Surgery

[jsully]

Hey, everyone. Finally deciding to bite the bullet and have surgery after 20 years of avoiding it! Very scared and any encouragement/feedback from postop patients would be very helpfull. Seeing my surgeon April 1st to schedule.:o

[Doodles]

Welcome! Let me be the first to tell you we're glad to have you asking questions and hope we can help. Good luck through this decision-making and journey to possible surgery. Janet

[Davidl]

Hey, everyone. Finally deciding to bite the bullet and have surgery after 20 years of avoiding it! Very scared and any encouragement/feedback from postop patients would be very helpfull. Seeing my surgeon April 1st to schedule.:o Hello jsully, It's been about 30 yrs. for me when I first approched a doctor in Tampa about surgery, but he talked me out of it. Now at 54 yrs. old it has progressed, and hopefully I will be able to have surgery in the near future, God willing! I'm also very scared, as I think everyone is. I just wondered who is your doctor? I lived in Hernando County, Fl. about 10 yrs. ago. I now reside in Valrico, Fl. Lots of good people here with great advice! Take care

[jsully]

Hey, I'm seeing DR Antonio Castellvi in Tampa, he told me I needed surery 7 years ago but I got pregnant. Anyway, done having kids now. I too was talked out of it by a Dr in the past. I have had 3rd and 4th opinions. Now I'm going back to Dr. Castellvi because his advice was best. Good luck!

[Davidl]

Hey, I'm seeing DR Antonio Castellvi in Tampa, he told me I needed surery 7 years ago but I got pregnant. Anyway, done having kids now. I too was talked out of it by a Dr in the past. I have had 3rd and 4th opinions. Now I'm going back to Dr. Castellvi because his advice was best. Good luck! Ha jsully, I also went to see Dr. Castellvi, and I don't mean to scare you, but that is one doctor I would not go back to. He told me things like, you know you could die from this surgery and you could have a 40-50% chance something could go wrong. When I ask him if I didn't have surgery in the near future what would I be like, and look like when I'm 70 yrs. old? He said, who cares what you look like when your 70 yrs. old. Also, you might want to check out the doctors who are associated with the Scoliosis Association. He wasn't associated with this organization the last time I checked. The doctors in this organization are supposed to be the top doctors in this field. You might want to speak with Linda Racine in this forum, she can give you alot of good advice. I went to see Dr. Geoffrey Cronen at Fla. Medical Clinic in Tampa after I had seen Dr. Castellvi. He told me that percentage Dr. Castellvi quoted sounded pretty high, and said it didn't sound correct, at least not with him (Dr. Cronen). You also might want to check out what kind of hardware Dr. Castellvi uses. In the past two years I have seen six doctors, four doctors at Fla. Orthopedic. The other two doctors I did see associated with the Scoliosis Association was Dr. Nathan Lebwohl in Miami, and Dr. Cronen here in Tampa. Maybe some others can shed more light on choosing a doctor, unless this is who you feel comfortable with. Take Care

[jsully]

Oh, I hate making these decisions. I saw 4 DRs. Two said I need lumbar and thoracic spine fused. 2 said I need just thoracic fused. Maybe I should see your DR and get a 5th opinion. Dr. Castellvi did tell me the risks of surgery but also told me I would die if I did not have it because my heart and lungs would be crushed. He was a little intense in that way. However; he was one who would fuse top and bottom and as my last Dr said, why not have it all done than risk going back. I do have most of my pain in the lower back because my hips are so uneven. More to think about, I guess.

[Davidl]

Oh, I hate making these decisions. I saw 4 DRs. Two said I need lumbar and thoracic spine fused. 2 said I need just thoracic fused. Maybe I should see your DR and get a 5th opinion. Dr. Castellvi did tell me the risks of surgery but also told me I would die if I did not have it because my heart and lungs would be crushed. He was a little intense in that way. However; he was one who would fuse top and bottom and as my last Dr said, why not have it all done than risk going back. I do have most of my pain in the lower back because my hips are so uneven. More to think about, I guess. My curves are about the same as yours and Dr. Castellvi didn't tell me to have the surgery, maybe because I'm older, he said I could die from the surgery, trying to discourage me from having it. I haven't made a final decision on my doctor yet, but Dr. Cronen does specialize in this field. He is a younger doctor, and did his fellowship under Dr. Lenke and Dr. Bridwell in St. Louis, who is supposed to be two of the best. Also, I am checking on making an appointment with Dr. Bridwell or Dr. Lenke in St. Louis. I'm just not sure if I can manage going out of the State for this surgery. If not, then it probably will be Dr. Cronen. Dr. Lebwohl in Miami is also supposed to be a top specialist in this field. All of these doctors are with the Scoliosis Association. You might want to check their website, and speak to Debra Ordes, who is the regional director in Palm Harbor, Fl. Their website is www.scoliosis-assoc.org

[jsully]

I made a appt. to see DR Cronen for Wednesday. Wish me luck!

[LynetteG]

Awesome! Best of luck - I can't wait to hear how it goes :)

[ADMoul]

My thoracic was 63 pre-op and I had absolutely no breathing/cardiac problems from it. (And they checked lung capacity at my app't.) I'm a swimmer and a singer so I would certainly be aware of respiratory issues. I know everyone is different, but I personally would be a little apprehensive about a Dr. using heavy duty scare tactics. The first Dr. we saw had a very fine reputation, but we knew he wasn't the right one for me. You just have to use your own best judgment.

[LindaRacine]

Dr. Castellvi did tell me the risks of surgery but also told me I would die if I did not have it because my heart and lungs would be crushed.

Hi...

Knowing what I know now, if a surgeon said that to me, I'd be running out the door before the last words rang out. While scoliosis occasionally can cause heart and lung problems, it's usually only with very large curves. I know people who have curves of >180 degrees who are still alive and kicking. That doesn't mean that it's wise not to have surgery, but I would be very leery of a surgeon who used such a scare tactic.

With that said, I'm not sure we always hear 100% correctly when we're in with a surgeon hearing about scary surgeries! :)

Regards,
Linda