Travelling to see a Specialist

[KristyH]

Well I finally got an appointment to see an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in adult scoliosis. Only thing is he's in Ottawa and I'm in Halifax. But that's not a problem. I will get on a plane on March 1st and go. I can't wait to see what he has to say. I have a 45 degree lumbar curve and was just finally had xrays done on my thoracic spine last week. My physiotherapist told me today there is a definite curve in my thoracic spine as well but she's not authorized to give me the exact degree of the curve because there was no report attached to the xray. My doctor should be calling me this week to let me know. I'm hoping I don't have a double major curve because I think that requires extensive surgery. Maybe it's just a thoracolumbar curve. I will find out soon enough I'm sure.

[caitlyn'smom]

other nova scotians??

Hi KristyH. I'd love to chat if you'd like--we live in NS as well. We're dealing with pediatrics though. My daughter was just diagnosed at 7 years old with mild curve. I'd love to talk with others who have experience with system in NS. Feel free to send me a private message.

[VincySweety]

Hi Kristy,

I live in Toronto, and was wondering how you managed to get an appointment with the specialist in Ottawa, because I was thinking of getting a 3rd opinion, and it's really difficult to get in to see another doctor. Also I was wondering how old you are? I am 19 and have curves of 48T & 40L but I believe that the lumbar curve is compensatory. I'm currently comtemplating having surgery in June with the first specialist I saw who recommended surgery, but would like to get another opinion if at all possible before I decide. Please let me know!

[KristyH]

My uncle's brother-in-law is a doctor at the Ottawa Civic Hospital so he asked him who the best orthopedic surgeon who specializes in adult scoliosis would be and he told him Dr. Chow. Now I don't know if I got in early because I knew somebody (which is really sad if that's the case) or if it's really not that hard to get an appointment. Because the wait in NS is over a year to see an orthopedic specialist and I don't want to wait that long. However the receptionist told me that I can just come in whenever my plane arrives and he'll see me then. I just hope he doesn't brush me off and tell me stuff I already know. If I'm travelling that far I'm hoping he'll spend some time figuring out what to do with me.. lol. My family doctor has told me I need an MRI but that he can't send me for one, only an orthopedic can. So I may have to get that done there as well. I'm still waiting to find out what the degree of my thoracic curve is. I don't expect it to be worse than my lumbar curve. Anyway I'll let you know how the appointment goes. Hopefully he's as good as they say he is. He's the orthopedic specialist for the Ottawa Senators and I was told by April it would be hard to get in to see him "due to his committment with the Senators because they'll be in the playoffs then".

[KristyH]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I am 21 years old. I'll be 22 next month. And like you, I have a double major curve. I think I would be surprised if this doctor actually recommended surgery. At this point we're not sure how quickly the curves are progressing because I was just diagnosed last year. However my main concern is that I'm almost sure I didn't have scoliosis at the time I hit my growth spurt. If I did it would have been very minor at that time. I am 99% it has progressed rapidly in the last 2 years because I do have a noticeable deformity and I KNOW I didn't look like this as a teenager. I would have noticed it for sure. It is rare for a curve to progress that quickly as an adult so my main concern is stopping the progression but at this age I don't think that's possible without surgery. Ahh! I can't wait until March 1st. It's driving me nuts. If you have any other questions, let me know.

[debigolebiwski]

Vincy.........

Your curve measurments are much like mine. I have a 50/41 curve. I am in severe pain every day but I do find that the weather has alot to do with the degree of pain. I wore the milwaukee brace from about 2-3 yr old to 18ish. Then, I did nothing. I waited years before having any trouble. (The doctors told me that eventually I wouldn't be able ot walk) They wanted to do surgery when I was young, but now that I am 49, they think the surgery would be entirely too much for me. They told me it would take three or four different surgeries then they might fail because of my osteoporosis. But my point is you are not alone. The pain isn't in your mind as I have also had doctors tell me, because "scoliosis is a painless disease". Boiy were they wrong!