Surgery Date to be scheduled

[loris]

I saw my doctor again today to get the results of the MRI and bone scan to see where my pain has been coming from, and he now agrees that my pain is a direct result of my 55* curve in the center of my back. He said that he will be doing the fusion from i believe T6-L2. He is hopefull that the lower curve that is currently 40* will correct its self. He is hoping for my curves to end up at around 25-29* on each. This will strictly a posterior approach. I just now have to decide when to schedule the surgery. My insurance is not all that great I will have to pay the first $3700 of the surgery before they will pay anything on it. The doctor said it usually only takes about 4 weeks to schedule surgery with him so now it is just up to me.

[mgs]

Congrats on making your decision!

Are you hoping to schedule your surgery for asap? One thing I realized is. . .there is no convenient time to do this.

I, too, was told that after skeletal maturity, my curves were as bad as they were going to get. Apparently, we were all told that back then, and history has proved otherwise. When I graduated from high school (1979) my curves were in the 20s and 30s. . .now (after 5 kids, with the biggest shift occuring with my 4th pregnancy) my thoracic curve is 86 degrees. (Dr. Tribus didn't tell me what my lumbar curve measures at.)

Soooo, it's off to the OR I go on 8/25.

[kt2009]

surgery date

I, too, am off to the hospital on Aug 26th! I was diagnosed as a teen, told it wouldn't get worse, etc. And I only started seeing the doctor in January. So I am a bit overwhelmed. I just started posting today, but have been reading for a while. I am 43 with three kids and I'm trying to prepare myself, them and my husband. My surgery will be from L1 (maybe t12) to L3 or L4 with an Anterior approach (I think I know what I'm talking about!). I'm wondering what my recovery will be like? Some postings sound a little scary!
Kathy

[mgs]

Have you ever seen those reality plastic surgery shows, where the patient is escorted from the surgical suite (by the person assigned as her caregiver) off to a very pricey, very luxurious hotel for a week or so of recovery. . .all the while having every little need and want met by her attendants??

I think WE should get that. . .this surgery is waaay more of a big deal than a facelift!

[JenniferG]

Good luck to all those awaiting surgery. It's a difficult time, in hindsight, more difficult than recovery. At least in recovery you know things will get better. And you have a healthier life to look forward to!

[loris]

I, too, am off to the hospital on Aug 26th! I was diagnosed as a teen, told it wouldn't get worse, etc. And I only started seeing the doctor in January. So I am a bit overwhelmed. I just started posting today, but have been reading for a while. I am 43 with three kids and I'm trying to prepare myself, them and my husband. My surgery will be from L1 (maybe t12) to L3 or L4 with an Anterior approach (I think I know what I'm talking about!). I'm wondering what my recovery will be like? Some postings sound a little scary!
Kathy

I will probably schedule during the last of October to first of November. I work in accounting and our fiscal year end is the last of September and to be down a person during this time would be very difficult on the department so I will try and wait until after that before I take my time off.