Surgery Recovery: How Have Rods Affected You?

I’m grateful that I got the surgery, because it drastically improved the quality of my life. Even though I sometimes do feel pain, it’s a lot less severe and a lot less frequent than it used to be before the surgery. I feel straighter, and I’m happier with the way I look now. Before my surgery, my curve was exactly 100 degrees and crushed one of my lungs. If I hadn’t gotten the surgery when I did, I might not have been here typing this comment. It could have crushed my other vital organs, so I’m grateful that I got the surgery before it was too late. I’m not as flexible as I was before the surgery, and I can’t bend down very far whether it be forward, backwards, or sideways). Sometimes, I feel stinging pains (like needles) in my back or on my scar because my nerves are piecing back together after being cut through, and they have to heal. Winter times are the worst times for me. Titanium rods need a lot of warmth, so they suck up the warmth from my body and cause me to feel colder than I am. When I’m cold, I have a lot of aches and pains. My posture is a lot better than it was before the surgery, and I’m able to sit and stand straight. My rib hump isn’t as protruded, and my curve is a lot less severe. Scoliosis caused me to have a lot of stomach aches because it was squishing my stomach, so that problem has improved a bit. Overall, the benefits outweigh the negatives, and I’m so grateful and happy that I got the surgery :)

It's crazy

It's too much

I'm not healthy enough to complete any pt

I'm happy with my fusion! I agree with Snickers, it's super important to prioritize exercise and I'd also recommend working with a physical therapist if you can post recovery. I do still have pain, but it's nowhere close to what it was before surgery(most days at least). I have had trouble with MRIs though. I was told it wouldn't be an issue and I have had two successful scans with no issues but one scan pulled on my rods and caused a lot of pain that I had to go to physical therapy for. It didn't move anything out of place though, thankfully.

Had it when I was 16 & am now 20. I would not change it for a thing! Recovery is tough but thankfully I had a good support system. The biggest general advice I can give is to EXERCISE and stay active as soon as you get the all clear from your doctor! If you want any more in depth detailed advice, feel free to ask!!

I'm supposed to be greatful but I am unhappy with the pain from it and feel that I had old teqnuiqe used on me that was outdated the hook up at the top of my left rod that caused me among the fact that they didn't prescribe medicine right way after surgery caused damage because I moved around in pain and the fusion failed and I got diagnosed with psuedeoarthrosis when they opened me up to do the revision two years latter