots of questions at or Dr appointment today. I believe that

> she is old enough and smart enough to make a good decission with

the

> right information. I thank you all for your input though it is

very

> helpful

>

> God Bless

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of

Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.

>

>

[Guest guest]

what did it provide that the doctors didn't?

--- beverlyoleksiak <obev@...> wrote:

> One sleepless night before my sugery, I found a

> diary of fusion

> surgery written a young girl on the internet. It was

> very

> interesting and gave me some of the information that

> doctors forget

> to provide. It was written day by day starting

> before the surgery

> until several months after the surgery. Maybe it

> will give your

> daughter some realistic information about what to

> expect. The

> unknown is usually what we fear the most.

>

> Bev from Ohio

>

>

> > We had our drs appointment in Boston

> today. We were glad

> we went

> > He dosent seem to think that its any rush to have

> the surgery.

> > My daughter has heard from the Dr the Benifits of

> having the

> surgery

> > and What could possiably take place during

> surgery. She said she

> > wanted the surgery, All I asked her was to go home

> and research

> with

> > me And pray about it! And than make her decission.

> If she plans to

> > go through with it she will have it in september

> sometime. Im

> really

> > not sure whos x-rays are right when we went to

> U-mass her X-rays

> > showed a curve of 51 degrees. At childrens it

> showed a curve of 56

> > degrees. I dont know if they just measure

> differently but if not

> she

> > has increased 5 degrees in

> > less than 3 months. For the people who say she is

> a child and

> > shouldnt have any input in her care or what

> happens to her body Im

> > sorry but I dont believe that. she and I are doing

> research online

> and

> > asked lots of questions at or Dr appointment

> today. I believe that

> > she is old enough and smart enough to make a good

> decission with

> the

> > right information. I thank you all for your input

> though it is

> very

> > helpful

> >

> > God Bless

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ---------------------------------

> > You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you

> one month of

> Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.

> >

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

> >

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total

Access, No Cost.

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[Guest guest]

where can we access this diary?

--- beverlyoleksiak <obev@...> wrote:

> One sleepless night before my sugery, I found a

> diary of fusion

> surgery written a young girl on the internet. It was

> very

> interesting and gave me some of the information that

> doctors forget

> to provide. It was written day by day starting

> before the surgery

> until several months after the surgery. Maybe it

> will give your

> daughter some realistic information about what to

> expect. The

> unknown is usually what we fear the most.

>

> Bev from Ohio

>

>

> > We had our drs appointment in Boston

> today. We were glad

> we went

> > He dosent seem to think that its any rush to have

> the surgery.

> > My daughter has heard from the Dr the Benifits of

> having the

> surgery

> > and What could possiably take place during

> surgery. She said she

> > wanted the surgery, All I asked her was to go home

> and research

> with

> > me And pray about it! And than make her decission.

> If she plans to

> > go through with it she will have it in september

> sometime. Im

> really

> > not sure whos x-rays are right when we went to

> U-mass her X-rays

> > showed a curve of 51 degrees. At childrens it

> showed a curve of 56

> > degrees. I dont know if they just measure

> differently but if not

> she

> > has increased 5 degrees in

> > less than 3 months. For the people who say she is

> a child and

> > shouldnt have any input in her care or what

> happens to her body Im

> > sorry but I dont believe that. she and I are doing

> research online

> and

> > asked lots of questions at or Dr appointment

> today. I believe that

> > she is old enough and smart enough to make a good

> decission with

> the

> > right information. I thank you all for your input

> though it is

> very

> > helpful

> >

> > God Bless

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ---------------------------------

> > You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you

> one month of

> Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.

> >

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

> >

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total

Access, No Cost.

http://tc.deals./tc/blockbuster/text5.com

[Guest guest]

,

The 5 degree curve is considered range of error. Different doctors can get

different results depending on which vertebra they start their plot lines.

Inotherwords don't sweat the 5% as significant.

Jolene

**************Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides.

(http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states?ncid=aoltrv00030000000016)

[Guest guest]

,

I've been offline for a while & am not familiar with

your entire story. I just wanted to respond on your

giving your daughter input. I was 11 yrs of age when I

had my scoliosis surgery & my parents gave me the

choice to have the surgery or not (of course they told

me after I became an adult had I not elected the

surgery that they would've overruled my decision).

Prior to the surgery I'd been in a brace since the age

of 7 when it was diagnosed. Parents are excellent for

guidance, but the kids should be included in decisions

too since it is their body. It sounds like you & your

daughter will soldier on well. ~Moonbeam

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I know you are all probably really, really sick of me

by now. I am not normally like this but as you know

this is a huge decision effecting my son's health for

the rest of his life.

We are just about two weeks away from my 19 year old

son's scoliosis fusion surgery (posterior). He has a

50 degree curve measured by one surgeon and a 52

degree curve measured by another surgeon. He is being

fused from T-2 to T12.

He has donated his own blood and the doctor is taking

the bone from his rib for the bone graft.

My dilemma as you know is do we wait until it

progresses (we have good insurance now and I think

this is when it would be least disruptive to his life

in terms of time between his freshman and sophomore

years of college) or do we wait and see what happens

down the road.

My fears....once he is fused the areas above and below

the fusion will over the years get more stress and he

will have to have surgery anyway or a second surgery,

that he will have pain for the rest of his life while

he has none now and will he have paralysis, infection,

pneumonia and all kinds of things that can happen as a

result of surgery. My son as far as we know is

otherwise in fine health. He has never been a

physically active kid but generally has never had any

health problems.

His surgeon has many many years of experience and his

practice is devoted to this area of medicine

specifically. I am told he invented some of the

instrumentation they use now but I never actually

asked him that question. He said he has never had a

patient who became paralyzed as a result of this

surgery.

My son decided to have the surgery but I am not sure

he understands the possible implications down the road

and he doesn't really want to talk to me about this.

So one final yea or nay...would you do it if it were

your son....one last what do you think and I promise

to shut up.

My heart goes out to all of you on here who have

suffered so and been through so much. I feel so

selfish asking you for anything on here but at the

same time think that maybe because of what you have

been through you are more knowledgeable and would

understand how hard it is to make this decision.

Ok...shutting up now. One last huge thank you.

--- diane neuman <ne-mandiane@...> wrote:

> We bought the 4 and 6 inch memory foam toppers-much

> better then the just the foam ones, at least for

> us-it seems what works for one doesn't necessarily

> work for the next. One of my girlfriends has one

> those newer style air mattresses that she stuck on

> top of her mattress and then added a memory foam

> topper to that and adjusts the amount of air-seems

> to be doing the trick for her for now.. I still am

> thankful for having two different comfortable

> couches-sometimes there is simply no mattress that

> will work..

>

> hope you find something

> Diane

>

> Mattresses. Any hints?

>

> Hi, people!

>

> Back in 1996, when I was 16, I was fused T5 to L4.

> One year after

> that, I started experiencing pain as I changed my

> mattress into a

> harder one. I somehow felt that it stayed too rigid

> and didn't match

> the shape of my lower-back so that part of my lumbar

> area didn't make

> contact with the surface of the mattress. Putting a

> pillow under my

> knees solved the problem and I've slept like that

> ever since.

>

> I guess my spine and I are getting older. My current

> mattress is

> pretty hard and the pillow under the knees is not

> enough to make me

> feel right. So I bought a 2-inch thick foam mattress

> topper. It

> didn't feel firm enough in the lumbar area so I put

> a folded towel

> underneath the topper and it worked. After a few

> weeks It's starting

> to sag and It's not that comfortable anymore. I

> guess the poor

> quality of my foam topper doesn't help. Maybe good

> quality memory

> foam would do.

>

> I would be grateful to get your hints/advice/

> opinions on the topic of

> beds and mattresses. I know that each one of us is

> different, but

> still I think we understand our problems and

> " special " needs

> sometimes even better than doctors.

>

> Thanks.

>

> PS: I have already read some posts on this topic.

> Has anybody noticed

> that the search engine of the forum doesn't work too

> well? (I always

> get only a few matches, if any, when I search for

> something)

>

>

>

>

> <!--

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________________________________________________________________________________\

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[Guest guest]

You are thinking about very valid points-and though I am more of a lurker I have

really appreciated you sharing-

Our DD is just at 30 but only 13 we will have some tough decisions in our

future, she also has a myopathy that causes very poor muscle tone-

You are dealing with all the issues that we will have to struggle with-

I think if our DD was in the same situation I would do it. The 20's and 3o's

and even 40's are the best years and most active years, we want our DD to enjoy

them to her fullest. I would be more worried about her facing the surgery at 40

or 50 I would think a lot more complications and a longer recovery...also sooner

or later he will be too old for your insurance, and it is difficult in their

20's to find good insurance as they establish their careers-

Your son is like every kid that age-they just have not lived long enough to have

the same worries and fears-there is beauty in that- all you can do is make the

best decision that you can-and it will be the right one.

Diane

Mattresses. Any hints?

>

> Hi, people!

>

> Back in 1996, when I was 16, I was fused T5 to L4.

> One year after

> that, I started experiencing pain as I changed my

> mattress into a

> harder one. I somehow felt that it stayed too rigid

> and didn't match

> the shape of my lower-back so that part of my lumbar

> area didn't make

> contact with the surface of the mattress. Putting a

> pillow under my

> knees solved the problem and I've slept like that

> ever since.

>

> I guess my spine and I are getting older. My current

> mattress is

> pretty hard and the pillow under the knees is not

> enough to make me

> feel right. So I bought a 2-inch thick foam mattress

> topper. It

> didn't feel firm enough in the lumbar area so I put

> a folded towel

> underneath the topper and it worked. After a few

> weeks It's starting

> to sag and It's not that comfortable anymore. I

> guess the poor

> quality of my foam topper doesn't help. Maybe good

> quality memory

> foam would do.

>

> I would be grateful to get your hints/advice/

> opinions on the topic of

> beds and mattresses. I know that each one of us is

> different, but

> still I think we understand our problems and

> " special " needs

> sometimes even better than doctors.

>

> Thanks.

>

> PS: I have already read some posts on this topic.

> Has anybody noticed

> that the search engine of the forum doesn't work too

> well? (I always

> get only a few matches, if any, when I search for

> something)

>

>

>

>

> <!--

>

> #ygrp-mkp{

> border:1px solid

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[Guest guest]

Gail,

I would have given anything if there was a surgeon as good as the one you

describe who could have helped me when I was only 19 years old. My curve was

next to nothing back then. I have not heard of one person on this forum who has

had paralysis as a result of their surgery. Your son is young and healthy and

most likely will do just fine. His self image will improve and he can look

forward to a full life without the worry hanging over his head. If, down the

road, another surgery is required, it will likely be years away and medical

science may be that much more improved by then. As you know, a thoracic curve

can be detrimental to the lungs and heart. I hope you have read the books that

have been recommended here on this forum. None of us can tell you what to do. We

can only tell what we decided to do. As for me, I waited too long. But then I

survived, despite the blood clot complication, and I'm fine today, and out of

pain.

Patti

Mattresses. Any hints?

>

> Hi, people!

>

> Back in 1996, when I was 16, I was fused T5 to L4.

> One year after

> that, I started experiencing pain as I changed my

> mattress into a

> harder one. I somehow felt that it stayed too rigid

> and didn't match

> the shape of my lower-back so that part of my lumbar

> area didn't make

> contact with the surface of the mattress. Putting a

> pillow under my

> knees solved the problem and I've slept like that

> ever since.

>

> I guess my spine and I are getting older. My current

> mattress is

> pretty hard and the pillow under the knees is not

> enough to make me

> feel right. So I bought a 2-inch thick foam mattress

> topper. It

> didn't feel firm enough in the lumbar area so I put

> a folded towel

> underneath the topper and it worked. After a few

> weeks It's starting

> to sag and It's not that comfortable anymore. I

> guess the poor

> quality of my foam topper doesn't help. Maybe good

> quality memory

> foam would do.

>

> I would be grateful to get your hints/advice/

> opinions on the topic of

> beds and mattresses. I know that each one of us is

> different, but

> still I think we understand our problems and

> " special " needs

> sometimes even better than doctors.

>

> Thanks.

>

> PS: I have already read some posts on this topic.

> Has anybody noticed

> that the search engine of the forum doesn't work too

> well? (I always

> get only a few matches, if any, when I search for

> something)

>

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

thank you patti I am so glad you are fine and out of

pain.

--- Patti <pattijohnson@...> wrote:

> Gail,

>

> I would have given anything if there was a surgeon

> as good as the one you describe who could have

> helped me when I was only 19 years old. My curve was

> next to nothing back then. I have not heard of one

> person on this forum who has had paralysis as a

> result of their surgery. Your son is young and

> healthy and most likely will do just fine. His self

> image will improve and he can look forward to a full

> life without the worry hanging over his head. If,

> down the road, another surgery is required, it will

> likely be years away and medical science may be that

> much more improved by then. As you know, a thoracic

> curve can be detrimental to the lungs and heart. I

> hope you have read the books that have been

> recommended here on this forum. None of us can tell

> you what to do. We can only tell what we decided to

> do. As for me, I waited too long. But then I

> survived, despite the blood clot complication, and

> I'm fine today, and out of pain.

>

> Patti

>

> Mattresses. Any

> hints?

> >

> > Hi, people!

> >

> > Back in 1996, when I was 16, I was fused T5 to

> L4.

> > One year after

> > that, I started experiencing pain as I changed

> my

> > mattress into a

> > harder one. I somehow felt that it stayed too

> rigid

> > and didn't match

> > the shape of my lower-back so that part of my

> lumbar

> > area didn't make

> > contact with the surface of the mattress.

> Putting a

> > pillow under my

> > knees solved the problem and I've slept like

> that

> > ever since.

> >

> > I guess my spine and I are getting older. My

> current

> > mattress is

> > pretty hard and the pillow under the knees is

> not

> > enough to make me

> > feel right. So I bought a 2-inch thick foam

> mattress

> > topper. It

> > didn't feel firm enough in the lumbar area so I

> put

> > a folded towel

> > underneath the topper and it worked. After a few

> > weeks It's starting

> > to sag and It's not that comfortable anymore. I

> > guess the poor

> > quality of my foam topper doesn't help. Maybe

> good

> > quality memory

> > foam would do.

> >

> > I would be grateful to get your hints/advice/

> > opinions on the topic of

> > beds and mattresses. I know that each one of us

> is

> > different, but

> > still I think we understand our problems and

> > " special " needs

> > sometimes even better than doctors.

> >

> > Thanks.

> >

> > PS: I have already read some posts on this

> topic.

> > Has anybody noticed

> > that the search engine of the forum doesn't work

> too

> > well? (I always

>

=== message truncated ===

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[Guest guest]

Thanks Diane. My daughter had a 24 degree curve at

age 8 and wore a boston brace for a year and it went

to 14 degrees and holding (she is 22)We were told he

didnt need to come back but given this development

with my son and noticing an indentation in her side

(no rib hump like she use to have before the brace) we

are going to request an xray when we go back for our

son's follow up. Does your daughter wear a brace? I

hope everything goes well for her. I will keep her in

my prayers. Keep us posted about how she is doing.

--- diane neuman <neumandiane@...> wrote:

> You are thinking about very valid points-and though

> I am more of a lurker I have really appreciated you

> sharing-

> Our DD is just at 30 but only 13 we will have some

> tough decisions in our future, she also has a

> myopathy that causes very poor muscle tone-

>

> You are dealing with all the issues that we will

> have to struggle with-

>

> I think if our DD was in the same situation I would

> do it. The 20's and 3o's and even 40's are the best

> years and most active years, we want our DD to enjoy

> them to her fullest. I would be more worried about

> her facing the surgery at 40 or 50 I would think a

> lot more complications and a longer recovery...also

> sooner or later he will be too old for your

> insurance, and it is difficult in their 20's to find

> good insurance as they establish their careers-

>

> Your son is like every kid that age-they just have

> not lived long enough to have the same worries and

> fears-there is beauty in that- all you can do is

> make the best decision that you can-and it will be

> the right one.

>

> Diane

>

> Mattresses. Any

> hints?

> >

> > Hi, people!

> >

> > Back in 1996, when I was 16, I was fused T5 to L4.

> > One year after

> > that, I started experiencing pain as I changed my

> > mattress into a

> > harder one. I somehow felt that it stayed too

> rigid

> > and didn't match

> > the shape of my lower-back so that part of my

> lumbar

> > area didn't make

> > contact with the surface of the mattress. Putting

> a

> > pillow under my

> > knees solved the problem and I've slept like that

> > ever since.

> >

> > I guess my spine and I are getting older. My

> current

> > mattress is

> > pretty hard and the pillow under the knees is not

> > enough to make me

> > feel right. So I bought a 2-inch thick foam

> mattress

> > topper. It

> > didn't feel firm enough in the lumbar area so I

> put

> > a folded towel

> > underneath the topper and it worked. After a few

> > weeks It's starting

> > to sag and It's not that comfortable anymore. I

> > guess the poor

> > quality of my foam topper doesn't help. Maybe

> good

> > quality memory

> > foam would do.

> >

> > I would be grateful to get your hints/advice/

> > opinions on the topic of

> > beds and mattresses. I know that each one of us is

> > different, but

> > still I think we understand our problems and

> > " special " needs

> > sometimes even better than doctors.

> >

> > Thanks.

> >

> > PS: I have already read some posts on this topic.

> > Has anybody noticed

> > that the search engine of the forum doesn't work

> too

> > well? (I always

> > get only a few matches, if any, when I search for

> > something)

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > <!--

> >

> > #ygrp-mkp{

> > border:1px solid

> > #d8d8d8;font- family:Arial; margin:14px

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[Guest guest]

My nephew was fused from T4-L5 at age 16. He's 26 and doing fine so far.

Mattresses. Any hints?

>

> Hi, people!

>

> Back in 1996, when I was 16, I was fused T5 to L4.

> One year after

> that, I started experiencing pain as I changed my

> mattress into a

> harder one. I somehow felt that it stayed too rigid

> and didn't match

> the shape of my lower-back so that part of my lumbar

> area didn't make

> contact with the surface of the mattress. Putting a

> pillow under my

> knees solved the problem and I've slept like that

> ever since.

>

> I guess my spine and I are getting older. My current

> mattress is

> pretty hard and the pillow under the knees is not

> enough to make me

> feel right. So I bought a 2-inch thick foam mattress

> topper. It

> didn't feel firm enough in the lumbar area so I put

> a folded towel

> underneath the topper and it worked. After a few

> weeks It's starting

> to sag and It's not that comfortable anymore. I

> guess the poor

> quality of my foam topper doesn't help. Maybe good

> quality memory

> foam would do.

>

> I would be grateful to get your hints/advice/

> opinions on the topic of

> beds and mattresses. I know that each one of us is

> different, but

> still I think we understand our problems and

> " special " needs

> sometimes even better than doctors.

>

> Thanks.

>

> PS: I have already read some posts on this topic.

> Has anybody noticed

> that the search engine of the forum doesn't work too

> well? (I always

> get only a few matches, if any, when I search for

> something)

>

>

>

>

> <!--

>

> #ygrp-mkp{

> border:1px solid

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[Guest guest]

I am glad to hear your nephew is doing well Randi.

Thanks for your reply and my best to you.

--- Randie Meyer <taknitlite@...> wrote:

> My nephew was fused from T4-L5 at age 16. He's 26

> and doing fine so far.

>

>

>

> Mattresses. Any

> hints?

> >

> > Hi, people!

> >

> > Back in 1996, when I was 16, I was fused T5 to L4.

> > One year after

> > that, I started experiencing pain as I changed my

> > mattress into a

> > harder one. I somehow felt that it stayed too

> rigid

> > and didn't match

> > the shape of my lower-back so that part of my

> lumbar

> > area didn't make

> > contact with the surface of the mattress. Putting

> a

> > pillow under my

> > knees solved the problem and I've slept like that

> > ever since.

> >

> > I guess my spine and I are getting older. My

> current

> > mattress is

> > pretty hard and the pillow under the knees is not

> > enough to make me

> > feel right. So I bought a 2-inch thick foam

> mattress

> > topper. It

> > didn't feel firm enough in the lumbar area so I

> put

> > a folded towel

> > underneath the topper and it worked. After a few

> > weeks It's starting

> > to sag and It's not that comfortable anymore. I

> > guess the poor

> > quality of my foam topper doesn't help. Maybe good

> > quality memory

> > foam would do.

> >

> > I would be grateful to get your hints/advice/

> > opinions on the topic of

> > beds and mattresses. I know that each one of us is

> > different, but

> > still I think we understand our problems and

> > " special " needs

> > sometimes even better than doctors.

> >

> > Thanks.

> >

> > PS: I have already read some posts on this topic.

> > Has anybody noticed

> > that the search engine of the forum doesn't work

> too

> > well? (I always

> > get only a few matches, if any, when I search for

> > something)

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > <!--

> >

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> 122%;}

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> > margin-bottom: 10px;padding: 0 0;}

> > -->

> >

> > <!--

> >

>

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[Guest guest]

I was wondering if you all would be willing to share

and try to describe the pain you felt right after you

had your fusion surgery. I want to get an idea when

the time comes of what my son is experiencing. Is it

a sharp, dull, throbbing, pins and needles,

excruciating worse than labor pains, etc. And how

long the highest level of pain lasts for and anything

you can think of to help me understand what that is

like and what I can do for him from an

emotional/psychological perspective as well as

advocate if he is not receiving the proper amount of

pain meds he needs. thanks.

--- Gail Merri <p0etiss@...> wrote:

> I am glad to hear your nephew is doing well Randi.

> Thanks for your reply and my best to you.

> --- Randie Meyer <taknitlite@...> wrote:

>

> > My nephew was fused from T4-L5 at age 16. He's 26

> > and doing fine so far.

> >

> >

> >

> > Mattresses. Any

> > hints?

> > >

> > > Hi, people!

> > >

> > > Back in 1996, when I was 16, I was fused T5 to

> L4.

> > > One year after

> > > that, I started experiencing pain as I changed

> my

> > > mattress into a

> > > harder one. I somehow felt that it stayed too

> > rigid

> > > and didn't match

> > > the shape of my lower-back so that part of my

> > lumbar

> > > area didn't make

> > > contact with the surface of the mattress.

> Putting

> > a

> > > pillow under my

> > > knees solved the problem and I've slept like

> that

> > > ever since.

> > >

> > > I guess my spine and I are getting older. My

> > current

> > > mattress is

> > > pretty hard and the pillow under the knees is

> not

> > > enough to make me

> > > feel right. So I bought a 2-inch thick foam

> > mattress

> > > topper. It

> > > didn't feel firm enough in the lumbar area so I

> > put

> > > a folded towel

> > > underneath the topper and it worked. After a few

> > > weeks It's starting

> > > to sag and It's not that comfortable anymore. I

> > > guess the poor

> > > quality of my foam topper doesn't help. Maybe

> good

> > > quality memory

> > > foam would do.

> > >

> > > I would be grateful to get your hints/advice/

> > > opinions on the topic of

> > > beds and mattresses. I know that each one of us

> is

> > > different, but

> > > still I think we understand our problems and

> > > " special " needs

> > > sometimes even better than doctors.

> > >

> > > Thanks.

> > >

> > > PS: I have already read some posts on this

> topic.

> > > Has anybody noticed

> > > that the search engine of the forum doesn't work

> > too

> > > well? (I always

> > > get only a few matches, if any, when I search

> for

> > > something)

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > <!--

> > >

> > > #ygrp-mkp{

> > > border:1px solid

> > > #d8d8d8;font- family:Arial; margin:14px

> > > 0px;padding: 0px 14px;}

>

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[Guest guest]

Gail,

You will probably want to plan to be with him through the first night after his

surgery. He will be on a morphine pump probably, which he can self administer.

My husband stayed with me and it was so reassuring just to open my eyes and see

him there, vigilant, supportive, loving, caring. This is a tough surgery, no

doubt about it. He helped me get my sips of water, and helped adjust the

pillows, and got the nurse to come when the monitors started beeping, which they

seemed to do so often. The first two or three days were hard. And I think the

nights were the longest. After the lights went out and my husband went home, I

was left with the hospital noises and the beeping monitors, and of course, the

pain. It was suggested that I have my favorite music to soothe me. So if he has

an MP3 player, load it up with his favorite music. I played my favorite CD over

and over again.

I had no interest in food for a couple of weeks because of nausea and just plain

disinterest. So they put me on the feeding tube for awhile, and my appetite was

slow to come back. I think I was off the morphine before the week was over and

they were giving me Percocet and later Darvocet. Then I had to have the second

surgery! Wow! After two weeks, I was doing so much better, weak as a new born,

but so glad to be alive. When they wheeled me out into the sunshine the day they

took me to the Rehab Facility (not everyone has to do this), I couldn't get

enough of that sunshine on my face. And the pain was completely managable with

Percocet. I never had a problem getting pain medication, and I had no problem

getting off it.

So the short answer is, yes, there will be pain, and it will be continuous. AND

YES, the pain medication they give you will take care of it. He will sleep

through most of it. You are a good mother to be so caring and so protective. He

is going to be alright.

Patti

Mattresses. Any

> > hints?

> > >

> > > Hi, people!

> > >

> > > Back in 1996, when I was 16, I was fused T5 to

> L4.

> > > One year after

> > > that, I started experiencing pain as I changed

> my

> > > mattress into a

> > > harder one. I somehow felt that it stayed too

> > rigid

> > > and didn't match

> > > the shape of my lower-back so that part of my

> > lumbar

> > > area didn't make

> > > contact with the surface of the mattress.

> Putting

> > a

> > > pillow under my

> > > knees solved the problem and I've slept like

> that

> > > ever since.

> > >

> > > I guess my spine and I are getting older. My

> > current

> > > mattress is

> > > pretty hard and the pillow under the knees is

> not

> > > enough to make me

> > > feel right. So I bought a 2-inch thick foam

> > mattress

> > > topper. It

> > > didn't feel firm enough in the lumbar area so I

> > put

> > > a folded towel

> > > underneath the topper and it worked. After a few

> > > weeks It's starting

> > > to sag and It's not that comfortable anymore. I

> > > guess the poor

> > > quality of my foam topper doesn't help. Maybe

> good

> > > quality memory

> > > foam would do.

> > >

> > > I would be grateful to get your hints/advice/

> > > opinions on the topic of

> > > beds and mattresses. I know that each one of us

> is

> > > different, but

> > > still I think we understand our problems and

> > > " special " needs

> > > sometimes even better than doctors.

> > >

> > > Thanks.

> > >

> > > PS: I have already read some posts on this

> topic.

> > > Has anybody noticed

> > > that the search engine of the forum doesn't work

> > too

> > > well? (I always

> > > get only a few matches, if any, when I search

> for

> > > something)

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > <!--

> > >

> > > #ygrp-mkp{

> > > border:1px solid

> > > #d8d8d8;font- family:Arial; margin:14px

> > > 0px;padding: 0px 14px;}

>

=== message truncated ===

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[Guest guest]

For me it was very intense and focused on my back, of course. Not to scare you,

but each time, and I've had 4 now, when I first wake up it's awful. Then I start

complaining to the nurse for medicine and it's never enough or fast enough. I

always laid awake all night the first night because I'd fall asleep inbetween

pushing my morphine button then wake up in pain. If you're there with him, you

can push the button for him, but either way, the first 2 days are bad. You can't

turn by yourself, the nurses have to do it for you, and it hurts like hell.

Maybe it won't be as bad for a young person. My nephew had it done twice and now

years later he doesn't remember much about it, but his dad, my brother, says he

was in a lot of pain. You have to stay with him and make sure they give him

enough meds to ease it. The nurses don't always come when the button is pushed.

It gets better every day, but it's still a long, painful process. Yet we all

live to tell.

Mattresses. Any

> > hints?

> > >

> > > Hi, people!

> > >

> > > Back in 1996, when I was 16, I was fused T5 to

> L4.

> > > One year after

> > > that, I started experiencing pain as I changed

> my

> > > mattress into a

> > > harder one. I somehow felt that it stayed too

> > rigid

> > > and didn't match

> > > the shape of my lower-back so that part of my

> > lumbar

> > > area didn't make

> > > contact with the surface of the mattress.

> Putting

> > a

> > > pillow under my

> > > knees solved the problem and I've slept like

> that

> > > ever since.

> > >

> > > I guess my spine and I are getting older. My

> > current

> > > mattress is

> > > pretty hard and the pillow under the knees is

> not

> > > enough to make me

> > > feel right. So I bought a 2-inch thick foam

> > mattress

> > > topper. It

> > > didn't feel firm enough in the lumbar area so I

> > put

> > > a folded towel

> > > underneath the topper and it worked. After a few

> > > weeks It's starting

> > > to sag and It's not that comfortable anymore. I

> > > guess the poor

> > > quality of my foam topper doesn't help. Maybe

> good

> > > quality memory

> > > foam would do.

> > >

> > > I would be grateful to get your hints/advice/

> > > opinions on the topic of

> > > beds and mattresses. I know that each one of us

> is

> > > different, but

> > > still I think we understand our problems and

> > > " special " needs

> > > sometimes even better than doctors.

> > >

> > > Thanks.

> > >

> > > PS: I have already read some posts on this

> topic.

> > > Has anybody noticed

> > > that the search engine of the forum doesn't work

> > too

> > > well? (I always

> > > get only a few matches, if any, when I search

> for

> > > something)

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > <!--

> > >

> > > #ygrp-mkp{

> > > border:1px solid

> > > #d8d8d8;font- family:Arial; margin:14px

> > > 0px;padding: 0px 14px;}

>

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[Guest guest]

Assuming he hasn't had any surgery before, this will be his first time on

morphine and he should do well with it controlling his postop pain. When they

get him up, be sure he pushes the pump first and, as mentioned in another

posting, push it for him when he's asleep so he keeps a continuous flow of pain

med. Also, the hospital has a pain management team that you should request if

need be. There are many meds to control pain and the pain mgt team docs are

experts at it.

I stayed at the hospital except for a quick run home in the morning to shower

and change. I usually brought him a Mac's or Bob breakfast when

I returned which put a smile on his face and a better appetite than with

hospital food. I also went for carry out if he wanted something in particular,

even pizza!!! He was discharged when he went off IV pain meds and then I

became his 'personal servant' and pampered him totally at home which made us

both

feel better!!

**************

Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car

listings at AOL Autos.

(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)

[Guest guest]

so pushing the button for the nurse is for pain meds

in addition to the morphine pump? When you say

intense can you try to describe what it feels like?

Thanks.

--- Randie Meyer <taknitlite@...> wrote:

> For me it was very intense and focused on my back,

> of course. Not to scare you, but each time, and I've

> had 4 now, when I first wake up it's awful. Then I

> start complaining to the nurse for medicine and it's

> never enough or fast enough. I always laid awake all

> night the first night because I'd fall asleep

> inbetween pushing my morphine button then wake up in

> pain. If you're there with him, you can push the

> button for him, but either way, the first 2 days are

> bad. You can't turn by yourself, the nurses have to

> do it for you, and it hurts like hell. Maybe it

> won't be as bad for a young person. My nephew had it

> done twice and now years later he doesn't remember

> much about it, but his dad, my brother, says he was

> in a lot of pain. You have to stay with him and make

> sure they give him enough meds to ease it. The

> nurses don't always come when the button is pushed.

> It gets better every day, but it's still a long,

> painful process. Yet we all live to tell.

>

>

>

> Mattresses. Any

> > > hints?

> > > >

> > > > Hi, people!

> > > >

> > > > Back in 1996, when I was 16, I was fused T5 to

> > L4.

> > > > One year after

> > > > that, I started experiencing pain as I changed

> > my

> > > > mattress into a

> > > > harder one. I somehow felt that it stayed too

>

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[Guest guest]

I plan to stay at the hospital every night he has to

be there. Why did the monitors keep going off? Was

the morphine pump sufficient or did you need pain meds

beyond that? The Dr. said he will be on the morphine

pump for 60 hours followed by percoset. Can you try

to describe what the pain felt like? Thanks.

--- Patti <pattijohnson@...> wrote:

> Gail,

> You will probably want to plan to be with him

> through the first night after his surgery. He will

> be on a morphine pump probably, which he can self

> administer. My husband stayed with me and it was so

> reassuring just to open my eyes and see him there,

> vigilant, supportive, loving, caring. This is a

> tough surgery, no doubt about it. He helped me get

> my sips of water, and helped adjust the pillows, and

> got the nurse to come when the monitors started

> beeping, which they seemed to do so often. The first

> two or three days were hard. And I think the nights

> were the longest. After the lights went out and my

> husband went home, I was left with the hospital

> noises and the beeping monitors, and of course, the

> pain. It was suggested that I have my favorite music

> to soothe me. So if he has an MP3 player, load it up

> with his favorite music. I played my favorite CD

> over and over again.

>

> I had no interest in food for a couple of weeks

> because of nausea and just plain disinterest. So

> they put me on the feeding tube for awhile, and my

> appetite was slow to come back. I think I was off

> the morphine before the week was over and they were

> giving me Percocet and later Darvocet. Then I had to

> have the second surgery! Wow! After two weeks, I was

> doing so much better, weak as a new born, but so

> glad to be alive. When they wheeled me out into the

> sunshine the day they took me to the Rehab Facility

> (not everyone has to do this), I couldn't get enough

> of that sunshine on my face. And the pain was

> completely managable with Percocet. I never had a

> problem getting pain medication, and I had no

> problem getting off it.

>

> So the short answer is, yes, there will be pain, and

> it will be continuous. AND YES, the pain medication

> they give you will take care of it. He will sleep

> through most of it. You are a good mother to be so

> caring and so protective. He is going to be alright.

>

> Patti

>

>

>

> Re: Surgery or

> Not?

> > >

> > > I know you are all probably really, really

> sick of

> > > me

> > > by now. I am not normally like this but as you

> > know

> > > this is a huge decision effecting my son's

> health

> > > for

> > > the rest of his life.

> > > We are just about two weeks away from my 19

> year

> > old

> > > son's scoliosis fusion surgery (posterior). He

> has

> > a

> > > 50 degree curve measured by one surgeon and a

> 52

> > > degree curve measured by another surgeon. He

> is

> > > being

> > > fused from T-2 to T12.

> > >

> > > He has donated his own blood and the doctor is

> > > taking

> > > the bone from his rib for the bone graft.

> > >

> > > My dilemma as you know is do we wait until it

> > > progresses (we have good insurance now and I

> think

> > > this is when it would be least disruptive to

> his

> > > life

> > > in terms of time between his freshman and

> > sophomore

> > > years of college) or do we wait and see what

> > happens

> > > down the road.

> > >

> > > My fears....once he is fused the areas above

> and

> > > below

> > > the fusion will over the years get more stress

> and

> > > he

> > > will have to have surgery anyway or a second

> > > surgery,

> > > that he will have pain for the rest of his

> life

> > > while

> > > he has none now and will he have paralysis,

> > > infection,

> > > pneumonia and all kinds of things that can

> happen

> > as

> > > a

> > > result of surgery. My son as far as we know is

> > > otherwise in fine health. He has never been a

> > > physically active kid but generally has never

> had

> > > any

> > > health problems.

> > >

> > > His surgeon has many many years of experience

> and

> > > his

> > > practice is devoted to this area of medicine

> > > specifically. I am told he invented some of

> the

> > > instrumentation they use now but I never

> actually

> > > asked him that question. He said he has never

> had

> > a

> > > patient who became paralyzed as a result of

> this

> > > surgery.

> > >

> > > My son decided to have the surgery but I am

> not

> > sure

> > > he understands the possible implications down

> the

> > > road

> > > and he doesn't really want to talk to me about

> > this.

> > >

> > >

> > > So one final yea or nay...would you do it if

> it

> > were

> > > your son....one last what do you think and I

> > promise

> > > to shut up.

> > >

> > > My heart goes out to all of you on here who

> have

> > > suffered so and been through so much. I feel

> so

> > > selfish asking you for anything on here but at

> the

> > > same time think that maybe because of what you

> > have

> > > been through you are more knowledgeable and

> would

> > > understand how hard it is to make this

> decision.

> > >

> > > Ok...shutting up now. One last huge thank you.

>

>

=== message truncated ===

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/20/08 12:38:57 PM, p0etiss@... writes:

> How often do you push the pump? How do you get a hold of the pain

> management team? Was he able to walk independently when he left the hospital?

>

The pain pump is programmed for (1) continuous IV morphine and (2) patient

administered additional morphine 'hits'. They will tell you what the interval

is between each button push. It can be reprogrammed to dispense more with

the continuous drop or to be able to push the button more often.

To request the pain management team, all you have to do is ask a nurse. It

is one of the patient rights and you are his advocate. Since he has had no

other surgery and therefore no morphine, he should do just fine with

controlling his pain using the morphine pump.

Your son should be able to walk independently when he is discharged albeit

very slowly and gingerly so you'll want to be right there with him. He may get

a PT session to instruct him about how to 'log roll' out of bed, do steps,

etc. He'll figure it all out soon enough on his own, that's the way of 19 year

olds - thank goodness!!

**************

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[Guest guest]

No, he hasn't had surgery before. How often do you

push the pump? How do you get a hold of the pain

management team? Was he able to walk independently

when he left the hospital? Thanks

--- KnightonND@... wrote:

> Assuming he hasn't had any surgery before, this will

> be his first time on

> morphine and he should do well with it controlling

> his postop pain. When they

> get him up, be sure he pushes the pump first and, as

> mentioned in another

> posting, push it for him when he's asleep so he

> keeps a continuous flow of pain

> med. Also, the hospital has a pain management team

> that you should request if

> need be. There are many meds to control pain and

> the pain mgt team docs are

> experts at it.

>

> I stayed at the hospital except for a quick run home

> in the morning to shower

> and change. I usually brought him a Mac's or

> Bob breakfast when

> I returned which put a smile on his face and a

> better appetite than with

> hospital food. I also went for carry out if he

> wanted something in particular,

> even pizza!!! He was discharged when he went off

> IV pain meds and then I

> became his 'personal servant' and pampered him

> totally at home which made us both

> feel better!!

>

>

>

> **************

> Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S.

> used car

> listings at AOL Autos.

>

>

(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

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[Guest guest]

" For me " ...the monitors went off because there was a medication or glucose that

needed to be replaced (bag was empty). The morphine pump was sufficient and I

did not need additional pain medication while on morphine. You can push the

morphine " button " anytime you want, remembering that you cannot overdose on it

because it has a " built in " feature that only lets you deliver the dosage every

so many minutes. My " button " was a green glowing light and I hung onto it like

it was my teddy bear. Your doctor or nurse will be willing to tell you how often

the dosage can be delivered.

Once the morphine was removed, I took Percoset on an " as need " basis. Others

here are right, we all experience pain differently..some with a high tolerance

and others not. Also, we all had our own set of circumstances, i.e., for me, I

had 15 vertebrae fused, 21 hours of surgery spaced 7 days apart. I cannot

describe the pain for you. Could your own mother have described the pain of

child birth labor when you had your first child? And would she have told you? It

is a difficult surgery, but the pain meds work. They don't want you to hurt

excessively because pain gets in the way of healing. That's why they say not to

go into a pain deficit. It's hard to get ahead of it if you try to be too brave.

And suffering with pain just to prove something benefits no one.

One more thing: There is always a " head' nurse available to discuss problems.

She is your " go to " person if the nurses are not responding to your son's needs.

Then, of course, you can always call your doctor.