Hello
My name is Mariya and I am 24 yrs old. I am a mother of two girls ages 3.5 and 2 yrs. This is my first time in the forum and I love reading all of the stories as it gives me a lot of encouragement.
I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I came to this United States when I was 12 years old. I can't remember my curves at the time but it was just a slight curve that doctors did not need to treat. I had no pain and felt great. After having my second daughter, I definitely saw big changes in my physical appearance although everyone that knows me thinks its not noticeable at all. My shoulders and my waist line are uneven and one hip is lower than the other one. I saw an orthopedic surgeon and found out that I had an S shaped scoliosis and my upper curve was measuring 27 and the lower was 45. The doctor said that I should have the surgery done within the next five years and my husband and I were just a little shocked after we saw the curve in my spine on the x-rays. My second daughter was only 2 months old at the time and I certainly never had thought anything serious about my back because I had no pain. Then I started to feel some back ache and at first thought it was just from being at work and coming home tired and exhausted to two kids that were still in diapers but then I started feeling a lot of pain in my back after I would do simple things like washing dishes or giving baths to my kids. I am more and more uncomfortable doing the things I normally used to do and so I ask my husband or the babysitter to do it for me because I hate to have that kind of pain and I am very stressed and irritated when I am in pain.
I really feel down at times and especially when I can't take care of my own family without the pain. When my back hurts I ask my husband to give me a massage and that works only for a few minutes. My husband is really a great person and he helps me a lot with everything. He believes that I should have the surgery asap and that sooner or later I will have to do it. Friends and family think that I am crazy and that my back looks straight. They also say that their back hurts too and that most people have back problems and I jsut say to them its not the same but then I wonder at times maybe afterall it is normal to have back pain. I feel confused.
I feel very scared of having this surgery and my parents are scared as well. They are really worried about it and they think that it is a very complicated surgery that involves a lot of risks. However doctors make it seem like a very common surgery and they say that the risks are very small. My parents believe that I want the surgery done for cosmetic purposes. I guess our biggest fear is paralysis or nerve damage even though the doctors reassure you that the chances of that happening are really low. Perhaps it’s not an easy decision to make especially when you have a family and kids that really need you.
I am struggling a lot with the decision that I need to make and I agree with my husband but I am still a little nervous and plus my parents are not supporting me on this. I really think that they are just very worried and scared of the outcome. Then they also tell me that I don't know how I would feel after surgery and that the pain may not go away and that surgery may even cause more pain as has its own complications. And so they tell me since there is no guarantee that the pain will go away after surgery then why would go for such a risky surgery where you might become disabled.
I must say that having read so much about scoliosis and treatment options and surgeries I gained a lot of knowledge that I did not have before. It really helped me to overcome my fears somewhat but my parents are just not so informed. They still think that accidents do happen even by the best doctors and they always remind me of the family members that had undergone some sort of complicated surgery and were either disabled or became blind after having an eye surgery.
Lastly, I just want to make a decision because I think that now would be the best time to get the surgery done because I would like to change my job soon as it is very stressful and so I would prefer to get the surgery done before I switch a job and I would get the disability from my work. One other important reason for having the surgery done now is that we have the most incredible babysitter and she takes great care of our kids. I trust her and the kids are so used to her because she had been with them since they were born. She would be leaving the country in a couple of months and I think that she would be the best care giver to my kids while I recover. So I feel a lot of pressure because since the day I found I have scoliosis I think about it everyday.
I have a great surgeon in mind as well. I found out about him on the internet (at scoliosisassociates.com) and also as a coincidence heard about someone who had a successful surgery done by him. I also spoke to nurse (she is a frined of my cousin) that actually operates with this surgeon (Dr. Baron Lonner) and she said that he is one of the best surgeons out there and highly recommended him.
I have a second visit scheduled to this doctor on July 31st and hopefully I can talk more about surgery and what type of surgery he plans on doing. My mom is coming with me this time and this is her first time going to the doctor with me and I really hope she can get some relieve from hearing what the doctor will say. We are really close and I want them to support me because I need to have the surgery done.
So if someone can please tell me whether or not you had a similar experience where your parents were not supporting you. Also, I am very concerned about the fact that after surgery you are not as flexible as before surgery. I was told by all of the doctors I had seen that I am very flexible for my curves and that I may not be as flexible after surgery. I don’t exactly understand what it really feels like not be so flexible and what are the types of things you are unable to do as a result of surgery? And lastly, I just want to know if anyone heard of this doctor or know anything about him.
I really appreciate your time for reading my story and hope someone can give me some advice.
My name is Mariya and I am 24 yrs old. I am a mother of two girls ages 3.5 and 2 yrs. This is my first time in the forum and I love reading all of the stories as it gives me a lot of encouragement.
I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I came to this United States when I was 12 years old. I can't remember my curves at the time but it was just a slight curve that doctors did not need to treat. I had no pain and felt great. After having my second daughter, I definitely saw big changes in my physical appearance although everyone that knows me thinks its not noticeable at all. My shoulders and my waist line are uneven and one hip is lower than the other one. I saw an orthopedic surgeon and found out that I had an S shaped scoliosis and my upper curve was measuring 27 and the lower was 45. The doctor said that I should have the surgery done within the next five years and my husband and I were just a little shocked after we saw the curve in my spine on the x-rays. My second daughter was only 2 months old at the time and I certainly never had thought anything serious about my back because I had no pain. Then I started to feel some back ache and at first thought it was just from being at work and coming home tired and exhausted to two kids that were still in diapers but then I started feeling a lot of pain in my back after I would do simple things like washing dishes or giving baths to my kids. I am more and more uncomfortable doing the things I normally used to do and so I ask my husband or the babysitter to do it for me because I hate to have that kind of pain and I am very stressed and irritated when I am in pain.
I really feel down at times and especially when I can't take care of my own family without the pain. When my back hurts I ask my husband to give me a massage and that works only for a few minutes. My husband is really a great person and he helps me a lot with everything. He believes that I should have the surgery asap and that sooner or later I will have to do it. Friends and family think that I am crazy and that my back looks straight. They also say that their back hurts too and that most people have back problems and I jsut say to them its not the same but then I wonder at times maybe afterall it is normal to have back pain. I feel confused.
I feel very scared of having this surgery and my parents are scared as well. They are really worried about it and they think that it is a very complicated surgery that involves a lot of risks. However doctors make it seem like a very common surgery and they say that the risks are very small. My parents believe that I want the surgery done for cosmetic purposes. I guess our biggest fear is paralysis or nerve damage even though the doctors reassure you that the chances of that happening are really low. Perhaps it’s not an easy decision to make especially when you have a family and kids that really need you.
I am struggling a lot with the decision that I need to make and I agree with my husband but I am still a little nervous and plus my parents are not supporting me on this. I really think that they are just very worried and scared of the outcome. Then they also tell me that I don't know how I would feel after surgery and that the pain may not go away and that surgery may even cause more pain as has its own complications. And so they tell me since there is no guarantee that the pain will go away after surgery then why would go for such a risky surgery where you might become disabled.
I must say that having read so much about scoliosis and treatment options and surgeries I gained a lot of knowledge that I did not have before. It really helped me to overcome my fears somewhat but my parents are just not so informed. They still think that accidents do happen even by the best doctors and they always remind me of the family members that had undergone some sort of complicated surgery and were either disabled or became blind after having an eye surgery.
Lastly, I just want to make a decision because I think that now would be the best time to get the surgery done because I would like to change my job soon as it is very stressful and so I would prefer to get the surgery done before I switch a job and I would get the disability from my work. One other important reason for having the surgery done now is that we have the most incredible babysitter and she takes great care of our kids. I trust her and the kids are so used to her because she had been with them since they were born. She would be leaving the country in a couple of months and I think that she would be the best care giver to my kids while I recover. So I feel a lot of pressure because since the day I found I have scoliosis I think about it everyday.
I have a great surgeon in mind as well. I found out about him on the internet (at scoliosisassociates.com) and also as a coincidence heard about someone who had a successful surgery done by him. I also spoke to nurse (she is a frined of my cousin) that actually operates with this surgeon (Dr. Baron Lonner) and she said that he is one of the best surgeons out there and highly recommended him.
I have a second visit scheduled to this doctor on July 31st and hopefully I can talk more about surgery and what type of surgery he plans on doing. My mom is coming with me this time and this is her first time going to the doctor with me and I really hope she can get some relieve from hearing what the doctor will say. We are really close and I want them to support me because I need to have the surgery done.
So if someone can please tell me whether or not you had a similar experience where your parents were not supporting you. Also, I am very concerned about the fact that after surgery you are not as flexible as before surgery. I was told by all of the doctors I had seen that I am very flexible for my curves and that I may not be as flexible after surgery. I don’t exactly understand what it really feels like not be so flexible and what are the types of things you are unable to do as a result of surgery? And lastly, I just want to know if anyone heard of this doctor or know anything about him.
I really appreciate your time for reading my story and hope someone can give me some advice.
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