Re: My visit with Dr. Rand

[Guest guest]

Cheryl,

I am so glad that you like Dr. Rand! I know that I certainly do! Have you

visited his web site? You probably have. I think all you have to do is plug

in his name.com. I was just there again the other night, and the links of

interest were so many! Gosh, when I " hear " you talking about the Taconic

Parkway,

etc., I get so " homesick " ! Oh, well, it was another time! I wish you the

very best luck, expertise, painfree surgery, and painfree recovery!

Carole

[Guest guest]

Sharon,

I first went to Dr. Rand for that very reason! At the time, he told me to

treat my problems symptomatically, etc.. He did agree to " follow " me, if that

is what you are asking. My last visit was two years ago, so I really ought to

call the office soon for another appointment. However, I am having such

problem with my hands that I have seen a hand specialist who wants to fuse both

of

my thumbs to keep them from hyperextending. It just never ends.

The crux of this story is that Dr. Rand is very good about following us until

we need or can tolerate surgery.

Carole

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon,

No, but my son lives in Maine. I am in Massachusetts. My hand problem is

arthritis. All of my doctors agree that I should have this surgery. Do you

think they'll be around to help me with my urostomy? Hee Hee This is such a

great group! Oh, by the way, I do not live in Boston, but it's not too far for

us. Hang in there, and maybe we'll bump into one another in Dr. Rand's office!

Carole

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the encouraging words, Carole. I too have hand troubles, but

nothing that can be operated on. Small world. Are you the Maine lady?

(Forgive me if I'm mixed up; we all kinda look alike here ;^) I was a

" Maine-iac " between the ages of 5 and 18, and my folks still live there.

Thanks again for the encouragement to see Dr. Rand. I believe I will, one of

these days...

Sharon in Southern New Hampshire

Congenital scoliosis w/ spina bifida and other vertebral anomalies

1971 Harrington rod fusion, T5-L4, flatback, L5-S1 degeneration, etc.

Re: My visit with Dr. Rand

Sharon,

I first went to Dr. Rand for that very reason! At the time, he told me to

treat my problems symptomatically, etc.. He did agree to " follow " me, if that

is what you are asking. My last visit was two years ago, so I really ought to

call the office soon for another appointment. However, I am having such

problem with my hands that I have seen a hand specialist who wants to fuse

both of

my thumbs to keep them from hyperextending. It just never ends.

The crux of this story is that Dr. Rand is very good about following us until

we need or can tolerate surgery.

Carole

[Guest guest]

Hi, Deb,

Do not worry, you got it straightened out! I've done the same thing at

times! I am happy to hear of someone who has been through this, as well! The

left

hand will be a re-surgery with, as the doctor called it, a " poor outcome " . I

had gone there for my right hand! I'm not scheduled for a follow-up until

Feb to give me time to think, but I'm thinking I may not wait that long. I need

all the time I can get in case I may also need revision surgery. I have a

feeling they may think I am too old for that. Time will tell. Thank you for

commenting on your experience with this surgery! I know of no one else who has

had it!

Sincerely,

Carole (the older one)

[Guest guest]

Sharon, I had my thumbs 'stabilized' 5 years ago b/c of

hyperextension. Basically the dr. took tendon from my lower arms and

replaced the tendons in the main joint of each thumb. Not very

pleasant, but with the right meds (!) it's not that bad. PT

afterwards of course. And they were right. 2 years post-op I was

back to normal. And 5 years, I hardly ever feel the stiffness. The

first year, of course, is hard, but immediately the pain of

hyperextension went away. It's a surgery that's worth it. I can

give you more info if you want it.

Deb M.

[Guest guest]

Oops! I called you Sharon. Sorry, Carole! Still trying to keep

folks straight. I just switched to digest from no emails at all, and

it actually has made it harder to figure out.

Sorry for the confusion! Hope you don't need thumb fusions, Sharon!

:-)

Deb M.

[Guest guest]

Ha-ha. I spoke too soon; you caught your own gaff.

:^)

Re: My visit with Dr. Rand

Oops! I called you Sharon. Sorry, Carole! Still trying to keep

folks straight. I just switched to digest from no emails at all, and

it actually has made it harder to figure out.

Sorry for the confusion! Hope you don't need thumb fusions, Sharon!

:-)

Deb M.

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.

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

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Deb, but I think your comment was intended for Carole. I'm not a

candidate for thumb surgery.

Re: My visit with Dr. Rand

Sharon, I had my thumbs 'stabilized' 5 years ago b/c of

hyperextension. Basically the dr. took tendon from my lower arms and

replaced the tendons in the main joint of each thumb. Not very

pleasant, but with the right meds (!) it's not that bad. PT

afterwards of course. And they were right. 2 years post-op I was

back to normal. And 5 years, I hardly ever feel the stiffness. The

first year, of course, is hard, but immediately the pain of

hyperextension went away. It's a surgery that's worth it. I can

give you more info if you want it.

Deb M.

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.

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

[Guest guest]

Could be. Or maybe we can visit Cheryl in the hospital. Would we be welcome,

Cheryl? Trouble is these days they don't give you much hospital time during

which you're in any condition to have visitors. Well, it's a thought, and it

would be nice to meet.

Re: My visit with Dr. Rand

Hi Sharon,

No, but my son lives in Maine. I am in Massachusetts. My hand problem is

arthritis. All of my doctors agree that I should have this surgery. Do you

think they'll be around to help me with my urostomy? Hee Hee This is such a

great group! Oh, by the way, I do not live in Boston, but it's not too far

for

us. Hang in there, and maybe we'll bump into one another in Dr. Rand's

office!

Carole

[Guest guest]

Hey, Jolynn, I'm glad to hear it went well.

At the rate I'm going, you and I could be in the hospital at the same time.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

Sharon

[ ] My visit with Dr. Rand

> It went well. I did not get lost (yippeee).

> It was only Dr. Rand and I, instead of a other people wanting to learn

> about marfan. That was nice. He is extremely knowledgable.

>

> Turns out I don't have that much mobility to lose:) so surgery is a

> decent option for me right now.

>

> I am in the process of scheduling a CT scan and blood donation.

>

> I will be trying to schedule the surgery for this summer.

>

> The biggest obstacle is finding someone to help with the kids while I

> am in the hospital/just getting home.

>

> Dr. Rand mentioned the dinner. He said he had a nice time. He told me

> I should have come because there was a wealth of info from his

> patients there. I wish I could have made it. Glad to hear everything

> went well.

>

> Jolynn

>

>

>

>

>

> scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates

>