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  • #31
    Not a Cosmetic Surgery!!!

    Davis,
    If there is anything you take away from this thread, please don't have this surgery for cosmetic reasons! This is a life changing surgery, it takes months, if not years to recover from, and there can be unforseen complications. I am one of the unlucky ones to have complications from my initial surgery and lived in misery for almost 2 years until my revision surgery recently. There have been some great suggestions for you for alternative conservative treatments for you to try from some of the others...I also don't believe your curves are severe enough for surgery and haven't been documented as progressing. Do more research, this is a great forum for you to learn. ;-)
    May 2008 Fusion T4 - S1, Pre-op Curves T45, L70 (age 48). Unsuccessful surgery.

    March 18, 2010 (age 50). Revision with L3 Osteotomy, Replacement of hardware T11 - S1 , addition of bilateral pelvic fixation. Correction of sagittal imbalance and kyphosis.

    January 24, 2012 (age 52) Revision to repair pseudoarthrosis and 2 broken rods at L3/L4.

    Comment


    • #32
      Hello Davis,

      Welcome to the forum! I like the way you just cut to the chase about your self-loathing feelings right away. No gray area there.

      When I was in my 30's I went faithfully to a chiropractor, and whenever I would visit I would at some point mention feeling deformed in this way or that. He finally urged me one day to think of myself as a bonsai tree, twisted but still entirely functional with no more misery than the average patient, usually straight-backed, that he would see on a daily basis. Through the years my pain/discomfort levels have been episodic- used to be my upper right area that gave me grief...now it's the whole left side with the right side being eerily quiet. For some reason, his bonsai analogy worked really well for me, and I decided then and there to quit taking myself out of the game cosmetically. I always wore fitted clothes- form-fitting t shirts, whatever was in style or that I liked. I definitely think so much of one's presence is how you project yourself to the world. It's also not just me and my particular scoli body type....there are several women in my town with severe scoliosis of varying types and degrees and they all just go for it with their style and presentation. (Maybe everyone should just move here.)

      That's what I would work on. Go to phys therapy, exercise, SRS scoli doctors, all of it (disclaimer: a lot of forum people are wary of chiro adjustments. I never felt that they hurt me or caused progression, but you might want to read the chiro threads on this forum before going that route)...anyway, do everything that you are advised to do in this thread, particularly seeing a second doc, of the SRS variety. Then go live your life and appreciate it, enjoy it- make the most of it. No one notices your deformity (your bonsai-ism) except you. I have always been very surprised when I tell someone, show them, and they are blown away because they are not looking for what we see about ourselves so specifically.

      I tell every surgeon I've ever been to that my number one method of self-care has been denial. Pretending. How I let myself think about myself. What else can we do when we've done everything we can and here we are? Unless and until you are in a true surgical zone, this is your body and your life and you can make it a good one.

      Again, welcome to the forum. This is the best place ever.
      amy
      Amy
      58 yrs old, diagnosed at 31, never braced
      Measured T-64, L-65 in 2009
      Measured T-57, L-56 in 2010, different doc
      2 lumbar levels spondylolisthesis
      Exercising to correct

      Comment


      • #33
        hi Davis
        i believe everything you have described about your physical and mental pain...i am just surprised at the levels you describe based on the degree of curve(s) you have...

        i have a pain doctor in Manhattan that i see every month...he not only gives me oral meds, he does injections for me as well...i get botox injections every 3-4 months for muscle spasms in thoracic area...it freezes the muscles so they cant knot up and spasm...they work...well enough that the surgeons want to start my fusion at T11 and go down to pelvis...they feel my upper thoracic will be OK with the shots...
        the injections for lumbar have not worked as well...but this month i did have an epidural (number 3 or 4.... i lost count!) and this time it was to address nerve stuff causing a worsening sciatica...much to my surprise, this time (for the first time) it actually worked! dont know how long the relief will last...but i'll see how it goes...doctors tell me epidurals work best when used for nerve related pain...

        you might get pain relief from a pain management doctor...wont know unless you try!

        jess

        Comment


        • #34
          Hi Although I also have scoliosis (45 degrees thoracic, 57 degrees lumbar), I don't know a whole lot about how the rotation of the spine about its axis affects the surgeon's decision to perform surgery.

          However, I think I've read somewhere that some surgeons may recommend surgery even with smaller side-to-side curves if the degree of rotation about the spine's axis is very severe and much worse than one would expect from the size of the curves, especially if the extreme rotation is causing pain and/or progressing. Do you know if your rotation is worse than predicted and played a role in your surgeon's decision? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

          Comment


          • #35
            I'm not sure if that played a role in his decision. This was the first time that I had seen this particular surgeon and I explained to him how the rotation has gradually gotten worse throughout the years.
            I did suppply my older medical records and the x-ray I had last, from 3 years ago.
            I'm still waiting for a date to do the MRI, but when I consult with him again I'll be sure to bring this up and ask.
            Surgery scheduled for January 2011
            by Charles (Ted) Shuff
            http://cabellhuntington.org/services...ce/physicians/
            http://s910.photobucket.com/albums/a...dayjunk/Davis/

            "Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then."
            -- Samuel Johnson
            "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -
            -- Benjamin Franklin

            Comment


            • #36
              hey Davis
              if you remember, it would be good to get the MRI on a disc for you to keep...i have mine, and alot of surgeons, and my pain doctor as well, want to look at it...comes in handy for seeing additional surgeons...

              dont know too many who have scoli without rotation...i could be wrong, but i thought it came with the territory...i know i have it, along with listhesis, stenosis, disc degeneration, arthritis of spine, etc etc...just a mess

              i'd be really curious to hear how much relief a pain doctor could offer you...i havent had muscle spasms in upper back since botox shots!.. they've been a blessing for pain tx! the lumbar pain...is a work in progress...

              jess
              Last edited by jrnyc; 06-19-2010, 06:12 PM.

              Comment


              • #37
                Originally posted by Back-out View Post
                If, God forbid, you cut corners for convenience in choosing your first surgeon, I'm afraid you are apt to find your choices much more limited geographically and otherwise, to locate a qualified revision specialist.

                Definition: "revision" = redoing a scoliosis operation which for whatever reason, was unsuccessful, i.e., led to more pain, a poor correction or other serious problem.

                This is highly, highly specialized (and dangerous) surgery and often, as with so many delicate operations, you will find "fools jump in where angels fear to tread."

                I suggest you glance over at the "Revisions' sub-forum for a cold shower.
                Liked what you had to say about cutting corners. I'm interviewing as many surgeons I can. This is something not to look lightly at

                Comment


                • #38
                  hi davis
                  frist of all my name is kara
                  I was disnosed with scoliosis at the age of 13 years old at the time my i had one cuvre that curve was 43 degrees my surgeon at the time was a pedatic spine surgeon he was Dr Lerman, i had to wear a boston brace which i hated to wear.
                  at the age of 17 year my old spine surgeon recommed to me to be transford to uc davis or ucsf because he did not feel to conforable doing my surgery because i was going to be 18 years old on 2/24/2010
                  at that time my curves was my top curve was 53 and my bottom curve was, 39 degrees. then on july 20 2009 i met my new spine surgeon Dr munish gupta at the university of california at davis medical center in sacramento california he the chief of orthopedic spine surgery and a professer of orthopedic surgery he treats kids and adults. my 1st appt with him my cuvres was the same. he did my surgery on mach 10 2010 at the university of california at davis medical center in sacramento california he did a wonderful job he fused 11 vertabres in my spine from T4 to L2. my curves are smaller there before i had surgery
                  Last edited by kennedy; 06-28-2010, 09:54 AM.
                  Kara
                  25
                  Brace 4-15-05-5-25-06
                  Posterior Spinal Fusion 3-10-10
                  T4-L2
                  Before 50T
                  After 20T

                  Comment


                  • #39
                    hello Kara, thanks for sharing your story with me. Do you mean that after your surgery your curves still measured just the same? No correction?
                    Surgery scheduled for January 2011
                    by Charles (Ted) Shuff
                    http://cabellhuntington.org/services...ce/physicians/
                    http://s910.photobucket.com/albums/a...dayjunk/Davis/

                    "Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then."
                    -- Samuel Johnson
                    "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -
                    -- Benjamin Franklin

                    Comment


                    • #40
                      Davis, welcome to the forum as well. I understand you wanting to have a curveless spine, and no deformity and lessen your pain. And people certainly go on table and under anesthesia for physical reasons alone, though I realize your having other symptoms. But this surgery has risks and can have many serious complications. When I was looking for a surgeon I remember reading that the single most important factor in a successful outcome was the skill and expertise of the surgeon. So, as many of the other people have said, find a surgeon who specializes in this - this is the main thing they do. I asked the surgeons I saw how many scoli. surgeries they do a year on adults. Somewhere I saw they should at least be doing 20+. I tried to find doctors that were recommended. Also, I went to 3 doctors to make sure I was getting a consensus about whether they recommended surgery or not. I know this can be expensive and you may have to travel, and this might be easier for me to say as I live between Phila. and NYC. But remember you have only one body and it's precious - even if not perfectly straight. Good luck with everything and looking forward to hearing how it's going.
                      Debra
                      Age 45
                      Pre - surgery Thoracic 69, Lumbar 48
                      Post-surgery Thoracic 37, Lumbar 39 (unfused)
                      Fused T4-T12
                      Milwaukee braced, 11 years old to 15 yo
                      Surgery Sept. 1st, 2010 Dr. Boachie

                      Comment


                      • #41
                        I've researched the Dr. I am seeing and he does specialise in spine surgery ... I'm not sure why everyone is thinking that he doesn't. Maybe it's because an oversight someone had posted on one of the earlier initial posts in this thread. Or probably because in the "norm" I'm not considered a "bad enough" case to warrant corrective surgery.
                        I do realise that it's not common for a surgeon to operate at these levels, typically, but maybe there are other factors that I am unaware of that he is taking into consideration, I'll be sure to find out all of the details on next consultation.
                        They called with a date for my MRI appointment for this Friday but unfortunately I'll have to reschedule as that I'm working about 15 hours a day up untill next week.
                        Sorry if I'm ramblng, was at hospital with one of the kids till 2am and didn't get any sleep last night and back to the office here at 8am. bah.
                        Thankfully I have an awesome fiance' who's really supportive of me with this.
                        here are some links to info on my DR ....


                        http://www.huntingtonnews.net/marsha...aff-shuff.html

                        http://www.vitals.com/doctors/Dr_Charles_Shuff.html#

                        http://cabellhuntington.org/services..._spine_center/
                        Surgery scheduled for January 2011
                        by Charles (Ted) Shuff
                        http://cabellhuntington.org/services...ce/physicians/
                        http://s910.photobucket.com/albums/a...dayjunk/Davis/

                        "Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then."
                        -- Samuel Johnson
                        "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -
                        -- Benjamin Franklin

                        Comment


                        • #42
                          Dr. Hey from N.C. corrected someone with a painful 32* curve. He is an SRS doctor.

                          http://drlloydhey.blogspot.com/
                          Be happy!
                          We don't know what tomorrow brings,
                          but we are alive today!

                          Comment


                          • #43
                            wow..that really shocks me...seriously! wonder if this person saw other surgeons...cause i am surprised she/he found one who would do it!

                            maybe that is your guy, rohr..if other surgeons tell you to wait...?

                            jess

                            Comment


                            • #44
                              Originally posted by jrnyc View Post
                              wow..that really shocks me...seriously! wonder if this person saw other surgeons...cause i am surprised she/he found one who would do it!

                              maybe that is your guy, rohr..if other surgeons tell you to wait...?

                              jess
                              Dr. Hey does it for reasons of pain and quality of life. Maybe this is what Davis' Doctor is thinking, too. I'm undecided because I'm afraid. I am in surgical territory with my curve, but early surgical territory, so there's no hurry. I'm just considering the factor of getting it done while I'm relatively "young" vs. having to deal with aging spine issues besides.
                              Be happy!
                              We don't know what tomorrow brings,
                              but we are alive today!

                              Comment


                              • #45
                                I'm just considering the factor of getting it done while I'm relatively "young" vs. having to deal with aging spine issues besides
                                I was thinking the same thing rohrer01, getting it done and over with while I'm still relatively young and work toward a better quality of life.
                                Don't get me wrong or think for one second that I don't know or understand how major this is, I am scared out of my mind about it. Maybe the fact that I havent even had the MRI or bending tests or anything yet and that I tentatively plan on going under in January, at the start of next year, still some time away, I don't feel too awfully a ball of nerves just yet. I'm sure that when the date draws closer my fears will grow respectively.
                                Surgery scheduled for January 2011
                                by Charles (Ted) Shuff
                                http://cabellhuntington.org/services...ce/physicians/
                                http://s910.photobucket.com/albums/a...dayjunk/Davis/

                                "Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then."
                                -- Samuel Johnson
                                "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -
                                -- Benjamin Franklin

                                Comment

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