Finally!

[osumike]

hi everyone-
Ive been checking this out for a while and decided to join and chal a little I guess. Just to get it out there, I am a 29 year old male from Ohio, and I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was very toung, and it hes been progressing ever since. Been dealing wit back pain all along. I went to the doctor in March because I just had eough of it, and was prescribed vicodin and skelaxin. Well, 5 months of that was enough too, I guess. Went back ast tuesday and he ordered x-rays. The last set he had was from 2000 and he said the degree of curvature was 42 in the thoracic area. After the x-rays were read it is now at 62 degrees, and 50 degrees in the lumbar region. Its gotten pretty bad. I'll be going to see an orthopedic surgeon in Toledo, Ohio soon. If they can't handle it, it will be off to the Cleveland Clinic. Well, thats enough for now. Just wanted to introduce myself on here.

[Snoopy]

Welcome Mike!

Even if Toledo can handle your case, you might want to get an appointment in Cleveland as well. A second or even third opinion is always a good thing.

Mary Lou

[Bionic Woman]

Welcome! I have found this site to be of great help. Very informative and supportive. I got 4 opinions before I finally chose my surgeon. Don't be afraid to do all your homework. If they are good surgeons, they won't be offended by you wanting 2nd, 3rd or even 4th opinions. I'll be praying for you!
Debbie

[BerlinMom]

Hi!

I'm new to the forum, although I have been reading for quite a while looking for info. on doctors in the Cleveland area. I had a lumbar fusion at L3-4 in 2000 and had "mild" scoliosis at that time. It has progressed since then and I started checking out surgeons in 2004. I have seen a local surgeon, one in Broadview Heights, and one in Toledo. In the last several weeks, I have been seen at the Spine Clinic at Cleveland Clinic, referred to Dr. McLain and now I am waiting for my appointment with Dr. Orr. Dr. McLain and Dr. Orr both deal with scoliosis and so far I am very comfortable with what I've been told. Not happy about the need for extensive surgery, but comfortable with the doctors so far. I know I've seen postings from people looking for surgeons in this part of Ohio so I thought I would let you know what I've found so far.
I'm glad to be here!!

[JenniferG]

Welcome Mike and BerlinMom. There are some really knowledgeable people on this forum, and plenty of experience so you've come to a very handy place.

[sillycoffeegirl]

Welcome! im just now getting an appointment with at an orthopedic place as well. Got some new x rays ready to go.

[LynnMarie74]

welcome!!!

Like Jennifer G said, you've come to the right place!! You'll have plenty of questions and concerns...we are all here to help & comfort....we've all been in your shoes! Good luck!




Lynn

[osumike]

sorry havent been on here in a while...thanks or the replies. I have an appointment with Dr. Thomas Andreshak in Toledo on October 16th. Cant wait.

[rich1752]

welcome

hey Mike, I'm new to this forum also. I just diagnosed a month ago. I went the last five years with severe pain, but just delt with it. I finally went to the doctor who just gave me tylenol. Nobody did xrays until last month, where they found the 48 curve in lumbar. My doctor sent me to a specialist, who had more xrays done, MRI, Nerve Test. I meet with him in this Thursday and he will give me his recommendation. I have been doing tons of reseach and feel that my only option is surgery. I know it is not a sure thing, but I am willing to take my chances, because of the pain.

[jrnyc]

Welcome mike...you can find alot of help & information here...

rich...sent you a private message...

best of luck to both of you & all in search of relief from pain!
jess

[BerlinMom]

Hi Mike,
When I read your original "Finally" post, I thought you might be seeing Dr. Andreshak. I saw him in 2007 at his BG office, followed by a myelogram a few weeks later and an EMG. I had a follow-up visit in Toledo and we discussed surgery. He was pleasant and informative-answering all of my questions and explaining what he thought needed to be done which involved putting in a longer rod. My husband asked how long we could expect the results to last before I would need surgery again because we had heard of people who curve again in a short time and he told us, "We hope to get five years but it could be as little as one." Now, he was being very honest and I appreciated that, but I decided I wasn't ready to go through the procedure with those thoughts in mind. I've heard of a couple of people who had surgery with him and were really happy with the outcome. I liked him but just wasn't ready to have the surgery.
I'll be interested to hear how your visit goes-I see Dr. Orr in Cleveland on Oct. 14.

[jrnyc]

Hi berlin mom
dont understand why surgery would be needed 5 years later if the rods are put in? i dont understand...i thought with the rods people dont re curve...? i thought it was just surgery without instrumentation that caused re curves...??

best of luck in whatever you decide...
jess

[loves to skate]

Hi Mike,
When I read your original "Finally" post, I thought you might be seeing Dr. Andreshak. I saw him in 2007 at his BG office, followed by a myelogram a few weeks later and an EMG. I had a follow-up visit in Toledo and we discussed surgery. He was pleasant and informative-answering all of my questions and explaining what he thought needed to be done which involved putting in a longer rod. My husband asked how long we could expect the results to last before I would need surgery again because we had heard of people who curve again in a short time and he told us, "We hope to get five years but it could be as little as one." Now, he was being very honest and I appreciated that, but I decided I wasn't ready to go through the procedure with those thoughts in mind. I've heard of a couple of people who had surgery with him and were really happy with the outcome. I liked him but just wasn't ready to have the surgery.
I'll be interested to hear how your visit goes-I see Dr. Orr in Cleveland on Oct. 14.

Boy of boy, I sure hope that isn't true. No one would have this surgery if it is only good for 5 years. Once you fuse, it should last forever barring a serious accident. TiEd skies, txmarinemom plays softball, I roller skate. Would our Doctors tell us it was OK to do those things after fusion surgery if our surgeries were only good for 5 years? Would our insurance companies pay for it? I don't think so. The people you have heard about probably had their surgeries many years ago. Find another Doctor. Get at least 2 more opinions.

Welcome to the Forum Mike.
Sally

[Pooka1]

The last set he had was from 2000 and he said the degree of curvature was 42 in the thoracic area. After the x-rays were read it is now at 62 degrees, and 50 degrees in the lumbar region. Its gotten pretty bad. I'll be going to see an orthopedic surgeon in Toledo, Ohio soon. If they can't handle it, it will be off to the Cleveland Clinic. Well, thats enough for now. Just wanted to introduce myself on here.

Hey osumike,

Sorry about the curve worsening. I hope you find a surgeon who you trust. That's important I think.

Now here's a public question to the boys and girls in this sandbox...

It seems if osumike was fused with a 42* T curve, he would almost certainly have a shorter fusion than he would seem to need now with a double major curve. Would it be ethical to make osumike wait if he wanted fusion when it was only a 42* T curve?

Now I understand that they didn't realize his curve would progress and the new instrumentation might avoid the problems that sometimes occur with lumbar fusions but I still question the ethics of making folks with a single T curve wait beyond about 40*.

Comments?

osumike, good luck.

sharon

[txmarinemom]

Sharon, I suspect the reason for not fusing skeletally mature curves below 50° is partially from the risk of decompensation (a lower degree of curvature could make it tougher to identify involved vertebra). This is just an assumption based on what I know ... and I could certainly be wrong.

Did I miss somewhere that Osumike definitely has a double major curve vs. simply a structural thoracic with a compensatory lumbar?

It isn't all that unusual for compensatory curves to be misread as structural by non-specialists: My original orthopedic used to always measure my lumbar curve, too ... and it's fusion-free 30 years later because it was never actually structural.

Regards,
Pam