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Hi
I'm new here, but I have been reading the posts since early January.
A little (alot) info about me...I was diagnosed with scoliosis when i was about 13 and wore a milwake brace for 4 years.I am now 42. When i was taken out of the brace, I was told there was no need for any more follow up as curves do not increase after you stop growing and they are less than 40 degrees. Nor does scoliosis cause any pain. In my early 20s I asked my Dr. to x-ray my back and was told no need, any back pain would not be from scoliosis and was most likely from taking care of two small children. When I hit 37, I could not stand the pain any longer and asked again to have my back x-rayed. At this time the curves were at 48 degrees, but felt to be balanced and I was still told scoliosis does not cause pain. I did go for pain management and tried many things for a couple of years before a Dr. finally said that they are finding scoliosis does cause considerable pain in some people. My back has been x-rayed yearly for the last 3 years and depending on who reads the x-rays, you get a different degree. In April 2006 I had to have cervical spine fusion from C4 - C6 and the surgeon noticed I did not sit straight and told me to have the scoliosis followed up as soon as I recovered from that surgery. In August 2006 I had a complete set of x-rays including bending and the curves were now at 54 degrees with a severe side shift. In the bending x-rays, the bottom curve completely straightened, but there was no change in the top curve. At the appt with that surgeon, he told my husband and I that he felt it was to late for surgery and I would most likely be in a wheelchair in 5 years. He also said he was going to a scoliosis conference that weekend and he would bring my charts and x-rays with him and see what information he could find.This is the same surgeion who did my cervical surgery, and is a wonderful surgon, but does not specialize in scoliosis. When I went back in Jan. 2007 he said good news, He found a surgeon covered by our insurance who said he could do the surgery and give me a good correction. He happened to be the surgeon who corrected my nieces curves a couple of years ago.
I saw Dr. Bains Jan. 14 and he gave us a lot of hope, I agreed to the surgery, but I told him I wanted to wait until May 2007.
Now for my first question, I thought he told me the rods would run from T4 - L4 but he would only be fusing the bottom three disks, that the rods would hold the rest of the spine in place. Has anyone ever heard of this?or did I not understand what he was saying? I will be seeing him again before the surgery, as I called and asked for another consoltation because I have so many questions.
Thanks,
Patty
I'm new here, but I have been reading the posts since early January.
A little (alot) info about me...I was diagnosed with scoliosis when i was about 13 and wore a milwake brace for 4 years.I am now 42. When i was taken out of the brace, I was told there was no need for any more follow up as curves do not increase after you stop growing and they are less than 40 degrees. Nor does scoliosis cause any pain. In my early 20s I asked my Dr. to x-ray my back and was told no need, any back pain would not be from scoliosis and was most likely from taking care of two small children. When I hit 37, I could not stand the pain any longer and asked again to have my back x-rayed. At this time the curves were at 48 degrees, but felt to be balanced and I was still told scoliosis does not cause pain. I did go for pain management and tried many things for a couple of years before a Dr. finally said that they are finding scoliosis does cause considerable pain in some people. My back has been x-rayed yearly for the last 3 years and depending on who reads the x-rays, you get a different degree. In April 2006 I had to have cervical spine fusion from C4 - C6 and the surgeon noticed I did not sit straight and told me to have the scoliosis followed up as soon as I recovered from that surgery. In August 2006 I had a complete set of x-rays including bending and the curves were now at 54 degrees with a severe side shift. In the bending x-rays, the bottom curve completely straightened, but there was no change in the top curve. At the appt with that surgeon, he told my husband and I that he felt it was to late for surgery and I would most likely be in a wheelchair in 5 years. He also said he was going to a scoliosis conference that weekend and he would bring my charts and x-rays with him and see what information he could find.This is the same surgeion who did my cervical surgery, and is a wonderful surgon, but does not specialize in scoliosis. When I went back in Jan. 2007 he said good news, He found a surgeon covered by our insurance who said he could do the surgery and give me a good correction. He happened to be the surgeon who corrected my nieces curves a couple of years ago.
I saw Dr. Bains Jan. 14 and he gave us a lot of hope, I agreed to the surgery, but I told him I wanted to wait until May 2007.
Now for my first question, I thought he told me the rods would run from T4 - L4 but he would only be fusing the bottom three disks, that the rods would hold the rest of the spine in place. Has anyone ever heard of this?or did I not understand what he was saying? I will be seeing him again before the surgery, as I called and asked for another consoltation because I have so many questions.
Thanks,
Patty
Me too!!!! My left hand usually feels colder to me than my right, though apparently not to the doctors. They said that was in my HEAD!
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