Hey everyone i am new here!

[Amanda]

Well I am 21 years old and i have scoliosis...duh thats why i am here! I live in New York City and i am currently studying to become a nurse. I should be goin in the nursing program in the 2 months! Well my problem is that i have a 68 degree curve in my lumbar spine.I dont have any leg pains but i do get pain from sitting or standing to long. I seen a doc when i was 16 and she told me that i would need surgery... i got soo teffiered that i never went back to her.... my parents never pushed me either! So about 2 weeks ago i went to see another doc. and he told me that i need surgery but he told me that i should wait until i am in more pain. I found that odd because if i wait any longer i know that the surgery is goin to be harder. So i have another apt. with another doctor (doctor Merola) on oct 13. so we'll see how that goes.Has anyone herd of him? or seen him? I would like to have surgery in the summer so that school will not be a factor and hopefully i would be able to go back in sept. I am sorry if this is long! I have read a lot of other post on this site and they helped me a lot but i am still extremely nervouse about this surgery... if i do it now! I know that New york has some of the best doctors but my insurance doesnt have them all. Anyone who has had this surgery... did ur insurance cover the whole surgery or did u end up paying for it? I know that they consider it to be an elective surgery so i dont even know if my insurance will cover it at all....ok well that's all for now... ill be back! thank you for reading and if anyone has anything else to share please do... i want to find out everything that i can pre op to post op.... i know the doctor will tell me stuff but i kind of want personel experiences! THANK YOU
Amanda

[txmarinemom]

Amanda,

Who told you scoliosis correction surgery (particularly on a ±68° curve) is *elective*? That is absolutely not the case.

Regards,
Pam

[Susie*Bee]

Welcome!

Hi Amanda! I'm glad you found the forum. You'll find (especially if you read through some of the older posts) that a lot of people around your age have had surgery and after a little recovery time, are able to return to their studies, etc. When you schedule the surgery, try to give yourself the biggest amount of time possible for recovery-- like having the surgery as soon as school is out, so you have all summer to recover. Recovery takes awhile-- but it is sooooo worth it! Briarrose, vndy, nzgirl, Rosie1108, Amae28, iluvmath, and some others are kids in their twenties who this past year had surgeries and have returned to their studies, after varying amounts of time. You can do a search and read about them-- or send them PMs.

I agree with Pam about this not being an elective surgery, in the basic understanding of "elective." Yes, you can decide whether or not to have it-- but it's not like a cosmetic surgery or something like that, to improve appearances, etc. If your curve is progressing, then your major organs (heart and lungs) will be compromised and so many other problems will also be manifest after awhile. Check it out with your insurance company. It is not an IMMEDIATE emergency type surgery, but it is something that will need to be taken care of with a curve like yours.

Best wishes as you explore your options and find out more information! Keep us posted with how it goes with this next appointment. Susie

[Amanda]

His name was doctor Razzi. I dont if he meant that its my choice like if i want to have it done or dont. Or something else I'm goin to see what the next docotor says! But if my curve is in the lumbar spine how will that effect my lungs?

[LisaMS]

H, Amanda!

I have a lumbar curve, and I'm going to have surgery in a couple of weeks. My doctor also told me that it's "elective," but he explained that it means it's not "emergency" (needing to be done immediately), but it's still necessary, so insurance will cover it. Elective in this sense means that you can choose when to do it, but you will need it eventually. I don't have severe pain, but do have some shortness of breath because my gut is so crowded. I do get back aches often and have to re-adjust my position all the time. On my x-ray, my doctor showed me that my ribs on the right side are down in my abdominal cavity, taking up space where intestines, diaphragm, stomach, etc. are.

So, I'm going to do it now rather than wait till it gets worse and I get even older.

Good luck figuring this out!

[Amanda]

Hi LisaMS
Thank you just wondering how is curve? wat degree? I dont have much either but i want to get to know rather then later. keep me postd on how ur surgery goes!!! i love to hear how u are doin
thanks
amanda

[Writer]

Amanda, the Cobb angle is the standard measurement for severity of scoliosis. See the article on scoliosis in Wikipedia for an illustration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoliosis

There is a physiotherapist in New York named Marian Wade who is a specialist in scoliosis. PTs like her can usually help for pain. She'll also be able to analyze your scoliotic configuration and inform you about the breathing implications and whether you actually need surgery or not. PT can often help you avoid it.

Her contact info is on the NSF homepage -- http://www.scoliosis.org/