Re: Longish Introduction & yoga

[Guest guest]

Thanks Cam for the response. Good idea to start looking at doctors.

I have a surgeon, Dr Perra, here in Minneapolis at the Twin Cities

Spine Center who is a very good doctor, but if it comes down to

surgery, I would definitely think about checking out others. Twin

Cities Spine Center is the only game in town here I think. He assures

me he can do the surgery, but I know most folks here would recommend

seeing a revision expert. I think Dr. Bridwell in St. Louis is

closest to Minnesota, but I know proximity is only one

consideration.

I have continued with yoga, but it is a struggle. I miss Ellen's

teaching, and also have been very much wanting to go the New York and

check out the studio there with Deborah Wolk. I feel it's almost

impossible to go to a regular yoga class, due to some of the issues

you mentioned, and I'm tired of spending $ trying. Usually my back

hurts worse after a " regular " class (which defeats the purpose), and

the yoga teachers seem a little freaked out my my lengthy fusion and

the dislodged rod. There are a couple of good teachers here, but they

don't do individual work generally. I'm not sure how much my home

practice helps, but it seems to help my hips and my mental state

too. I'm volunteering at a yoga class for people with disbilities

(mostly paralysis) which has been very interesting, even though I

don't think I'm very helpful because I can't lift, etc. It's one of

those circumstances where the volunteering really helps the volunteer

more than the students. -Nan G.

[Guest guest]

Nan,

Although I have never heard of DrPerra, it doesn't mean he isn't

qualified. Certainly the Twin Cities Spine Center has long had

scoliois treatment as one of their prime care centers. Still, even if

it was consulting with another Dr. in that Center you would be well

advised to get another opinion. I believe that a " good " second opinon

serves to confirm where you are heading with your first

doctor...or...it will lead you to an alternate treatment course that

may be even more beneficial. I don't see how a patient can really

lose seeing another top notch surgeon.

While you are feeling out your choices I would strongly suggest you

also ask DrPerras office to get you in touch with his patients who

have had similar spinal reconstructions. And, just for the sake of

verifying Perras capabilities I would ask how many of these complex

procedures he does either monthly or yearly. I am not sure if you

were reading along recently, but the names you hear about most often

seem to take on 1-2 a month. No doubt there are doctors out there

that do ONE a year and tell patients they can do the surgery. Yeah,

they probably can,......the question is SHOULD THEY?

I am glad you are able to volunteer with the yoga class for those

with disabilites....of course....that describes us too....doesn't it?

I have pretty much stuck to the swimming because it seems so safe,

cheap and effective. I have used some of the breath work I learned

with Ellen to help with my stretching. It helps....every little bit

helps....and I am not saying I wouldn't try a workshop again in the

right curcumstances....but if I had access to a well trained pilates

instructor with a reformer one on one, I think that is where I would

put my $$$ for private work in this post revision body. Or else with

one of the other postural modalities ( etc.). I know you do

not live where there is necessarily a good range of therapists to

choose from.

Honestly, I have found that the stretch routine I do 3x a week after

swimming is key to keeping my hips comfortable and strong. I think

even if you get that out of your private practice it is worth keeping

up with. Every little inch you can gain out of your ligaments/muscles

and tendons will possibly " buy you time " or help in the aftermath of

surgery, should you decide to go that route.

Good chatting with you!

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

I just had surgery done by Dr. Perra in Aug. I had flat back and reconstruction of the anterior plus removal of part of my old Harrington rod. I wish I had done it earlier. I am now much straighter and no more pain. I live in Montana and they worked things out very well with my Dr. Here and I was only in MN for 9 days.

D

-- [ ] Re: Longish Introduction & yoga

Nan,Although I have never heard of DrPerra, it doesn't mean he isn't qualified. Certainly the Twin Cities Spine Center has long had scoliois treatment as one of their prime care centers. Still, even if it was consulting with another Dr. in that Center you would be well advised to get another opinion. I believe that a "good" second opinon serves to confirm where you are heading with your first doctor...or...it will lead you to an alternate treatment course that may be even more beneficial. I don't see how a patient can really lose seeing another top notch surgeon.While you are feeling out your choices I would strongly suggest you also ask DrPerras office to get you in touch with his patients who have had similar spinal reconstructions. And, just for the sake of verifying Perras capabilities I would ask how many of these complex procedures he does either monthly or yearly. I am not sure if you were reading along recently, but the names you hear about most often seem to take on 1-2 a month. No doubt there are doctors out there that do ONE a year and tell patients they can do the surgery. Yeah, they probably can,......the question is SHOULD THEY?I am glad you are able to volunteer with the yoga class for those with disabilites....of course....that describes us too....doesn't it?I have pretty much stuck to the swimming because it seems so safe, cheap and effective. I have used some of the breath work I learned with Ellen to help with my stretching. It helps....every little bit helps....and I am not saying I wouldn't try a workshop again in the right curcumstances....but if I had access to a well trained pilates instructor with a reformer one on one, I think that is where I would put my $$$ for private work in this post revision body. Or else with one of the other postural modalities ( etc.). I know you do not live where there is necessarily a good range of therapists to choose from.Honestly, I have found that the stretch routine I do 3x a week after swimming is key to keeping my hips comfortable and strong. I think even if you get that out of your private practice it is worth keeping up with. Every little inch you can gain out of your ligaments/muscles and tendons will possibly "buy you time" or help in the aftermath of surgery, should you decide to go that route.Good chatting with you!Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for jumping in here! I know Nan will want to chat with you about

your experiences. It is good to hear that you are doing well and

feeling the benefits of revision.

Are you fused to the sacrum now? Do you have iliac screws and cages

too? Interesting that you also retained your old HR (as did I). I think

that seems to be coming more common place these days.

Also, please tell us all about your recovery to date when you can.

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for responding . I'm so glad the surgery has been

successful for you. I would also be interested to hear more about

your experience. -Nan G.

[Guest guest]

Nan

I had a fusion from T1 to L4 with a placement of one long Harrington rod in 1974. All in all I did very well for a very long time. I worked and had 5 babies, but as time wore on my only movable area was L5. It finally just wore out and collapsed. Bone against bone. I had lots of pain, pinched nerves and could not walk far without difficulty. We have a great hospitals here in Montana, but no one felt comfortable doing my surgery. My Doctors know Dr. Perra and felt this was his area. I met him and the thorasic Dr. Who Dr Perra said was the best. He was the one to have to go in front on the collapsed side. I only have 3/4 of an inch of space between my ribs and my pelvis to go in from. From that area they went to the front of the spine and placed in bone dowels between vertabraes.

Then Dr. Perra resumed in the back to correct my flat back and curve. He broke of about 5-6 inches of my Harrington rod and rearrange as much as possible and placed in new hardware.

My daughter new immediate when she saw me being moved into the bed that I was so much straighter. My allignment is totally different and I have no pain any where. I gradually walked a little more every day. Starting with a walker and now I feel at least 15 years younger and can get around anywhere. In fact I have never enjoyed walking so much as I do now. But I am fused all the way to my sacrum and I am as stiff as a board, but it's worth it. I had surgery on the 2nd and flew home on the 9th.

-- [ ] Re: Longish Introduction & yoga

Thanks so much for responding . I'm so glad the surgery has been successful for you. I would also be interested to hear more about your experience. -Nan G.