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  • Second Opinion

    This is my first time posting, however, I have been lurking around for months. Tomorrow I go for a second opinion and to be honest I'm worried. It's taken me about two years to finally get to this point. I like my doctor, but I don't trust that he's listening to me. My scoliosis was not truly found until I was 15. It's a long story of how that happened. The doctors followed me until I was 17 and never gave me a treatment plan... no brace... no surgery... nothing. Speed up to 2006, I began to have pain after I gave birth to my daughter. For the first time in years I went to an orthopedic doctor. Other than to take Alieve for the every day pain there was nothing more said. Sometime in the year after, I woke up with what I know now as a bulging disc. Also found was that I have sacroiliitis. With the added pain I was told we should do a "wait and see" plan for the next 5 years while taking Oscal, vitamin D, and exercise (of course). Maybe I just don't understand, but this just doesn't sit well with me. I'm only 28 and am having problems that I shouldn't be having. Why should I wait for something worse to happen before trying to fix the problem? I don't like to take pain meds except for my really bad days... I don't want to slowly rot out my organs just to slap a band-aid on a problem that's not going to go away on it's own. Did anyone else have this kind of plan before having surgery? I'm not hoping for surgery, but I'm not against it either. I just want to be sure I'm doing everything I can to prevent something worse. I have a very active 3 year old that I'd like to keep up with for many more years. Am I just worrying too much? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!
    Tiffany K
    I'm not short, I'm fun size!

    29 years old
    4'11", never braced
    Pre-surgery, 52° T6 to T12, 35° T12 to L4
    T1-L2, Posterior 8/5/2010, gained 1"

    http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...9&l=03212f3e17

  • #2
    Tiffany--
    Welcome to the forum--you will find plenty of people on here with lots of experience and expertise on these issues. I think it's a great idea you are getting a second opinion. You may need a third and a fourth too! I was mostly a wait and see since I refused the idea of surgery for decades! (It has changed so much over those years.) The doctors I saw knew it was getting worse but weren't too hot on going with surgery either. When it got so bad I knew I had to do something I went to see two different very specialized doctors in scoliosis surgery. I'm not sure this helps much but wanted you to know there will be others who will offer great info. Good luck! Janet
    Janet

    61 years old--57 for surgery

    Diagnosed in 1965 at age of 13--no brace
    Thoracic Curve: 96 degrees to 35 degrees
    Lumbar Curve: 63 degrees to 5 degrees
    Surgery with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis--March 30, 2009
    T-2 to Pelvis, and hopefully all posterior procedure.

    All was posterior along with 2 cages and 6 osteotomies.

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    • #3
      Hi Tiffany-

      I am 31 years old and can totally relate to your post. I had my son when I was 26 years old and the pain from the scoliosis on a scale of a 1-10 was about a 4 before I had my son. Before my son I thought I could always live with the pain from the scoliosis and that I would never ever get the surgery. After I had my son, the pain got worse. Then at 28 I got pregnant with my second child and things went totally downhill. The pain got completely unbearable. There were days that I felt like I was 80 years old. I had pain during my second pregnancy from my lower lumbar curve radiating down my leg and going into the lateral portion of my foot. At the time I had no idea this was related to my back. For three years, I had this sharp, stabbing pain in my foot and didn't know why it was occuring. Recently I found out it is originating from my back. Also, after having two children, my curves progressed from the mid-40's to 55 degrees thoracic and 58 degrees lumbar in only about 4 years. During my second pregnancy, I also developed arm pain extending into my ring and pinky finger which the drs think is related to my kyphosis (which I never knew I had!) until I just say a scoliosis specialist in November. The kyphosis caused problems in my neck which has led to this pain in my hands/fingers/arm. Anyway, my point is is that I definately think you should get a second opinion. Having children can do a number on your bodies, especially your scoliosis. My pain wasn't that bad until I had my kids. I am getting surgery this June as I am only 31 years old now and don't want to live in this type of pain for the rest of my life. Recently, I have felt alot better by going for weekly adjustments to a chiropractor. But that won't stop the curve from progressing.

      Good luck with whatever you decide. Just wanted to share my story just to show you what could happen to your pain level after you have kids in your late twenties with scoliosis. For some reason, my curve really progressed while I was pregnant with my second child, causing all types of pain.

      Welcome to the forum and keep us posted!

      JenM
      Surgery date: June 8, 2010 with Dr. Boachie
      Thoracic curve: 55 degrees, corrected to 25 degrees
      Lumbar curve: 58 degrees, corrected to 27 degrees
      Posterior-only surgery, Levels T3-L3
      31 year old mother of 2 young kids

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      • #4
        Hey Tiff, I am 28 and had very similar degrees of scol as you. I am 3 weeks post op and feel friggen fantastic

        Just giving you some positive news in case you opt for surgery.
        45L/40T
        Surgery 25/1/2010
        Australia

        Knowthyself

        Scoliosis Corrected 25/1/2010 by Dr Angus Gray, Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Sydney. Fused T3-L4.

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