hi. i have scoliosis in excess of 100 degrees. ivve had spinal fusion, and rods inserted in my back when i was 6, this stopped the curve proggressing for a while, but by the time i was 10 i had out grown the rods. hence my scoliosis got much worst as i had my growth spurts through puberty. at 17 i had the opportunity for my curve to be reduced to 30 degrees or lower. clearly i took this opportunity. because my spinal chord has a cavity in it it makes any back sugery, especially revision surgery even more dangerous. there was only 1 consultant in the country willing to do it because of this danger. i was told i had a 20% chance of permanent paralysation. the procedure would involve breaking my back, stretching it over a period of 3 weeks via. traction, then having a second operation to take out further vertebrae to make my spine more flexible. finally a third operation would fix my back in its new position with rods. anyway, after the 2nd operation i lost the feeling in my legs, however a ct scan shown all my nerves were still intact so hopefully i would regain my feeling in them. the doctors told me that a third operation was likely to leave me permanently paraylsed as they had only slightly stretched my back when i lost feeling. therefore i decided not to have my back straightened further. i had to have a "prop" put in my back (a bone holding up the curve) and rods installed.
i hsd all my hopes on this procedure and was dreaming of being tall, and just normal. instead im left with the knowledge that i will have to live the rest of my life with severe scoliosis. i hate being short because of it (im 18 now and only 5'3) which isnt helped by the fact my twin brother is 6'4 (obviously, he doesnt have scooliosis). what also bothers me is that my hips are relatively so high up on my body because my upper body is so collapsed. if anyone is in a similar situation, or has ideas which could help me cope with scoliosis i would be extremely grateful.
scott
i hsd all my hopes on this procedure and was dreaming of being tall, and just normal. instead im left with the knowledge that i will have to live the rest of my life with severe scoliosis. i hate being short because of it (im 18 now and only 5'3) which isnt helped by the fact my twin brother is 6'4 (obviously, he doesnt have scooliosis). what also bothers me is that my hips are relatively so high up on my body because my upper body is so collapsed. if anyone is in a similar situation, or has ideas which could help me cope with scoliosis i would be extremely grateful.
scott
Comment