Scheuermann's disease/kyphosis surgical correction, April 2011 (spinal fusion)

[WutangClan4LiF3]

@MusicalDarkHorse i wanna do too i got 72 degrees but i m scared

[WutangClan4LiF3]

@WutangClan4LiF3 and i dont have the money for it

[MusicalDarkHorse]

@WutangClan4LiF3 Mine was about 72-75 degrees something like that. It is scary..but when you make the decision it isn't as scary. Just be firm in what you decide and things tend to work out. Good luck

[WutangClan4LiF3]

@MusicalDarkHorse thanks a lot. Its so fucked up world its all about money. i wont ever have the money to do it but thank you.

[wildstudios13]

I hate kyphosis. I have it and have had it since I was 11 or 12.

[peterson3990]

Hello guy I feel sorry for you but i m happy cause will be good I will share with you my story I had back surger for disk lumbar Im home after one week my wound not heal and leak i came back my doctor gave me some medicine but not help and I have surgery again this second so terrify for me , stayed in hospital one week and then doctor sent me to Nursing home ?Rehab for three weeks for clean up infection now im ok but not perfect good luck guy peter from dallas

[MusicalDarkHorse]

@peterson3990 feeling perfect..keep in touch

[NaomiPool]

PS your video made me cry :)

[cookoo125]

Are the two guys you mentioned in NY? I found a Dr Lenke in Missouri and Dr Bidwell in California.

[cookoo125]

Thanks for the other names, I will check them out. I've been dealing with this for 5 years and had one surgery to replace a disk in my neck that stopped me from playing. It just collapsed on a nerve and my left arm went numb. I have 12 herniations so that is my big problem with surgery being successful and working to stop pain. Dr S said straighten my spine won't stop the pain due to the other herniations. I will check the other Drs u mentioned because I want to try and lesson the rib pain. I

[cookoo125]

Saw a doctor yesterday, Dr Sharma in Westchester. Your doctor does not accept workman's comp but Dr Sharma is experienced n knowledgable but said damage is too extensive for the surgery to be of any help.

[cookoo125]

Thanks David, seeing your vid gave me hope when doctors told me they didn't know what to do. Found someone who does the surgery in NY who takes my insurance. I just want to be able to stand/sit up with less pain when I play the guitar. Good luck with your PT

[MusicalDarkHorse]

@cookoo125 I am a professional guitarist! message me

[AstrocityDesigns]

Surgury on 9 days , hope it goes well...

[daniel41061]

hey was up my name is daniel and im junch over i would like to get help and now im 27 years old i would like some help and get serguri what could u tell me

[rusty26blue]

Hey was wondering if you stiill feel the hard wear or when it goes away I am about 5 weeks post op and doing good just kinda feel like tinman.

[MusicalDarkHorse]

@rusty26blue Mostly no, but yes I do feel it sometimes. Especially with the cold new york winters it is much more obvious in the cold for some reason. But it doesn't hurt or anything. It just feels...'stiff'. It took at least like 3 or 4 months before i didn't feel totally stiff. Be patient and when they start you with PT, stretch like crazy!

[Daytona403]

Hey David, I have Scheuermanns Kyphosis. They want me to go through Physical Therapy. I was wondering how you were able to get your surgery. They are telling me they dont want to do the surgery.

[MusicalDarkHorse]

@Daytona403 Finding the right doctor. It was possible after I found that!

[Daytona403]

who did you use for

[ap0calypt1ca]

I had this surgery 4 years ago. I was in the hospital for 2 weeks. I only remember the last 3 days, haha. I'm glad I had it done though. I hope you're healing well.

[MrRyan666666]

Another question , so now you feel having 100% straight back, without being TOLD to straighten your back ??

meaning that , do u feel having a natural straight back ??

[MusicalDarkHorse]

@MrRyan666666 yes! I still have a little bit of a curve..which is normal. i dont look unnaturally straight

[MrRyan666666]

Hello ! i really liked your video, Congratulations for the success of the surgery

I really need to ask you, How much does this surgery cost ??

[MusicalDarkHorse]

8 month check up was this week. I am fusing well, no issues.

[skip354]

@mariakhan1

I had this surgery worked great call Dr. todd Jackman in Bellevue WA.

Proliance Orthopedics

Bellevue:

1135 116th Ave. NE

Suite 510

Bellevue, WA 98004

P: (425) 455-3600

F: (425) 455-3920

[rshunterrs]

I know your pain my man, In March i had two surgery's to correct my 89 degree curve March 10th (about 8-9 hours) and Then I got the rods, and pins March 15th ( i was under 17 hours) i am doing great now but a while it was hard but i have less pain now then before, my only regret was not taking many pictures or gettting a video but at the time i didnt want them let alone to be seen by anyone.

[CarbineGuy]

I had a spinal fusion surgery similar to yours, but to correct scoliosis on August 2nd of 2011. Quite a bit of my back was fused, T4 to L5 to be exact. It was pretty rough. I'm just wondering how it was for you to get dressed, get your shoes on, and so on over time. I have some difficulty with that yet, but it's getting better. Just extremely frustrating...

[MusicalDarkHorse]

@CarbineGuy I was able to get dressed by myself within the first week...getting my shoes on took a few more!! but you deal.it got easier. by the 2nd month I was able to do everything by myself again.

[MusicalDarkHorse]

4.5 months postop..all of that swelling is gone..my back actually looks and feels a lot better than in this video since the swelling is done

[daniellecopeland]

great documentary. my brother has a similar story...his surgery was aug 1 2011. he's 25 and he traveled from FL to John's Hopkins. He had a set back 19 days after the surgery when L3 fractured. He had a second surgery in FL that resulted in an extension down to L5. Now he's recovering from paralysis caused by the hematoma that formed around the fracture. It looks like you remained positive...my brother is too. It's really helps.

[MusicalDarkHorse]

@daniellecopeland wow, that sounds serious. I hope he continues to heal ok. I have had no issues. I am a bit stiff, but the pain is gone. Just over 4 months post-op now.

[sweetblackstarx]

thank u for this video! it was very inspiring : )

[Jwall2Meta]

That's inspiring man. I'm 17 and when I went last year to the spine doctor I was 16 and they measured my curve @ 64 degrees. Im hoping to have as much of a successful recovery as you are. But I have to wait a year or two before I stop growing. Its so embarrassing having a hump back :(. I only have 3-4 vertebraes that need to be fused, do you think that will lower the cost/pain of my surgery?

[CraigsListPrankster]

@MusicalDarkHorse I had that same surgery like the same bones fixed and I feel great stay strong bro I had it done july 25 and its hard but the Drs do know what's best..whenever you're in pain think to yourself "im better than I was last week" ... That's what's been keepin me goin so feel better

[CraigsListPrankster]

@MagicalDarkHorse I had the EXACT procedure done on the 25 of july and I was at a 125 degree curve and was corrected to ~50degree curve...I know ur pain stay strong bro I know it's tough but when it hurts always think I'm better than I was 1 week ago...that's how I think of it

[frank123612]

@MusicalDarkHorse what did the pain feel like before surgery, because i think i have this because it hurts to stand up straight, hurts when bending over, pain and numbing after sitting for a while, i went to a chiropractor and he didnt do anything, also after having surgery can you still play sports?

[MusicalDarkHorse]

@frank123612 a numbing tingly pain. Nothing like you've experienced. It almost felt like my skin was ripping apart.

[CalebIsASickF]

How would you rate the pain right after you wake up? That's my biggest concern.

[MusicalDarkHorse]

@CalebIsASickF on a scale from 1-10 probably about an 8 or 9. But you will be able to handle it because of the pain pump. The worse day is probably the 3rd or 4th, because you're getting off the pain pump

[CalebIsASickF]

@MusicalDarkHorse I see, thanks for the reply :) I'm getting my surgery tomorrow, and I'm a little nervous, heh, your video has kept me from having a nervous break down, so thank you for that.

[datkam23]

@CalebIsASickF Its only a few weeks of pain and you get a lifetime of a straight back.

[franksaninocencio]

i hate the discomfort from having a crooked spine. :(

[MusicalDarkHorse]

I am about 8 weeks post-op now. I have been off of all pain medications for about three weeks. I have started physical therapy. I have no pain. I am also no longer stiff/swollen...pretty much back to normal. Feeling better each day. I think its hard to NOT overdo it because I have no pain. But wanted to let you know, I am doing fine

[BOBSAGETXXCORE]

I had this surgery as well, the anterior-posterior combination surgery, I am looking for people to keep in touch with who have also gone through this incredibly painful process....

[MrTransfers]

I had this surgery three years ago, I am doing great. I was in so much pain in the hospital though! You are a hell of a fighter, I was in so much pain I couldn't speak

[TuneRain]

This is a very inspiring video, you are a true fighter the way you just soldiered through the pain. I cant get over how you just stood up. It took my cousin almost 3 weeks just to get out of bed from this surgery. I am aware of Dr. Boachie from reading about him, he is probably one of, if not the best, spinal deformity surgeon in the world. Keep healing well, you've made it past the hardest part

[vikingfaen]

Just noticed, if you look up kyphosis on wikipedia, the picture of you bending is used as an example.

[MusicalDarkHorse]

@vikingfaen yep, someone used that image. I gave them permission. hey, its a hell of a shot! LOL

[patjo9191]

@MusicalDarkHorse

oh crap lol that was you!! Just saw that pic, scary how similair it is to me.

[vikingfaen]

Will the chestsize reduce itself after the operation?

[MusicalDarkHorse]

@vikingfaen I am 3 weeks post-op and still pretty swollen on my spine, and some parts of my chest. However my abdomen has gone back to it's normal size. I was pretty bloated for about 2 weeks due to all of the medication and whatnot. So I am continuing to look a bit different everday. My chest is a lot more 'open' and broader now after the surgery. It looks more natural, before my pecks were very sunk in and I had a big barrel chest. Now it is flat.

[vikingfaen]

@MusicalDarkHorse Im glad to hear it looks more natural, im considering getting a spinal fusion next year, im glad you did a video on this so others can have a expectation of what they will be getting by doing the operation. :)

[TheCassidy32]

@MusicalDarkHorse hey i had my spine fused august 2009 t-1 to l- 4 i hope every thing is going good for u i have returned to work twice since then and have hurt my self and my pain is still pretty intense , well good luck to u. my advice to u is to stay focuse and dont try doing things u shouldnt im two years out and till hurt so bad i cant work

[RatLadyLover]

Oh David...I'm so damn proud of you!!!! Chantal. xx

[Rontuxly]

WOW your back looks perfect now...I am getting this surgery next year. Your video has helped me calm down a little. It is of course a very intense surgery.

[MusicalDarkHorse]

@Rontuxly thanks for watching and I am glad you enjoyed the video. Yes the surgery is not easy. The pain is incredible. However they will medicate you well. There is a quote in here where I say something like 'I can feel the pain but I dont care'. That's pretty much what the narcotics do! LOL good luck to you.you will be fine

[jagielski01]

That's so awesome!

[ChaosTheory0]

Shit dude...I have the same thing you have. When I took a look at the picture of you bending over, it made me cringe. My back hasn't reached that point yet. I'm glad to see that it worked for you. :)

[MusicalDarkHorse]

@ChaosTheory0 Yeah it was bad. However it wasn't getting worse. My curve pre-op was basically the same since I was 17

[RichandFrosty]

Incredible correction..god bless you

[condellgetinhere]

Your curve looks good. I'm just now looking into surgery. What was your curve before? Any before pics or blog?

[MusicalDarkHorse]

@condellgetinhere Thank you! Surgery is not a picnic. However I think if you have tried all other options, it would be an appropriate decision. Way too early for me to judge, but so far, seems to have been successful..Check description for an xray

[SuperDirk21]

ur vid is f-in awesome...I'm so jealous u got live footage...looks great bud hang in there...great job MOM on the documentary



[MusicalDarkHorse]

@SuperDirk21 she did well..haha