Making the Surgery Decision

[LindaRacine]

Hi...

If you're considering surgery, I have a new tool on my website to help you understand some of the things that should be considered:

http://www.scoliosislinks.com/ShouldYouHaveSurgery.htm

If you use the tool, I'd love your feedback, especially in terms of whether any questions were difficult or impossible to answer.

Regards,
Linda

P.S. Thanks to Dave Wolpert, Karen Ocker, & Dr. Serena Hu for their input.

[Pips]

Hi

This is a great idea! I am already on a surgical list (waiting times in the UK are 12-18 months) so the decision has already been made, but all the same it's nice to feel you're doing the right thing!

I did wonder about the second question through - what if you're over 30 and have a curve of >50. In your Q&A you only seem to allow for under 30 with big curve or over 30 with small curve? Or is it just that if neither of those applies you simply score no points?

Interestingly, I came to the decision about surgery after much soul searching (as you may have gathered from previous posts), but this came out as 19 points should have surgery and 1 point against!

I do think it could be a very useful tool for a lot of people and thank you for putting in the effort of doing it.

[LindaRacine]

Hi Pips...

I intentionally left a lot of people out on the second question (based on Dave Wolpert's recommendation). We decided that scoliosis surgery is really elective for moderate curves in younger people, and that it shouldn't have influence (either positive or negative).

Thanks for your kind comments.

Regards,
Linda

[Theresa]

Hey Linda,

I tried your surgery decision test and felt that it was very straight forward and to the point. I didn't have any problems with any of the questions. I think it's a great idea!

[LindaRacine]

Thanks Theresa!