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Hi,
I saw my doctor on Tuesday and got some unexpected news.
When I saw him the last time 4 weeks ago I complained about the pain in the upper back and my curves are TL at 45* and T 22*. Based on what I told him about my pain and where the pain is the doctor recommended correcting both the thorocolumbar curve 45* and the upper curve 22*. He said he would prefer to only correct the large curve and leave the upper (smaller) curve not fused but since I complained that my pain is in the upper back he said he would correct two curves. He said he would do it with a posterior surgery.
I then did a lot of research and found that when the larger curve is corrected that the smaller curve in my case would correct on its own about 10 to 15 degrees, which would make the upper curve as little as 7 to 12 degrees. I also spoke to many physical therapists and saw other doctors (got more opinions) and they all said that there is no need to correct the upper curve and that my pain is associted with scoliosis and mostly the larger curve. My husband beleives that the pain is caused by my poor posture and that causes the back pain.
With all that information I went to see the doctor again and I told him that I am not sure if I want to have fusion in the upper curve and he said that as he firsrt told me at the first appointment that it is not necessary to correct that curve but since I complained about the upper back pain he thought of correcting both curves because if he left it it I may still be having pain in the upper back after the surgery and he thought I would not want to take that chance. Now he told me that after he spoke to me again he realized that the pain is most likely caused by the way i sit or stand which is not straight due to the lower curve and that I should get the lower curve corrected and that should reduce or eliminate the pain. If I still had the progression of the upper curve then he said that can be taken care of at a later time. He said that he thought about it and that if i was his wife or daughter he would just correct the TLcurve.
So here is the unexpected news: he said he would do the surgery with the anterior approach. That is something that I never researched so much because I never thought I would get that type of surgery. I thought that I will be getting both curves corrected and that could only be done using the posterior approach.
He said that he could do it either way but he would recommend it doing from the front because he can get a much better correction, less blood loss, less recovery time and he just felt that it would be best to use the anterior approach and that I would be very happy with the results and that most of his patients are very happy with this type of surgery. I am so not prepared for it because I read in the scoliosis book that a study was done of both approaches and there were 30 percent of complications in those patients who had anterior surgery and only 2 percent in those who had it posterior. Also, he said that they will deflate the lung, remove the rib and take out the disks. And that I will have a chest tube for two days. IT just seems that the anterior approach is much riskier as oppose to posterior. I guess I wasnt prepared for this and just don't know what to do. He said that it is basically up to me and I can let him know which approach i prefer. He said that in my case he could get great results doing it either way and I have to make a decision. My husband thinks that the doctor knows what is best for me and that I should just trust him and not go so crazy.
My surgery is on September 19th and I would appreciate it if anyone has any advise or jsut some information that they can share that will make it easier for me to make the right decision.
Thank you so much!!!!
Mariya
I saw my doctor on Tuesday and got some unexpected news.
When I saw him the last time 4 weeks ago I complained about the pain in the upper back and my curves are TL at 45* and T 22*. Based on what I told him about my pain and where the pain is the doctor recommended correcting both the thorocolumbar curve 45* and the upper curve 22*. He said he would prefer to only correct the large curve and leave the upper (smaller) curve not fused but since I complained that my pain is in the upper back he said he would correct two curves. He said he would do it with a posterior surgery.
I then did a lot of research and found that when the larger curve is corrected that the smaller curve in my case would correct on its own about 10 to 15 degrees, which would make the upper curve as little as 7 to 12 degrees. I also spoke to many physical therapists and saw other doctors (got more opinions) and they all said that there is no need to correct the upper curve and that my pain is associted with scoliosis and mostly the larger curve. My husband beleives that the pain is caused by my poor posture and that causes the back pain.
With all that information I went to see the doctor again and I told him that I am not sure if I want to have fusion in the upper curve and he said that as he firsrt told me at the first appointment that it is not necessary to correct that curve but since I complained about the upper back pain he thought of correcting both curves because if he left it it I may still be having pain in the upper back after the surgery and he thought I would not want to take that chance. Now he told me that after he spoke to me again he realized that the pain is most likely caused by the way i sit or stand which is not straight due to the lower curve and that I should get the lower curve corrected and that should reduce or eliminate the pain. If I still had the progression of the upper curve then he said that can be taken care of at a later time. He said that he thought about it and that if i was his wife or daughter he would just correct the TLcurve.
So here is the unexpected news: he said he would do the surgery with the anterior approach. That is something that I never researched so much because I never thought I would get that type of surgery. I thought that I will be getting both curves corrected and that could only be done using the posterior approach.
He said that he could do it either way but he would recommend it doing from the front because he can get a much better correction, less blood loss, less recovery time and he just felt that it would be best to use the anterior approach and that I would be very happy with the results and that most of his patients are very happy with this type of surgery. I am so not prepared for it because I read in the scoliosis book that a study was done of both approaches and there were 30 percent of complications in those patients who had anterior surgery and only 2 percent in those who had it posterior. Also, he said that they will deflate the lung, remove the rib and take out the disks. And that I will have a chest tube for two days. IT just seems that the anterior approach is much riskier as oppose to posterior. I guess I wasnt prepared for this and just don't know what to do. He said that it is basically up to me and I can let him know which approach i prefer. He said that in my case he could get great results doing it either way and I have to make a decision. My husband thinks that the doctor knows what is best for me and that I should just trust him and not go so crazy.
My surgery is on September 19th and I would appreciate it if anyone has any advise or jsut some information that they can share that will make it easier for me to make the right decision.
Thank you so much!!!!
Mariya
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