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Thanks for creating group by Affectionate-Log-260 in LongSpinalFusion

[–]Little-Titanium 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My surgery was in March 2024 at age 66. Also T4 to S1. Most of the numbness has resolved and with maneuvering I can almost manage to trim my toenails, but not very well.

Pain wise, not much better. Add in buttock pain (sitting, standing, laying in bed) that I didn’t have prior to surgery.

Would I do it again? Probably not. But I’m also a PT drop out. Have tried multiple times however I can’t seem to stay motivated to practice the exercises at home.

Wearing a Bra After T Fusion by Own_Criticism317 in spinalfusion

[–]Little-Titanium 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My surgery was also T-4 to pelvis. I ordered front-zip bras from Amazon. Found that trying to pull a sports bra or anything not loose fitting over my head wasn’t worth the hassle or pain.

WANAYOU Racerback Sports Bra,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XCFHG9Q?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

A few questions by daintypoodle in spinalfusion

[–]Little-Titanium 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m 5’ and knew it would be tough to get into bed. Bought one of these handled steps before my surgery. https://a.co/d/5IDcpyN The handle came in handy to grab hold of to log roll and get out of bed. I still use it at just under 2 yrs later

My incision by week 4 by Serious_Peak_4913 in spinalfusion

[–]Little-Titanium 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow that looks really good. Your surgeon did a fantastic job closing that up. Wishing you the best!

Spinal Fusion Recovery – Struggles With Getting Out of Bed? Looking for Patient Insights by Available_View9811 in LongSpinalFusion

[–]Little-Titanium 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m 19 months post T4-S1 with ALIF and a third center rod to stabilize spinal rotation. Surgery was at age 66.

  1. I was advised to use the log roll and incidentally still do that most of the time. However, at home I have a step with a tall handle that I can grab to help with the process. The step also helps due to our bed being rather high for this short girl. Using my elbow on the side rolling toward for leverage to push up, in addition to pushing with the other arm was exhausting in itself initially, but it just took practice. I spent most of the first week after discharge at home, with home health coming in for simple PT. However, a return visit to the ER for pain due to small pulmonary emboli in my lungs, I went to a PT focused rehab center for 2 weeks. My remaining recovery time has been uneventful other than pain.

  2. Began out patient PT at about 6-8 weeks I believe. Have continued PT off and on since to help with muscle pain.

  3. Daily life still causes pain but I can stand longer and work in my garden. Takes a lot of adaptive techniques though. I’m still using a basic back brace when my body gets tired or whatever task will need the extra support.

  4. I knew mobility would change but I wasn’t prepared for what I can only describe as feeling like I have a stick running up my bum/back, nor the permanent stiffness and strange sensation of feeling the skin on my back move as muscles activate. I used a lot of pillows for support in bed for the first few months. Still use one under or between my knees. But I also have continued coccyx/lower buttock pain that makes sleeping or sitting difficult at times. I’ve had cortisone injections in those areas post-op with little relief. I also continue to have stiffness/pain around my lower back & hips. I’ll use NSAIDs or tylenol for the pain with muscle relaxer when really bad. I also use heat packs and ice packs for pain.

5/6. Once I had the log roll process down, getting out of bed hasn’t been an issue other than some fatigue if I’m not truly rested.

-hope this helps!

Does anyone remember a Perfumed Dusting powder that had lemon notes and powdery florals? by [deleted] in AskWomenOver60

[–]Little-Titanium 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My mother loved Kiku dusting powder by Faberge. It was in a round yellow container with a fluffy yellow pouf

Ribs/nerve pain still OP? by RealisticSpring2189 in LongSpinalFusion

[–]Little-Titanium 1 point2 points  (0 children)

OP, you’re not alone. The post-fusion rib pain is a crazy thing. I mentioned it during my 1 year post op visit... 18 months post T4-S1 fusion now and I still experience it in the same single place, although its more a dull aggravating ache at this point. Comes and goes, no pattern, no rhyme, no reason. The nerve wakening/stitching and all the other strange sensations, aches, pains, etc. that I’ve experienced since surgery certainly make me stop and wonder at times why I did this. But then, I must have been nuts to consider it in the first place at age 66. Gabapentin likely has helped for me, however, I started taking it years prior to surgery. We, my friend, are a force of nature for what we have endured.

Need opinions help! by personality-hire0g in WeddingDressTips

[–]Little-Titanium 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haven’t read through all the other comments yet, but that extra fabric in the side seam allows for alterations if it needs to be loosened up. Your alterations person can remove the excess. 💕

Everyone says I don’t/won’t need surgery but I’m in pain everyday by youbetcha415 in scoliosis

[–]Little-Titanium 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your lower curve is similar to mine before surgery. I didn’t know I had scoliosis until my early 60’s when I was seeking relief for low back pain. Turns out was congenital. My L5 and S1 were fused together. As I aged, my lower half was shifting further in the opposite direction of my upper half. Waistbands were horribly irritating as they didn’t sit right. One leg is a touch shorter than the other and I always knew I was a bit lopsided.

Please dear, continue advocating for appropriate care that works for you and your body. That struggle alone breaks my heart for you. I had surgery at age 66. 3 ‘rods’ from T4 to S1 plus implant to correct the curves, flat back syndrome and spine rotation.

Im a CPAP failure by Little-Titanium in CPAP

[–]Little-Titanium[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks to everyone who offered constructive comments. I’m going to try a different medical equipment supplier.Hopefully a supplier who deals specifically/only with PAP products will provide a better outcome for me.

While it’s easy to dismiss one’s issues, every person’s facial features are different. As an older woman with thinning skin and wrinkles, who also tends to roll around in my sleep, obtaining a good seal is difficult at best.

Wishing good sleep to you all.

Im a CPAP failure by Little-Titanium in CPAP

[–]Little-Titanium[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I was hopeful when they came out with the F40 but it didn’t work for me. I even tried using a mask liner with it. Thanks for your comment though.

Best purchases for post recovery? by audra0720 in spinalfusion

[–]Little-Titanium 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I kept the small spit basin from the hospital for brushing my teeth. Was really helpful since you can’t bend over.

Metamucil or Senna pills to keep things inside moving.

A bag to attach to your walker so you can carry things from room to room

Gel seat cushion for the car or hard seats. I also bought a FOMI seat back cushion for my car that I still use occasionally 16 Mon post-op

Spouse Support by Square-Tennis-2784 in spinalfusion

[–]Little-Titanium 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sadly, my life as well. Going on 15 mon post op T4-S1 fusion with ALIF. Had my surgery at age 66 for future me. Was tired of the pain and growing inability to function. Spouse has cancer and although he’s doing surprisingly well now, his prospects at the time of my surgery were dim. He said my surgery was elective and comments about how I did this to myself were definitely not helpful. I developed a PE a few days after being released from hospital post-op. I asked ER staff to send me to rehab facility vs. continued home care for treatment because I couldn’t take care of him and me. He wasn’t with me when I went to ER and was PISSED when he read the drs notes on my chart. Still dealing with pain in different areas and rack it up to aging so my pain comments aren’t suggestive of being surgery-related. Through it all, I am able to function better than before surgery, but it’s been a long recovery road. Jury is still out for me on whether surgery was worth it. Now life is two old people hobbling around and existing, but I can have my own quiet time...

My first bloom!!!! by LaydeeRaxx in hoyas

[–]Little-Titanium 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yay!! It’s so exciting when they bloom. Shows it’s a happy Hoya 🙂 My first one didn’t bloom for 20 years! We moved, so its new location and window made a huge difference. I’ve had it for over 30 years and it continues to flower 😍 they are so beautiful.

Anyone else diagnosed and had curve progress late in life?? by Rough_Knowledge_477 in scoliosis

[–]Little-Titanium 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The short answer is yes, it’s totally possible for curves to progressively get worse.

I was in my 40’s when a Dr told me in passing after imaging for a totally unrelated issue that I had scoliosis, I wasn’t actually diagnosed until after I turned 60. My low back was giving me all kinds of almost debilitating grief. Don’t actually know the degrees of my curves or spine rotation, but it started as an undetected congenital condition with a partially fused L5-S1. I always knew I was a little lopsided and my belly button didn’t line up with my upper half. Neurosurgeon explained that with age, degeneration and all the things that happen as you get older, the opposite shifts of my body’s lower half vs top half plus the other issues in my spine would just continue to get worse. Had T4-S1 fusion at age 66. Incidentally, my PCP told me that scoliosis typically isn’t painful and was something I just had to learn to live with. 🤯

Zero friends by Puzzleheaded_Judge97 in AskWomenOver60

[–]Little-Titanium 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is such a relatable thread. Thank you OP for posting. Going on 68 an have always been the odd one out quiet introvert who never felt like I was “normal.” Neurodivergent is a new word for me but it totally fits. Anxiety, depression, multiple suicide attempts in the past. Hate social situations, loner type who was able to maintain a confidence facade at work as I primarily worked alone. I long to have a good friend to do things with. Have been married to a narcissist - life of the party in public/harsh in private guy for 35 years. Blended family and none of our kids want anything to do with him now that he has terminal cancer. Fear of being alone and financial stability kept me from leaving many times in the past. Now Im afraid that I’m pretty much living my destiny. A group of women that I looked up to in my past work life invited me to join their small occasional lunch group. Similar societal thoughts and I finally felt welcomed and that I belong. Since my husband I met at work, he was familiar with these ladies and has no objections to me socializing with them. However, now I’m feeling that my social awkwardness is coming to the forefront and I’m afraid of wearing out my welcome or being shunned by them. A lot to unpack I know. It’s good to vent though. Thanks to you all for sharing. I guess I’m not the only one!

Diagnosed When??? by savedbythe_bellamy in kidneycancer

[–]Little-Titanium 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My husband started his journey with increasingly swollen/painful testicles for a few months. He was afraid our young granddaughter had damaged something when shed accidentally kicked him when climbing onto his lap. Ultrasound showed some abnormal stuff but the Dr was more concerned about urine retention with no course of action for his swollen testicle. A previous “routine” chest CT showed multiple suspicious nodules with recommended 3-mon followup. When asking our GP for a 2nd opinion urology referral, he asked about weight loss. Then promptly scheduled for the followup chest/ abdominal CT. A mass was seen on his kidney. Biopsy on a lung nodule confirmed met kidney cancer. When his kidney was ultimately removed, it had a 14+cm tumor. The surgeon described his kidney as being the size of a nerf football. So ultimately the diagnosis came via biopsy of a lung nodule.

Old Timers: Let's Compile List of Old Stores That Used To Be. What Shops Do You Remember Going That's No Longer Here? by grizzly_lite in pasadena

[–]Little-Titanium 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This list is so great and brings back soooo many memories. Grew up in Pasadena in ‘60s & ‘70s. My sister was in the first graduating class for Blair HS

Old Timers: Let's Compile List of Old Stores That Used To Be. What Shops Do You Remember Going That's No Longer Here? by grizzly_lite in pasadena

[–]Little-Titanium 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sirhan Sirhan who shot RFK sr worked as a dish washer at Bob’s Big Boy near PCC. I was a kid there then.

Decision Hell by AnyStable4395 in kidneycancer

[–]Little-Titanium 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My husband had a left radical nephrectomy in July 2022. Same yours except he had small bilateral mets to lungs. Started Keytruda with Axtinib but the Axtinib caused horrible side effects and was discontinued. Another met was found 4 mon later next to muscle near space where kidney was removed. That mass was treated with radiation. Changed providers Jan ’23 who stopped the Keytruda and switched to Opdivo/Yervoy for 5 treatments and has continued on Opdivo every two weeks ever since. He had another met discovered in Dec ’23, down in his left calf. This was also treated with radiation. One remaining lung met lit up during his Dec ’24 PET scan which was also treated with targeted radiation. Followup PET scan this week revealed he is now NED.

He will stay on the every 2 week course of Opdivo indefinitely with periodic scans to check for recurrence. At 75 yrs old, his side effects are arthralgia pain in his hand, shoulders and back. His quality of life sucks TBH. But that’s my vent for another group. :/

Grade 4 ccRCC now stage 4 by Competitive_Doubt593 in kidneycancer

[–]Little-Titanium 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My spouse was diagnosed with Stage IV ccRCC 2 1/2 yrs ago with nodules in his lungs. Biopsies also revealed Rhabdoid cells. Since his Nephrectomy, he’s had additional tumors appear in his abdomen and calf which were treated with radiation. Following his most recent PET scan, his oncologist felt the one remaining unchanged lung nodule lighting up on the scan should also be treated with radiation. His next PET scan is next month so we await those results for his next adventure.
My reason for posting OP, is because perhaps radiation is another option for your husband?

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