Had appointment today for 2nd opinion

[dolores a]

Went to see Dr. Neuwirth today, very impressed with him and his P.A.! I was very calm for some reason, not worried about what the outcome was to be. I have to get an MRI so he will know the full extent of any degeneration and whatnot. Was glad that he allowed me to go to an imaging place in my town. He did tell me the same scenario as my 1st doctor, that I do not need to run out and have this surgery tomorrow, but said I am at that window where the surgery would be more successful than if I wait until I am sixty or so.

I think after getting the MRI done, I will start thinking about surgery a year from now. Has anyone waited that long? I figure it would give me a good long time to get everything in order so my family won't freak out so much. Maybe even a 1 1/2 years from now (maybe this is why I feel so calm, because it's not looming in my face yet!). But I guess I will have to wait to see the Dr. after my results of the MRI are in.

[Susie*Bee]

Dolores-- I am so glad that it went well and you felt calm about it all. Sometimes it takes a little while for the whole situation to sink in (the whole "Yikes!, I've got scoliosis" thing...) Then you can pick yourself up and move on to the next obstacle. Of course, with some of us, each obstacle can throw us for a loop!

Regarding the age/waiting game thing, it's just so hard to know... I had my surgery 2 years after my initial appointment with my scoli specialist... enough time to note the progression (since I hadn't had any x-rays ever or any monitoring, even though a doctor had once mentioned I "had" scoliosis 27 years before) and have me come to grips with the need for the surgery, figure out the logistics of it interrupting my life, job, etc.... I was 56 when I had my surgery, and it can be pretty rough for some of us older gals. I'm glad I didn't wait any longer. But then again, there are several older than I was, and they have bounced back quicker. There are so many reasons why this differs... health and condition, other problems (guess that would come under "health"...), extent of fusion and any other procedures, etc. My thoughts are that there is no immediate rush, but don't put it off too long. There-- no help at all! You'll figure it out, based on your own needs and circumstances.

[briarrose]

Hi Delores,

I'm glad your appointment went well and you feel comfortable with your doctor. I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 12 and was told I wouldn't progress anymore at age 16. I had horrible pain when I was 20/21 so I saw a specialist and had progressed a lot. It took me 3 years and 4 scoliosis specialists to find a doctor who took me seriously. Last May, my surgeon told me I was going to need surgery at some point in my life and he thought the sooner the better regarding healing and correction. I waited a year which was good. Everything fell into place and I had plenty of time to get prepared. The timing was perfect as I had no plans for this summer (except that I missed out on an internship).

A year to a year and a half sounds good and reasonable. Best of luck with your decision!

Shell

[debbei]

Dolores,

I knew you'd like him; both he and his PA (was it Gilda?) are sweethearts. I'm glad you're feeling better about things. Yes, they are letting me do the MRI out here in NJ too. Why go into the city just for that? My MRI is going to be in Sept, because they don't want it to be too far ahead of the Oct 15th date.

The only thing I would hesitate about waiting TOO long is not your, but the Dr.'s age. LOL I looked him up, and he's 59. I wonder how long he will still perform surgery? I bet at least for a few more years, but if I were to wait, that would be something I'd think about.

Give me a call when you have a chance. I should be home tomorrow afternoon, I have that appt. I told you about in the AM.

[ladare]

Delores, I think waiting a reasonable amount of time is worth it for the reason you stated "figure it would give me a good long time to get everything in order so my family won't freak out so much.". I was diagnosed in my early 20s, and like Briarrose, also told it would not progress, but it did at a slow and steady rate until this past year when it increased 8* in one year. The pain level mirrored the curve increase. It's been three years monitoring the increase, hoping it would stop, and only four months seriously considering surgery. The surprise for me is that when we agreed to go ahead, my surgery date was just three weeks out (one week from today). So needless to say it's been about the only thing I've been thinking about, talking about, planning for, and it is all-consumming. I would not recommend a three-week waiting period, but I don't think I would wait very long either. I did not object to the three week date because summer is the best time for me to be gone from my job, and if not this summer I would have had to wait until next summer, and I can't possibly imagine living with my pain level another year. And my husband would probably get tired correcting all the stupid or silly things I've done on pain meds... I guess I'm trying to say: think about the best window for you and your family and go with it, whether it be 3 months or 15 months from now. Best wishes in moving to this new phase! Lisa

[dolores a]

You know Susie, I think I keep forgetting how old I am at times, I'll be 55 in November -- I might have to rethink the 1 1/2 year span. First I will get the MRI out of the way and then have another consultation with Dr. to see what else might be going on besides the curvature. It is similar with me in that I knew I had scoliosis since I was very young child, but no x-rays to go by to see the progression. The only way I know that it was progressing were the changes in my body, ribs in the front sticking out, hump on my back, and assuming the pain is from these changes. I think I have to just take this one step at a time!

Actually this is why I love this forum, I get so many pieces of advise of things that I did not even think of. Shell, I did not account for the healing part of all of this -- if you start adding all this up, I'll be sixty already!

And Lisa, I'll bet your a bit anxious with surgery just around the corner, but you sound like you have things under control. I'll be watching for your progress! It sounds like you have close to what I have in the lumbar area, I also have a minor thoracic curve of 33 which the dr. was not too concerned with as he wants the mri of my lumbar area and down.

Hey Debbe, I'll call you tomorrow from work -- and by the way, yes the P.A. was Gilda.