Scoliosis Support Group

Scoliosis affects all ages. Unlike the naturally occurring curves in the spine, scoliosis causes the spine to curve abnormally to the left or right.

576 Members
1,105 Posts
0 Online
Muscles & Bones
/ Scoliosis Support Group

recovering from spinal fusion

meggers2004
meggers2004
2 weeks ago today I had spinal fusion. I had a 70 degree curve and was in pain and one of my lungs was being compressed. I was very confused about whether or not to have the surgery but I knew in the long run it was better to do it now while I'm 28 than to have to wait and do it when I was 50 or even older with a likely worse curve. I was fused from T3-L5. So it was a pretty big surgery. Im not going to lie because It's been painful as hell, today is really the first day I've been able to go past 4 or 5 hours with having to take my pain medication. I'm not sure what the long term outcome is going to be of this surgery but I'm very optimistic. I have a 5 year old son and he was my main reason for having this surgery, it was getting hard to participate in just playing with him from day to day without pain. I'm under no delusion to think that I'm cured from this surgery and everything is going to be perfect but I'm very happy to know that my curve wont be getting worse. It had went from a 42 degree curve 10 years ago to 70 so no telling how bad it would have gotten. I'm back to a 40 degree curve right now, and I'm extremely pleased with that. I knew it wouldn't be totally straight, but I was starting to get very self conscious about the fact that other people were starting to comment about the hump on my shoulder and that I was leaning to the left. It already makes me feel so much better about myself when I look in the mirror and can tell such a difference already. I just want to thank everyone in this community that has been so supportive and have been messaging me during this time. And I would encourage anyone considering the surgery to message me if you would like to talk or ask questions.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi meggers2004! My name is Sharon and live in Butler, PA. I just recently, on November 5, 2013 had my back fused also. It was a nine hour surgery (the biggest they do at the hospital) and my back as yours is now straight. I'm 43 years old and wore the Milwaukee brace for 9 years 23 hrs a day. 1 hr out of the brace just to shower and exercise. The brace was not intended to "fix" my condition, just to stabilize it until the bones hardened. Sometimes I feel like it was a total waste wearing it but just have to remember that it was the latest in technology at the time. They now tell me I am cured of scoliosis once and for all now. I believe it seeing my x-rays. I never thought I would see in my lifetime my own straight back. Its just wonderful knowing what miracles they can perform nowadays
mnb99
mnb99
Continue to take care of your backs, both of you, even after you fully heal. I have titanium rods and lumbar fusion for an S curve of 55 and 65 degrees, surgery was at age 18. They straightened me out to 7 and 10 degrees, but now I am 33 and it is back to 23 and 32, and I have 2 herniated disks below my fusion with the disk closest to the fusion being the worst.

You'll be fine, just don't do what I did and have two kids within 3 years of your surgery...and don't take any jobs that require much repetitive bending and lifting - guess I thought I was indestructible...not so.
meggers2004
meggers2004
Hi Sharon! I am so happy for you as I am for myself! I'm 28 and never tried any of the braces. I was so self conscious growing up I would have never had the courage to step foot into the lions den of a high school wearing a back brace everyday. After having my surgery and talking to the specialists that I did I'm glad I didn't because even if they would have done all that my scoliosis didn't really start getting bad till after I had my son at 23. My back will never be perfectly straight but 35 degrees is a lot better than 70 and I'm happily able to look in the mirror and no longer see the hump on my back or notice that I lean anymore. Its a great feeling. I am a little discouraged that my dr said I'll probably never be able to work again, but I deal with that when the time comes. Hope all is well with your recovery! I'm doing really well. It'll be 6 weeks next Tuesday and I'm able to be much more active finally, but I hate to admit I've gotten so used to being lazy it's been hard getting motivated to do much of anything. How is your pain level at this point? I was just wondering since you are a little further a long than I am and what segments were u fused from? Hope you had a good Christmas (if u celebrate) and if not then happy holidays :)
deleted_user
deleted_user
H Meggers2004! I do want to first congratulate you first on getting the surgery done so you can have your life back.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Didn't mean to do that whatever I did but wanted to also say that you are going to still continue to have good and bad days. This is not a good day for me today. You and I have to keep reminding ourselves that we cannot push through the pain. I was trying all day yesterday to walk straight with my feet close together as normal as possible. Do you know how awkward that was?! I am taking Robaxin 750 mg and Oxycodone 15 mg. for pain. However, I used to take them every 4 hrs. I cut back because I couldn't got to the bathroom. I got all bound up. My Dr. said this is all like a balancing act. The Oxycodone is the culprit so if I have to take more of that I have to take laxatives as well and hope they do their "magic". My whole back is fused from literally my neck just to above my pelvic area. I had 70 staples to be removed a week afterward. THAT didn't exactly tickle. I am a cashier at a local Home Depot so reading what you said now is interesting to me. I do that as well as standing on concrete for 8hrs. a day. It doesn't appeal to me to go back there. I do have off until next May and am wondering what my Dr. will say to that. I really want to find a desk job where I wouldn't be aggravating such "art work" that the Dr. did on my back! Just keep up the good work and keep moving although it probably isn't hard with a 5yr. old in the house! Keep in mind, plenty of fluids and walking are the two things to always have in your mind. I commend you on being so brave but I'm definitely with you on not being able to live with the pain anymore. Your back may be still curved however It will never be like it was! Keep moving forward and God Bless!