Forgive the long post, but I thought it necessary to inform you of my past surgical experience(s). Before asking my questions.
The time was 1994 - I'm a farmboy, live in the country and have a farmboy build (stocky, barrel chested 5' 9" at the time). I never played sports in school or did squats in any of my workout routines because I always had trouble with my back. Of course doctors and everyone else blamed it on me being a big kid (240 to 250 at the time). At this point in my life I just wanted to get in better shape.
Around the start of my senior year in HS I was really starting to drop weight and get in shape. My plans were to join the military after graduation so according to them I needed to drop down to 200lbs... I started noticing my back hurting more and more. To the point where I could only stand on my feet for no more than 10 to 15 mins and my back would just start to ACHE.
I did a good amount of cardio, as much as I could tolerate (pain wise) and dropped to 215. After constant complaints of my pain and downing aspirin constantly our family physician decided I should see an orthopedic doctor. After that appointment my life changed forever.
I was diagnosed with scoliosis. I nearly passed out when I saw the x-rays. My curve was somewhere between 50 and 60 degrees (I forget exactly now). From just below the middle of my back to between my shoulder blades my spine probably kicked out to the left more than 4 - 5".
Being 17 at the time I was led to believe (by doctors) it was too late for conventional methods of cure (traction or braces). Their excuse, I was pretty much done growing I had to have surgery.
So the day after my HS graduation I was scheduled for a full back surgery to correct my scoliosis (1994). It was by far the most grueling thing I've ever gone through. The doctors and nurses wouldn't explain anything about the procedure. No one would explain ANYTHING about the procedure, recovery time, you name it! The whole thing had my family and me in the dark wondering and worrying.
After spending 10hrs under the knife, 7 days in the hospital, and about 300 stitches later I was home. Much to my surprise I was just over 2” taller afterward (now 5' 11").
I wasn't in a brace of any kind despite what my mom could find / read about the procedure. I was barely managing getting in and out of a seated position. Well two weeks after the surgery I was brushing my teeth and leaned forward enough to spit without getting it all over myself and just felt CRACK - CRACK - CRACK from my hips to my neck. I was instantly paralyzed with pain and fear. I couldn’t move my right leg without pain shooting up my back and into my neck. It took over two weeks to get back into the hospital (we heard excuse after excuse why so and so doctor wasn’t in, etc. etc.) I had to urinate in a jug because getting out of bed wasn’t worth the pain involved in getting up.
My mom had to tie a large mixing spoon to the headboard, which I used to tap on, because it hurt too much to yell for her if I needed something in the middle of the night.
Anyhow, I had a 2nd surgery because what happened was the rods broke loose from my lower spine. If I leaned forward at all you could see them pressing my skin out! So as you could imagine having already known what I had to go through for the first surgery, to now endure that all over again. The 2nd surgery wasn’t as time consuming but what the surgeon did was wire tie the rods to my lower spine. So now my x-rays will show wire wrapped around the rods and my spine. The rods used in the procedure appeared (by examining x-rays) straight with hooks of sorts. This time they opted for a brace. They flew some guy in from PA, he measured me, and the next day they had a 2 piece (front / back) plastic cast form fitted for me which was held together with velcro straps. I do have to say it was VERY comfortable.
I already had my senior party planned so I came home from the hospital the day of my party (freshly off morphine).
Barely being able to dress myself, being a prisoner at home basically…afraid to drive that if something were to happen I’d have to do it all over again. 12 months later I started driving again and managed to get a job.
Nearly 4 years after the surgery I was a svelte 260. I was in the best shape of my life. Then I started having trouble again…I started getting this fire like pain right between my shoulder blade and spine. It was unbearable. I ended up taking prescription steroids for several months to get rid of it. The cause of the pain was unknown…I figure it had something to due with them having to reattach those muscles after my surgery.
Skip ahead a few years:
My back doesn’t trouble me as it did pre-op, but my number one problem is I no longer have a “small” in my back. I know it sounds weird, but my back is completely straight, it does not curve inward above the butt. So it feels as if I’m constantly holding something out in front of me or as if partially bent over all the time.
I never really noticed it until about two years ago. I honestly feel it's gotten worse. Back in '94 during my first surgery the Internet wasn't as profound as it is now. So just spur of the moment I decided to do some research...especially thinking I may have fallen victim of malpractice.
Now I'm finding out there IS such a thing that describes my current condition...Flat Back Syndrome!
I was feeling great, but now I feel as if my health is diminishing. I still workout but everyday chores especially if I’m on my feet a long while will totally wipe me out. I'll be aching. I'm not too fond of the idea to undergo another surgery especially (from what I've read) the pros may not out weigh the cons.
So I’m wondering if there are any other alternatives?
Secondly, after reading up more on x-ray / radiation exposure the same hospital where I underwent my surgery, must have taken over 40 x-rays without taking any of the precautions / measures I've read here (rare earth screens, facing away from the machine, etc.)
I apologize if I sound like a basket case, but this really bothers me. Having to see my mother endure severe cancer treatment and reading statistics like "You're 110% more likely to have cancer if you exceed X amount of radiation exposure" has be shook up.
Should I be concerned or am I just being paranoid?
In all honesty I feel lied to, misled, and treated as a guinea pig.
Sincerely,
Jason
The time was 1994 - I'm a farmboy, live in the country and have a farmboy build (stocky, barrel chested 5' 9" at the time). I never played sports in school or did squats in any of my workout routines because I always had trouble with my back. Of course doctors and everyone else blamed it on me being a big kid (240 to 250 at the time). At this point in my life I just wanted to get in better shape.
Around the start of my senior year in HS I was really starting to drop weight and get in shape. My plans were to join the military after graduation so according to them I needed to drop down to 200lbs... I started noticing my back hurting more and more. To the point where I could only stand on my feet for no more than 10 to 15 mins and my back would just start to ACHE.
I did a good amount of cardio, as much as I could tolerate (pain wise) and dropped to 215. After constant complaints of my pain and downing aspirin constantly our family physician decided I should see an orthopedic doctor. After that appointment my life changed forever.
I was diagnosed with scoliosis. I nearly passed out when I saw the x-rays. My curve was somewhere between 50 and 60 degrees (I forget exactly now). From just below the middle of my back to between my shoulder blades my spine probably kicked out to the left more than 4 - 5".
Being 17 at the time I was led to believe (by doctors) it was too late for conventional methods of cure (traction or braces). Their excuse, I was pretty much done growing I had to have surgery.
So the day after my HS graduation I was scheduled for a full back surgery to correct my scoliosis (1994). It was by far the most grueling thing I've ever gone through. The doctors and nurses wouldn't explain anything about the procedure. No one would explain ANYTHING about the procedure, recovery time, you name it! The whole thing had my family and me in the dark wondering and worrying.
After spending 10hrs under the knife, 7 days in the hospital, and about 300 stitches later I was home. Much to my surprise I was just over 2” taller afterward (now 5' 11").
I wasn't in a brace of any kind despite what my mom could find / read about the procedure. I was barely managing getting in and out of a seated position. Well two weeks after the surgery I was brushing my teeth and leaned forward enough to spit without getting it all over myself and just felt CRACK - CRACK - CRACK from my hips to my neck. I was instantly paralyzed with pain and fear. I couldn’t move my right leg without pain shooting up my back and into my neck. It took over two weeks to get back into the hospital (we heard excuse after excuse why so and so doctor wasn’t in, etc. etc.) I had to urinate in a jug because getting out of bed wasn’t worth the pain involved in getting up.
My mom had to tie a large mixing spoon to the headboard, which I used to tap on, because it hurt too much to yell for her if I needed something in the middle of the night.
Anyhow, I had a 2nd surgery because what happened was the rods broke loose from my lower spine. If I leaned forward at all you could see them pressing my skin out! So as you could imagine having already known what I had to go through for the first surgery, to now endure that all over again. The 2nd surgery wasn’t as time consuming but what the surgeon did was wire tie the rods to my lower spine. So now my x-rays will show wire wrapped around the rods and my spine. The rods used in the procedure appeared (by examining x-rays) straight with hooks of sorts. This time they opted for a brace. They flew some guy in from PA, he measured me, and the next day they had a 2 piece (front / back) plastic cast form fitted for me which was held together with velcro straps. I do have to say it was VERY comfortable.
I already had my senior party planned so I came home from the hospital the day of my party (freshly off morphine).
Barely being able to dress myself, being a prisoner at home basically…afraid to drive that if something were to happen I’d have to do it all over again. 12 months later I started driving again and managed to get a job.
Nearly 4 years after the surgery I was a svelte 260. I was in the best shape of my life. Then I started having trouble again…I started getting this fire like pain right between my shoulder blade and spine. It was unbearable. I ended up taking prescription steroids for several months to get rid of it. The cause of the pain was unknown…I figure it had something to due with them having to reattach those muscles after my surgery.
Skip ahead a few years:
My back doesn’t trouble me as it did pre-op, but my number one problem is I no longer have a “small” in my back. I know it sounds weird, but my back is completely straight, it does not curve inward above the butt. So it feels as if I’m constantly holding something out in front of me or as if partially bent over all the time.
I never really noticed it until about two years ago. I honestly feel it's gotten worse. Back in '94 during my first surgery the Internet wasn't as profound as it is now. So just spur of the moment I decided to do some research...especially thinking I may have fallen victim of malpractice.
Now I'm finding out there IS such a thing that describes my current condition...Flat Back Syndrome!
I was feeling great, but now I feel as if my health is diminishing. I still workout but everyday chores especially if I’m on my feet a long while will totally wipe me out. I'll be aching. I'm not too fond of the idea to undergo another surgery especially (from what I've read) the pros may not out weigh the cons.
So I’m wondering if there are any other alternatives?
Secondly, after reading up more on x-ray / radiation exposure the same hospital where I underwent my surgery, must have taken over 40 x-rays without taking any of the precautions / measures I've read here (rare earth screens, facing away from the machine, etc.)
I apologize if I sound like a basket case, but this really bothers me. Having to see my mother endure severe cancer treatment and reading statistics like "You're 110% more likely to have cancer if you exceed X amount of radiation exposure" has be shook up.
Should I be concerned or am I just being paranoid?
In all honesty I feel lied to, misled, and treated as a guinea pig.
Sincerely,
Jason
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