here we go again, two more surgeries

[goagain]

Hi all,
Well as an adult scoliosis patient, here we go again, my first Harrington rod
18", was placed at age 15, severe upper and lower curves. I did pretty well
after that, I had pain but not to bad, I was never really hindered. I had my
first child at 40. I had him by C-section. I went down hill from there (well worth it). Here we are six years later. Anyway, my doctor, at Beth Isreal Deaconess, Boston, MA, will do two surgeries, first, is to repair and fuse, the now colapsing lumbar area, that never really had any support and the second surgery to either pull the existing rod and replace it or extend the rod that is there into the lumbar area. I am confident in his abilities but was wondering if any other subscriber has had this type of surgery. As the time draws near, I have to admit I am a bit nervous.

[zheron]

pregnancy after surgery?

Would really like to hear from anyone who has had children after having surgery and if they faced any problems?

I am 31 and have 2 curves 64 & 67 degrees which I have been told I should have corrected in the next 5 years. I would like to have children as soon as possible after the surgery(about 18 months I think)

Any advice would be appreciated - I cant seem to find anyone who has been through this!

Thank you

[tashasmith]

Tasha

I am 34, diagnosed with scoliosis at age of 9, suppose to wear a brace but never wore it faithfully. Anyway they tried to get me to have surgery when I was in my 20's (45 degree curve, thoracic area). I was too scared and refused. Went to college, etc, didn't have any major problems except for the occasional lower back pain with lifting, bending. I'm a nurse so those two pretty much go hand in hand. Anyway after my kids were born, had my first at age 26, then 30 for the second one my curve advanced to 56 degrees in the same area. I just had my surgery March 1st, fused from T3-T10. I went back to work 3 weeks later (I'm still a nurse but I'm more of management now so the bending, twisting thing is out of the picture). It was pure he.. for the first 2 weeks, your muscles kill and it was really difficult but I'm ok now...If I had to do it over again I wouldn't change the timing of the surgery...I mean I'd have my kids first, do what I needed to do and then have the surgery when they are old enough...anyway they say pregnancy can make the curve worse and it was true for me!! Hope all turns out ok for you!

[lelc2002@yahoo]

me too... Everyone noticed my height difference after the second birth(have 2) My sisters & I stood together last night & I was the shortest. sad...I used to be the tallest. I Have lost 4 inch as of this past December. Next visit is June & hopefully I've lost no more.......Lynne
surg this Aug. ant/post. 60/60 curves 95thorolumbar/80 kyphosis
http://lynnebackattack.blogspot.com

[LindaRacine]

I just had my surgery March 1st, fused from T3-T10. I went back to work 3 weeks later (I'm still a nurse but I'm more of management now so the bending, twisting thing is out of the picture).

Wow! That's pretty amazing Tasha. Congratulations!

--Linda

[Diana Black]

When considering whetjer to have children, how much of a factor should it be that scoliosis is now thought to be hereditary? I am not sure I would want to wish this upon a daughter.

[flowerpower]

There is a genetic link and scoliosis does tend to run in families. Having children is highly personal choice anyway and whether or not they would develop scoliosis or not is a "roll of the dice" IMHO. Same could be said with any condition or disease. My firstborn (a boy) had surgery to correct scoliosis, my second child (13 yr. old) hasn't shown any signs yet nor has my 8 yr. old. My children are my greatest joy in life and I couldn't imagine life without them.

Renee

[Jacque's Mom]

When we decided to have a child, I wished for a boy ONLY because scoliosis tends to run more in females. I did not want her to go through the pain as I did. This was 20 years ago and my daughter was born in 1986 and yes has scoliosis but she is very mild. She never had to be braced and her curve is under 20 degrees. She never, ever had back pain. You just don't know what the outcome will be. I come from a very large family and no one has scoliosis but me. I'm so blessed to have Jacqueline and hopefully if she has children, she will have the same outcome. Good luck! LYNN

[CicfromOttawa]

Children/surgery after ect for goagain

Hi everyone!
Goagain, sorry to hear about your surgery issues, I am a soon to be 37 yr old mother of two fantastic children. I had my surgery here in canada in Toronto at the sick children hospital. I can remember my exact curve but it was an s curve very severe one. I had the surgery in 85 at the age of about 14. I have been living with the pain ever since. I was in silence with it for about 5 to 6 yrs thinking it was all in my head. Finished school, finshined college ect.. It is only after getting to see and ortho. who specialised in Adult scoli. patience that I found out that my fusion didn't go low enought and that the pain that i was feeling was due to digenrative bone desease in my lower back. I was then inform at that time that my futur to him was going to be very grime. To this doc it involved stoping all avtivities I loved doing,and I was told to forget about ever having children, that it would be emotionaly wise to forget them. Nice heh. Well, alot of what he said was correct. pain wise. As for the rest no. I got married to my hight school sweet heart, and we did get married thinking we would never have children, and being the sweet heart that he is, he always said he would be happy with or without. So there was never pressure. The decision to have them was made when we ask what having them would involve and how dangerous it would be for me.
My doctor almost fell to the floor when I told him that my other ortopid. doc. had told me no. He replied I would never tell one of my patients she can not have children until it is medicaly proven otherwise. We proceeded to weigh the danger, and they were many for me due to my lower back pain and carring the baby, I felt great during the day, not so good at night. it was difficult in the end, I lost 12pound for my son, and 2 for my daughter. due to the pain etc. It was hell of a first birth. So much pain, and cam close. But, my son his great and I was in great hands, and a C-section for my daughter.
It didn't change anything in my condition that was going to happend. They are predicting surgery for me as well, frontal and back, repalcing my broken rod from a car accident. And any other surprises. I hope all is well with your surgery. Please keep me posted.
As for kids or no kids because of this scoliosis. That was never and issue or even enter or minds. It is part of life you deal with it like anything else. And if it wouldn't of been for my doctor suggesting to stop, I probebly would of had 4. They keep my bussy and I get to stop thinking of this pain and focus on them. and they kill me with laughter. And it was the greatess gift that I could give to a man so deserving to be a dad.

Take care everyone.Cic.

An