Posts: 16616
Threads: 128
Joined: July 10, 2013
Reputation:
65
Major surgery for family member tomorrow.
October 14, 2021 at 9:35 pm
My sister-in-law had a rod inserted in her back when she was a preteen because of scoliosis. It probably should have been replaced decades ago after she finished growing but it was never done. Somehow she has lived with severe pain for the last many years. She was supposed to have surgery today but it was postponed until tomorrow.
I saw some X-rays. The rod is too short but is straight while her spine is severely curved to one side. The surgery is expected to take eight hours and the doctors aren't 100% sure how much they will be able to do because of the rod being there so long. There's a risk of nerve damage and paralysis. She is in her early 50s so that rod has been in her a long time. They will again open her up from her neck to her butt to try to give her some relief.
Can't imagine living like she has for so long or having to make the choice to do this.
Posts: 33286
Threads: 1417
Joined: March 15, 2013
Reputation:
152
RE: Major surgery for family member tomorrow.
October 14, 2021 at 9:44 pm
(This post was last modified: October 14, 2021 at 10:39 pm by Silver.)
In the event of a positive outcome, just don't go thanking god.
"Never trust a fox. Looks like a dog, behaves like a cat."
~ Erin Hunter
Posts: 9933
Threads: 21
Joined: September 8, 2015
Reputation:
79
RE: Major surgery for family member tomorrow.
October 14, 2021 at 10:46 pm
(This post was last modified: October 14, 2021 at 10:48 pm by Fireball.)
(October 14, 2021 at 9:44 pm)Foxaire Wrote: In the event of a positive outcome, just don't go thanking god.
Well, duh.
(October 14, 2021 at 9:35 pm)arewethereyet Wrote: My sister-in-law had a rod inserted in her back when she was a preteen because of scoliosis. It probably should have been replaced decades ago after she finished growing but it was never done. Somehow she has lived with severe pain for the last many years. She was supposed to have surgery today but it was postponed until tomorrow.
I saw some X-rays. The rod is too short but is straight while her spine is severely curved to one side. The surgery is expected to take eight hours and the doctors aren't 100% sure how much they will be able to do because of the rod being there so long. There's a risk of nerve damage and paralysis. She is in her early 50s so that rod has been in her a long time. They will again open her up from her neck to her butt to try to give her some relief.
Can't imagine living like she has for so long or having to make the choice to do this.
Here's to hoping that medical science has advanced enough in the intervening years to provide a positive outcome. I have scoliosis but never got any intervention for it, and it didn't prevent me from joining the military.
If you get to thinking you’re a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else’s dog around.
Posts: 3304
Threads: 119
Joined: January 19, 2015
Reputation:
30
RE: Major surgery for family member tomorrow.
October 14, 2021 at 11:52 pm
Here's hoping to a successful surgery.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
Albert Einstein
Posts: 5813
Threads: 86
Joined: November 19, 2017
Reputation:
59
RE: Major surgery for family member tomorrow.
October 15, 2021 at 2:45 am
Hope everything goes well. Try not to worry over it too much, AWTY. Not too much that worrying can accomplish in this situation.
But if you do find yourself worrying, don't forget to breathe.
Posts: 28435
Threads: 525
Joined: June 16, 2015
Reputation:
90
RE: Major surgery for family member tomorrow.
October 15, 2021 at 6:19 am
Well that sucks. Hopefully they'll have success and she at least gets some improvement and pain relief.
Being told you're delusional does not necessarily mean you're mental.
Posts: 46429
Threads: 541
Joined: July 24, 2013
Reputation:
109
RE: Major surgery for family member tomorrow.
October 15, 2021 at 6:20 am
Best of luck.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
Posts: 16616
Threads: 128
Joined: July 10, 2013
Reputation:
65
RE: Major surgery for family member tomorrow.
October 15, 2021 at 10:25 pm
We got a couple updates saying that the surgery was going as planned and sister-in-law was stable. We are now at 11 hours since they took her in for the surgery. Husband is a twitchy nervous wreck.
Posts: 16616
Threads: 128
Joined: July 10, 2013
Reputation:
65
RE: Major surgery for family member tomorrow.
October 15, 2021 at 10:51 pm
(This post was last modified: October 16, 2021 at 7:55 am by arewethereyet.)
Finally a call. The surgeon said he was able to straighten her spine more than he expected and she is showing some movement in her feet and hands so hopefully that's a good sign. The surgery lasted a long time and they are having to give her quite a bit of blood. We should get an update tomorrow...husband and sister-in-law's aunt is with her at a Mayo Clinic in Florida.
![[Image: MmQV79M.png]](https://i.imgur.com/MmQV79M.png)
