Originally posted by Lizzz
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Funny how we have all done this at the hospital because the gowns are the same thing as a toga, only open in the back and with the really strong injectable meds, everyone else has the purple mohawk! (smiley face)
Sounds like your doing the same thing, and with your Harrington setup being as old as it is, its just going to be best to go in and have things checked out. I have used the word blind in the past, don't know if this is the right way to put it, but I wouldn't say too much other than that you are having hip pain, or describe exactly what pains you are having to the doctor. Let the surgeon examine you, and have a talk. That's the way it starts by talking, you don't have to proceed with anything, these things take a lot of time to ponder. I spent around 2-1/2 years taking to my surgeon with multiple visits. Some of those visits were not smooth, I was rejected, and basically had to accept the hard truth myself. At the time, I also wasn't ready for surgery, but I knew that I had to do something. Surgical methods were changed because I waited, and they added the anterior ALIF to the process. There was no way I was dictating any surgical methods, all this stuff gets extremely complicated. I have seen the shaving mentioned online but I cannot comment since I am not a surgeon. I also tried to get my surgeon to fuse me lower on the top, he wasn't having it. I understand all this now, years later, knowing how strong the kyphosis component or forward thoracic pull is on many of us. It was the correct call.
I know that going in is a scary thing. You went through the casting as a kid and this must have been quite an experience. I don't know what to say other than as scoliosis patients we all have to be brave and face things head on at different stages. I am having problems with my neck now, and I also will have to face it once again at some point. When that happens, I don't know what they will want to do....???
Our problems are never easy....we like to think so, but with some of us adult patients we can have quite a few problems. I had like 50 major problems with my lumbar spine. I knew it was getting worse, and something had to be done so I simply went in. No list of questions, no idea of surgical attack, no nothing. It was a first date, a blind date.
Your place or mine? Operating room #3? Oh boy....
Ed
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