Hello everyone,
I just found this website and it's been very comforting for me to see the number of adults with scoliosis. I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was age 10. It was an awful traumatic experience and that's probably why it's taken me until now, at age 49, to seek treatment. (Treatment meaning surgery.) The Milwaukee brace that I had to wear was torturous and I'm sure some of you have a similar experience with that heavy, cumbersome brace. But I did wear it like I was supposed to, did all the exercises, etc and my spine grew almost straight! But weearing that brace was an awful experience - not only was it uncomfortable, but I was constantly taunted and teased so much at an age when you do NOT want to be singled out. Needless to say, I stopped wearing it after 6th grade because there was no way that I would wear it to junior high school! My parents agreed to let me stop wearing it, so my almost straight spine kept on its crooked path to where I am now.
I've noticed that my thoracic curve has been getting worse by the way my clothes fit, the increasing pain and muscle tiredness, and the size of my rib hump has increased. I am aware of my "deformity" every single day and I try to hide it as best I can. But I've realized that I have to face this ugly thing head-on and talk to a surgeon.
I saw an orthopedic surgeon and I am not thrilled with him. I saw him just a few days ago and he wants to wait for 6 months, take new xrays and compare to the xrays just taken to see if it's getting worse. He told me that it's very likely that I will need surgery because of the size of my curve, measured 55 degrees by the radiologist. However, when the orthopedist tried to measure it on screen, he saw over 70 degrees. Hence, my hesitation to have him do the surgery. He is a spine specialist, but I want a scoliosis specialist. I am scared beyond belief to have this done but I know that I have to, so I want the best surgeon that I can get (& of course, one that will be covered by my insurance!)
Does anyone know of a scoliosis specialist in the Sacramento area? I have heard and read about Dr Munish Gupta. Anyone have any input on him or anyone else?
Thanks so much!
I just found this website and it's been very comforting for me to see the number of adults with scoliosis. I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was age 10. It was an awful traumatic experience and that's probably why it's taken me until now, at age 49, to seek treatment. (Treatment meaning surgery.) The Milwaukee brace that I had to wear was torturous and I'm sure some of you have a similar experience with that heavy, cumbersome brace. But I did wear it like I was supposed to, did all the exercises, etc and my spine grew almost straight! But weearing that brace was an awful experience - not only was it uncomfortable, but I was constantly taunted and teased so much at an age when you do NOT want to be singled out. Needless to say, I stopped wearing it after 6th grade because there was no way that I would wear it to junior high school! My parents agreed to let me stop wearing it, so my almost straight spine kept on its crooked path to where I am now.
I've noticed that my thoracic curve has been getting worse by the way my clothes fit, the increasing pain and muscle tiredness, and the size of my rib hump has increased. I am aware of my "deformity" every single day and I try to hide it as best I can. But I've realized that I have to face this ugly thing head-on and talk to a surgeon.
I saw an orthopedic surgeon and I am not thrilled with him. I saw him just a few days ago and he wants to wait for 6 months, take new xrays and compare to the xrays just taken to see if it's getting worse. He told me that it's very likely that I will need surgery because of the size of my curve, measured 55 degrees by the radiologist. However, when the orthopedist tried to measure it on screen, he saw over 70 degrees. Hence, my hesitation to have him do the surgery. He is a spine specialist, but I want a scoliosis specialist. I am scared beyond belief to have this done but I know that I have to, so I want the best surgeon that I can get (& of course, one that will be covered by my insurance!)
Does anyone know of a scoliosis specialist in the Sacramento area? I have heard and read about Dr Munish Gupta. Anyone have any input on him or anyone else?
Thanks so much!
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