Physiatrist???

[lostfan]

I had my ortho appt today and am now more confused than ever. My xrays in 1995 from him showed a 57T curve and today he comes up with 64T so not a huge change over 11 years. I've had some other appts with other orthos closer to my home between those times and the readings have ranged from 55 to 62. I know it can vary by a few degrees depending on who is reading it but I feel more uneasy now than I did before I went. He didn't seem much interested in checking my rotation or anything else to see what's changed...I've also lost 1/2" height but was only measured when I requested it. He just kept saying surgery...surgery...sooner the better!

After reading some of your posts I see some go to a physiatrist. I've found one local and wondering if he might help. What exactly do they do? and can they read xrays? I guess an ortho surgeon is for surgery and doens't encourage anything else.

I know I need PT because I am very out of shape and get no regular exercise and have lower back pain but this ortho today didn't even suggest anything to help....just surgery. I am 37y.o. and told I would come back around 5 years to be checked again and he said 2 years...that he would rather do the surgery sooner than later, etc. etc.

Does anyone else have trouble getting varied readings? It is so frustrating. Any info would be appreciated. I mean sometimes 5 degrees makes a big difference when you're trying to figure out how fast you're progressing and thinking about your options. I wonder if anyone really knows. Ugh!

[LindaRacine]

Hi Lost...

There's never going to be a perfect reading. Besides that, one can see a considerable change in degrees from early morning to late afternoon. I wouldn't get too hung up on the degrees, the amount of progression, or the amount of rotation. The important thing is how you feel. It sounds like you're definitely a surgical candidate. If you want to avoid surgery, I think you need to figure out if you can avoid it forever. If not, then surgery will probably be a lot easier today than it will be in 10 years.

I'm sorry that I can't really help you on the physiatrist, as I've never been to one and don't really know much about them. I doubt, however, that you'd get a better xray reading from one.

Since you have an interest in trying PT, I'd encourage you to try to find a PT specialized in spine. I can tell you from experience that there's a vast difference between someone who really knows about spines and one's who don't. I always wish that I had met my current PT before I had my surgery.

Best of luck!

Regards,
Linda

[Singer]

Hi lostfan -- I had three different doctors give the SAME exact x-rays three different readings: 55 degrees, 60 deg., and 70 degrees. The first reading was from a regular doc; the second, an orthopedic surgeon; the third, from a scoliosis specialist. To me, the magic number is 50 -- that's the degree at which MOST surgeons want to operate, and also (from what I've read) the degree at which the spine can no longer successfully compensate for the curve or curves.

Sorry, I don't know anything about a physiatrist. But PT -- working out with a stability ball -- is helping my pain a lot most days. It's not going to help my curve, but it helps me be able to do more things til surgery.

[sweetness514]

I had Xrays taken at the age of 18, and after 8 years when I had surgery at 26, there was no change at all. It was 58 and I even had another ortho diagnose another set from another hospital that I took at 26 and it was 58, so sometimes the curve for some doesn't change much, even if it's that big and I didn't know this until I checked them out the other night. I had surgery b/c I started to have pain, although I sometimes regret deciding on having it so quickly since I've had other problems since surgery and had my third surgery this last December, so you can only decide how much pain you're willing to take, and really make a decision after thinking about all the options and the pros and cons. But having surgery at a later age has more risks and can make the surgery and recuperation longer.

Good luck with the PT.

[Jacque's Mom]

I've been to a physiatrist

I was referred to a physiatrist before I had my partial rod removal. He is a doctor who specializes in rehabilitation/physical medicine. What he did was evaluate me, look at my x-rays, then sent me to his physical therapist on staff. He also would administer trigger point injections when needed. He performs other type procedures as well. I have to admit, I felt he was no different than going to my primary care physician who would have sent me to a physical therapist.

[Cakedec]

physiatrists not much help

I agree with Jacques' Mom in her experience with physiatrists. I went to one who only offered me physical therapy, and when that didn't help, trigger point injections (which didn't help). Only when I asked if I was a surgical candidate (with 65T, 75L), did he say "you're getting there". I had to ask for a referral to a scoliosis surgeon. I'm pretty sure that physiatrists don't do surgery.

Deb

[mass]

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[pet slave]

I also went to see a Physiatrist. And I have to say that I was very disappointed. He hardly examined me at all, and then said "I guess I could send you to PT "

Not very helpful......


As I'm beginning to learn, much of the medical community doesn't take Scoliosis very seriously. All's I've learned from my Dr,the Physiatrist, and PT is that "Scoliosis doesn't generally HURT!" So why am I, and others on the forum in pain?!? *sigh*


I've so much from this forum, and sadly, it seems that I'm not alone with my experience with unhelpful Dr's.