Life and Beyond After Scoliosis Fusion Surgery..

 20^th Nov 2020

I am approaching 7 years anniversary fusion scoliosis ops in 3 months. Scoliosis is the abnormal curve of the spine. People who has scoliosis curve that are greater than 70 degree is not only have “weird body posture” but also internal organs compression. The abnormal spine will push and encroached into the space of lung, heart, kidney, gastrointestinal in short internal organs. As the scoliosis curve keep on progress beyond 70 degree it will compress the internal organs. Along my voluntary scoliosis patients support journey since 2014, I have met kids that are just 12 years old but due to their scoliosis curve are very huge they cannot even run and be active like a normal 12 years child. I have also met someone lying on hospital bed told me this statement “ .. I really regret taking scoliosis very lightly. Over long period of years it has destroyed my kidney. I have to remove it....” . I also have read real live stories that people die due to severe scoliosis curve cause cardio and pulmonary complications. I also have bump into a super duper severe scoliosis man in a supermarket using oxygen pushing a cart with a oxygen tank.

So those parents that have young children do not take scoliosis “weird body structure” lightly. Do not shy away or having the perception that once I consult a spine specialist surely pronounced need surgical intervention. Spine surgery is not needed should the scoliosis is still mild. For children who are still in their growth spurt should their scoliosis curve is within 25 – 40 cobb degree scoliosis brace will be administer. This group of scoliosis children if they want to avoid spine surgery they need to wear their brace at least 13 hours per day and also diligently performing core back exercises. Personally I have met with scoliosis kids that are very compliance to bracing and diligently performing core back exercise as well active in sports they are brace free at age 17 and scoliosis surgery is not needed. Children who are still in their growth spurt, their body structure changing very fast. Bracing is to control the scoliosis curve to progress fast and hopefully by taking the advantage of gaining heights as they turning from teens to adulthood their scoliosis curve can reduce.

For this scoliosis kids that brace free at Age 17 that are consider brace success, my advise to them is always remember that scoliosis is an enemy. They should continue to control the scoliosis by diligently doing core back exercise to build strong core muscles to prevent the natural gravitation pull the spine to progress. Do not neglect follow-up in the hospital as well. Now the follow-up could be space up to TCA -To come again 3 – 5 years . With this will able to monitor and keep track the scoliosis curve condition.

Some scoliosis patients maybe like my case. My scoliosis was not severe during my teens days, therefore surgery intervention was not needed then.

There are many general public, those with little knowledge of scoliosis think that I am of the neglected cases. “why did not undergone scoliosis surgery during your teenage days?”.

In short scoliosis surgery is only for severe curve. Even then there are list of others criteria to fulfill to be scoliosis surgery candidate eg patient must have overall in good health, good bone density, not of rare blood disorder in which blood doesn't clot in time, risks is lesser than benefits , muscles condition etc...etc.. So is not is just because your scoliosis curve is severe than spine surgery is for sure you will undergone.

Surely that you wish to know that do I have any side effects do I have lifelong restrictions?

I undergone the scoliosis surgery of spinal fusion, whereby the surgeon seals/combine a few of my vertebrae as one big column of bone. This big column of bone I will loose motion or unable to use it after the surgery. These vertebrae are of the scoliosis curve (sick unruly spine bones) . However, I am still able to have normal function. Very quickly the brain will modified some ways to do things eg I need to squat down to pick up things from the ground.

Do I have lifelong restrictions eg only lifting and carry not more than 5 Kg?

My answer to you is no. My spine surgeons given all their post ops patients instructions of what is needful so that beyond we able to lives and function as any normal people.
I was advised to do swimming wef 12 weeks post ops. Prior to covid 19 pandemic I am very diligent on this. No matter how busy are my working schedule I also do squeeze times to do my lap in a Olympic size swimming pool. My colleagues even brand me as “fish”.
Swimming helps me a lot to strengthen my muscles.

I am able to sit for long hours. I have no back ache issue. I had been doing sole pack-packing holiday with no hire guide, nor engage driver. I used public transport more on bus and train when I touring Sri Lanka. The longest touring I did was 27 days move from one town to another dragging my luggage and bags. Most of the time I walk at least 2km from the bus station/drop off to the accommodation. I don't pack along any pain-killer cause I do not need it.

My trolley bag - 11KG,  My camera back-pack 6.23KG, My tripod - 2.7KG, My sling bag -0.95kg  , my green bag - 1kg.  This are luggage and bags that I drag along from town to town in Sri Lanka using public transport.  For those who ever been touring sri lanka with public transport especially train, I am sure you get culture shock cause some occasion does not stop on the level platform for you to comfortably walk over into the train. 

My advise is do pay a little attention to choose your spine surgeons. To me each spine surgeons skills are different, just like our car mechanic.

Scoliosis surgery allows me to lives a more healthier lives . It is worth !..