Seeking Advice

[Kathy w/K]

I am new to this site and curious if anyone has advice on the following. When I was 12 years old, I had a piece of bone from my hip fused to my upper spine (not sure what level). I spent 6 months in a body cast and a year in a brace. On Nov 16, 2005, at age 54 I had anterior spinal fusion of T10-L4 and two days later posterior spinal fusion of T-10-L5. I had the operations because I had been having constant pain in my lower back for about 10 years which had gotten progressively worse to the point where I couldn’t vacuum or wash my dog without taking a break. My spine now has two rods and 12 screws in it. 6 weeks after surgery, my doctor stated he over corrected me, and needs to go in and cut a wedge of bone out of the bottom of my spine to correct the tilt and relieve the pain. 12 weeks later, I am still on narcotics (morphine and oxycodone) because of constant pain and when I walk, I lean forward and to the left. I was told the pain is from physical stress – my body is not used to the new position it is in. My lower spine was twisted 58 degrees before the surgery. My doctor has been a scoliosis specialist for 13 years. He took my before and after x-rays to a spinal conference and discussed my case with other specialists. They agree with what he wants to do. It just doesn’t make since to me that cutting out a wedge of bone will relieve the pain I am experiencing – it might fix the tilt, but I even have my doubts about that. Anybody have some good questions I should be asking? Am I expecting to be pain free to soon? I have surgery scheduled for March 20th and I keep hoping the pain will go away by then – but I’d still have the forward and left tilt…

[LindaRacine]

Hi Kathy...

Yes, you're expecting to be out of pain too soon. Some people recover incredibly quickly, but others take 12-18 months and sometimes even longer to be off of pain medications. If you're able, perhaps you could get a second opinion before the next surgery?? Where are you located?

Regards,
Linda

[Kathy w/K]

I'm in Hawaii. My personal physician told me that my surgeon is the expert in the state and she didn't know any one that would be more knowledgable. He isn't even part of my HMO - they have him on contract because of his expertise - if I can't trust him, I wonder if I'd trust a second opinion - I might just get more confused.

[LindaRacine]

Hi Kathy...

Wow, Hawaii.... that's tough. I've actually considered moving to Hawaii at some point, but worry about less access to the great quality healthcare we have here in California. Some surgeons will give a second opinion via phone call or email. If that's of interest, here's one who does it:

http://www.espine.com/second-opinion.htm

I am not a medical professional, but I do know that if you're not standing straight, you really do need at osteotomy (wedge procedure). Whether or not it will resolve your pain, I don't think anyone can know. The one thing I do know is that it's almost certainly going to take more than 3 months. (Most adults don't go back to work for at least 3-6 months.) But, I don't think there's any need to worry that the additional procedure will start the recovery clock over again. It may actually shorten the length of time it takes to be out of pain. I hope that's the case.

Best of luck.

Regards,
Linda

[Theresa]

Hi Kathy, I had almost the same thing happen. My surgery was April 2004. June 2005 I had an osteotomy done at the L3 level. (the osteotomy is what the procedure is called). The surgery in June for me was a piece of cake compared to what I had already gone through. I had the surgery on a Thursday morning and went home on Sunday morning. I am 8 months post op from the osteotomy and I am still on pain meds. Even from the first surgery at a year post op I was still taking 1 or 2 a day. After the surgery in June I felt so much better. I was usually really beat by the end of the work day because your body is not meant to be leaning forward and to the side, so your muscles are constantly working. I have written most of my recovery in the revision section under the title "So far, so good". After the first surgery I didn't good back to work until I was 5 months post op. I work in an elementary school so I was able to go lay down a few times a day in the nurses office. After the osteotomy I went back to work at almost 3 months post op. I hope this helped you some.

[Kathy w/K]

Thank you Linda and Theresa - nice to know the surgery has a name and that it isn't something my doctor just thought up! I will email espine for a second opinion but I already feel a little more at ease. Thanks again!

Aloha,
Kathy

[Snoopy]

Aloha, Kathy!

No, you're doctor isn't just making up the osteotomy. My daughter had osteotomies done on several levels as part of her surgery to correct her Scoliosis.

Mary Lou

P.S. What island are you on? If I tell my mom there's a lady on the forum from Hawaii and don't ask what island, I'll never hear the end of it! She will be coming to Hawaii for her 7th or 8th trip in September.

[Kathy w/K]

Like most people, I live on Oahu.

Thanks for the confirmation on the osteotomy - why did your daughter have them done on many levels?

Kathy

[goagain]

try this article

Hi Kathy,
I came across this article in my research. Hope it helps.

http://www.spineuniverse.com/display...aritcle308.htm