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  • Traveling out of town for surgery

    I was wondering for those of you who have travelled out of town out of town for surgery:

    1. Did you make plans in advance in case there were post-op complications? Or if you had complications, what did you do?

    2, Was the doctor able to prescribe medications in another state? If not, how did you manage ?

    3. How often were post op visists (in my case, for my 14 year old dd)?

    I'm not questioning wether it's worth the trouble, I'm willing to go wherever we decide is best, just wasn't sure how these things would be dealt with.

    Thanks,
    Sherie

  • #2
    Hi Sherie...

    You may want to check out these threads:

    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3673
    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3729

    Regards,
    Linda
    Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
    Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

    Comment


    • #3
      Hi Sherie,

      I can answer the second question. A few months post-op, my son needed to take an antibiotic prior to a dental visit. I had no problem filling the prescription - even though it was written by an out-of-state doctor.
      mariaf305@yahoo.com
      Mom to David, age 17, braced June 2000 to March 2004
      Vertebral Body Stapling 3/10/04 for 40 degree curve (currently mid 20's)

      https://www.facebook.com/groups/ScoliosisTethering/

      http://pediatricspinefoundation.org/

      Comment


      • #4
        Linda and Maria, thank you for your replies.

        Sherie

        Comment


        • #5
          Sherie,

          I will be having my next surgery in Amarillo, Tx. We live in Houston, Tx. It's about a 12 hour car ride or a 3 hour plane ride. I think we will be flying there and back, but driving hasn't been taken off the table yet. My surgeon here in Houston will be taking over with the post op care. I have a pain management specialist already so he will still be involved. I have to go back to Amarillo once or twice during the next year for a follow up with Dr. LaGrone. Otherwise my surgeon here will be doing the rest of the checkups.
          Theresa

          April 8 & 12, 2004 - Anterior/Posterior surgery 15 hours & 7 hours
          Thorasic - 79 degree down to 22
          Lumbar - 44 degree down to 18
          Fused T2 to sacrum
          June 2, 2005 - Pedicle subtraction osteotomy @L3 7 hours
          MAY 21, 2007 - Pedicle subtraction osteotomy @ L2, extended the fusion to S2 and added pelvic instrumentation 9 hours

          FUSED T2 - SACRUM 2

          Comment


          • #6
            Hi Theresa

            I remember you said you see Dr. Reitman here in Houston, did he perfrom your original surgeries? Did Dr. Lagrone consult with him about your post op care? I'm waiting to hear from Scottish Rite in Dallas for an appt so I will be considering them too. That's only an hour flight on Southwest so I don't think that would be a big problem even for follow up care.

            Comment


            • #7
              Sherie,
              Yes, Dr. Reitman did my original scoliosis surgery and a revision surgery a year later. When he did my first surgery they found that I have a hemi-vertebra that didn't show on any of my films. Also I had some vertebra that had fused together. I have a big problem with the balance issue now. The first revision surgery fixed a good portion of it but the amount that I have left is still to much for my body to handle. So now I will be seeing Dr. LaGrone with Dr. Reitman's blessings. Dr. Reitman offered his services of post op care when I told him that I was going to see Dr. LaGrone to see if he could do anything more. I had actually asked Dr. Reitman if he would do the surgery that Dr. LaGrone would recommend and he said we'll see. But then he said if this is one of Dr. LaGrone's special skills I should probably have him do the surgery and he would do my post op care. When I saw Dr. LaGrone he said that he would consult with Dr. Reitman if I wanted him to do the surgery. After seeing Dr. R's work on x-ray Dr. L. said that Dr. R. would be able to do the surgery just fine. I am going with Dr. L. because in a way Dr. R. suggested it. Once the surgery is done, Dr. L. will consult with Dr. R. Dr. L. puts in stitches that won't need to be removed so I won't have to worry about that.

              You can get cheap rates to Dallas on Southwest all the time. It seems that for Amarillo it's always $200 roundtrip.
              Last edited by Theresa; 02-26-2007, 11:45 AM.
              Theresa

              April 8 & 12, 2004 - Anterior/Posterior surgery 15 hours & 7 hours
              Thorasic - 79 degree down to 22
              Lumbar - 44 degree down to 18
              Fused T2 to sacrum
              June 2, 2005 - Pedicle subtraction osteotomy @L3 7 hours
              MAY 21, 2007 - Pedicle subtraction osteotomy @ L2, extended the fusion to S2 and added pelvic instrumentation 9 hours

              FUSED T2 - SACRUM 2

              Comment


              • #8
                Wow, a 22 hour surgery is incredible, your poor family must have been sick with worry. Did he expect it to go on so long? If you don't mind me asking, how old were you when you had the 1st surgery? I hope this one works out for you, I've heard nothing but good things about Dr. Lagrone so you should be in very good hands.

                Comment


                • #9
                  I was 48 when I had my first surgery almost 3 years ago. The 22 hours was combined total for the two days. I have changed it to read 15 hours and 7 hours. He expected the first day to be about 12 hours and the 2nd day to be about 3 hours. The first day took longer than planned because they found those problems that I told you about in the other message. Also, another problem that came up was that they could not get the titanium rods to form to my curves. When the 2nd day of surgery came he had to take out all of the screws, rods, wires etc. that were already put in. They were a different brand than the stainless steel equipment
                  Last edited by Theresa; 02-26-2007, 11:39 AM.
                  Theresa

                  April 8 & 12, 2004 - Anterior/Posterior surgery 15 hours & 7 hours
                  Thorasic - 79 degree down to 22
                  Lumbar - 44 degree down to 18
                  Fused T2 to sacrum
                  June 2, 2005 - Pedicle subtraction osteotomy @L3 7 hours
                  MAY 21, 2007 - Pedicle subtraction osteotomy @ L2, extended the fusion to S2 and added pelvic instrumentation 9 hours

                  FUSED T2 - SACRUM 2

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Hi Theresa,
                    Just wondering where are they extending the fusion to on your upcoming surgery. It looks like your whole spine is pretty much fused. Do you function ok with the long fusion? We're going for another opinion in a few weeks for my daughter, but we've already been told a possiblity of fusing from T4-L4.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Sherie,

                      The sacrum is kinda triangle shaped and a few inches long. Right now I am fused to the very top portion and he is going to take it down about another inch I think. He also might put in the iliac screws.
                      Theresa

                      April 8 & 12, 2004 - Anterior/Posterior surgery 15 hours & 7 hours
                      Thorasic - 79 degree down to 22
                      Lumbar - 44 degree down to 18
                      Fused T2 to sacrum
                      June 2, 2005 - Pedicle subtraction osteotomy @L3 7 hours
                      MAY 21, 2007 - Pedicle subtraction osteotomy @ L2, extended the fusion to S2 and added pelvic instrumentation 9 hours

                      FUSED T2 - SACRUM 2

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        hi more question ,what is pedicul subtraction osteotomy and why?or do you know of any links to show what it is exactly.
                        thanks

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by bonjour
                          hi more question ,what is pedicul subtraction osteotomy and why?or do you know of any links to show what it is exactly.
                          thanks
                          You can see drawings of all types of spine osteotomies here:

                          http://www.spineuniverse.com/display...rticle858.html
                          Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
                          ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
                          Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

                          Comment

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