balloon kyphoplasty

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Bone density test taken today. Saw the pics before I left. Commented to the nurse that my backbone didn't look completely straight.
She answered..."Not uncommon for your age" Lol...thanks.

I'm happy that she didn't call me 'Sir'

Get used to it. I can't recall the number of times somebody medical has started aa sentence with "at your age..." Well hell, may they be lucky enough to hear it said to them.

[stevej37]

^^^ That's true.
Even though next year I will be 70....I feel like half that age.

[stevej37]

Every stop at different stations at the hospital have all been A++
The workers have all been super-nice. No complaints at all here.

[stevej37]

Posted to 'My Chart' this morning.....



FINDINGS

Spine L2-L4: T-score -0.3, Bone Density 1.181 gm/cm2
Right femoral neck: T-score -1.0, Bone Density 0.896 gm/cm2
__________

Impression


1. This patient has normal bone density according to World Health Organization criteria

2. Comparison to previous exam: There are no prior examinations for comparison.

3. Fracture risk: Low, this patient has normal bone density.

4. VFA: Not indicated.

5. Followup bone density scan recommendation in 2 years unless special circumstances:
a. Immune modulating drugs such as glucocorticoids or antirejection medication - 1 year follow-up.
b. History of rapid bone loss - 1 year follow-up.
c. Initiation of anti-fracture medications - 1 year follow-up.

Young, healthy patients with normal bone density, who sustain non-fragility fractures do not require serial follow-up scanning unless their clinical status or risk factors change.
__________

DEMOGRAPHIC DATA: Age: 68 years. Gender: Male.

[pwd72s]

Couldn't be better news...love it!

[stevej37]

^^^ Yes...and they won't have to put me on some osteoporosis or arthritis pills.

I'm currently close to needing high blood pressure pills. Every time I have it checked at the hospital...it's high. Check it at home..always in the normal range.

[gchappel]

That really is great news.
You will be back to routine before you know it.
gary

[stevej37]

^^^ My first post-op exam is Friday. I'll wait till the Dr gives me the ok for anything.
I've got a lot of chores around here that I put off because of the pain. Anxious to get them done.
My rollers haven't been used by my bike in at least 2 months now.

[astrochex]

Congrats on the youthful report.

[Steve Carlton]

Soon there will be little Hortas all over the place burrowing through the rock.

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ My first post-op exam is Friday. I'll wait till the Dr gives me the ok for anything.
I've got a lot of chores around here that I put off because of the pain. Anxious to get them done.
My rollers haven't been used by my bike in at least 2 months now.

Sounds like you are doing very good. Hope Friday goes well.

[stevej37]

Met with the Dr today for the last time...I hope.
He removed the stitches and we viewed a recording of the procedure on my back. Apparently they use a screen about a foot over your back to guide the needles into the vertebrae and it's all recorded.
We watched the balloon expanding and the cement injecting.
He fast forwarded over the slow parts.

The last thing he said was...'You're good to go...no further appointments needed"
Overall...I'm very pleased.

[PorscheGAL]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ Yes...and they won't have to put me on some osteoporosis or arthritis pills.

I'm currently close to needing high blood pressure pills. Every time I have it checked at the hospital...it's high. Check it at home..always in the normal range.

The BP may just be a little white coat syndrome, which is not uncommon. If you're really worried about it, keep a log of your BPs at home and then address with Dr.

[stevej37]

^^^ Yes..I'm sure it is. I have the same at the dentist office.
I've had it taken there for gum grafting, and once they held up the whole thing for a half hour and by then I had relaxed enough so that it was down 20 points.

[stevej37]

Two weeks ago...I couldn't walk the length of our Meijers store without leaning on a cart or sitting down.
Today, I spent a half hour at Lowe's looking for spring project parts. I walked the half hour and never felt a nerve pain or a sore muscle.

The nerve pain is entirely gone. I'm ready to start the re-conditioning of my body.

[jamesnmlaw]

Would kyphoplasty work for spinal stenosis / lumbar curve?

[stevej37]

I'm not knowledgeable enough to answer that.
But, I do know that my spine was jutting out enough in my back that I couldn't lean back into anything solid.
Now...the normal curvature is back and the pain of sitting back into a chair is nearly gone.
Every day gets better...so I'm expecting total relief at sitting soon.

Hopefully someone like Mahler or gchappel will be able to answer that.

[stevej37]

I googled spinal stenosis and saw that it's mostly a pinching of the spinal nerves.
Mine was the same due to the fracture of the vertebrae. After the cement injection...I could feel the curve of my back was back to normal....and the nerve pinching was gone.
There was immediate relief when standing after the surgery.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by jamesnmlaw

Would kyphoplasty work for spinal stenosis / lumbar curve?

hopefully an answer will be arriving.
Might be in the morning.

[stevej37]