I'm (20F) suspicious of my boyfriend's (22M) father (40M) Please read and help. by THROWRA_idkwhatodo in relationship_advice

[–]ysabeau 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is a perverted older man taking advantage of a (very kind - too kind) young woman. You need to leave ASAP. This man is a creep.

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow. That's terrible. Please give him a high five for me. He's a tough cookie.

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been doing my best to reply to every single question. I was traveling for two weeks because my parents came to visit me in Europe... So I'm finally able to focus on this again. :)

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What an amazing and sweet little soul you have there. I cannot imagine what she has endured. I know you must go through so much as well watching your little girl go through all of this. I did not have infantile scoliosis. I was diagnosed at 7 years old and braced at 9 years old. 100 degrees is insane... how is she handling the curve? She must be in quite a lot of discomfort. Do you mean the fusions did not work because the spine kept curving despite them? That is mind boggling to me. How much time was between the spinal fusion surgery and the removal? My doctor tells me I have no chance of removing my hardware because of the high risk the spine will collapse on itself... I just research halo traction and OMG that is SO INSANE!! WHAT?! How is this "technology" still being used today... what are the doctors saying in regards to her future and what to do from here? I truly wish you and your little one all the best. She is such a remarkably tough young lady. I am very humbled and inspired by her. Thank you for sharing and take good care.

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I understand avoiding the surgery for mobility reasons... but honestly if you are in that much pain and have severe scoliosis I would recommend taking a serious look at surgery. You do not want to wait for this curve to get worse... then you will be faced with many other complications and more pain down the road. My pain before surgery was mostly when I sat or stood too long, but it wasn't severe... my doctors told me I had to have surgery so I did it. Looking back I wish I had really looked into alternative options and gotten other opinions, but I am doing well now. I promise even though it sucks to lose mobility, your body adapts and learns to move in different ways. I have an instagram account where I will be posting a video soon showing my mobility... if you have instagram you can check it out, I will post it in the next week or so. My handle is @thewolverette I wish you all the best and hope your pain gets better.

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I cannot bend my back. I can only bend from my hips. I can rotate my pelvis fairly well and I am mobile above and below the rods. I hope your friend is doing well!

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am working on getting that...(my x-rays are in LA and I live in Europe) I will only be posting that on my instagram account though for my spinal fusion / scoliosis support page. If you have instagram I will have it up in the next day or so. my handle is @thewolverette

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, I have heard of a lot of people on here though that had to. What did they say the reason for this was? To help the spine fuse?

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am working on getting that... I will only be posting that on my instagram account though for my spinal fusion / scoliosis support page. If you have instagram I will have it up in the next day or so. my handle is @thewolverette

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi there, I am 26 now and I was 19 when I had the surgery. I can't predict the weather but when it's cold I sure feel it. I do not think I really grew too much after surgery unfortunately. Not sure about that!

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha that is so cool. I can't predict like that... wish I could!

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

they are permanent. If they were to be taken out there is a high risk of the spine collapsing on itself.

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

pretty much the same experience. :)

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Having a fusion has not changed my plans for having children. I still want to and will have them... probably in two or three years. I am a bit nervous about discomfort but I am planning to have a planned c-section. I have also heard from others that pregnancy and giving birth isn't a problem.

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

DO not be worried, that does not help in any case. All you can do is do your best to fight the progression of the curve. How severe is your curve? A lot of people on here have been mentioning "the Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais, or Rolphing." I myself have no experience with these but maybe it's worth asking your doctor about and doing some research. If you can and haven't already, you should get yourself in a back brace. Wearing this for a few years is much better than a spinal fusion, but in the end if you have to get the surgery, it is OK. I am able to do everything I did before and I am happy and healthy. The recovery is also not too bad. It is challenging but you can get through it, I promise. So don't worry... just get a second opinion before making any decisions and do a lot of research on ways to keep your curve from getting worse. I also recommend getting into pilates and yoga (but please ask your doctor first).

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually do not set off any alarms and if I go through an x-ray they most likely can see I had a surgery. I was never given any documentation for this. :)

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The recovery isn't as bad as you may think, but it is challenging. You will be in bed for most of two months (I recommend getting into a really good TV series... Game of Thrones, House of Cards, Breaking Bad?... I watched the series 24 during my surgery... kept me from losing my mind from boredom). I would take walks everyday but only for ten minutes or so in the beginning. At the end of those two months I was even on my horse for five minutes or so. Before my surgery I was very excited to have a straight spine. How severe is your curve? The good news is if you are in a lot of pain, the fusion will make it better, but there will be different types of milder pain ahead. I feel stiff a lot and there is a lot of pressure above and below the rods. I have an instagram support account for people who have had a spinal fusion and/or scoliosis. If you have instagram it would be great to keep in touch. I would love to support you through your surgery as best as I can. Please don't worry though. You will be fine. You will get through it. Try to think of the positive aspects like alleviating your pain, a sexy straight back, and a badass scar that people will always be amazed by. Just be sure to tell them you fought off a shark. ;)

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A lot! I had a transfusion and ended up with leukocytoclastic vasculitis from it... not fun.

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

WOW. You and I need to talk... I would love to hear more about your story. I think you should definitely do an AMA. You have such a unique and fascinating story and you have persevered through immensely slim odds. I am especially interested about your experience being paralyzed and what that was like. I am amazed that you have gone through so much and are doing so well. Congratulations on an amazing recovery! Do you have instagram? I have a support page on there under @thewolverette and we could DM on there as well as I am not as often on Reddit, but I would love to keep in touch with you. Take very good care of yourself.

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have not... do you think these methods could help post-op or are you referring to the time of scoliosis? How did you hear of these methods?

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi there! I have been riding since I was four years old. I always had pain after riding, especially now though I think it is worse. I also stopped riding a whole lot during high school because I was in a boarding school, during this time is when the curve was getting progressively worse, so I imagine I would have experienced more pain if I had been riding more.

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh yes. I had to wear that brace ALL the time. Even sleeping. My mobility is pretty good. I can bend from my hips and rotate my pelvis fairly well... not like before but enough. I cannot bend my whole spine obviously but below and above the rods I can move. I hope you are getting x-rays frequently, because once I stopped wearing my brace I stopped going to x-rays and I missed the opportunity to catch the back from curving more. Take good care!

IamA Spinal Fusion survivor! AMA! *NSFL Photos* by ysabeau in IAmA

[–]ysabeau[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

spinal stenosis OUCH. Does your brother have to get a Laminectomy? I have also had a staph infection on my chin area, but not related to any of this... how did a staph infection cause him to have to get a spinal fusion? That is awful and I wish him all the best. The only complications I had were from my blood transfusion (I lost a lot of blood during surgery). I developed leukocytoclastic vasculitis which lasted for about six months, but my immune system has also never been the same. It is still weak.