Re: Upcoming anterior stage

[Guest guest]

Can anyone show me w/ a pic what the scar from the front (revision surgery w/cages) looks like? or at least describe where it is? I still like to wear two piece swimsuits. Want to prepare my mind for it. Thank you!Pamela

From: kathyinbk@...Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 05:55:39 +0000Subject: [ ] Upcoming anterior stage

Hi everyone = As of tomorrow, I will be 3 weeks post-op & I am still doing very well. I have been reading members' stories trying to get an idea of what I'm in for with the anterior stage of my revision. So far, most of what I'm finding blurs the 2 events. My anterior is a full 5 weeks from my posterior. Even though this will be my 5th back surgery...It is the very first time I've ever been cut on from the front... & I'm a little nervous. I'm an old hand at the tricks for turning over / standing up/ sitting down etc...after a posterior surgery. Could I please get some feedback on just the anterior stage that I'm in for? Sincerely...................Kathy

[Guest guest]

HI Kathy,

My anterior and posterior operations were one day apart so the trauma was all

the same to me. I think though my anterior scar was more sore while healing.

C

>

> Hi everyone = As of tomorrow, I will be 3 weeks post-op & I am still doing

very well. I have been reading members' stories trying to get an idea of what

I'm in for with the anterior stage of my revision. So far, most of what I'm

finding blurs the 2 events. My anterior is a full 5 weeks from my posterior.

Even though this will be my 5th back surgery...It is the very first time I've

ever been cut on from the front... & I'm a little nervous. I'm an old hand at

the tricks for turning over / standing up/ sitting down etc...after a posterior

surgery. Could I please get some feedback on just the anterior stage that I'm

in for? Sincerely...................Kathy

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Pamela No pictures available but hope this helps. My incision is a vertical line starting about 4” from the left of my navel & extending down about 7”. It’s perfectly straight. I imagine this varies from one surgeon to the next and for every patient. A friend showed me her incision before one of my surgeries & it was a big help in easing my mind. The more information the better! I had my anterior 2 days after my posterior revision. I was expecting a lot of pain & swelling in my abdomen but didn’t have either. I’m probably the exception here. The pillow trick for coughing & sneezing is good advice. Hope this helps!DorcasSt. Louis From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Pamela HanleySent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 7:37 AM Subject: RE: [ ] Upcoming anterior stage Can anyone show me w/ a pic what the scar from the front (revision surgery w/cages) looks like? or at least describe where it is? I still like to wear two piece swimsuits. Want to prepare my mind for it. Thank you!Pamela From: kathyinbk@...Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 05:55:39 +0000Subject: [ ] Upcoming anterior stage Hi everyone = As of tomorrow, I will be 3 weeks post-op & I am still doing very well. I have been reading members' stories trying to get an idea of what I'm in for with the anterior stage of my revision. So far, most of what I'm finding blurs the 2 events. My anterior is a full 5 weeks from my posterior. Even though this will be my 5th back surgery...It is the very first time I've ever been cut on from the front... & I'm a little nervous. I'm an old hand at the tricks for turning over / standing up/ sitting down etc...after a posterior surgery. Could I please get some feedback on just the anterior stage that I'm in for? Sincerely...................Kathy

[Guest guest]

Pamela and Kathy,

 

I had my anterior part of revision, on the same day as the posterior, so I didn't have days apart, so I was healing from both at the same time. My incision maybe a bit different than others as they went into my old c-section scar, that was up and down and extended it a bit. What was nice they excised the fiberous scar tissue, and gave me a new, very thin lined scar, a vast improvement. My scar extends from the pubic area, up to the navel, around it, and above it about an inch.

 

I did have swelling in that area for awhile, even once home, it went down with time. Do be aware if you have issues with tape allergies, as once the staples were removed, they put butterfly tapes accross the incision, and I was majorly allergic, about drove me nuts with the itching.

 

Since I had two previous abdominal surgeries, this really wasn't any worse than the c-sections, sore, hurt, but got better, and seemed easier than the posterior healing to me. I also had them go into the front side of my hip area for bone during that surgery, so I had two scars on the front, the second being a four inch scar above my right hip.

 

It will hurt, you'll be sore, but the scars are far better than in the Harrington rod days, mine is VERY thin, and afterall, if you want to wear a bathing suit, two piece, and you have the bod for it, a small thin scar shouldn't get in the way of that, afterall you'll still have a long posterior one. I just don't care, afterall the surgery is about feeling better, not scars, it's how I look at this. I count my scars by the yard instead of inches, my reminders of the fight with scoliosis, and eventually most people will have a scar or two from some sort of surgery.

 

Colorado Springs

On Tue, Jan 4, 2011 at 7:41 AM, Dorcas Cecil <dcecil@...> wrote:

 

Hi Pamela

 

No pictures available but hope this helps. My incision is a vertical line starting about 4”  from the left of  my navel & extending down about 7”. It’s perfectly straight. I imagine this varies from one surgeon to the next and for every patient.

 

A friend showed me her incision before one of my surgeries & it was a big help in easing my mind. The more information the better!

 

I had my anterior 2 days after my posterior revision. I was expecting a lot of pain & swelling in my abdomen  but didn’t have either. I’m probably the exception here. The pillow trick for coughing & sneezing is good advice.

 

Hope this helps!

Dorcas

St. Louis

 

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Pamela Hanley

Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 7:37 AM Subject: RE: [ ] Upcoming anterior stage

 

 

Can anyone show me w/ a pic what the scar from the front (revision surgery w/cages) looks like? or at least describe where it is? I still like to wear two piece swimsuits. Want to prepare my mind for it. Thank you!

Pamela 

From: kathyinbk@...Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 05:55:39 +0000

Subject: [ ] Upcoming anterior stage 

Hi everyone = As of tomorrow, I will be 3 weeks post-op & I am still doing very well. I have been reading members' stories trying to get an idea of what I'm in for with the anterior stage of my revision. So far, most of what I'm finding blurs the 2 events. My anterior is a full 5 weeks from my posterior. Even though this will be my 5th back surgery...It is the very first time I've ever been cut on from the front... & I'm a little nervous. I'm an old hand at the tricks for turning over / standing up/ sitting down etc...after a posterior surgery. Could I please get some feedback on just the anterior stage that I'm in for? Sincerely...................Kathy

[Guest guest]

Thanks Dorcas, those pics did not come out on my end....I agree, the more info the better. Fear and dread are the worst. So scared. I'm worried that my torso will not move at all. Tell me, is that noticable in day-to-day regular movement? Do you appear 'stiff' all the time or would people never guess unless you told them?Pamela

From: dcecil@...Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 08:41:43 -0600Subject: RE: [ ] Upcoming anterior stage

Hi Pamela

No pictures available but hope this helps. My incision is a vertical line starting about 4” from the left of my navel & extending down about 7”. It’s perfectly straight. I imagine this varies from one surgeon to the next and for every patient.

A friend showed me her incision before one of my surgeries & it was a big help in easing my mind. The more information the better!

I had my anterior 2 days after my posterior revision. I was expecting a lot of pain & swelling in my abdomen but didn’t have either. I’m probably the exception here. The pillow trick for coughing & sneezing is good advice.

Hope this helps!

Dorcas

St. Louis

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Pamela HanleySent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 7:37 AM Subject: RE: [ ] Upcoming anterior stage

Can anyone show me w/ a pic what the scar from the front (revision surgery w/cages) looks like? or at least describe where it is? I still like to wear two piece swimsuits. Want to prepare my mind for it. Thank you!Pamela

From: kathyinbk@...Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 05:55:39 +0000Subject: [ ] Upcoming anterior stage

Hi everyone = As of tomorrow, I will be 3 weeks post-op & I am still doing very well. I have been reading members' stories trying to get an idea of what I'm in for with the anterior stage of my revision. So far, most of what I'm finding blurs the 2 events. My anterior is a full 5 weeks from my posterior. Even though this will be my 5th back surgery...It is the very first time I've ever been cut on from the front... & I'm a little nervous. I'm an old hand at the tricks for turning over / standing up/ sitting down etc...after a posterior surgery. Could I please get some feedback on just the anterior stage that I'm in for? Sincerely...................Kathy

[Guest guest]

Kathy, I've had 2 anterior fusion surgeries and the recovery was the same as for my abdominal hysterectomy and colectomy, in that it is a big anterior incision so you want to put a pillow over the incision when coughing, moving etc. This reduces the pain quite a lot. The nurses should be good at instructing you on this. The incisional pain is worse than that with the post approach but muscles hurt less. I wish you the very best of luck! Kate

From: redmarmie

Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 8:40 AM

Subject: [ ] Re: Upcoming anterior stage

HI Kathy,My anterior and posterior operations were one day apart so the trauma was all the same to me. I think though my anterior scar was more sore while healing. C>> Hi everyone = As of tomorrow, I will be 3 weeks post-op & I am still doing very well. I have been reading members' stories trying to get an idea of what I'm in for with the anterior stage of my revision. So far, most of what I'm finding blurs the 2 events. My anterior is a full 5 weeks from my posterior. Even though this will be my 5th back surgery...It is the very first time I've ever been cut on from the front... & I'm a little nervous. I'm an old hand at the tricks for turning over / standing up/ sitting down etc...after a posterior surgery. Could I please get some feedback on just the anterior stage that I'm in for? Sincerely...................Kathy>

[Guest guest]

My scar goes from just above the navel along the edge of the navel and down to my pubic hair. The vascular surgeon did his best to make my navel look as it did prior to surgery but you can see the scar. I've never worn a two-piece although you could if you do boy shorts or something.

Peggy

[ ] Upcoming anterior stage

Hi everyone = As of tomorrow, I will be 3 weeks post-op & I am still doing very well. I have been reading members' stories trying to get an idea of what I'm in for with the anterior stage of my revision. So far, most of what I'm finding blurs the 2 events. My anterior is a full 5 weeks from my posterior. Even though this will be my 5th back surgery...It is the very first time I've ever been cut on from the front... & I'm a little nervous. I'm an old hand at the tricks for turning over / standing up/ sitting down etc...after a posterior surgery. Could I please get some feedback on just the anterior stage that I'm in for? Sincerely...................Kathy

[Guest guest]

Hi Pamela...

It depends entirely on what levels need to be done, and what procedure will be

used.

--

>

>

> Can anyone show me w/ a pic what the scar from the front (revision surgery

w/cages) looks like? or at least describe where it is? I still like to wear two

piece swimsuits. Want to prepare my mind for it. Thank you!

>

> Pamela

>

>

>

>

>

>

> From: kathyinbk@...

> Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 05:55:39 +0000

> Subject: [ ] Upcoming anterior stage

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Hi everyone = As of tomorrow, I will be 3 weeks post-op & I am still doing

very well. I have been reading members' stories trying to get an idea of what

I'm in for with the anterior stage of my revision. So far, most of what I'm

finding blurs the 2 events. My anterior is a full 5 weeks from my posterior.

Even though this will be my 5th back surgery...It is the very first time I've

ever been cut on from the front... & I'm a little nervous. I'm an old hand at the

tricks for turning over / standing up/ sitting down etc...after a posterior

surgery. Could I please get some feedback on just the anterior stage that I'm in

for? Sincerely...................Kathy

>

[Guest guest]

Pamela,

My scar goes from my belly button straight all the way down.

C

>

>

> Can anyone show me w/ a pic what the scar from the front (revision surgery

w/cages) looks like? or at least describe where it is? I still like to wear two

piece swimsuits. Want to prepare my mind for it. Thank you!

>

> Pamela

>

>

>

>

>

>

> From: kathyinbk@...

> Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 05:55:39 +0000

> Subject: [ ] Upcoming anterior stage

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Hi everyone = As of tomorrow, I will be 3 weeks post-op & I am still doing

very well. I have been reading members' stories trying to get an idea of what

I'm in for with the anterior stage of my revision. So far, most of what I'm

finding blurs the 2 events. My anterior is a full 5 weeks from my posterior.

Even though this will be my 5th back surgery...It is the very first time I've

ever been cut on from the front... & I'm a little nervous. I'm an old hand at the

tricks for turning over / standing up/ sitting down etc...after a posterior

surgery. Could I please get some feedback on just the anterior stage that I'm in

for? Sincerely...................Kathy

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy!

My surgeries were only 1 week apart, like many others here. But from what I

remember, I was much more sore after the anterior. I remember that rolling

over, coughing, pretty much any movement was quite painful. They have to cut

thru your abdominal muscles and move lots of things out of the way there in the

abdomen to reach your spine. So everything in that area feels really beat up!

Someone on one of these lists suggested bringing a pillow or a large stuffed

animal to the hospital, and press that against your abdomen when you need to

cough, sneeze, roll, etc. It seems to help with the incision pain if you have

something soft pressing against it when you need to tighten up those muscles!

My incision started in the pubic hair (maybe an inch or so down in there??) and

then up the side and around the top of my belly button. Even though it was a

much shorter surgery, and nothing 'new' was done to me (in other words it was

just packing in stuff to make sure the fusion would become good & solid, not

doing new osteotomies), it was a more painful surgery to recover from! Of

course, maybe it seemed really painful because I had just had the posterior done

a week before? It's so hard to compare things from one person to the next,

since everyone has slightly different procedures, different pain tolerances,

etc.

Good luck with your next surgery! How long do they estimate you'll be in the

hospital this time? I can't believe how quickly you got home after this last

one!

>

> Hi everyone = As of tomorrow, I will be 3 weeks post-op & I am still doing

very well. I have been reading members' stories trying to get an idea of what

I'm in for with the anterior stage of my revision. So far, most of what I'm

finding blurs the 2 events. My anterior is a full 5 weeks from my posterior.

Even though this will be my 5th back surgery...It is the very first time I've

ever been cut on from the front... & I'm a little nervous. I'm an old hand at

the tricks for turning over / standing up/ sitting down etc...after a posterior

surgery. Could I please get some feedback on just the anterior stage that I'm

in for? Sincerely...................Kathy

>