My low self image on my deformities has being lifted. Yes indeed I'm being installed with spinal implant in Feb 2014. I need to carry my spinal implant ID now. Initially in my recovery period I find that even a ceramic cup and my pillow is exceptional heavy.. I could only sit for 10 mins when my Spine Doctor (Prof Kwan) expect me to achieve 1 hr. The 30 mins home ride on my hospital discharge day was a great torture to me.. Each day my recovery progress. Additional quality life keep adding into me. On my 8th month post ops (18th Oct 2014) I did a 16 hrs car journey for my vacation with no complain. On the 20th of Oct 2014 I could not have a better words to describe how grateful I am cause I am able to trek up (20 mins) on a nicely paved staircase mountain trail . I no longer pants like a dog like last year and a few years ago.
It was a total different feel standing taller than before on the same spot of last year holding up my gears to photograph migratory birds.
This is how bad was my posture before the ops
This is the new me on my 8th month post ops
I so grateful to the Almighty God ...
"The LOVE of GOD is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
and reaches to the lowest hell With a grateful heart I just want to says Thank you God For what YOU have done YOU took my sickness and heal my pain"
Notes :- I had Posterior Spinal Fusion for Scoliosis on 17/2/2014. I underwent this treatment at UMSC (University Malaya Specialist Center). My surgery was lead by Prof Kwan Mun Keong. University Malaya Specialist Centre (UMSC) is the private wing of Pusat Perubatan University Malaya (PPUM).
At current I am in my 7th months post operation. I am really glad that I undergone this spinal surgery. Besides having a number of my health problem resolve it also improve my self-confidence and self-esteem.
I hope my sharing on scoliosis and me will serve as an encouragement to those who have spinal deformities like me. There is hope/help for you in today modern medical technology.
14th Aug 2014 is my 6th month post operation clinical appointment. I have “butterflies in my stomach”. What would my full spine x-ray show? Are the titanium screws intact? What would my spine surgeon says once he look at my 6th months post operations full spine x-ray? Would he deliver bad news and suggest that I need to undergo another surgery because the fusion does not happen as per expectation? Would there be any possibilities during fussing of spine process my spine curve increase before it fully settle down in fully fussed up stage? Increase due to certain sleeping posture and some minor twisting position I did during my clothes wearing?
These are my thoughts while I was driving down to UMSC for my clinical appointment at 2.30pm. After the full spine x-ray taken I took the lift to head to the waiting area of room 12 – Prof Dr Kwan’s clinic at UMSC. There are so many people waiting together with me. Among them I notice a foreigner elderly man in big body build but he is in so much pain. Is he having spinal problem that lead him to have problem even with simple mobility? From his look he might be from the Saudi Arabic country. Those relatives who gave him a helping hand to assist him to walk into room 12 speak in foreign language. Wooow… my spine doctor must be world famous. He has patients come all the way from the far foreign land.
Soon my name “Wong Chor Mun” was being called. I walk into his room greeted my surgeon. With a worry heart I ask him are all the titanium screw and rods that hold my spine intact and not loosen. He blow up my spine x-ray image and comments “….your spine is fussing up.. very good .. you are doing very well. There is no dark ring nor hollow ring around the screws. I expect this kind of result in 9th months post ops due to your age but your recovery progress like the teenager….You are no longer on any weight lifting restriction …however you not allowed for any competitive sports and high risk activities… continue your swimming and the superman exercise to build and strengthen your core muscles. You are allowed to do your own exercise. You are allowed to do light running…”
Yahoo…with those statement my heart is relieve but But … huh.. my naive and simple brain cannot apprehend what is competitive sports. He explained to me competitive sports are eg relay races, football, basketball, cross country… Woooh…oooh Hah!! no more weight lifting restriction!… I can plan to go for holiday…
From a 64 cobb degree I have being corrected to 25 cobb degree
Now I have a balance shoulder (My frontal plane has being corrected). My gravity line has improve (I have a better sagittal plane.
Hmmmm since I am not allowed for any stress activities until 18th months post ops..then a light and easy… eating… sightseeing … birding holiday with do I guess?
Yes!!! I can wear back my trekking shoes very soon...
From my own experience, spinal fusion heals as intended is not a loop sided responsibility to stop at sourcing the best spine doctor in town to get the spinal implant properly installed only. It also required the commitment of the patients post-operative cares that leads to the successful spine fusion result. We need to aware that during recovery stage we need to modify our movement in order to avoid no body bending, twisting and not allowed to carry/lifting things with more than 3 kg. If the patient body mass is lower, then the weight lifting restriction is even smaller than 3 kg.
Every movement need to be very careful during recovery period to avoid destroying the surgeon’s handiwork. I have a good laugh when I discovered that I am not the “weirdo” who do bed turns with my eyes wide open and cautious mind in the initial recovery period.
watch this you tube clips to find out what need to take precaution
http://youtu.be/wRea1GrRkxA
Even though with the list of NO and don’t, I am being prescribe to perform some exercises (physiotherapy). This is essential to work out the muscles and to promote new muscles growth to support the new spine.
Walks
From day 1 we are encourage to walk. During the hospital stay in between of bed rest we are to increase the amount and length of walks each day. Once I am allowed to go outdoor that is after the bandage removal, I do brisk walking for at least 10 – 15 minutes daily.
Core muscle stretching exercises
Before discharge from the hospital, the physiotherapist thought me 2 form of exercises that I need to do 1st thing in the morning and before I retire for bed. His advice to me “Perform this while lying on the bed for 20 times… once in the morning and before you sleep.”
1. Bridging exercise
2. Sit up and down on a chair or wall squat.
extracted from http://www.athleticadvisor.com/injuries/head_back/back_strengthening.htm
As my recovery progress to the 4th month
I being advice to do swimming 4 times a week. There are times I do the night session swim also my skin got tan.
Have the routine superman/thoracic extension exercise 1st thing in the morning and before retire to bed exercise. The superman exercise/thoracic extension exercise and swimming as the physiotherapy is indeed very helpful in gaining back my back flexibility.
extracted from http://www.athleticadvisor.com/injuries/head_back/back_strengthening.htm
Unlike the youtube video clips, we need to perform this lying on bed. I discovered the mattress need to be hard in order to perform this. Due to this exercise is quite strenuous for spinal fusion after ops patient, it need to be done in great care. Being advice by my surgeon to start with only 2 repeatedly times for the 1st week and increase progressively until 20 times over the week as per his prescription.
Is there any particular food to stimulate bone fusion?
My surgeon advice to all of his after ops patients is no “pantang” (abstain) on food. A balance diet will do. To play safe in order for me to avoid fusion failure and quick recovery on the incision scars, below is what I practice.
Protein that my muscles need in order to heal more quickly.
The bones need Calcium and zinc in order to heal more quickly and fussed up properly.
Adequate calcium is the requirement for spinal fussed up properly. Food rich with calcium are http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/foods-high-in-calcium.php
Personally I change my daily breakfast menu to a cup of milk, two pieces of bread & a slice of cheese. To top up the remaining calcium I use calcium vitamin pill where I ritually pop in after lunch and dinner.
The skin required vitamin C to promote the wound to heal faster and nicely.
Vitamins C that are found in many fruits and vegetables are essential to wound healing because it helps the body to form new cells/tissue.
Notes :- I had Posterior Spinal Fusion for Scoliosis on 17/2/2014. This series of posting on Scoliosis is my personal experience. I hope my sharing on scoliosis and me will serve as an encouragement to those who have spinal deformities like me. There is hope/help for you in today modern medical technology.
For Spinal fusion surgery the procedure required the surgeons to cut through multiple layers of skin until the spinal disc vertebrate are expose. Only up to this stage then the surgeons is able to install the necessary spinal implants. As the cut is right through all layer of skin, more care are requires for spinal fusion wounds compare to the accidental knife injuries in the kitchen during food preparation.
Immediately after the operations the wound are then seal up either with staples, stitches or tissue glue. A large long strip of Opsite post-op bandage strips are then use to paste on top of the incision.
extracted from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir3L_jIJeuo she can be contacted at layla-james@live.com
Many people asked me did I sleep with my frontal body lying flat where my back is facing upward. (prone position) after the surgery? NO.. NO immediately after the surgery I sleep on my back lying flat (supine position). We can do bed turn as well. In fact bed turn every 1 hour is a must on day one to prevent blood clot and bed sores.
http://www.charlydmiller.com/def.html
On the first day post- ops the doctor will change the dressing and inspect the incision. The doctor would then able to anticipate of any signs of infections or abnormalities. A new large long strip of Opsite post–ops bandage strip is then paste on top of the incisions. This bandage can sustain certain level of waterproof.
It is the uttermost patient responsibilities to take care of the incision. This will help to lower the risk of infection. No doubt this bandage is waterproof. Patients are allowed to take bath however need to be aware that it could sustain certain level of waterproofing only. While the long strip of Opsite post-op is still there, the patients are allowed to take shower /sponge bath however suggest do it in great precaution.
Surgical incision always leave a permanent scar however care need to take to reduce the scar appearance even though you have vow not to allow anyone to look at it.
Stage 1– when with the Opsite post –ops bandage
NO soaking in the bathtub
Make sure no excessive sweating cause this will promote infection
During shower use a quick gentle water spray on the back
Use towel to gently pad dry on the back. No back scrub or rub the incisions.
Ensure that at all ends of the bandage are properly seal. If torn, water can sip in. If this situation occur run to the nearby clinic with the extra op-site bandage plaster. Need to be aware that this is a special op-site bandage the normal clinic, pharmacy do not stock them. You would not be surprise that some hospital also do not have such op-site bandage plaster as they do not handle spinal fusion.
Ensure no abnormalities eg signs of bleeding or oozing out yellow fluid. Quickly run back to the hospital where you are treated if it does happen.
Stage 2 - Immediately after bandage removal till 6 weeks post ops.
This bandage will only be removed on the 1st clinical appointment post ops. This usually happen in between of 10 - 14 days post ops.
Soap can be use on the incision scar after the bandage removal. Do not hastily apply lotion/oil.scar cream on the incision scar. You need to allow natural healing to take place. Do not purposely pick the scabs. Let it drop off by itself. The scar will undergo a lot of changes including colour and texture.
My incision scar on 2nd month post ops
For some their scars healing taken a bigger footprint and tend to enlarge and rise progressively from the original wound. Unlike the usual scars keloid do not subsides. Keloid are not health hazardous however the bulging lump will get irritation from friction rubbing from clothes, beside occurrence of severe itchiness, pain even though it is a long years past scars. Discuss with the dermatologist how to treat this if you scars develop into keloid.
https://www.sthetix.co.uk
Stage 3 - From 6 weeks - 6 months post ops or longer
Once the scabs had drop off, that usually happen on the 6th week after ops. Lotion and scars removal cream can be administered. During this stage of healing process the incision scar need to keep moisture to promote a better healing process. Care should be taken into consideration of external application as you may develop allergies reaction. I use Bio Oil massage in a circular motion on the scar, at least twice daily after shower.
Diet
Beside external care, a proper balance diet during recovery period is also important.
Avoid Sunburn
While the incision heals, the new skin form is very sensitive and less resistance to UV rays. The new skin are more prone to sunburn. Sunburn will lead to worse scarring.
Does Incision Scar Fade
Yes, in the initial stage after the bandage removal, the scar line is reddish and a slightly raised. As the days past the reddish line turn to pinkish and no longer slightly raise. The scar line will continue to fade in colour.
This is my scar appearance during 4th month post ops.
Notes :- I had Posterior Spinal Fusion for Scoliosis on 17/2/2014. I underwent this treatment at UMSC (University Malaya Specialist Center). My surgery was lead by Prof Kwan Mun Keong. University Malaya Specialist Centre (UMSC) is the private wing of Pusat Perubatan University Malaya (PPUM).
At current I am in my 5th months post operation. I am really glad that I undergone this spinal surgery. Hear me out. ...Let me share with you that with this major surgery I have back my quality life and I have a number of health problems resolve as well..
I hope my sharing on scoliosis and me will serve as an encouragement to those who have spinal deformities like me. There is hope/help for you in today modern medical technology.
What is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a medical term comes from the Ancient Greek word describe the abnormal curvature of the spine. Instead of a straight line the person with scoliosis is where their spine is in the shape of “S” or “?”. SRS (Scoliosis research society) defines scoliosis if the curvature measuring 10 degrees and above.
Scoliosis is more than just a curve to the side. The scoliosis spine is also rotated or twisted. As the spine twists it pulls the ribs along with it, and it resulted one side of the chest becomes higher than the other, or the shape of the breastbone distorted.
Beside that, scoliosis spine will cause the sufferer
to have imbalance shoulder and hip (one shoulder higher than the other, clothes hang unevenly at the waist because of that).
Once you discovered you or your child have scoliosis it is advisable to seek advice from the spine specialist/doctor. Need to know the very important fact that spine specialist is the subset from the big group of orthopedician. With that fact you need to take more care to choose the spine doctor. FYI not everyone who knocks on spine doctor door are being pronounced the option is surgery, therefore do not afraid. For adults depending on the degree of curvature and the amount of pain, some just required regular monitoring the progression of the curve and core strengthening exercise.
If the sufferer is a growing child and having a mild curve (less than 30 cobb degree) then brace are being administer first. Brace is a piece of hard apparel that is specially tailor made to prevent the curve from increasing. This piece of device is advice to fasten to the body for at least 20 hrs per day. Some child responded well with this treatment instead prevent future progression of curves some individual can even get their spine curve reduce. Unfortunately some children despite ritually fasten with the brace for 23hrs per day yet their scoliosis curve keeps increase. For this group of scoliosis growing child eventually the spine doctor suggest them to undergo the spinal fusion for scoliosis once their curve is reaching 45 cobb degree.
Some prefer to ignore and brush away the word spine surgery even though the spine surgeon recommend it. They rather let their child to go through alternatives treatment upon treatments having the perception that once the child has past puberty age then the spine curvature will stop to progress. To counter re-act in avoiding being the mockery subject due to abnormal appearance, they educate their child to wear loose fit clothing or wearing many layers of clothes. To prevent the child to sink deep into self-hatred, frustration and low self-image their constantly inject mental thoughts to train them to be tough-minded. Being a child normally their path is dictated by their parents. For some eventually as the days and years pass unknowingly their scoliosis curve deteriorate until their outer appearance look somewhat like this photo.
http://www.basicspine.com
Internally the ribs are pressing against the lungs and heart beside reduce the height of the person. Due to less room space for the heart and lungs it make the sufferer to have difficult in breathing and harder for the heart to pump. If the scoliosis curve happened at the lumbar it will affect the function of bowel system. Some sufferer due to too severe damage on the breastbone they even have some ribs bone poking into their lungs or heart.
My Life Experience Being a Scoliosian
I am being diagnosed of having scoliosis during my adolescents. My parents are being informed that I need to be send to the hospital to be further diagnose and treated. However being a child my parents dictate my life. My scoliosis curve was untreated not even with brace. Scoliosis in me blends together into adulthood for many years before I seek for medical help. From a 45 cobb degree curve reading taken when I was 24 yrs old over the long period of years it has increase to 64 degree the cobb reading taken on 30th Dec 2013.
How does scoliosis affected me
Due to the curve keep increase and it had cause my breastbone distorted. This affected my heart function. I had fast heartbeat in the acceptable level. This is written over the years in my medical reports. The normal clinic doctor could not explain why my body re-act in such manner.
My spine curvature has reduced my internal organ room space. I have mild breathing problem, it manifest when I trek. I need to have many stop-over to catch up with my breath. I was a nuisance to the group because they could not understand why I am walking slowly.
I also have a few vertebrae spine disc rotated within the curve. I have mild pain when I touch certain part of my back.
Over the years as the curvature progress, I could not sleep on my left side. When I did that I have numbness on my palm. I t is indeed very horrified being awake from my deep sleep to discovered that my palms had turn blue and I am about to lost all the sensation on my palm.
Pain and discomfort sip into my body slowly and subtlety until I could not remember when I start to have soreness on my right pelvic bone. The level of pain/soreness is still within my tolerance level. I do not need any pain-killer. It could be I have a very high level of pain tolerance level therefore I could not recall it does dampen my daily life then. In those days whenever I feel the soreness is too much for me to handle, I would find a flat surface to rest my back for a few minutes.
My body structure is leaning more and more to the right and my torso is getting shorter and shorter compare to the previous years ago.
I suffer “trapped intestine gas” due to smaller room space for my stomach to function. Placing my hands on my stomach area I could feel the sensation of “boiling water”.
Besides my health deteriorating as the years goes by, unknowingly I also suffer low self-esteem and mild depression due to my disfigured physical appearance of the prominent rib hump. Unintentionally I shrank into dark corner and inflicted with self-hatred. I have a lot of whys am I have spine deformities. I am frustrated because my body could not hang my clothes nicely. I don’t like others to take any photos of me then. I wish not to see my disfigured physical appearance. I pass my days with fear knowing well the facts that I am heading to paralysis. Those days I am clueless on where to find the spine doctor and to what level spine surgery has advanced to. I am grateful to GOD who is all knowing, that somehow in HIS right time HE lead me to the right spine doctor. When I ponder back if I don’t seek medical help on time, my spine deformities/curve increase and it continue to cause pressure on my nerves. Eventually it will lead me to loss co-ordination on my legs making me difficult to walk and then the end result is paralyses. My close relative ended up in this situation.
I am now passing my 5th month post spinal fusion for scoliosis. I undertake the spinal fusion for scoliosis with the objectives to stop the progression of the curve and to save my internal organs from being squeeze/crush. In today modern spinal medical technology not only this surgery able to stop the progressive curvature but is also able to correct the curvature to the safest point. Spine surgeons would guarantee his/her patient of at least 50% correction of curve. I have gained 3.5 cm after the operations. With my spinal curve correction, it creates more room space for my internal organs.
Did this Spinal Fusion for scoliosis lead me to fatal? NO .. in today medical technology this eerier word of spine surgery is much more safer than you have thought. The main criteria are the patient need to have overall good health condition and acceptable level of bone density.
What did I benefited from this Spinal Fusion for scoliosis.
I no longer have palm numbness when I sleep on my left side.
My days are more at ease as I no longer need to bear the soreness/tiredness on my right pelvic. I resume back to office in my 2 months + after operation. There is one day during the 2 months plus after operation period I worked for 20 hrs (sitting for long hours). I was surprise unlike those days I no longer need to find a flat surface to lie down in between.
This is not a fancy chair. I sat on this chairs in uncountable times before to attend work discussion/meetings at office. After my long medical leave from Spinal fusion surgery I sat on this type of chair again to attend meeting. It was a different feel. I could not describe better in words the nice feeling able to feel my back comfortably hold by this chair. I have not able to have this feeling ever since scoliosis eating me up day by day since I was about 8 – 10 yrs old. For those who are not suffering from scoliosis you may not able to comprehend this.
I started driving again on my 7th weeks after operations when I feel that my back is strong enough. My view from the driver seat everything seems to be very nice and beautiful as I am able to sited upright comfortably maneuvering the steering wheels driving along the road.
Spine health is equivalent to a total being of the person. This spinal fusion for scoliosis surgery not only able to correct/reduce my big huge “C” curve but it also makes me a happier person. The long accumulated unsatisfied feel on my deformities due to scoliosis leads me to have low self-esteem, mild depression affecting my self -confidence seems to be vanished off. I am no longer living in fear of ended up bed-ridden cause by just a simple fall/slip.
With the 16 screws and 2 titanium rods I am now having the posture straighter than when I was 12 yrs old. I hope that my spine will fussed up properly and I will continue to have quality life from the day my surgeon and his team mates working very hard to correct my spine curve. I hope that I will continue to walk up-right, able to sit comfortably and able to feel my shoulder blades touch the walls when I lean on it till the moment I take my last breath.
For those who have healthy spine, I urge you to appreciate and take good care of the good and healthy spine that you have. Lift/carry things in a proper manner.
For those who are suffering from a severe Adolescence Idiopathic scoliosis like me, are you aware that spine surgeons are God’s extended hard for the miracles that you have being praying for?
NOTES:
我会永远记得2014年2月17日
我非常感谢 (Prof Dr Kwan Mun Keong, Dr Chris Chan, Dr Lee, Dr Ng, Prof Ng, Dr Shaharol, Dr Shannaz, Winne, Shirley and the medical assitance that render your medical care to me during my admission at Mawar Ward of UMSC Thank you for taking part in restoring my spine and given me the second life. I hope that my spine will fussed up properly and I will continue to have quality life from that auspicious day till to the day I die. I wish that Mr Titanium and me will live happily ever after.
Being informed
by the spine doctor that you or your child need to go through spine surgery to
correct scoliosis (the disorder of the spine where the spine vertebrae
twist and bend abnormally) is indeed very tormenting. Most people will go back to the
drawing board to do risk and benefits assessments. Then as you go through you began to
see that the list of benefits is more than the risk.
Do not
hesitate to take up surgery for spinal fusion for Scoliosis as per the spine
doctor recommend. Let me paint a picture to your mind.
Body structure the external look = a
house
Spine = post and beams
Internal organs (heart, lungs,
stomach, intestine, bowels system) = furniture and fittings inside that house.
Of unknown
reason, somehow the beam/post of the house slant and go out of place day by
day. The house in the initial stage the structure still look good at
first glance, the furniture in the house are not affected. Each day the
beam/post slant more and more. Eventually the house structure got
distorted. If the beam/post could not restore on time the furniture
inside the house will get crush. Therefore never delay and regret later
when discover that the beam is too faulty and the only option left is wait and
watch the very moment the beam crush down the furniture.
With the above
I hope that you would not procrastinate anymore. If the curve is under
severe category do not have wavering thoughts. You need to accept the fact that
surgery is the only option. Source a good spine surgeon and plan the date
of the surgery. Start to do planning for pre-operations and
post-operations. Mentally/emotionally prepare and having physical readiness
makes a lot of difference on recovery rate.
List of things to prepare for Pre Spinal Fusion for scoliosis surgery
Abstain food/supplement that do blood thinning for at least 2
weeks before the surgery eg (gingko, ginseng, chicken of essence, vitamin E
supplementary). Personally I stopped consume any vitamins/supplement
prior 3 weeks before the surgery to avoid excessive bleeding during the
surgery that may lead to complication.
Is very important to maintain the body in the top-notch health as
possible to enter the operating theatre. Make sure no sickness not even
the common flu, cough and fever for at least one month prior to the
surgery. This is to ensure the body is well prepared and ready for the
upcoming tremendous stress during the surgery and have a good recovery rate.
Practice the logroll techniques how to get in and out from the
bed. I practice and habitual this technique prior to the surgery as I am
aware at all time we need to ensure to keep the body straight, no twisting and
body bend after the spinal fusion surgery. No body bending/twisting is the
temporary restriction until the spine is fussed up. This is normally about 9-12 months. Click this to discover What is logroll technique?
I also change and start to habitual some movements eg wash my
hair on standing position.
It
is also good to prepare the home for post-ops recovery needs. As
temporarily restriction of no body bending during the recovery period,
rearrange the bed to downstairs in a double storey house really help. This is
due to after surgery the patient will takes some times to get adjusted to the
straight spine in their movements. Climbing up stairs is quite
challenging initially.
Change/buy new mattress if
it is sagging.
Re-arrange some of the
necessities items eg clothes, toiletries and some others household items to be
easily assessable with no body bending is required.
Besides no body bending,
there are weight limitations during recovery period as well. I did up to the
level of re-organised my liquid detergent to a smaller bottle.
Get some special equipment
like grabber. It is really handy for picking up things from the
ground.
Depending on some people,
some during the initial recovery period they need plastic chair for them to sit
down during shower.
Being advised by some past
patient that it is also handy to have clothes that are button in front during
the recovery period as some may have difficulties to raise their arms. Every
individual body are different I have no problem in lifting my arms and hands.
In fact I did my shower and hair washing with no one to assist me since the
very day all the IV tubes are detached from my body.
Pack only the necessary
items to be use at the hospital eg toiletries, a sets of clothes to wear when
discharge from hospital is sufficient. Do not overly pack cause the
hospital single room is not as big as the hotel’s suite. Anyway
while you are in the hospital you need to wear the hospital gown instead of
your normal clothes. Normally patient who undergo spinal fusion for scoliosis
are discharge after 3 – 4 days. My surgeon wanted to discharge me on
the third day but I request to stay one more day.
You may want to include a
pair of sock, blanket and favorite small soft toy into your packing list for
your hospital stay.
If you are a female,
include sanitary napkins as one of the items to pack along to the hospital. I
discovered many are like me, somehow our body due to keep thinking of the
up-coming surgery it just mess up the usual cycle. Only after the
surgery when the body is not so tense then menstruation appear immediate back.
I believe you are like me have own preference sanitary napkin.
Pre-arrange to have someone
stay at home to assist you in the initial recovery period. You may be like me
capable to take care of your own hygiene however you still need people help to
prepare and take care of your meals. In the initial stage of
recovery I spend a lot of time sleeping and bed rest.
If you have long hair, do
considered to trim it short before the admission in order to ease hair washing
during recovery period.
Most probably you are not
allowed to squat for a period of time during recovery. It is very practical to
trim the toes nails one day before the admission unless you have someone to
assist you.
Get ready some interesting
books. Books are good company beside laptop/ipad and hand-phone
during the recovery period.
Put up a big reminder
“remove nail polish before admission”. Nail polish deter oxygen level
monitoring as it block the true colour of the nail bed. Do not paint your
finger or toe nails with Henna (inai) as well.
It is much practical to use
spectacles than contact lenses during your hospitalization.
Remember to remove all
jewelry from your body before admission. Do not take any risk of possibilities
being stolen. Even so they are worthless, the necklace image in the full spine
x-ray will confused the spine doctor.
Check all the shoes, sandal
and slippers make sure the sole are not worn out. This is to ensure
that they are still in good condition and have good traction in helping to
avoid slipping. It is advisable during spinal fusion recovery not to
slip/fall.
Particularly for female to
get ready at least a pair of comfortable flat shoes. My surgeon
advice me to shelf off my court shoes for at least 4 months.
Get some comfortable loose
fits cotton clothes these really help during recovery. Personally in
the initial recovery period I wish to give breathing space for my incision
scar.
Additional items for adults to take notes
How soon you will be
driving again depends very much how long can you sit on a chair without getting
up to walk around. I only start driving on the 8th weeks
post operations after I could feel that my muscles are fit and ready to handle
my manual cars.
If you are being employed
pre-inform your superior about the surgery. Perform a proper work
hand-over. This is to avoid matters related to work disturbance
during your recovery period.
Upfront handle your
utilities bills and any up-coming bills in the next 1 – 2 months. This
is to avoid servicing interest charges.
Based on the facts of
having weight restriction and no body bending during recovery, I do spring
cleaning on my closet and did a good cleaning thoroughly the whole house
before my admission.
For those who are student
Guardians/parents need to
pre-inform the form teacher about your child will be absent from school for at
least 3 – 4 weeks due to spinal fusion for scoliosis surgery.
Inform the teacher about
the weight limitation of your child when she/he return back to school.
Arrange with the teacher is it possible to leave your child school bag for the
teacher to manage or sharing of books with other student during class.
Inform the physical
education teacher that your child will need to abstain from PE during the recovery
period.
Remind the form teacher to
educate the other students not to push or engage in any sort of activities that
can accidentally cause your child to slip/fall.
Inform the form teacher to
educate the other student to gives moral support and assistance to your
child. In some cases the patient after surgery is required to wear
lumbar brace for a period of time. This piece of gadget may cause your child to
have an extra nickname.
Pre-inform the transporters
the condition of your child if you do not ferry your child in and out to
school.
As most school toilet are
squat. Inform your child do not be ashamed if required a trustworthy
friend assistance.
Notes :-I had Posterior Spinal Fusion for Scoliosis on 17/2/2014. I underwent this treatment at UMSC (University Malaya Specialist Center). My surgery was lead by Prof Kwan Mun Keong. University Malaya Specialist Centre (UMSC) is the private wing of Pusat Perubatan University Malaya (PPUM). This blog was initially meant to share my birding field trips reports. Ever since I started to use Facebook I have not post anything since then. At current I am in my recovery period from my spinal fusion for scoliosis. Once I start to update this blog with nature photographs and field trips reports that means my spine has fussed up and my restriction has being uplift.
I hope my sharing on scoliosis and me will serve as an encouragement to those who have spinal deformities like me. For those who have Scoliosis, spinal disc herniation, spinal disc degeneration, spondylosis, kyphoysis, do not be afraid/avoid when the spine doctor recommend the solution is surgery. There is hope for you in today modern medical technology. Please do not endure the pain in silence.
Should I (or my child) have spine surgery for scoliosis?
After hearing your spine doctor said “…OK I recommend the option is surgery due to the curve is over 45 degree and it is severe…no brace can help in this situation….no drugs/medicine to cure… ” If the patient is you yourself or it is mean for your child, I can sense that eerie statement send a shiver down to your spine. Your knees are wobbling now. 101 questions suddenly runs in your brain now. Sure? Huh,… Isssh ..Is there any special tailor-made exercise for scoliosis or alternative treatments to avoid surgery? … yoga for scoliosis? … special gym tailor made program? What happen it end up a fail surgery…. Oh no…on wheelchair? Bed ridden? Then whole life will crumple down overnight.
If the patient is your child, you have a quick glance at your child who has just past her/his birthday who is still in a small frame size. You feel like crying, have a lot of why, how come questions but need to swallow down the tears as you continue to listen what the spine doctor says. “….curve increase in a fast rate as your child is still in the growing stage…...it affect the child lungs/heart function as well as bowels function when the curve touch….. surgery risk are nerves injury, infection, fever…internal organs failure due to a sudden stretch … bleeding … blot clots…spine implant hardware failure ….etc..etc..
Now some of patients might have the thoughts is this doctor is all about meeting the KPI (key performance indicator) of how many spine surgeries need to be done in a year? Hmmm wonder how many extra $$$ this spine doctor will get in each surgery? Is surgery necessary? Is this doctor words are worthy and trustworthy? Most patient will do spine doctor shopping to have 2nd, 3rd …or even 4th or 5th opinions.
My real life experience being a scoliosis sufferer I am being diagnosed as a scoliosis sufferer ever since I was 12 yrs old. Mum was then informed that ultimately she need to send me to the hospital for further diagnosis and very likely it will then lead to spine surgery. Mum came back to discuss with dad. After so many decades, I still recall Dad the statement he made…no matter what the final decision is No ..NO. over my death bodies.. our daughter will get paralyse…. She will have no future…we cannot afford of having our daughter bed-ridden. Being a child who is unable to decide for oneself, scoliosis and me tag along as I grow from a child till adulthood. I still recall in my early working life daily I commute by bus to my workplace. Usually at the bus stop I would bump into a lady who is more curvy than me. Her curves start from cervical (neck). Her head is slanted to the left side glue together with her shoulder. You can’t notice that she has a neck. Whenever she want to see what is on her right, she need to turn her whole body. Her torso is also compress with a very huge obvious rib hump. There is one day I noticed she has a neck. She can use her neck to turn left and right. I asked her what she has done, she advice me to seek consultation from her orthopaedic at GHKL. That time I was 24yrs old, quietly without my parent knowledge I went to GHKL. I still recall dutifully paid my RM1 join in the long queue of sick and sorrowful face group of people as though tomorrow never turns up. Walk into the orthopaedic room when my named is being called, he test my reflexes using a rubber hammer to tap my elbows and knees cap. He ordered me to do the Adam’s forward bend test. Then ordered me to go to another counter to pay RM5 for spine X-Ray. Once they hand me some big pieces of black and white film, I will then need to walk back to his room again. I still recall those days in order to take this X-Ray, the patient need to wear the hospital gown with the back fully exposed.
He looked at my spine X-Ray and he said hmmm roughly your curve is 45 degree now. Do you have pain on your heels when you touch the ground? …as of date spine surgery is really dangerous… need to be in body cast for 6 months…cannot bath.. I predict over the years due to gravity pull over body balance your C curve will turn to S curve…. don’t know when with a normal slip/fall you will be paralyze.. in this world there is no drugs/medicine to cure this…since you don’t have heels pain .. then you need to come at 2 times a week at 4 pm to learn physiotherapy…at that hospital block… in the mean time walk in your journey of life heads up girl. Don’t let the deformities to over take and drown you.
Since he pronounced no cure…over the years off and on I source alternatives treatments. Some treatments required to press my muscle here and there, press my rib cage, press at certain vertebrate, twist my body here and there. I end up more painful than before. Few occasions I end up having a tremendous level of back-ache after the alternative treatment. I will chart my level of pain as level 12 in the standard pain chart of 10 being the max. I am in so much pain. Ooossh as I reflect back my ignorant and stupidity could have landed me up in big trouble. Beside gone through this physical torture, over the years my rib cage hump become more and more prominent. I could not find a piece of dress that could fit me well even during the days when my waistline is only 24 inches. Some people commented I don’t know how to wear my skirt properly? Why can’t I walk and stand properly?
I ended up with some days I have forgotten how to smile. I am very cautious how people look at me physically. I wear more clothes to hide my deformities even in our Malaysia hot and humid weather. I still recall for about 2 years I was so depress I hardly utter any words and there is no smile on my face. Some nights my brain keeps churning miserable, uncertain of the future thoughts that makes me more sober and miserable and I ended up in tears. My torso shrunk over the years. I suffer mild breathless and right pelvic bone pain and soreness. My right leg is starting to have sign of weakness before the recent spinal fusion surgery I take up when my C curve reading was 64 degree.
Anyway my long years of scoliosis experience miserable life due to my ignorant not only enable me to have a safe spine surgery with modern medical technology, it has unintentionally turn me to be a living testimony that spine surgery is not eerier but safe. My limbs and brains function are not affected. FYI I walked to the bathroom, take shower and wash my hair on my own after all the surgical IV tubes detached from my body.
------- This photo was taken in Mar 2010. Based on the estimation of curve increase 1 degree each year. This is how I look in standing position when my C curve was 60 degree then.
------- This is my standing posture now after spinal fusion for scoliosis surgery performed on 17/2/2014
Choose quality life
Please do not let yourself or your child to end up the same life experience as mine. Quality life and healthy life need to be restored ASAP. Don’t be surprise your small build child of 13 yrs old falls into the prime age group category for this type of surgery. If the spine surgeon pronounced surgery then have a great thought about it. The good news is in today modern medical technology spinal fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis is only < 1% fatal risk for a healthy patient. For adult in additional to that < 1% fatal risk will also expose to 10% other forms of risk. When I discovered fatal risk < 1% YES!! I have being waiting for it such a long time. The 10% risk factors, the level of pain, the cost, anesthesia and painkillers allergyand recovery period restriction eg weight, no body bending, no running, no body twisting...etc..etc. I will worry for them later.
To undergo this surgery the patient must in good medical condition, not pregnant and having an acceptable bone density level.
Do not get paranoid hearing news of failure spinal fusion for scoliosis. Daily there are around 27,000 cases of scoliosis each year are serious enough to require surgery. Spinal fusion is the most frequently performed surgical procedure to correct severe scoliosis *** http://www.medtronic.com ****
Percentage of spinal fusion surgery successful is tremendously many more times higher than the failure. It is just somehow human nature like to magnified failures.
Moreover these orthopaedic implants need to pass through a long stringent series of Industrial and Medical ISO world standard. The spinal hardware implants are improvised from time to time. As well as the list of Industrial and Medical ISO standard, more and more world standard added as it progress.
Benefits
The objectives for this surgery are :-
To prevent the curve keep getting worse and then lead to lung, heart and bowel problems.
Restore body balance by straighten the spine as much as possible in a safe manner.
The other tag along benefit is cosmesis – smaller rib hump.
How to select good spine surgeon
Cost should not be priority factor as there are many more criteria that supersede it. Since this is a major surgery it need more consideration factors for you to choose the surgeon. Below are some of the questions that you use:-
Is this hospital has up to date modern medical equipment? Fully equip?
Is this hospital has all the personnel medical team in one single location eg a team of spine surgeons, anaesthetist, neurologistThis question is for you to access the surgery is done by internal/external doctors.
How many patients did the surgeon performed the same sort of surgery?How many patients in a year? Month?Week?This question is to access how much experience the surgeon and the team has. This will also able to access how skillful the surgeon and the team.
In the normal standard scoliosis case like this how long does the surgery takes in terms of hours?This question is to access how many hours you or your child is going to lie on the operating table.The longer the surgery will have greater exposure to infection, facial swells, longer recovery and others unforeseen.
What is the industry success rate for this type of surgery?Ask the surgeon what is the surgeon personal level of success rate?This is to access the surgeon skill set.
Any 2nd surgery within the admission period that the surgeon did before?The reasons for the redo work?If 2nd surgery is required within the admission period that means you can judge yourself how confidence and skillful is this surgeon.
Your Homework
Search in the web what sort of achievement/recognition this surgeon have/obtained?
How long in terms of years this surgeon being in this field?
From your clinical appointment how do you judge the surgeon level of confidence/knowledge.
Did the surgeon hand you the list of patients that has undergone the same kind of surgery that is proposed for you/child? Look at the list when was the surgery done. Any phone numbers that you can contact them? notes**** do not purposely ask for the list.This will allow you to access how many patients successfully operated by this surgeon.Normally the past patients had given the consent that they are use as the reference. You can put a doubt on the surgeon work if this list was not hand over to you.
Others items to consider
Is this hospital located in another state? If so then where is the possible nearest recovery site for at least 2 weeks? This is essential as usually in the initial stage of recovery the patient is in so much discomfort therefore travel long journey is a torture even though permitted for car ride. In additional to that patient need to go back to the hospital for bandage removal normally that is usually within 14 days from the day of surgery. If you do not have any possible near recovery site, please check with the hospital do they have such facilities? What is the rate per day? What is the rate for food and laundry?
Is the propose surgery cost affordable? Does the patient have medical policy? Find out in much more details what does the medical policy cover? Do you have staff medical benefits? What is the limit? EPF withdrawal? Credit card limit? Personal loans? Delay on spending on the items wish to have eg new car/house/furniture, renovation, jewelry, holiday and etc..etc Have gone through the whole list of possibilities yet the bill is still cannot afford then make a clinical appointment to discuss with the surgeon. A good surgeon who understand repair spinal deformities is restoring lives as well will help you to explore the surgery cost to fit your pocket.
Plan and schedule with the surgeon the possible date to undergo this surgery.
Your other doubts
Is the hardware safe for our body? At present the hardware is titanium. It is non-toxic and not rejected by human body. It is light, strong and non-corrosive. FYI I am installed with 16 screws and 2 rods, additional weight to my body is less than 1 kg.
Need to take out the hardware after the spine is fussed up? NOT required. People with spine implant need to be more stringent in back care for their daily life eg proper posture in lifting heavy things and no crouching (proper sitting posture).
How long is the imposed restriction on weight, no body bending, twisting, jumping, running? Temporary until the spine is fussed up. The surgeon are keeping tab on your spine progress on 14 days, 2nd months , 6th months, 12 months post ops clinical appointment. The surgeon will let you know when.
Is it possible for a person who has undergo Spinal Fusion for scoliosis to go through pregnancy? Yes you may if you wish to, however please wait for your spine to fussed up. Inform your gynecologist that you had gone through spinal fusion for scoliosis.
Can scoliosis spine surgery lead to fatal? Yes less than 0.1 percent based on the database
data at the hospital where I undergone the surgery. In my opinion 0.1 percent is equivalent to nil or too negligible
a figure to consider. Fatal possibilities occurred in our normal daily
activities are any time greater than 0.1 percent. Example once we are on the road we are exposed to fatal risk and
total permanent disability due to accident no matter how careful and how good
is our driving skills.
Would I prone to lighting strike with the metal implant? Titanium is fairly hard, non-magnetic and poor
conductor or heat and electricity.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanium
This is most likely some of the questions people
ask. If you have others doubts, feel free to drop your comments. I will try to
explore with you to get the answer.
