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  • Just got back from seeing specialist

    Hi,

    Well just got back from appointment, and the bad news is i have to have surgery. I was pretty prepared for it as i did some research and new exactly what he was talking about. I got upset when he went through the risks but i know i just have to trust my doctor. His the best in my state for adult scoliosis and in which his in charge of the Spinal Deformity department.
    Well he was pretty suprised as my top curve had progressed from being 50* at the age of 15 yrs old to now being 60* at 21yrs old but the bottom curve has only moved from being 48* to now being 49* which is a good sign. But he did say usually bottom curves progress more then the top and in which i have congenital blocked vertrebras in the mid thoracic curve. So anyway i was told i will be fused from T 3 - L 3 which is pretty good i won't lose to much flexibility. I will need to have anterior and posterior which im upset about. Can anyone share there exerience which this exact surgery? As i know everyone is different but i would like to hear about other peoples experiences. They said my top curve would only be corrected to around 40* as its alot harder to correct a spine with congenital adnormalties. But the lower should be corrected too a really low degree. One rib will be removed and a couple of discs will be taken out and something about a cage being put in, plus all the rods,screws and hooks...
    Anyway he said this surgery is no urgency i can wait another 5 or 10 yrs to have it but it needs to be done one day. Im still young so im thinking of doing it next year sometime as i want to get it out of the way the younger the better.
    Look forward to hearing from people with similiar experience. (sorry for typing too much)
    Had surgery May 28th 2007 Anterior/Posterior getting fused from T3 - L3

    http://curvedgirl.blogspot.com

  • #2
    Hi LeeLee...

    I'm fused T4-L3, and had both anterior and posterior surgery. Mine was done in one 11-1-/2 session, but it's often done one week apart. While I'm not as inflexible as I'd envisioned I would be, I do notice differences.

    As your surgeon said, there's no rush to do this surgery. But, since you know you have to have it, it would definitely be easier for you now than it would be in 5-10 years. So, if your life allows for it now, it's probably the right time to go ahead and schedule it.

    Regards,
    Linda
    Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
    Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

    Comment


    • #3
      Thanks for your reply Linda. Mine will be getting done in one day and it will be an 8 hour operation. He did say you will feel different down towards the and of fusion but it won't enable me from doing anything different.
      Had surgery May 28th 2007 Anterior/Posterior getting fused from T3 - L3

      http://curvedgirl.blogspot.com

      Comment


      • #4
        Leelee -

        Sometimes it's hard to accept the fact that you have to have surgery. If I can give you one piece of advice, it's to change the way you view it. You started your post by saying "the bad news is I have to have surgery". Having surgery can be the best thing you do for yourself. The longer you put it off, the harder it is to recover. You have the advantage of being young. I'm only 32, but it would have been easier if I had the surgery 10 years ago. As LindaRacine pointed out, if you can do it now it would probably be worth it in the long run. That said, only you can make this decision.
        Brandi
        Congenital Scoliosis, 58* lumbar curve
        Combined Anterior/Posterior Spinal Fusion w/Laminectomy May 22, 2006
        L1-S1
        Dr. William Lauerman
        Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC
        Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy @ L3, Posterior Spinal Fusion L2-L4, rod removal with re-instrumentation T10-S1 and Laminectomy February 5, 2009 to correct flatback
        http://brandi816.wordpress.com/

        Comment


        • #5
          Hi Leelee,

          I have to say that it is good to get surgery at a younger age, b/c the recovery is easier. On the other side, waiting a few years will not make that big of a difference, and you may want to take your time, and if you want get second opinions on the procedure to see if they are alike from other surgeon's opinions. I had revision surgery at 34 this past year, and even if it wasn't AS big as my first surgery, it was still big(they opened me even more, and changed almost all the hardware and added more) but I recovered a lot quicker, and that's mainly b/c I was in better shape at 34 than 26, had more weight on(in my case helped, as I was very thin at 26), and also was better prepared b/c of past experience and reading info here. You know that the fusion puts more pressure on the lower and upper vertebreas too. IMO, you should take your time and don't rush into it, you're still very young.

          Just be sure you trust your surgeon and that you're ready emotionally, physically and psychologically, that is a HUGE help.

          Good luck.
          35 y/old female from Montreal, Canada
          Diagnosed with scoliosis(double major) at age 12, wore Boston brace 4 years at least 23 hours a day-curve progressed
          Surgery age 26 for 60 degree curve in Oct. 1997 by Dr.Max Aebi-fused T5 to L2
          Surgery age 28 for a hook removal in Feb. 1999 by Dr.Max Aebi-pain free for 5 years
          Surgery age 34 in Dec.2005 for broken rod replacement, bigger screws and crosslinks added and pseudarthrosis(non union) by Dr. Jean Ouellet

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