My Six-Month Post-Operation Appointment!
Wednesday I went back to Vancouver to have my six-month post-operation appointment! Yes, it is a bit early, but since I'm in university across the country I had to go into the hospital when I was on a break from school.
My surgeon said that I had been making amazing progress, and that everything looks great in terms of my x-rays and movement tests! I also completed another round of surveys for the research studies I'm participating in!
My 6-month post operation x-rays!
One thing that was super exciting was that my spine was finally almost done fusing together! Even though I did not undergo a bone-density test, my surgeon could still see the change in my spine as a structure. This is really exciting, as it means that the two rods I have in my back are becoming less and less relied upon to support my core and body weight, and that becoming fully recovered in the physiological sense is near!
A fully fused vertebrae on my x-rays.
Here is an example of a fully fused vertebrae. You can tell that it's fused as the space where the joint usually is between your vertebrae is covered by a solid mass. It is by no means the easiest thing to see as this test was not deliberately measuring the density of my spine!
As an overall update, I have been having slight muscle pain in my back (the lower-left side); however, I believe that it's due to a bit of an overuse on my end. I recently travelled back to Toronto by myself, and unfortunately there is a lot of snow and ice on the ground which changes the way that I've been walking (since I do not want to slip and fall)! I think these changes in my gait pattern are adding new mechanical stress to certain muscle groups in my back that have been previously no under-stress. Overall, it has not affected my schoolwork or other daily living activities that I participate in. I am also working this semester, and my recovery has not hindered my working abilities at all which I'm very thankful for.
Once again, if anyone has any questions or is curious about anything, please feel free to send me a message!
This blog is my own personal experience and journey with Scoliosis. It is not a medical blog, and if anyone has concerns about their own health, they should see a physician.