So glad I found this site!

[Marianne]

Hi Jess

I do not know how big my curves are, the two Doctors I have seen so far only mentioned it being an S curve. And not having any other option then to have surgery.Since neither one operate on patients with Scoliosis I did not ask any more questions.I really did not know much about Scoliosis till I started reading on this site. I will have lots of questions when I go to see Dr. Wilson in October, thanks to all of you on this forum.
I have been reading your threads and see you are in a lot of pain. Wishing you all the best and thanks for taking the time to respond to me.

[jrnyc]

hi Marianne...
i meant the option of how big a fusion you need...
whether there is any choice about how are down the fusion
needs to be...

the good thing is that you now have time to compile a list of questions
for the appointment in October

jess

[Marianne]

Jess,
That question is on my list to ask, so will know a lot more after my October appt.

[susancook]

Marianne, Great to talk with you today. Sorry that the connection was so poor. Reception is poor at the beach with my cell phone. Send me your email address.

Sounds like you are getting yourself organized as you try to figure out just what route to take in whether to have surgery or not. Were you able to see if there are any SRS spine surgeons in your area for a second opinion?

Let me know if there is anything that I can do to help you. Hugs to you across the border. Susan

[Marianne]

Susan,I enjoyed talking to you too and getting some first hand information about the surgery.
I did find another SRS Spine Surgeon in Toronto a Dr. Stephen Lewis. I will send you my e-mail address.
Hugs to you too!

[Marianne]

Hello every one,
Happy to see the forum up and running again, I have missed it.
I saw The Scoliosis surgeon this week and after looking at my MRI and CAT scan he agreed with the other two Doctors I have seen that I will need surgery to correct my problems. He send me for X Rays and I will be seeing him again Nov. 4th to go over them with him. He could not tell me the curvature degree till he sees the X-rays, but said it is a significant thoracic-lumbar curve. I would have to wear a brace after surgery for about 3 months and no Physio.

He will let me know how far up he has to fuse after he sees the X-rays. My husband and I both felt very comfortable with him doing the surgery. The waiting time for surgery is about a year which is a long time as I am in a lot of pain and can not walk very far. He did say he does this kind of fusion and decompression a lot on people my age and has had good results. So we will see how the next appointment goes.

[Marianne]

Surgery date changed

After waiting nearly two years for this surgery the Dr's office called this afternoon, my surgery has been prosponed to April 15th.
Not that I was looking forward to it, but I want to get over with. And now I have to wait another 6 weeks and think about it.
She said the Hospital has a certain budget for Orthopaedic surgeons each year and their year end is the end of March and my surgery would put them over the top. So have to wait till their new year starts.
Oh well I guess there are worse things and maybe the snow will be gone by the time I get out of the hospital.
And the the weather will be warmer so I will be able to walk outside.

[Lizardacres]

How very disappointing to be postponed. Waiting is so hard, it reminded me a little bit of being pregnant, where you kind of feel like you are in suspended animation and waiting for the big event so life can start again.

This surgery is incredibly expensive, I have been seeing my bills this past month and the cost of the implants alone was $160,000. Canada might get a bit of a discount but it's easy to see why a long fusion patient might get postponed. Hang in there.

Liz

[lduran]

Good luck to you!

I agree with you, this website is amazing. I have been reading for months now on it and can't say enough positive things.

By reading your original post it seems that you and I share the same ailments. I am going to see the surgeon tomorrow and possibly we'll nail down the date for the surgery. Be calm; everything happens for a reason and I am confident you'll be fine. Sometimes the wait can be worse than the pains.

Loretta

[golfnut]

Marianne,
I understand how disappointed you are to have your surgery postponed after waiting so long and focusing on a particular date. After waiting a year, mine was postponed two months. I was such a worrier and about drive myself crazy before the surgery. It will be nice that you will have warmer weather and be able to walk outside. Hang in there.

[Marianne]

This forum has been so incredibly helpful and informative. There is so much to read and so much to learn from all of you. I really appreciate all the time and thought that everybody has put into it.
Thanks to everyone who has replied to my posts.

[PeggyS]

I'm often asked about how I knew to go to a dr in St. Louis (from Ohio) & how I knew what to expect. My answer is: this awesome forum. I can't begin to imagine how much, much more scared I would have been without the benefit of the experiences & encouragement from the forum members. Marianne, I'm glad you found the forum, too!

[Marianne]

Well 11 days to go!
I have a question did most of you wear a brace after surgery.
My Doctor says I will probably not need one but will decide after surgery. Would you not feel more secure if you wear one for the first while?
I am also worried about the drive home, we live about 3 hrs away from Hospital and the roads are not in great shape after the winter we have had.
Anything I should be bringing for the trip home?

[mabeckoff]

I did wear a brace after surgery.

In answer to your question about what to bring for the trip home , the answer is PILLOWS...LOTS AND LOTS OF PILLOWS

Melissa

[golfnut]

I actually wanted to have a brace because I was concerned I would accidentally twist or do something that would effect the fusion. Dr. Lenke said that your muscles have to work harder without a brace and he decided that I would not wear one . I think one should let his/her surgeon decide on an individual basis what is best. Good luck! Take lots of pillows for the ride home.