Hey everyone,
Well as you all know, I've seen a specialist about my scoliosis before, and was told that I have severe scoliosis and will need surgery. I had an MRI done and tentatively booked June 18, 2007 as the date for surgery.
In November I got a second opinion. This doctor gave me a completely different story... he said that my curves are in the gray area, because above 50 degrees will get worse and need surgery, and below 30 should stay the same. My curves are 48T & 40L according to my last x-ray done in June 2006. But he suggested that I do nothing for now and come back to see him in a year. Well when he said that I was a little confused, so I told him that I had seen another doctor before him and I told him what she said. It turns out that he knows her, and he said that it's not the first time another doctor has had a different opinion from him, but some surgeons are more aggressive than others, and he's not a very aggresssive surgeon, because the curve has to prove to him that it needs surgery. Also he said that the first doctor I saw sees alot of younger patients (which is true) and that she may be using the criteria for me that she uses to decide if younger patients need surgery.
So needless to say, I am now completely and utterly confused smiles-square.gif ... because by the time he wants me to come to see him again, I would've already gotten surgery from the other doctor if I decide to go through with it. Arg... now I dunno wat to do... I just want to do what's best... I dunno if it would be better in the long run for me to have surgery when I'm younger... but then again I dunno if I'll need surgery or not in the long run... or if my scoliosis will end up causing other problems for me... if only I had a crystal ball. This surgery is no small deal either... it's a HUGE deal... oh boy... I really dunno what to do... what do you guys think? I can definitely use the advice.
I have an appointment to see my original specialist in February... so I'm keeping that appointment and telling her what this doctor says... see what she thinks... I dunno if that'll help though... might just make me even more confused.
Please help. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Well as you all know, I've seen a specialist about my scoliosis before, and was told that I have severe scoliosis and will need surgery. I had an MRI done and tentatively booked June 18, 2007 as the date for surgery.
In November I got a second opinion. This doctor gave me a completely different story... he said that my curves are in the gray area, because above 50 degrees will get worse and need surgery, and below 30 should stay the same. My curves are 48T & 40L according to my last x-ray done in June 2006. But he suggested that I do nothing for now and come back to see him in a year. Well when he said that I was a little confused, so I told him that I had seen another doctor before him and I told him what she said. It turns out that he knows her, and he said that it's not the first time another doctor has had a different opinion from him, but some surgeons are more aggressive than others, and he's not a very aggresssive surgeon, because the curve has to prove to him that it needs surgery. Also he said that the first doctor I saw sees alot of younger patients (which is true) and that she may be using the criteria for me that she uses to decide if younger patients need surgery.
So needless to say, I am now completely and utterly confused smiles-square.gif ... because by the time he wants me to come to see him again, I would've already gotten surgery from the other doctor if I decide to go through with it. Arg... now I dunno wat to do... I just want to do what's best... I dunno if it would be better in the long run for me to have surgery when I'm younger... but then again I dunno if I'll need surgery or not in the long run... or if my scoliosis will end up causing other problems for me... if only I had a crystal ball. This surgery is no small deal either... it's a HUGE deal... oh boy... I really dunno what to do... what do you guys think? I can definitely use the advice.
I have an appointment to see my original specialist in February... so I'm keeping that appointment and telling her what this doctor says... see what she thinks... I dunno if that'll help though... might just make me even more confused.
Please help. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
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