@bellbird ?I hope you will keep us posted when the time comes? If you want to anyway. And keep writing about your concerns, it really does help??
I will :) at least for pre-op, as it's very helpful having a space to air out worries and to just -write- about it sometimes.
And we'll see how big my motivation is post-op :P
I only mention this to say, this is how far a “no” can go and be ok. Do what works for you. I think you've got a great plan, a solid compromise, and I hope you continue to claim the space you need.
Thank you for sharing
@Justmehere .
Good on you for doing what you did. It's helpful to hear others have done so too.
I'm so used to people (IRL) telling me to just "tell my parents" and that's about it. So it's really nice to be able to hash this out with people who are supportive of alternative approaches.
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For anyone interested:
My surgery will be an anterior lumbar spinal fusion from T11-L3.
My surgeon was pleased with the results of my traction x-ray, which measured my spine's flexibility, that he will only need to operate on my lumbar curve (~54 degrees) and my compensatory thoracic curve (~37 degrees) will readjust itself.
Hence the anterior approach, which is only performed on the lumbar spine, and is my surgeon's preferred approach, as well as the approach which he feels will produce the superior result.
They will operate from my left side, making the incision in line with one of my ribs (not sure which one), removing that rib, and deflating my left lung to access my spine.
The rib will be used as the bone graft material to perform the fusion.
They will roughen the vertebrae from T11-L3 to provide a better surface for fusion, and place the rib (sort of blitzed up, I believe) into (most likely) metal cages which will fit in between the vertebrae.
Ultimately T11-L3 will literally "fuse" to form one continuous piece of bone, and stop the curvature from progressing.
Two rods will be placed along the vertebrae, and held in place by screws.
The instrumentation is there to provide support to the spine while it fuses, and is typically left in place following spinal fusion (which can take up to a year).
They will then re-inflate my lung, and close the incision.
I've decided to refer to the op as my "rib translocation". Essentially that's the gist of it. One rib less in my rib cage, and relocated to its new home in my lower spine. At least I get to keep it :D