Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives Surgery Has anyone had Pedicle subtraction Osteotomy ?

Oh, how kind of you to comment thus.


Actually my right profile is the best, oh many females have fallen for my right profile........lol.

I always tried to regard negative comments as a source of evidence that I was different yet no less a person than the utterer.

Am so sorry you are having the trials that AS brings, but remember, today there are lots of possible options and so many more treatment successes than when I was a young fellow.


I wish you well in your struggle. Never ever allow AS to have the final word, you are its boss


Thank you


Alan G

hi Alan and everyone else

Just a word of thanks for all the interesting stories and valuable advice posted by various participants, esp Alan.

I have been an AS suffered since about 15 years of age, and now, almost 4 decades later, and a lot of history in between, I'm putting my hope on a planned procedure about which I only learned 2 months ago: the Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy.

In this short time I have been unable to establish whether this operation has been performed before in South Africa. Am nonetheless confident that the specialist who will be performing mine is one of the top guns in the field of spinal surgery here.

Have been gathering lots of information about this, and my plan is to write the story down in the hope of assisting en encouraging others with a similar affliction. A six-level osteotomy (lumbar) is planned.

I have several pics (incl of X-rays) and these show the kyphosis clearly. Some older pics also give an idea of loss of height, which has been about 5-6 inches, like in Alan's case.

Despite the disability, pain and frustration... lasting almost a lifetime, I continued playing sports. Until a month ago I still played competitive tennis, and about every third day I cycle between 15 and 20 km. Looking forward to resume both afterwards!

The operation is to take place in less than 2 weeks in Pretoria.

I'd be happy to share my experiences on this forum, though I'll be out of action for some time after the procedure.

Anyone who has been through this, and can offer advice, is more than welcome to email me at vryspraak@gmail.com (the word means free speech in my language).

Best regards
Tobias

Hello Tobias,

good luck with the op. They are good at it these days, is hard going for a while after, don't expect to wake up and be fit as a fiddle, this surgery is big stuff, but wow what a new person you will be. Good luck again and please do keep us up to date with your progress


Alan G

Now I want to know when SA are going to drop AB de Villiers from the test side.....he is hopeless.............arghhhhhhhhhhh..........lol

Haha Alan - I read many of your former posts, and am used to the fine British sense of humour!

Thanks for the good wishes with the op - I'm expecting to be as useless as a newborn, and the trick will be to listen to my better judgement! Luckily I have a partner (a Brit by birth!) who knows how to work with domesticated animals, so she should see me right.

I had a few good grins about your remark on young AB the one-day captain of the Protea cricket team. He hails from my current hometown, Pretoria (and so does Faf du Plessis, who captains the T20 team). Yes I agree they should have dropped AB to give the Paki's a sporting chance! AB finished as overall topscoring batsmen in the series with the Pakistani's.

Am an avid sportsman myself, despite the quite severe limitations: played provincial level tennis for 4 provinces to date, and the most recent one was last year. Won all my singles matches in the national veterans tournament!

I hope to regain 3-4 inches too, and to carry on playing good tennis and doing many miles on my mountain bike for many years to come.

Good luck Tobias, prayers and many well wishes for a smooth recovery. There is a place on the main forum where you can post your x-ray and M.R.I. photos if you want to share them.

Thanks Pea,

Have "before" photos and will wait some time until after the operation and recuperation to take "after" pics and X-rays, and then post a few.

I'm tracking, in addition to information about the obvious physical struggle that a person going into an operation is facing, aspects of the "mental" challenge.

I realized this more and more as I looked at the process and communicated it to friends and loved ones, who are obviously concerned and even alarmed. I'm quite calm and look forward to it, bearing in mind that its going to be an uphill battle.

Tobias

Hi and best wishes for your upcoming surgery. The fact that you've been able to continue exercising until recently should help with your recuperation. And I hope you'll be able to do the things you enjoy once again. Do think of writing about your experience. Alan wrote a book + a song about AS now he's frequently on tour singing and signing books...it has brought him fame & fortune.

'Oh gawsh...........this is so embarrskin'

hi Alan
Where do you advertise your book?

I hear you Tobias,

I just had a pain pump implant and everyone wanted to know about it. It was a struggle, like you said in the fact that I had to face a decision about it and the mental portion to it as well. My family and friends were alarmed too. There comes a point in this disease, not for all but for some when you have battled all you can with it and have to really make some hard decisions.

I hope all goes well with your surgery and know we are all routing for you.