I am looking to talk with people over 60, adult onset degenerative scoliosis, no prev back surgery [like when you were younger], that are looking at possible surgical correction, or who have had surgical correction. The reason that I started this thread is that I am having difficulty figuring out how the older person [me, at 66] does after surgery for degenerting discs and stenotic discs, with a smallish curve who have never had back surgery. I read the stories of so many people that are younger with non-degenerting scoliosis and I try to figure out how their recovery will relate to mine, and I don't think that I know.
I was diagnosed at 65 [what a surprise!] with an xray after 9 months of physical therapy that didn't help much. The radiologist was a friend of mine and I cannot say what I said on this blog when he showed me the xray, but it was a 4 letter word. I thought that he was joking and had put up an xray of some teenager with an "S" curve. Nope it was me!
Since then I have been seen at a spine center, had 2 denervation procedures [thoracic T9, T10, T11] and lumbar [L4, L5, S1]...I think that's right. I had a corticosteroid inj x 2 in my femoral cutaneous nerve for Meralgia Paresthetica, and had 3 corticosteroid inj at R L4 for stenosis [pain that radiated to R Butt and R anterior thigh]. Right now, I feel pretty good physically, but eventualy all of these bandaid therapies are going to wear off. ;=[
I have been a very active person: backpacking, hiking, scuba, snorkeling, doing health work in third world countries which involves a lot of hiking over rough terrain and carrying equipment. I am retired, but am on 2 Board of Directors and volunteer with a number non-profit agencies.
Here is my recent MRI:
L1-2: Loss of disk space height. Bilateral facet hypertrophy.
Moderate left foraminal stenosis.
L2-3: Disk desiccation. Bilateral facet hypertrophy. mild left
foraminal stenosis.
L3-4: Bilateral facet hypertrophy. Moderate left lateral recess
stenosis. Mild right foraminal stenosis. Mild right lateral recess
stenosis.
L4-5: And disk desiccation. Complete loss of disk space height.
Bilateral facet and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. Severe right
foraminal stenosis. Moderate right lateral recess stenosis.
L5-S1: Disk desiccation. Bilateral facet hypertrophy. mild
bilateral foraminal stenosis.
Sacrum/Ilia: Normal
Additional Comments: None
IMPRESSION:
Degenerative changes of the thoracic and lumbar spine as described
above secondary to the scoliosis. No significant change in the
lumbar spine from prior exam. Severe right foraminal stenosis at
L4-L5..
My xray showed an increase in coronal balance from 4.1 cm last year to 11.something this year. I do lean to the Right [physically, not politically]."S' scoliosis curve of 25* thoracic, 36* lumbar was unchanged.
Before the last steriod inj, my Oswestry score was 78....which is quite disabled. Now, after the last procedure, I'm sure that it is much lower as I can move more and don't need to stop and sit down or lie down every 4-5 minutes. I can get out of the house now and go shopping.
So, now I am considering surgery. My first spine surgeon said "T3 to Sacrum" fusion. I have a second opinon set up in a little over a week.
I have read the literature that says that older persons have more risk with surgery. I don't smoke, rarely drink, no diabetes, no osteoporosis, hypertension under contol with meds. My BMI is about 30. I do not believe that I will die in surgery, but will probably have a minor problem that I trust my surgeon will fix. I am working on having a positive attitude towards all of this, but generally, I am an optimist.
So, for anyone that fits this demographic: over 60 with degenertive adult onset scoliosis, no prev back surgery and has had or is considering surgery as an older person....I would love to hear from you and maybe we could become a supportive group.
Sorry that this was so long, but thought that I should give all my info when looking for like twisted and degenerating folks! Looking forward to your input! Susan
I was diagnosed at 65 [what a surprise!] with an xray after 9 months of physical therapy that didn't help much. The radiologist was a friend of mine and I cannot say what I said on this blog when he showed me the xray, but it was a 4 letter word. I thought that he was joking and had put up an xray of some teenager with an "S" curve. Nope it was me!
Since then I have been seen at a spine center, had 2 denervation procedures [thoracic T9, T10, T11] and lumbar [L4, L5, S1]...I think that's right. I had a corticosteroid inj x 2 in my femoral cutaneous nerve for Meralgia Paresthetica, and had 3 corticosteroid inj at R L4 for stenosis [pain that radiated to R Butt and R anterior thigh]. Right now, I feel pretty good physically, but eventualy all of these bandaid therapies are going to wear off. ;=[
I have been a very active person: backpacking, hiking, scuba, snorkeling, doing health work in third world countries which involves a lot of hiking over rough terrain and carrying equipment. I am retired, but am on 2 Board of Directors and volunteer with a number non-profit agencies.
Here is my recent MRI:
L1-2: Loss of disk space height. Bilateral facet hypertrophy.
Moderate left foraminal stenosis.
L2-3: Disk desiccation. Bilateral facet hypertrophy. mild left
foraminal stenosis.
L3-4: Bilateral facet hypertrophy. Moderate left lateral recess
stenosis. Mild right foraminal stenosis. Mild right lateral recess
stenosis.
L4-5: And disk desiccation. Complete loss of disk space height.
Bilateral facet and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. Severe right
foraminal stenosis. Moderate right lateral recess stenosis.
L5-S1: Disk desiccation. Bilateral facet hypertrophy. mild
bilateral foraminal stenosis.
Sacrum/Ilia: Normal
Additional Comments: None
IMPRESSION:
Degenerative changes of the thoracic and lumbar spine as described
above secondary to the scoliosis. No significant change in the
lumbar spine from prior exam. Severe right foraminal stenosis at
L4-L5..
My xray showed an increase in coronal balance from 4.1 cm last year to 11.something this year. I do lean to the Right [physically, not politically]."S' scoliosis curve of 25* thoracic, 36* lumbar was unchanged.
Before the last steriod inj, my Oswestry score was 78....which is quite disabled. Now, after the last procedure, I'm sure that it is much lower as I can move more and don't need to stop and sit down or lie down every 4-5 minutes. I can get out of the house now and go shopping.
So, now I am considering surgery. My first spine surgeon said "T3 to Sacrum" fusion. I have a second opinon set up in a little over a week.
I have read the literature that says that older persons have more risk with surgery. I don't smoke, rarely drink, no diabetes, no osteoporosis, hypertension under contol with meds. My BMI is about 30. I do not believe that I will die in surgery, but will probably have a minor problem that I trust my surgeon will fix. I am working on having a positive attitude towards all of this, but generally, I am an optimist.
So, for anyone that fits this demographic: over 60 with degenertive adult onset scoliosis, no prev back surgery and has had or is considering surgery as an older person....I would love to hear from you and maybe we could become a supportive group.
Sorry that this was so long, but thought that I should give all my info when looking for like twisted and degenerating folks! Looking forward to your input! Susan
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