Pain Help

[Karen Ocker]

Wait till later???

One of the problems with waiting till later is that the vertebrae themselves become wedge shaped and the ribs becomes deformed and pointed under the prominent shoulder blade. My chest is still deformed from my childhood curve despite a thoracoplasty to reduce the deformity. I also lost lung tissue which will not come back and is scarred. Even though I got spectacular results from my surgery the damage to my lungs could not be undone only arrested. The breathing has been improved by curve reduction but I will always have significant restricted lung capacity. This is from curves in the (before surgery)range of:
30 cervical/80thoracic/40 lumbar.

The surgery itself can also result in restricted lung capacity because, with the anterior approach, the breathing muscles/nerves are cut--that's what the pulmonary doc told me pre-op.

Anyone who thinks that they always have the option of surgery "later" when it starts hurting is kidding thmselves if they think straighteing the curves will result in perfectly normal shaped ribs/spine and no internal damage.

Just my experience

[Theresa]

Karen,

I agree with you. My ribs are so deformed from the scoliosis and from not having anything done until 3 years ago at the age of 48. I was really looking forward to my chest on the left side looking "normal" after the surgery. It not only affects the lungs. One of my kidneys has a flatten top from where the ribs were on it. It seems like to me that the people who had something done when they were younger have a much better time of recovery and outcomes than people who hadn't had anything done if they have to go and have a revision surgery of some kind.

[Michael Barga]

I have a feeling the last two post were stated on my behalf.I do appreciate the information. Believe me I am not suggesting that others wait for surgery until they have pain but our surgeon said right now Michael was in no danger and had no complications and he had time to decide.I was in the room and asked if it had to be done right now for medical reasons , and he said no. Maybe because of his curve being thoracolumbar or for other reasons, I do not know.Another thing is Michael looks very normal in his front chest wall, from the front one can not tell but he does have a rib hump and from the back one can tell if one is looking.I do read when you go to sites that for adult scoliosis, pain is listed as a main reason to consider having surgery.I am not kidding myself that there might be complications from waiting and I think he realizes that too but right now he says no.I guess one has to say there might be complications from having the surgery too, I think of the young mother who died.I see a lot waiting on here too until older ages so I guess he is not alone in his decision to wait... right or wrong it is his decision.All choices we make affect our health in the long run,I hope his other good choices might counterbalance in some way his choice of not having surgery right now or at least keep him in good physical shape that when surgery is needed he goes in with that on his side.I responded to the original poster because of the pain issues down the road from having surgery, this is ONE reason why he has put off surgery right now and to him it is a valid one at this point in his life. Right or wrong...pain or lack of pain can be a great motivator in one's decision making.I just hope Rachael and others find something to help with the pain issues.

[grahamtwine]

Possible Rod Removal

I didn't in fact have to have my rod removed, I was in a lot of back pain, I have now had a nerve block injection in my lower spine which has helped a bit, I go to see the specialist again next month. I thought my rod had moved due to the pain I was having.

I look forward to any comments.