Dear all,
I am a 36 years old female. I was diagnosed of Scoliosis since I was 13 years old and was told that my curve degree was 34 at that time. I wore the brace for 5 years (wore it all day long except taking bath) and did not do any PT. I don’t have any pain since then until 2006 when I was 32 years old. I cannot walk too long, otherwise my lower back will be pain. My shoulder also felt ache from time to time but it is not unendurable and I never take any pain medication.
After I delivered my baby in 2007, I felt like my pain get worse. My pain is intensified but seems like they just comes and goes. Some days really bother me a lot and some days don’t feel anything. Apart from lower back, both my shoulders and my neck were in pain from time to time. I saw Dr Hostin at Baylor Scoliosis Center in Plano, TX in July this year. Dr. Hostin said that I am at marginal case of doing surgery but if I don’t do it now, I will have to do it at age 50 the latest as my curve will continue to progress to a point that my health will get worse. I got information from this forum and have sent my X-rays to Dr Lagrone for 2nd opinion. I am still waiting for his reply. In the mean time, I would very much appreciate if any one of you can help answer some of my queries:
1. I am not sure if it is like Dr Hostin said that my curve will progress to a point that I will need to do surgery at age 50 if I dont do it now. He never see my X-ray when I was 13. He make this comment based on my X-ray in 2006 and 2010(July). Is it possible to make conclusion based on 2 X-rays 5 yeas apart?? How does your doctor judge whether your curve is progressing??
2. I have the thinking that if it is true that I need to do surgery later anyways, then I of course prefer to do it younger than older. But my pain is not really serious that I can do anything I want to except I dont like the cosmetic of my body. I am debating what if I get worse after surgery.....I am the type of person if there is a cut/bruise in my skin, the wound will take longer time to recover and even a small cut will leave scar. Does it mean I will recover slower and feel more pain after surgery??
3. I have a 3 years old that I need to take care. My hubby is concerned how long I can recover. Is it really 2 months cannot drive and 1 year to fully recover?? Will I be able to take care of my 3 years old after surgery?? We dont have any family around us can help....
4. Dr Hostin suggested to fuse T9-L3 of my spine. Will the spine above T9 has any problem if it is not fused?? What is the pros and cons of NOT fusing to sacrum??
5. I am very worry that for this kind of surgery, once I started, there will be never ending surgery.....under what situation will a person need 2nd and 3rd surgery?? Is this common??
6. Under what situation that a patient need to wear a brace after surgery?? How long has to wear it??
7. I already paid 75% of my insurance deductible this year and once I paid all the deductible, I will be covered 100% but I have additional $2500 out of pocket. I am thinking if I really have to do the surgery, it's better for me to do it before end of Dec from the financial point of view as if I do it next year, I have to pay the $2500 deductible again............I am again debating is this too rush to make such a big decision?? $5000 is a lot of money to us and we really dont want to pay it again.............even if we decide to do the surgery within this year, I am not sure if I have enough time to do all those pre-surgery testing and book the hospital. My next appointment with the Dr in early Sept.....Is there any case that after all those pre-surgery testing, they said someone is not suitable for surgery??
8. Anyone of you has experience with Dr Hostin?? Is he good?? Any other good doctor you can recommend in TX??
9. What is the possible complication of the surgery in the worse case??
I know I have many questions, hope that some of you will be kind enough to help answer my long list of question.....................thanks a million
I am a 36 years old female. I was diagnosed of Scoliosis since I was 13 years old and was told that my curve degree was 34 at that time. I wore the brace for 5 years (wore it all day long except taking bath) and did not do any PT. I don’t have any pain since then until 2006 when I was 32 years old. I cannot walk too long, otherwise my lower back will be pain. My shoulder also felt ache from time to time but it is not unendurable and I never take any pain medication.
After I delivered my baby in 2007, I felt like my pain get worse. My pain is intensified but seems like they just comes and goes. Some days really bother me a lot and some days don’t feel anything. Apart from lower back, both my shoulders and my neck were in pain from time to time. I saw Dr Hostin at Baylor Scoliosis Center in Plano, TX in July this year. Dr. Hostin said that I am at marginal case of doing surgery but if I don’t do it now, I will have to do it at age 50 the latest as my curve will continue to progress to a point that my health will get worse. I got information from this forum and have sent my X-rays to Dr Lagrone for 2nd opinion. I am still waiting for his reply. In the mean time, I would very much appreciate if any one of you can help answer some of my queries:
1. I am not sure if it is like Dr Hostin said that my curve will progress to a point that I will need to do surgery at age 50 if I dont do it now. He never see my X-ray when I was 13. He make this comment based on my X-ray in 2006 and 2010(July). Is it possible to make conclusion based on 2 X-rays 5 yeas apart?? How does your doctor judge whether your curve is progressing??
2. I have the thinking that if it is true that I need to do surgery later anyways, then I of course prefer to do it younger than older. But my pain is not really serious that I can do anything I want to except I dont like the cosmetic of my body. I am debating what if I get worse after surgery.....I am the type of person if there is a cut/bruise in my skin, the wound will take longer time to recover and even a small cut will leave scar. Does it mean I will recover slower and feel more pain after surgery??
3. I have a 3 years old that I need to take care. My hubby is concerned how long I can recover. Is it really 2 months cannot drive and 1 year to fully recover?? Will I be able to take care of my 3 years old after surgery?? We dont have any family around us can help....
4. Dr Hostin suggested to fuse T9-L3 of my spine. Will the spine above T9 has any problem if it is not fused?? What is the pros and cons of NOT fusing to sacrum??
5. I am very worry that for this kind of surgery, once I started, there will be never ending surgery.....under what situation will a person need 2nd and 3rd surgery?? Is this common??
6. Under what situation that a patient need to wear a brace after surgery?? How long has to wear it??
7. I already paid 75% of my insurance deductible this year and once I paid all the deductible, I will be covered 100% but I have additional $2500 out of pocket. I am thinking if I really have to do the surgery, it's better for me to do it before end of Dec from the financial point of view as if I do it next year, I have to pay the $2500 deductible again............I am again debating is this too rush to make such a big decision?? $5000 is a lot of money to us and we really dont want to pay it again.............even if we decide to do the surgery within this year, I am not sure if I have enough time to do all those pre-surgery testing and book the hospital. My next appointment with the Dr in early Sept.....Is there any case that after all those pre-surgery testing, they said someone is not suitable for surgery??
8. Anyone of you has experience with Dr Hostin?? Is he good?? Any other good doctor you can recommend in TX??
9. What is the possible complication of the surgery in the worse case??
I know I have many questions, hope that some of you will be kind enough to help answer my long list of question.....................thanks a million
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