Surgery or SpineCor

[glenda87]

Hello Everyone,

I am a 19 year old female w/ scoliosis. I have two curves: a 55 degree lower curve, and a slight upper curve (sorry I've forgotten the measurements). I feel like I'm at the point in my life where it is critical that I decide rather or not I should have surgery.

I've been told 2 different things: surgery is my only option and to consider Spinecor (which I've heard mixed reviews when considering patients over 18)

I'm an upcoming college sophomore w/ big plans for my future and I wonder if my scoliosis will hinder my future endeavors.

Please help, any advice will be greatly appreciated.... Anyone had experience w/ Spinecor at age 19? My sister had surgery w/ Shriners and she's doing great.... I'm very torn b/w the two options...

I'm in the Mississippi area, so if anyone could recommend a doctor or specialist that would be great!

THANKS!

[Cina2005]

Hey Glenda

I'm from Australia and I have 2 curves 46 degree curve (on the top) and 48 degree curve (on the bottom). I have the 'S' curve scoliosis but it goes from left to right instead of the other way round

I only decided 3 months ago to have surgery due to the curves getting worse by a degree or two a year and I'm only 20.

Try and get a third opinon on what the best option is.

Hope this helps.

Jacinta

[Loren]

Hey Glenda. I'm 19 year old female from Wisconsin, and have a 54 degree lumbar curve. My dr. said that bracing wouldn't be any good because I'm too old, and I'm actually scheduled to have surgery next week. He also said it was really my only option in which I could recieve signifagant correction. For the longest time I was totally against having the surgery, but my dr. advised that I'd most likely need it at some point in my life. I decided to be brave and go ahead with it and get it over and done with. My curve is rapidly progressing, and it's harder to get good correction once the degree of the curve gets really high. Plus recovery is easier when you're young. There are also many other reasons I decieded to go ahead with it.
I'm in college too, and I don't believe my surgery will have that great of an impact on my future, except to increase my quality of life (that's the hope). If you go ahead with the surgery, it'd be best to have it in the summer so you don't have to miss any school. You could always try the spincor thing for a school year and see if it has any signifagant benefits. If you're not happy with the results, you can always have surgery at any point in your life. Another reason why I choose to go ahead with the surgery is because I'm still covered under my parent's insurance plan, and once I finish school I'm on my own. I know I woun't be able to afford it. This might be another thing you want to consider.
I hope this helps a bit. Good luck with everything.

[glenda87]

Thanks

Thanks 4 your replies so far....keep them coming (please!)

To Loren:

Thanks for your reply. I was really concerned about my graduation date and also my summer internship possibilites.... If I decide to have the surgery I'd like to do it ASAP (this summer). I hadn't really thought about the fact that I'd no longer be covered under my parents insurance in a couple of years, so thats a major point to consider.

Thanks again.

[LATigner]

To Glenda

I don't know where you are located but my daughter has a wonderful doctor who has treated scoliosis for about 15 years. He is a Spinecor provider and currently treats adults as well as children. He's located in Tustin, CA but if you are too far away, I'm sure he'd be willing to discuss the Spinecor option with you on the phone. I know they have gotten results with the Spinecor for older patients - some degree reduction, pain and headache relief, stabilization, etc. My daughter (age 17) wears the Spinecor at night to help stabilize her curve. She originally got 10 degrees of correction but being the teenager she is, wouldn't wear the brace the prescribed number of hours so I'm just taking what I can get her to do. If you want our doctors name and number, just send me a private message and I'll get it to you.