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  • Possible second surgery

    hi everyone... I am new to this forum. And thanks to NSF organization to setup this forum.

    I am one of the scoliosis patient. I am age 24 now, is a Malaysian Chinese. My back bone is exactly like a "S" shape. in year 1995, i did scoliosis surgery before. I have around 65 degree for my upper and bottom part of the bone.

    Doctor did surgery for the bottom part only. They didnt do the upper part because they said is too risky and dangerous.

    Then, lately, i visit a new specialist doctor at a private hospital. And he told me my bone now is still in "S" shape and have 65 degree for the upper part and bottom part is 85 degree. He said, "that's the possibility to do operation again but not confirm yet. because he need to discuss with other doctors 1st."

    my question is:
    1st : Is it risky if i do the second surgery now as i m in age 24 now?

    2nd: Do scoliosis is an inherritance deseace?

    3rd: Do scolisis will give me any difficulity if i pregnent one day?

    4th: Is it good if i go for second surgery or just stay with the same condition as now?

    5th, what is the consequences if i didn't do the second surgery?

    Appreciate if anyone can give me advice on this matter. thks.
    Best Regards,
    WendyLow

  • #2
    Hi Wendy...

    I don't know about Malaysia, but here in the US, scoliosis surgery is routinely performed on patients in their 60s, 70s, and even their 80s. So, having surgery at 24 should not be much more dangerous than having it at 14.

    Scoliosis is believed to be genetic, but it's possible to have no relatives with scoliosis. I have scoliosis. I have 7 siblings. As far as we know, none of my siblings, nor either of my parents, have/had scoliosis.

    Women with scoliosis routinely get pregnant and deliver healthy babies. People with fusions in the lumbar spine may not be able to have an epidural for pain control during delivery. You may also find that carrying around a heavy baby or child causes back pain.

    None of us can tell you whether to have the second surgery. You need to ask the surgeon what might happen if you don't have the surgery. It's certainly possible that your curves will continue to increase, and may eventually cause pulmonary difficulties and pain.

    Good luck.

    Regards,
    Linda
    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


    • #3
      Linda,
      Is it women with fusions anywhere in the lumbar region who might not be able to have epidurals or only due to fusions at certain vertibrae (sp?)?

      I asked my Ortho about pregnancy post-op and he said that I should be able to have a normal pregnancy as long as I wait at least one year post-op to get pregnant and he never mentioned anything about epidurals. I'm having this surgery now so that I can get it out of the way before having kids and if I can't have an epidural, then I have some serious thinking to do in the next 4 weeks!

      I want to have kids, but I want no part of being pregnant or being in labor (is that weird???) and to think that I might not be able to have an epidural....well, that's just scary!

      Comment


      • #4
        Hi Heidi...

        I honestly don't know the answer. I've certainly heard of women who have had epidurals after spinal fusion, even into the lumbar spine. I think it depends on the experience of the anesthesiologist.

        I think that it's not just fusion that creates a problem, but the anatomical deformity can make it difficult for the anesthesiologist to find the spot.

        Here's a link to an abstract that discusses the issue:

        http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...t_uids=2291882

        I found a lot of other hits, but the above is the only one with an abstract.

        It's definitely something to discuss with your surgeon.

        Regards,
        Linda
        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
          Originally posted by HGD24

          if I can't have an epidural, then I have some serious thinking to do in the next 4 weeks!
          This is a little off topic, but in case you're collecting opinions -- I had both my kids in Southern California in the 80's, where it was the fashion to do labour completely drug-free. I, and all the pregnant women I knew, had our babies without epidurals, and it was no big deal. Not a chuckle-fest, certainly, but quite manageable (and I'm a big baby about pain in general).

          Cheers - Patricia
          Patricia
          Scoli Mum from New Zealand
          Daughter Caitlin's surgery 2nd May 2005
          Posterior fusion T3 - L1

          Comment


          • #6
            i had my son without an epidural, too; it wasn't that big of a deal. when i was having my epidural cortisone injections last summer, the doctor said i was lucky i hadn't wanted epidural pain relief during my labor because there was no way they could have gotten the pain medication delivered accurately around? through? the curve!
            Sue


            Milwaukee Brace from ages 8 - 16
            T36 degrees/L56 degrees Pre-Op
            Fused T3 - S1
            Surgery done Sept. 15, 2004
            Dr. Robert G. Viere
            North Texas Spine Care @ Baylor

            Comment


            • #7
              Sorry to have gotten off topic here. Wendy, hopefully you can obtain a second opinion from another doctor to help you make a definite decision. Don't be afraid to ask your questions to your doctors.

              Thanks Linda for the link. I'll definitely check it out and will definitely discuss the issue with my Ortho to get his perspective.

              Comment


              • #8
                hello all....thanks for giving me your input. I indeed appreciate for that.

                hi Linda and all,
                Thanks for your response on my questions. But i am really worry of my condition now. Seems like 85 degree is very severe, right? Do you think the second surgery will be successful? Is it a must, must do second surgery?

                Do you know any best doctor at Malaysia. I did search SRS web site before. But i found one doctor in the list there only for Malaysia. Anyone else except Dr. Harwant Singh?

                My lower bone is curve 85 degree and upper bone is curve 65 degree, but i dont feel any pain. Curious, why no feel pain? Is it a weird condition ?

                I surf your web site. And found u have do plenty of research before. Do you know any best book is explain about Scoliosis treatment? I feel like want to buy a book for my own reference.

                Appreciate of your advice. Thks.
                Best Regards,
                WendyLow

                Comment


                • #9
                  Wendy...

                  The best book about scoliosis surgery is "Scoliosis Surgery The Definitive Patient Reference" by David Wolpert. You can purchase it from the National Scoliosis Foundation website or directly from the author at http://www.curvedspine.com.

                  I can't tell you what would happen if you decided not to have surgery. My advice would be to find a surgeon you can trust, and take that person's advice. And, sorry, I don't know anything about the scoliosis surgeons in Malaysia.

                  An 85 degree curve is considered relatively severe. If you're average, you can expect your curves to increase 1 to 2 degrees per year.

                  Regards,
                  Linda
                  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


                  • #10
                    Possible second surgery

                    hi Linda, Thanks for your very prompt respond. Information given by you indeed useful for me. I shall buy the book and consult my doctor soon.
                    God Bless.
                    Best Regards,
                    WendyLow

                    Comment

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