conflicting opinions about surgery...

[Danite]

Hi everyone,

I have at least three curves that since surgery in 54 have progressively became worse, just recently after fifty years of reasonably pain free life. I have had numerous problems, including breathing and increased pain, but presently no surgery is being scheduled for this guy. Again it is a serious problem and is personal for that person, if they want or need surgery, I too have heard that surgery is usually only considered and should be by the individual with scoliosis if it reaches that 50 percent mark.
Two of my curves are beyound the 60 mark and one is at 30, I have no metal parts of anykind or rods so I do expect that this will continue (progressive) and the degenerative desease of my spine. But I'm happy with my life and the accomplishments that I have made, so right now no surgery because it would take more than one and there is no guarantee.

[suejeryl]

i think connie has a good point about using your own idea about the future to help make the surgery decision. i refused to let anyone talk to me about surgery for years. despite daily, debilitating pain. i have a friend whose mother is in her 70's and who arranges her whole day around her back pain and i thought that's me and i'm only 49; i guess it isn't going to be easier when i'm older! so i decided to have surgery; it was an easy decision given my daily pain level and that thought of the future. i'm 8 weeks post-op and i feel well most days; my back pain has been relieved (really!); and i'll be through this soon. as for having babies, well, my back hurt so badly while i was expecting my son that we decided to adopt our daughter. my kids are 9 and 7 now; they've been good assistant nurses!

[Karen Ocker]

surgery in Jan

No one can talk you into surgery.

I personally was so grateful at the age of 60 (2 years ago) that I could be helped (curves 30-80-40) with breathing problems that I counted the days. I was ready.

I was on another forum for revision surgeries. One person shared with me that by the time she made up her mind to do something her lungs were too far gone to undergo anesthesia. She now need oxygen 24/7. She is in her 50s.
In 1995 my major(fused) curve measured 64-7 years later I was 80.

I am now back at work, pain free and last spring I hiked in the Alps at 6,000 feet.

The recovery was long and actually seemed endless because of my age. It took almost 2 years for my lungs to recover because one loses some lung function from the surgery itself.

Karen

[Jenny Spencer]

Linda,

I was wondering if you could explain further what you meant whhen you sald recently that "older" peolple whom you know who have relatively little pain are the ones who seem to be the most unhappy about their outcomes.

Thanks,

Jenny Spencer

[Danite]

Hi Jenny,

Please note that I'm not in favor of surgery unless it is totally necessary, almost life or death type situation. So my personal opinions will almost always recommend second opinions and other options instead of surgery. As for the pain, ask your specialists, most will agree that the older an individual is, the more challenging the recovery is pertaining to pain and physical activities. This is not uncommon. Do your own thing Jenny, and listen to yourself. I do not believe my pain would change for the better or otherwise be decreased by further surgery. So therefore I would not gain anything by having it, it is a trade off. In fact I personally believe that the chances for increase pain and further surgery after this one is highly likely if I decided on such. So unless I will benefit from it in some way or form, I prefer not to go thru it again. But this is my opinion, not always right, not always wrong.

[LindaRacine]

Hi Jenny...

I'm not sure I can explain it any other way, but I'll try. I'm talking about people who are in their 40's and up, who have little or no pain. Surgery will almost certainly cause those patients significant pain, at least in the short term. In the long term, some patients have pain caused by the surgery. While that long-term pain is usually not enough to cause a loss of function, I think it sometimes feels to people in that situation, that they're worse off than before surgery (despite the fact that they are no longer at significant risk of progression).

For those in pain, there is a multitude of studies showing that they are better off after surgery.

Hope that explains it. I'm not trying to dissuade you from undergoing surgery. I'm just trying to be sure you have as much information as possible to help you make an informed decision. I think that if you go into surgery knowing that you're at high risk of short term pain, and at some amount of additional risk for long-term pain, you're more likely to have a good outcome.

Good luck with your decision.

Regards,
Linda

[lrmb]

Hi HGD24...

Feel free to email me if you'd like to "talk" about this. To recap, I'm 29, with curves at about 48 and 30; doctors are pretty sure they will progress and my latest two opinions said they would consider surgery around 55-60 degrees. The "having kids thing" is a big deal. But it sounds like with curves of your size it would usually be recommended to have the surgery - I'm not sure if at that point it is truly "elective" any more...?

My email is lrmb24@hotmail.com if you want to get in touch.
All the very best. ~Laura

[momoflacrosse]

curve progression

Hi:

I would guess that I reached skeletal maturity in my teens and my curves stayed pretty stable until my 30's at around 30/20 but since 1995 at 42 my curve went from 37/25 to being 58/40 in 2003 so it would seem that skeletal maturity doesn't necessarily mean that your curves won't get worse. I just had another xray taken last week but until I see the surgeon today I won't know the Cobb measurement. I am not sure what to expect from this appointment -whether he will opt for surgery or not but I do have the name of a 2nd surgeon in Toronto that I will probably see for another opinion. I know that this is a huge operation but I am at the point where this pain and lack of function is affecting my life so much that I am ready to do it if it will give me some of my life back again. At 51 I am still quite young enough to hopefully recover well and I have lots of living left to do. I am not sure how old you are but as you can see your curves can defnitely get worse as you age.

Nancy

[Danite]

SURGERY IS ALWAY, ALWAYS AN ELECTIVE.

[Jenny Spencer]

Danite,

Many thanks for your advice about listening to myself.I've not done that recently!-Just been so overwhelmed by other people's views and advice.

Best wishes,

Jenny

[Jenny Spencer]

Hi Linda,

Thank you very much for your excellent explanation.It has given me an important perspective on this very difficult dilemma.

Best wishes,

Jenny

[Kimber]

Linda, You mentioned future pain as a probablilty after adults undergo scoliosis surgery. Do you believe this is the same level of probability for people who have surgery in their teens?
Kim

[LindaRacine]

Kim...

No. Most teens have only short-term post-op pain. I'm not sure why.

Regards,
Linda

[cowprintrabbit]

Linda, I find very few stats in my age range (27 next month). Would I react more like an adult or a teen painwise? Am I still young enough to have an advantage healing and infectionwise because of my age?

Thanks, Christine

[LindaRacine]

Hi Christine...

Most of the people I know who are under 40 have had relatively easy recoveries and excellent long-term results. If you know you're going to have to have surgery eventually, I would definitely recommend that you get it over with while you're still young.

Regards,
Linda