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  • Deciding on Surgery

    I finally went to see Dr. Pashman yesterday after not monitoring my curves for 10 yrs. The X ray was shocking. It has progrossed from 45/50 to 68/80. I knew it was worse, but I did not expect to be such big curves. I was expecting more around 50/60ish. I don't really have much pain but I do get lower back pain from time to time depends if I wear high heels, walked too long, driving more than 1 hour. I also have felt that my back has gotten much weaker than before.

    Dr. Pashman considers I have double major curves (T4-T9 68 degree & T11 - L4 80 degree). Based on the x-ray (no bending film yet, will be taken right before surgery), he would fuse from T2 - L5, use Stainless rod, posterior. He said that he should be able to achieve 80% correction.

    I'm planning to see Dr. Serena Hu for 2nd opinion. Anyone has other suggestions of other Specialist that I should see before decide on the doctor?
    Last edited by fashionista; 10-20-2010, 08:19 PM.
    62/75 (T4-T9 68 degree & T11 - L4 80 degree) 10/19/2010
    45/50 year 2000
    36 yrs old
    Considering, researching surgery for the first time
    S. California
    http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/...ashionista889/

  • #2
    did you mean T2-L5...or really T2-T5...i'm sorry if i sound ignorant...i just never heard of such a short fusion before...?

    did you consider seeing Dr Anand (same place) for minimally invasive approach?
    i consulted with him last January...

    best of luck...
    jess

    Comment


    • #3
      T2 to L5. Dr. Pashman did mention that my curves won't be suitable for minimally invasive approach and I agree with him.
      Last edited by fashionista; 10-20-2010, 08:26 PM.
      62/75 (T4-T9 68 degree & T11 - L4 80 degree) 10/19/2010
      45/50 year 2000
      36 yrs old
      Considering, researching surgery for the first time
      S. California
      http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/...ashionista889/

      Comment


      • #4
        Sam Bederman trained at UCSF, and the attendings all speak well of him.

        http://www.sportsmedicine.uci.edu/faculty/bederman.html
        Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
        Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

        Comment


        • #5
          Fashionista--

          I feel for you. I sucks to be in your 30s with huge curves! Well, I guess it sucks to be any age with huge curves. Anyway, would love to hear how your thinking goes. I'm currently trying to get away with waiting another couple of years before surgery.

          Evelyn
          age 48
          80* thoracolumbar; 40* thoracic
          Reduced to ~16* thoracolumbar; ~0* thoracic
          Surgery 3/14/12 with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis, T4 to S1 with pelvic fixation
          Broken rods 12/1/19; scheduled for revision fusion L1-L3-4 with Dr. Lenke 2/4/2020
          Not "confused" anymore, but don't know how to change my username.

          Comment


          • #6
            Thank you Confusedmom.

            I had tried to avoid for surgery as long as I could and I think it's the time for me to do the surgery now All the Doctors say the spine gets more rigid and stiff as we get older, therefore, less corrections would be. I start to feel my spine is starting to get not as flexiable as before and I want to get the best corrections I could.

            Plus, since my curves are progessing which means i would need the surgery sometime down in the road anyway.

            That's why I finally reach the decision that I am moving forward w/the surgery. Now , is figureing out which doctor to do the surgery and plan the surgery time and corrdinating w/ my work.

            62/75 (T4-T9 68 degree & T11 - L4 80 degree) 10/19/2010
            45/50 year 2000
            36 yrs old
            Considering, researching surgery for the first time
            S. California
            http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/...ashionista889/

            Comment


            • #7
              Fashonista,
              I am the same age as you with the exact same fusion levels. My rods are titanium though. If you have any questions please ask. I am wishing I went ahead and got fused to the pelvis though. I still have a lot of pain on my lower disc from the wieght of the long fusion. My DR gave me the choice and I am afraid I made the wrong one. Just wanted to let you know it is something to consider.
              Good Luck,
              Janet
              36 year young cardiac RN
              old curve C 29, T 70, L 50
              new curve C 7, T 23, L 20
              Surgery June 11, UCH, Dr. Cronen T2-L5, posterior
              Revision December 20 L5-S1 with pelvic fixation
              and Osteotomy to L3 at Tampa General Hospital

              Comment


              • #8
                Hi, Janet,

                Thank you for the post. I would love to hear more about your experience. I have no idea what difference make between fuse to L4, to S1 or to Pelvis?
                62/75 (T4-T9 68 degree & T11 - L4 80 degree) 10/19/2010
                45/50 year 2000
                36 yrs old
                Considering, researching surgery for the first time
                S. California
                http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/...ashionista889/

                Comment


                • #9
                  Hi - it is a hard choice going into surgery, but sounds like it's the thing to do. Having just gone through this T2-L2, at 50 years old, I agree that those in their 30's recover quicker. I was in really good shape and yet my muscles and nerves are healing slow and my spine was very stiff. With that though I went from 62 degree to 13 degree.
                  I am curious if you were braced at all when you were younger?
                  It seems that so many of us that were braced still have progressed in adulthood. Maybe the bracing slowed it down.
                  I am asking my surgeon the same thing Janet just mentioned next week when I see him. Not being fused to the sacrum I have alot of lower back discomfort, I believe due to lumbar working so hard right now. I am hoping as my muscles get stronger this will improve. I do hope I am not wearing my Lumbar region down now and would eventually have to have surgery. This is probably a seperate post. How many have had to have lumbar fused later after thorasic was fused. Hmmm...maybe I'll post that question later today.
                  Good luck to you.
                  Shari - 55 years old
                  Pre-Surgery 62 degree thorasic curve with shifting.
                  Post op 13 degree curve.
                  Successful surgery 4/15/10, T3-L2 fused.
                  2nd surgery to reopen incision 10" to diagnose infection, 5/18/10
                  Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI - the late Dr. Harry Herkowitz
                  www.scoliosisthejourney.com

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Sorry about your curve progression. Scoliosis, like wildfires are very hard to predict. I’m happy my fire is out.

                    All the surgeons mentioned on this thread are some of the best. I like Dr Hu, she is a really neat lady... If you are in southern California, it would be best logistically to pick your surgeon down there.

                    It would be a good question for Dr Pashman or whoever you see, what the advantages are stopping one level short of the sacrum. Is the mobility of one level really worth risking another surgery 10-20 years down the road? Exactly how much is one level of mobility in an angular value? Wouldn’t fusing to the pelvis help guarantee the integrity of the construct? Help with sagittal balance?

                    I’m sure you have seen the lists of questions to ask your surgeon posted here in the past, if not,I will post them for you.

                    Ed
                    49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                    Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                    ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                    Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                    Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                    My x-rays
                    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      HI, Ed,

                      I don't have the list of the questions to ask doctors. Please post it for me. Thank you very much!
                      62/75 (T4-T9 68 degree & T11 - L4 80 degree) 10/19/2010
                      45/50 year 2000
                      36 yrs old
                      Considering, researching surgery for the first time
                      S. California
                      http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/...ashionista889/

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Here are the Medtronic questions.

                        The questions I posted above are questions I made up for you.
                        Of course, I would like to know what your surgeon says on those.

                        Its also not a bad idea to have someone along to help with the listening process since the medical lingo can be overwhelming. If I were down in LA, I would love to come along for you.

                        Also, ask about allograft. What will he use? and where will he get it?

                        Ed
                        https://www.infusebonegraft.com/ques...r_surgeon.html
                        https://www.infusebonegraft.com/ques...ur_doctor.html
                        49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                        Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                        ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                        Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                        Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                        http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                        My x-rays
                        http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                        http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          I agree with Ed and wish I had that advice with my surgery. I do think only fusing to L-5 has made it harder for me to stand up straight as well as all the pain I still have in the non-fused disc. I KNOW I will need to have it fused more sooner than later. I can bend over and pick things up on the floor but not easily. That is why I do not think I gained that much flexibility by choosing this option. I thought it would be easier to work this way but I do think it has made it harder due to low back pain. Now my insurance is changing at work to like a 75/25% PPO with a $2,000 deductible which is making me very nervous. I only had to pay a copay of $250 for this surgery. Hindsight is 20/20. I just want you to be well informed from others with experience. I did read posts on here about people who wish they had fused to the pelvis before my surgery and I still choose not to. I wish I had taken it into more consideration.
                          Janet
                          36 year young cardiac RN
                          old curve C 29, T 70, L 50
                          new curve C 7, T 23, L 20
                          Surgery June 11, UCH, Dr. Cronen T2-L5, posterior
                          Revision December 20 L5-S1 with pelvic fixation
                          and Osteotomy to L3 at Tampa General Hospital

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            I really like Ed's suggestion of having an experienced scoli patient go along with patients on their appointments as an extra pair of ears. I would have loved that when I went had my one and only appt. As it was, we were two babes in the woods, not having a clue about anything much that he was saying. It was this forum that educated me, but in those early days, a second set of (experienced) ears would have been very useful.
                            Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
                            Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
                            T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
                            Osteotomies and Laminectomies
                            Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Thank you guys!!! This is sooooo wonderful and helpful. It's true that to have someone experienced to go with me to go over the concerns.

                              Thank you for offering, Ed.
                              62/75 (T4-T9 68 degree & T11 - L4 80 degree) 10/19/2010
                              45/50 year 2000
                              36 yrs old
                              Considering, researching surgery for the first time
                              S. California
                              http://s1210.photobucket.com/albums/...ashionista889/

                              Comment

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