Dr. Butterman and preventative decompression

[kellyp]

Has anyone heard anything about a scoliosis specialist by the name of Dr. Butterman? He practices out of the Midwest Spine Institute in MN.

Also I was recommended to have preventative decompression. Has anyone ever had this, what does it all entail. Is it always surgical? I am told that I have arthritis and eventually this will lead to disc degeneration?

[LindaRacine]

Hi Kelly...

Dr. Butterman did a fellowship at UCSF, and I met him then. That training is about as good as it gets.

Decompression is a surgical procedure whereby some small pieces of bone are removed from the back part of a vertebra, which allows more room for the spinal cord, and hopefully reducing one's pain. The problem with it, is that some surgeons believe it destabilizes the spine and can actually cause one's scoliosis to worsen.

Regards,
Linda