I am a 52 year-old female. Until two years ago I had never heard of kyphosis. In 2003, I had a rapid deceleration accident which caused 20-30 degree compression fractures of T11 and T-12. I had never had back pain before but have suffered from chronic pain since the accident. The radiographs showed that I also had Scheuermann's kyphosis, never diagnosed as I had never had pain or a reason for back radiographs. My curvature is in the 60 degree range and increasing as is my pain. I have frequent pain radiating around my torso and at times have pain while trying to take a deep breath. My posture has never been picture perfect but since the accident it's certainly gotten worse. My doctor has told me that I will eventually need surgery to stop the increasing curvature and to reduce the pain. I am frankly terrified of having rods put in my back(from approximately T-1 to T-12.) But I am in increasingly more pain and taking more and more medication. I have also had a sudden increase in my blood pressure which may be explained by chronic pain or could it be from changing postural pressure? I also have developed some intestinal and esophageal inflammation most likely from meds but again, could it be from postural changes. They also discovered a syringomyloma(sp?) in my spinal cord from T-4 to T8 which is probably due to the trauma but could have already been present. It has not changed in the past two years since it discovered 3 months after the accident.
I was in perfect health until this accident and now it seems as though the wheels have fallen off. Does anyone out there suffer from anything similar?
I know most people are diagnosised at an early age and I might not have ever been diagnosed if I had not had the accident. What about a first surgery in your 50's. I had always heard that you shouldn't have back surgery until you had to crawl into the surgeon's office. I think I'm getting close. I am also under the impression that few people get away with only one surgery and that many people are just as much pain or more after the fusion surgery. What is a girl to do?
I was in perfect health until this accident and now it seems as though the wheels have fallen off. Does anyone out there suffer from anything similar?
I know most people are diagnosised at an early age and I might not have ever been diagnosed if I had not had the accident. What about a first surgery in your 50's. I had always heard that you shouldn't have back surgery until you had to crawl into the surgeon's office. I think I'm getting close. I am also under the impression that few people get away with only one surgery and that many people are just as much pain or more after the fusion surgery. What is a girl to do?
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