Hello, everyone:
I've been reading your messages (in Surgical:First Time) for the past couple of weeks but I was not set up to send messages until now.
I am a woman in her late 50s (young for my age, so that means I'm in good physical shape) who has ideopathic scoliosis. All my adult life my lumbar curve was 45 degrees/ sacral: around 20 degrees. I have suffered from chronic pain for a number of years, and have been going to a pain clinic doctor for around three years. Surgery was not recommended, since my curvature was apparently stable. This doctor recently referred me to an orthopedic surgeon, the best in San Diego, who specializes in spinal deformities. She did this because my pain was increasing. He ordered an Xray which indicated that my lumbar curve has progressed to 55 degrees/sacral: around 38 degrees. So I will be having a spinal fusion sometime next Spring. Having watched both my mother (at age 70! Too late!) and my son (at 14) go through difficult fusion surgeries, I swore I'd never have one. Now I know I must, since my curves are progressing. So I'm here, looking for your knowledge and support. Many of the accounts I've been reading on this site have already helped me. I realize the need for a support network as I go through this next step. And I'm scared. I know, this is normal, but it still isn't easy. So I'm reaching out to all of you to help me cope.
Thanks,
Brynn
I've been reading your messages (in Surgical:First Time) for the past couple of weeks but I was not set up to send messages until now.
I am a woman in her late 50s (young for my age, so that means I'm in good physical shape) who has ideopathic scoliosis. All my adult life my lumbar curve was 45 degrees/ sacral: around 20 degrees. I have suffered from chronic pain for a number of years, and have been going to a pain clinic doctor for around three years. Surgery was not recommended, since my curvature was apparently stable. This doctor recently referred me to an orthopedic surgeon, the best in San Diego, who specializes in spinal deformities. She did this because my pain was increasing. He ordered an Xray which indicated that my lumbar curve has progressed to 55 degrees/sacral: around 38 degrees. So I will be having a spinal fusion sometime next Spring. Having watched both my mother (at age 70! Too late!) and my son (at 14) go through difficult fusion surgeries, I swore I'd never have one. Now I know I must, since my curves are progressing. So I'm here, looking for your knowledge and support. Many of the accounts I've been reading on this site have already helped me. I realize the need for a support network as I go through this next step. And I'm scared. I know, this is normal, but it still isn't easy. So I'm reaching out to all of you to help me cope.
Thanks,
Brynn
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