Please help

[leviwood]

Hi,
I am new to the forum and would love any advice that I can get. My mother has struggled with scoliosis her entire life. She is now 52 years old and on the verge hof planning her surgery. Her curvature is about 65 degrees at this point and her specialist claims that it has increased 8 degrees in just two years. After all this time she has decided that it is necessary to have the spinal cord fusion surgery. In my attempt to get as much information for her as possible I have been looking at forums for information about people her age who have had this surgery. What I have found has been unsettling. It seems that everyone has had bad experiences and that one surgery never seems to cut it. I am hearing lots of stories of multiple surgeries, broken rods, and extreme pain. I don't know how to advise my my mother to proceed. I would greatly appreciate any advice or personal stories that people could provide me with. Thank you so much to anyone who can help

[dying2die]

A group

well Hello
as for the age of ur mom .. and the surgery .. there is one awesome group that could help u .. i had been a member of it .. and they are really a good lot ... u can feel very comfortable there and u will get all ur answers ...
the address to the group is

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Flatback_Revised

the members are very caring and all are as old as ur mom .. well wen u go there please let them know that amina gave them all regards ... i am sure u will not need to go any where else... God bless u and ur mom
Take care

[Diana Black]

I wouild say, unless your mother is having bad and consistent pain, LEAVE IT! Although the curve seems to have deteriorated recently, these measurements are never precise and sooner or later the curve does 'lock', accoerding to my consultant, so won't keep going. It is a 'brutal' operation (a medic's word) with many risks. After the menopause your bones are often a lot weaker, too. If two consultants say it's necessary, then it would be different, but you seem to suggest it's just your mother's decision. the risks now will be far greater than any she may have been warned about when she was younger. Best of luck.

[Karen Ocker]

"curves locking"??? and "brutal operation"????

Although the curve seems to have deteriorated recently, these measurements are never precise and sooner or later the curve does 'lock', accoerding to my consultant, so won't keep going.

The above statement is inaccurate. Curves above 40-50 deg in adulthood can increase 1-3 degrees a year. Never heard of large curves "locking".
My personal experience between the age 0f 52 and 59 my major thoracic curve went from 64 deg to 80 degrees before I had my revision. I had my "brutal surgery" at age 60 and got a 50% correction and have no pain.My mother who had a lesser curve, hardly noticeable is now really twisted at 89.

It is a 'brutal' operation (a medic's word) with many risks.

This statement is a scare tactic. We are all afraid of surgery. But it gave me my life back and it was the only way to help me and many others. Open heart surgery is also "brutal surgery" since the chest must be sawed open (with a power saw yet!) I do not hear people refusing that type of surgery when it is clearly indicated.

For Leviwood: your mom is only 52 and she has a significant curve. She probably has at least a 30 year life expectancy.
I suggest she visit a scolosis specialist who deals with adults, speak to his patients and get good moral support from people who have walked the walk.

[CHRIS WBS]

Diana,

You are a little late in responding. I believe this person's mother has already undergone surgery.

Karen,

I don't mean to diminish the value of scoliosis surgery; but quite honestly, if I had to choose, I would opt for open-heart surgery. Recovery is much faster and although you may need to make some changes to your diet and life style afterwards, you don't lose flexibility and end up with a ton of hardware in your spine.

Chris

[SandyC]

Chris,
Sorry but I have to agree with Karen. Telling someone that our spine curves will "lock" is just misinformation. Using terms like "brutal" is not helpful and certainly doesn't impart any useful information, which is what leviwood was wanting. Instead of passing out misinformation it would have been better not to say anything.