Hi everybody-
I've been reading all of your posts for such a long time (probably for over a year) and now I am finally posting! I am so thankful to read all of your posts and know that there are other people out there who have scoliosis and deal with the same things that I have to.
Here's a brief background on me: I was first diagnosed with scoliosis when I was around 13 years old. Back then, both my thoracic and lumbar curve measured around 35 degrees. My parents didn't take the situation too seriously and I was never fitted for a brace. They took me to a chiropractor which did absolutely nothing in my opinion back then. I am currently 30 years old and the pain is getting absolutely unbearable. The last x-rays I had were from 2006 which measured 50 degrees for both my thoracic curve and my lumbar curve. Since 2006 I have had 2 children. Ever since I had my kids the pain has gotten extremely bad. I have had shooting, burning pain on the outside of my right foot almost to the point where it feels like someone is stabbing me. That's been going on for 3 years. Then I have had tingling, burning sensations in my pinky finger, middle finger, forearm, elbow, tricep, and now neck, and shoulder. I've been to so many doctors and none of them said anything about the scoliosis so I decided to see a chiropractor a few months back. Well he ordered an MRI and then I found out I have 3 out of 5 bulging discs in my lumbar spine, 1 of which is herniated. That's why I believe I have this sharp, shooting pain in my foot. Then I had an MRI of cervical spine. I had a herniated disc and one protruding disc, which is why I am having all the pain in my arm and hand. So basically I think the scoliosis is causing these problems. Earlier in August I ended up in the ER. My lower back went into a complete spasm and I couldn't even put one foot in front of the other. My lower back completely gave out. Anyway, I was wondering if any of you had any of these problems in your upper or lower extremities, and if so, were they alleviated by surgery?
I would like some definate, concrete answers as to if the pain would be reduced if I decided to get surgery so I have made an appointment with Dr. Boachie in December. I always hear great reviews about him and so I am excited to see him. I see that many people on this forum have been to him and have nothing but great things to say about him. The only thing is that I am SCARED to death about surgery!!!!! I know deep down inside that it's what I really need to do but I am terrified of it. I used to be 5 foot 6 inches, and I am now 5 foot 4 1/2 inches. I am in so much pain and I need my quality of life back. I used to be a happy person and this pain is really getting to me and I am becoming really depressed. I feel like I need the surgery but I just don't know how to be brave and do it! Everytime I think about it, I feel like I could have a panic attack! Last week I read a post back from 2007 by a lady on this forum who later died during scoliosis surgery and I felt terrible for her and then decided there's no way I could ever do it. I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old and I don't want to ever leave them. So my question to you all is, how did you all make the decision to have surgery? I guess I may feel better when I discuss it with Dr. Boachie for the first time.
Also, has anyone out there ever gotten a posterior only operation with Dr. Boachie? It seems like everyone on this forum has gotten both anterior and posterior. I have an "S" curve so to me it would make sense to do a posterior operation but I guess I'll have to wait and hear what he says.
Thanks for listening.
I've been reading all of your posts for such a long time (probably for over a year) and now I am finally posting! I am so thankful to read all of your posts and know that there are other people out there who have scoliosis and deal with the same things that I have to.
Here's a brief background on me: I was first diagnosed with scoliosis when I was around 13 years old. Back then, both my thoracic and lumbar curve measured around 35 degrees. My parents didn't take the situation too seriously and I was never fitted for a brace. They took me to a chiropractor which did absolutely nothing in my opinion back then. I am currently 30 years old and the pain is getting absolutely unbearable. The last x-rays I had were from 2006 which measured 50 degrees for both my thoracic curve and my lumbar curve. Since 2006 I have had 2 children. Ever since I had my kids the pain has gotten extremely bad. I have had shooting, burning pain on the outside of my right foot almost to the point where it feels like someone is stabbing me. That's been going on for 3 years. Then I have had tingling, burning sensations in my pinky finger, middle finger, forearm, elbow, tricep, and now neck, and shoulder. I've been to so many doctors and none of them said anything about the scoliosis so I decided to see a chiropractor a few months back. Well he ordered an MRI and then I found out I have 3 out of 5 bulging discs in my lumbar spine, 1 of which is herniated. That's why I believe I have this sharp, shooting pain in my foot. Then I had an MRI of cervical spine. I had a herniated disc and one protruding disc, which is why I am having all the pain in my arm and hand. So basically I think the scoliosis is causing these problems. Earlier in August I ended up in the ER. My lower back went into a complete spasm and I couldn't even put one foot in front of the other. My lower back completely gave out. Anyway, I was wondering if any of you had any of these problems in your upper or lower extremities, and if so, were they alleviated by surgery?
I would like some definate, concrete answers as to if the pain would be reduced if I decided to get surgery so I have made an appointment with Dr. Boachie in December. I always hear great reviews about him and so I am excited to see him. I see that many people on this forum have been to him and have nothing but great things to say about him. The only thing is that I am SCARED to death about surgery!!!!! I know deep down inside that it's what I really need to do but I am terrified of it. I used to be 5 foot 6 inches, and I am now 5 foot 4 1/2 inches. I am in so much pain and I need my quality of life back. I used to be a happy person and this pain is really getting to me and I am becoming really depressed. I feel like I need the surgery but I just don't know how to be brave and do it! Everytime I think about it, I feel like I could have a panic attack! Last week I read a post back from 2007 by a lady on this forum who later died during scoliosis surgery and I felt terrible for her and then decided there's no way I could ever do it. I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old and I don't want to ever leave them. So my question to you all is, how did you all make the decision to have surgery? I guess I may feel better when I discuss it with Dr. Boachie for the first time.
Also, has anyone out there ever gotten a posterior only operation with Dr. Boachie? It seems like everyone on this forum has gotten both anterior and posterior. I have an "S" curve so to me it would make sense to do a posterior operation but I guess I'll have to wait and hear what he says.
Thanks for listening.
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