Hi Everyone and Happy, Healthy New Year !
I am 66 yrs, in good health, perfect weight, and contemplating surgery. I have an S curve with 38 thoracic, 68 lumbar. A little superficial numbness in upper part of my foot, one vertebra looks quite unstable, like a tower of single blocks with one vertebra that is 1/2 way off surrounding blocks. I have visited Dr. Boachie Adjei in NYC who suggested front and back in 2 separate surgeries. (1 year ago) I then visited Dr. Lawrence Lenke at Barnes Jewish in St. Louis MO, (just last month), he said one surgery front and back in a 9 hour surgery. I am pretty much pain free, have serious stenosis and do exercises that help immensely, I do not stand in one spot for more than 5 min. (that causes pain) I can walk for about 1 mile in the am and usually can do the same at noc.
My questions: Anyone had a similar surgery including L5-s1 fusion, also including fusion of all lumbar vertebrae, Lenke will not do the top curve. (Boachie also did not want to do top thoracic curve)
Anyone had Dr. Lenke as a surgeon, (he is listed as one of the top doctors in the USA.)
Please comment on what you think I should do? It is a tough decision, as the reason for doing this is the progression has been constant, and the longer I wait, the more risk of fusion not taking and of course all the other risks go up with age. I have no detectable osteoporosis at this time. Sorry this is so long
Thanks Dawn deblythe2002@yahoo.com if you wish to email directly to me.
I am 66 yrs, in good health, perfect weight, and contemplating surgery. I have an S curve with 38 thoracic, 68 lumbar. A little superficial numbness in upper part of my foot, one vertebra looks quite unstable, like a tower of single blocks with one vertebra that is 1/2 way off surrounding blocks. I have visited Dr. Boachie Adjei in NYC who suggested front and back in 2 separate surgeries. (1 year ago) I then visited Dr. Lawrence Lenke at Barnes Jewish in St. Louis MO, (just last month), he said one surgery front and back in a 9 hour surgery. I am pretty much pain free, have serious stenosis and do exercises that help immensely, I do not stand in one spot for more than 5 min. (that causes pain) I can walk for about 1 mile in the am and usually can do the same at noc.
My questions: Anyone had a similar surgery including L5-s1 fusion, also including fusion of all lumbar vertebrae, Lenke will not do the top curve. (Boachie also did not want to do top thoracic curve)
Anyone had Dr. Lenke as a surgeon, (he is listed as one of the top doctors in the USA.)
Please comment on what you think I should do? It is a tough decision, as the reason for doing this is the progression has been constant, and the longer I wait, the more risk of fusion not taking and of course all the other risks go up with age. I have no detectable osteoporosis at this time. Sorry this is so long
Thanks Dawn deblythe2002@yahoo.com if you wish to email directly to me.
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