2 year post op checkup

Today I had my 2 year post op checkup. 

After scoliosis surgery you generally get seen for a checkup after 3 months, after 6 months, after 1 year and after 2 years, so this was my final post surgery checkup (hooray!) 

Like last year, it was very weird going back to the hospital I had my surgery at, it's easy to forget what you went through sometimes but going back there again and walking past the ward I was on kind of brought it all back. 

Luckily, I managed to see my surgeon for this appointment (not a registrar) which was good news. He checked my xrays and said all the metalwork looks as though it's in the right place and he thinks it's fused now which is great news. 

I told him that I'm doing alot of activities post op such as going to the gym regularly, aeorbics, zumba etc and that I was worried I was doing too much. His answer was no I won't be doing too much and that I can do anything I want to do now which is good to hear, sometimes you just need a little reassurance. 
 
What made me laugh though today was the guys who did my xrays were fascinated by them, their eyes almost popped out of their sockets when they saw them and they kept asking me loads of questions about my spine and calling me the bionic lady! Surely they've seen other scoliosis post op xrays before...I do like people's reactions to them though and straight after the guy who did the xrays had seen them he was offering to carry everything for me, like I couldn't lift a basket with my clothes in...Funny how people treat you differently after they've seen the xrays!

Anyway it was a good appointment overall and he said I dont have to go back again now or have any further xrays (woohoooo!) unless I have any issues. 

This is kind of a big thing for me, considering I have been having checkups on my back and xrays every year since I was 14. I've had more than enough xrays to last a lifetime. It's a bit weird to think I'll never have to go for another checkup or wear one of those fetching hospital gowns for my yearly xray again (fingers crossed).

Richard III: Lost King had Scoliosis

Just came across this story and thought it was interesting:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-19561018 

 

Pain days

I don't like to post about pain too much as I don't want to put people off having this surgery, as I know that in many severe cases like mine, surgery is unavoidable.

However, this is an honest blog about life after scoliosis surgery and if you need to have this surgery you will be interested in what it's really like living your life after this type of surgery.

Today has been a bad pain day. Actually the past few days have.

Honestly, I don't get as many pain days now as I used to, in fact, I can now go months without taking my painkillers. Considering how many painkillers I took in the year following my surgery, I think this is incredible.

I believe alot of this is down to my exercising and keeping my core as strong as possible as I've worked really hard to get my strength back since surgery.

My pain days generally don't stop me from doing anything. I just keep calm, take a codeine and carry on!  But these pain days do make me stop and remember that I have had major surgery on my spine, it's so easy to forget sometimes.

I've been trying to work out recently what causes my pain days. Am I doing too much by going to the gym frequently and working full time? Should I rest more? I just don't know.  These are the questions I will ask my consultant when I see him next month.

I think though, that I've worked out a few 'triggers' of my post-surgery pain over the past few months:

• Stress I've been under alot of stress over the past couple of weeks and I think this is causing my back pain to flare up now. Maybe it's the muscles tensing up I don't know but it seems to be worse when I get stressed.

• Cold Weather Now the summer has come to an end (I know, I know, what summer right?) I can feel the cold working my way into my back and making it tense up more.
• Uncomfortable chairs I still need to get myself a decent cushion!! But most chairs are uncomfortable and will cause my back pain to flare up if I sit on them too long.
• Time of the month (ladies!) for some reason my back pain gets alot worse during this time, which is odd as this never happened before surgery!
• Being on my feet too long although I know this is also a problem for people who don't even have a back condition and it's usually relieved once I sit/lie down.

I would be interested to hear from other people who have had the surgery, what do you think causes your pain and how do you tend to cope?

Zumba!

Alot of people think that after scoliosis surgery, you are unable to do alot of things that you used to do. I not only do the things I used to do, I am enjoying trying new things too!

I've recently started going to Zumba classes, I've never done Zumba before but it's alot of fun! I wasn't sure if I would be able to do Zumba after scoliosis surgery as it involves alot of jumping around and using your back and hips. 

Before surgery, I used to do aerobics quite regularly but it's only really very recently that I've felt like I'm able to do this kind of activity again, and I'm now 2 years post op. 

I have really missed doing aerobics for the past couple of years and was a bit anxious about getting back into it again as it's been so long and I was worried if I'd be able to do it - at many points during recovery I thought I'd never do it again!

I've really enjoyed the Zumba classes though. Yes, there are certain moves I can't do that involve bending the back, but I just do my own adapted version of the moves. It's still fun exercise!

I'm just eternally grateful that, after 2 years, I'm able to do these kind of activities again and I'll never take anything for granted again.

 

My Scoliosis Scar: Two Years Post op

My scoliosis scar: two years post op

Above is a photo of the top of my scoliosis scar now, at two years post op. I don't think it's very noticeable now at all, especially as my hair usually covers the top of it.

Just for comparison here is a pic of the top of my scar at about 7 weeks post op, so you can see how much it has faded!

My scoliosis scar: 7 weeks post op

Usain Bolt has Scoliosis!

I read the other day that Usain Bolt, the "fastest man in the world" has scoliosis. 

I'm not sure how bad his scoliosis is but I myself found it very inspiring that the fastest man in the world has the same condition as me as he has obviously not let his back stop him from achieving his dreams.

I found an interview with Bolt here where he discusses the importance of keeping his core and back strong, something I have been working on alot myself recently. 

I don't think I'll be sprinting anytime soon but it just goes to show that anything is possible and makes me more determined than ever to train hard at the gym and achieve everything I want to, despite my scoliosis.

2 years post op!

I can't believe it but today I am 2 years post op! I can't believe it was a whole two years ago today that I had my scoliosis surgery.

I thought I'd do a quick update on how I'm feeling now in myself and how my back is. 

I'd say at 2 years post op I'm pretty much back to normal, I work full time and I go to the gym 3-4 times a week. 

I still get bad pain days from time to time but I don't take painkillers everyday now and I'm just really thankful for everything I can do. 

Everytime I go to the gym, drive my car, go shopping, even getting out of bed by myself (things I used to take for granted) I really appreciate that I can do them. 

I think this surgey has made me look at my life in a different way and just be thankful for every thing I can do and thankful for life in general. I think it's only when these things are taken away or made difficult after this kind of surgery, that you realise how much you really rely on using your back in every day life. People really do take it for granted. Everytime I do something new that I havent done since surgery I feel so happy that I'm able to do it.

It's a long, slow recovery and it's only very recently that I've been able to do things like lie on my side in bed comfortably but I got there eventually! 

I also still feel stiff sometimes, I dont know if this will ever go but I'm kind of used to it now. If I had the option, I still wouldn't change my back for a "normal" one without the rods, as in a way I quite enjoy being unique and the rods make my back feel strong and supported. 

I don't think my back will ever feel 100% normal, but who knows it might improve even further in 6 months time!

I don't have my 2 year post op appointment until October (the hospital forgot about me!!) so I just prey everything is ok with the fusion and metalwork until then.

I'd say to people early on in their recovery - you still have a long way to go but eventually you do start getting back to "normal" and getting on with and enjoying your life again.

Louise x

Scoliosis Awareness Month

Does scoliosis surgery get rid of pain?

I get asked this alot and the answer, for me, is yes and no.

People don't seem to understand why I am still in pain after I've had the surgery, I think they think that as my surgery was nearly two years ago now that I should be 'recovered' and back to normal now - whatever that is.

The truth is that before my surgery my pain was much, much worse and I was soooo much more uncomfortable.

I had two curves 80+ and all the pressure these put on my muscles gave me terrible muscle spasms/knots. Nothing would get rid of them, I had massages every few weeks, tried accupuncture, physio, heat therapy, pilates, swimming etc etc. It just felt like a constant intense pressure - kind of like my spine was about to snap. I also found it hard to sit unsupported e.g like a bench/stool as I'd get pain/pins and needles in my back. Plus I was always so uncomfortable on pretty much EVERY chair going due to my rib hump.

As soon as I woke up from surgery I knew straight away that the pain I had before surgery was completely gone, and I can't begin to tell you what a relief that was after years and years of it. My muscle knots went overnight.

My back felt supported for the first time, like I had an internal brace and I could sit unsupported comfortably for the first time, it was so amazing.

I was told by my surgeon that this surgery is not guaranteed to get rid of pain and that I could end up with a different type of pain post surgery and he was right. I didn't have the surgery to get rid of my pain but to stop further progression of my curves so this didn't really bother me.

The pain I get now post surgery is mostly lower back pain that I get after a long day at work/being on my feet for a while and is relieved instantly by lying down. 

I guess this is due to pressure on the unfused discs in my spine as they have to take the pressure that my whole spine used to take now that it's fused. I'm currently trying to strengthen my core muscles at the gym to try and take the pressure off and I have noticed a difference since starting my exercising I must say.

The main problem I have now is trouble getting comfortable. I'm constantly uncomfortable and I think this is because of the rods in my back my posture is constantly 'straight' so I cannot bend my back to mould it to chairs such as sofas as others would do. 

If I'm sat straight upright I'm usually comfortable but the problem is that most chairs don't allow you to sit straight very easily so I'm always hogging all the cushions in the house in a desperate bid to get myself sat in a 'straight' position!

So if anyone knows any good cushions that may help with support for my back please let me know...

1 year 8 months post op - You can't see the view if you don't climb the mountain...

In the early stages of my recovery from scoliosis surgery, this was one of my favourite quotes. It was a quote that really helped me get through the really tough days as it made me realise that one day, I would look back and realise how far I'd come and how strong I was.

Well this weekend I actually climbed a mountain, Mount Snowdon that is, the highest mountain in Wales at 3560 ft above sea level!

I went with some people from work and at first I wasn't sure if I should go, because of my back as I thought it would be too hard for me but thought it would be a good challenge and didn't want to let me back stop me.

When we got there I realised it wouldn't be easy as there were huuge rocks to clamber over, massive steps, rough terrain and very steep climbs. It wasn't a walk in the park!

When we got about half way up there were also bits I actually had to physically scramble up by using my hands - which is not easy when you can't bend but amazingly I managed and I got ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP!!! 

There were some members of our group that didn't even make it up so I was really proud of myself and happy that I managed it. 

It felt like such a huge achievement to climb a mountain after all I've been through with my back and it's proof at how far you can come after this surgery if you really put your mind to it. 

 

 I've been going to the gym alot and I found the climb relatively easy fitness wise, which I'm also really proud of.  

 The only thing I didn't like was that the rocks were really slippy, there were some very steep drops and loose rocks and I was soo scared of slipping - this was much worse coming down. 

There is a train that goes up and down and I think if I did it again I'd get the train down as I think it's too dangerous walking/climbing down.

 My back started hurting as I reached the summit but felt ok after a well deserved sit down in the cafe at the top! Bearing in mind we'd been walking/climbing 3 hours uphill and 3 hours down I think my back coped pretty well overall.

Now im in pain from doing it but amazingly it's not my back but my legs that are killing me today! 

It just goes to show that if you keep going and stay positive, even if it doesn't feel like it in the early stages of recovery, there's a wonderful view from the top! (As long as it's not foggy...)

Me up the mountain