My 6-month post-op check with Dr Koski

[Guest guest]

I had my 6-month check today. Good news - Dr Koski could see

evidence of good fusion starting to form on my films. Even though I

am not walking more than about 50-100feet/day, things seem to be

moving along quite well in terms of the fusion solidifying. Also,

all screws and hardware is still is the right position. I have been

off all pain meds for over a month, though I will still take an

occasional Norco after a strenuous day.

I am still leaning forward, and in fact am leaning more than was

evident on previous xrays (my tailbone is in a slightly different

position from previous xrays too..??), but he said that it is

probably due to my own personal compensation of holding my head

comfortably over my body. I probably won't explain this well, but he

was telling me of a new study that he is doing to try to give a

better assessment of flatback and sagittal balance than the current

measurement of a plumb line from C7 to the sacrum. He said something

about how people have different centers of gravity for holding their

heads over their bodies and that having flatback plays into it as

well, and so he was trying some new ways of taking that into

account. I can't remember exactly how he explained it, but it

sounded quite interesting.

And I filled out another set of surveys for Dr Ondra's study of

Outcomes of Adult Spinal Deformity Surgeries. I think it's supposed

to follow me for 10 or 20 years.

He also lifted the recumbent bike riding restriction now that I am 6-

months out. I tried to ride it tonight, but unfortuantely my feet

won't stay on the pedals with just that small strap that most

exercise bikes have. I need to find out if they make straps that go

completely around your ankle so that my feet are basically tied on to

the pedals, otherwise my ankles can't bend and hold my feet on them.

He's having me continue my in-home physical therapy 3x/week

indefinately (my insurance covers unlimited visits at 100% after my

$1,000 out of pocket).

I also saw my MS neurologist this afternoon. Good news - he doesn't

think I need to go back on chemo quite yet for my progression.

Instead, he wants me to get my bladder problems taken care of. I am

likely going to look into getting a suprapubic catheter put in, which

is a permanent catheter that comes out of your abdomen. I will start

my search for a decent urologist later this week.

So overall I am really happy with my 6-month check! I can't believe

how fast it went by.

Oh, and I also requested and got a printout of my surgical reports

from both the posterior and anterior surgeries. What an interesting

read! I knew most of the things, but there were a few surprises as

well.

[Guest guest]

Such good news, -- thanks for posting, and also for your

email. I hope you will tell us more about the outcomes study and the

prospective new instrument for assessing sagittal balance --

fascinating stuff.

I was so dismayed to hear about your MS flare-up. Is there any

possiblity this will be short and self-limited?

I've mentioned this in passing but want to say again that I very

much appreciate your willingness to help moderate this group.

Anyone else who may be interested in moderating, please let me know!

( " The more the merrier. " )

>

> I had my 6-month check today. Good news - Dr Koski could see

> evidence of good fusion starting to form on my films. Even though

I

> am not walking more than about 50-100feet/day, things seem to be

> moving along quite well in terms of the fusion solidifying. Also,

> all screws and hardware is still is the right position. I have

been

> off all pain meds for over a month, though I will still take an

> occasional Norco after a strenuous day.

> I am still leaning forward, and in fact am leaning more than was

> evident on previous xrays (my tailbone is in a slightly different

> position from previous xrays too..??), but he said that it is

> probably due to my own personal compensation of holding my head

> comfortably over my body. I probably won't explain this well, but

he

> was telling me of a new study that he is doing to try to give a

> better assessment of flatback and sagittal balance than the

current

> measurement of a plumb line from C7 to the sacrum. He said

something

> about how people have different centers of gravity for holding

their

> heads over their bodies and that having flatback plays into it as

> well, and so he was trying some new ways of taking that into

> account. I can't remember exactly how he explained it, but it

> sounded quite interesting.

> And I filled out another set of surveys for Dr Ondra's study of

> Outcomes of Adult Spinal Deformity Surgeries. I think it's

supposed

> to follow me for 10 or 20 years.

> He also lifted the recumbent bike riding restriction now that I am

6-

> months out. I tried to ride it tonight, but unfortuantely my feet

> won't stay on the pedals with just that small strap that most

> exercise bikes have. I need to find out if they make straps that

go

> completely around your ankle so that my feet are basically tied on

to

> the pedals, otherwise my ankles can't bend and hold my feet on

them.

> He's having me continue my in-home physical therapy 3x/week

> indefinately (my insurance covers unlimited visits at 100% after

my

> $1,000 out of pocket).

> I also saw my MS neurologist this afternoon. Good news - he

doesn't

> think I need to go back on chemo quite yet for my progression.

> Instead, he wants me to get my bladder problems taken care of. I

am

> likely going to look into getting a suprapubic catheter put in,

which

> is a permanent catheter that comes out of your abdomen. I will

start

> my search for a decent urologist later this week.

> So overall I am really happy with my 6-month check! I can't

believe

> how fast it went by.

> Oh, and I also requested and got a printout of my surgical reports

> from both the posterior and anterior surgeries. What an

interesting

> read! I knew most of the things, but there were a few surprises

as

> well.

>

>