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    http://drlloydhey.blogspot.com/2010/...sit-after.html
    Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

    No island of sanity.

    Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
    Answer: Medicine


    "We are all African."

  • #2
    What I think is most interesting about this is that the xray technician shielded her reproductive organs. Why do they do that sometimes and not others? Every time I ask for it they say it will get in the way of seeing the curves. But as you can see from this Xray, the shield is below the pelvis! I feel like I've been exposed to a lifetime of radiation with scoliosis Xrays since age 11 with no particular regard for my organs!

    Evelyn
    age 48
    80* thoracolumbar; 40* thoracic
    Reduced to ~16* thoracolumbar; ~0* thoracic
    Surgery 3/14/12 with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis, T4 to S1 with pelvic fixation
    Broken rods 12/1/19; scheduled for revision fusion L1-L3-4 with Dr. Lenke 2/4/2020
    Not "confused" anymore, but don't know how to change my username.

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by Confusedmom View Post
      What I think is most interesting about this is that the xray technician shielded her reproductive organs. Why do they do that sometimes and not others? Every time I ask for it they say it will get in the way of seeing the curves. But as you can see from this Xray, the shield is below the pelvis! I feel like I've been exposed to a lifetime of radiation with scoliosis Xrays since age 11 with no particular regard for my organs!

      Evelyn
      Evelyn...

      I think you may need to find a new specialist. The recommendation for scoliosis films is that they be taken with shields, and lateral films should be taken P/A (meaning the back is toward the machinery).

      --Linda
      Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
      Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

      Comment


      • #4
        A lot of x-ray techs are unfortunately extremely sloppy and lax about shielding. I nearly always have to request/insist on proper shielding for my daughter, who started having scoliosis x-rays at age 6. You have to be very vigilant about insisting the shielding is applied properly and consistently.

        I have noticed though that now, at the age of 43, my ovaries are not shielded--I am assuming because I am past my child-bearing years.

        Evelyn, I'm not sure about your comment on the shielding of Dr Hey's patient. That looks like very good placement, actually. You can find a lot of info online by googling "gonad shielding." There are even articles with photos of proper shield placement.
        Gayle, age 50
        Oct 2010 fusion T8-sacrum w/ pelvic fixation
        Feb 2012 lumbar revision for broken rods @ L2-3-4
        Sept 2015 major lumbar A/P revision for broken rods @ L5-S1


        mom of Leah, 15 y/o, Diagnosed '08 with 26* T JIS (age 6)
        2010 VBS Dr Luhmann Shriners St Louis
        2017 curves stable/skeletely mature

        also mom of Torrey, 12 y/o son, 16* T, stable

        Comment


        • #5
          Thanks, Linda. Actually, this unfortunately has been true at a variety of offices (latest was Dr. Bridwell in St. Louis). I ask for the shielding when I remember, but it seems like when I forget they just leave it off. Or at least I don't see anything blocked on the Xray. (Aren't they supposed to try to block breasts, too?)

          Gayle, I think my writing was unclear. I also meant that the referenced xray looked like good shielding--what I would ideally want. As you note, perhaps they've decided that they don't need to shield me anymore since I'm 38--unlikely to have more children. But still....

          Anyway, I'll be more demanding from here on out, thanks!
          age 48
          80* thoracolumbar; 40* thoracic
          Reduced to ~16* thoracolumbar; ~0* thoracic
          Surgery 3/14/12 with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis, T4 to S1 with pelvic fixation
          Broken rods 12/1/19; scheduled for revision fusion L1-L3-4 with Dr. Lenke 2/4/2020
          Not "confused" anymore, but don't know how to change my username.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Confusedmom View Post
            Thanks, Linda. Actually, this unfortunately has been true at a variety of offices (latest was Dr. Bridwell in St. Louis). I ask for the shielding when I remember, but it seems like when I forget they just leave it off. Or at least I don't see anything blocked on the Xray. (Aren't they supposed to try to block breasts, too?)

            Gayle, I think my writing was unclear. I also meant that the referenced xray looked like good shielding--what I would ideally want. As you note, perhaps they've decided that they don't need to shield me anymore since I'm 38--unlikely to have more children. But still....

            Anyway, I'll be more demanding from here on out, thanks!
            I would definitely complain to Dr. Bridwell. I would assume he was part of the group that set the standard for taking scoliosis films.
            Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
            ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
            Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

            Comment


            • #7
              Thanks

              OMG !
              I never thought of the girls needing to be shielded. Thanks for bringing this up!

              We are going to another doc at the end of the month. This time a real consultation 2-3 hours. We are meeting with the current ID and will be deciding whether to stay with the orthopod,next week.

              I had a retired phsycian friend read my narrative. He apologized for his profession and said he was embaressed. I think the doc is waiting for the residency program to start again with new residents. Because he was pushing for M. to enjoy the summer. Another Medical Social Worker agreed with this theory. He doesn't answer my phone calls- we only get answers when my husband calls. I don't know what I did wrong. Anyway. say prayers that we get this all worked out. M. is set on this Doc.

              Comment


              • #8
                Does keeping your undies on classify as shielding? If not, yowser, yowser, I always had frontal xrays and side without any shielding. Interesting.............
                Wonder what the Aussie protocols are for these kind of xrays.
                Vali
                44 years young! now 45
                Surgery - June 1st, 2009
                Dr David Hall - Adelaide Spine Clinic
                St. Andrews Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia
                Pre-op curve - 58 degree lumbar
                Post -op - 5 degrees
                T11 - S1 Posterior
                L4/5 - L5/S1 Anterior Fusion

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Vali View Post
                  Does keeping your undies on classify as shielding?
                  Not unless they're made of lead. ;-)
                  Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
                  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
                  Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Dr Hey's own comments - Guestion abt surgical guidelines by age

                    Hi there!

                    A bit late, but I just ran into this by chance.
                    You asked for comments.

                    I have one about Dr Hey's own comments on his Blog.

                    He said he used a special heavy duty correction technique (to do with type or placement of rods) because of this adolescent's "nasty 90 degree curve", remarking how much better it would have been to operate before her curves got this bad - "preferably below 50 degrees".

                    Is this true mostly (only) of adolescent curves? With adults, especially older adults, it seems that the advantage of getting there sooner "under 50 degrees") is offset by other considerations. i

                    I wonder if (and if so, how), Dr. Hey might have changed his recommendations if he had been speaking of an adult with the same curves and correction? To be more general (and more what I want to know), I'm sure there are standardized SRS guidelines for when surgery is indicated (factoring in degree and location of curves, pain, progression rate, diisability). These must differ by age group.

                    Anyone actually know what these are?
                    Not all diagnosed (still having tests and consults) but so far:
                    Ehler-Danlos (hyper-mobility) syndrome, 69 - somehow,
                    main curve L Cobb 60, compensating T curve ~ 30
                    Flat back, marked lumbar kyphosis (grade?) Spondilolisthesis - everyone gives this a different grade too. Cervical stenosis op'd 3-07, minimally invasive

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Note: if such guidelines are available (I'm sure they exist), I'm sure first time adult surgery candidates of all ages would love to have access to them.

                      So maybe if someone (Linda! Haloo! ) has an answer to this important question, both question and answer belong in that forum where more can benefit from seeing them.
                      Not all diagnosed (still having tests and consults) but so far:
                      Ehler-Danlos (hyper-mobility) syndrome, 69 - somehow,
                      main curve L Cobb 60, compensating T curve ~ 30
                      Flat back, marked lumbar kyphosis (grade?) Spondilolisthesis - everyone gives this a different grade too. Cervical stenosis op'd 3-07, minimally invasive

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Amanda

                        A persuader was used with my construct. Its one on the many different tools that Synthes manufactures. On their site, there is no end to what they have thought of... Amazing. They have tooling for every possible scenerio. I have their "Pangea system"

                        Scroll down to page 15
                        http://products.synthes.com/prod_sup...GUSSJ4437A.pdf

                        Adults and kids with "nasty 90s" need persuasion sometimes...

                        This little girls curve was up high and makes things difficult due to the ribs. She really needed surgery.... Its such a shock to just find out your kid has a severe scoli, and so young.

                        I recommend deep breathing exercises for the parents.
                        Ed
                        49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                        Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                        ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                        Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                        Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                        http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                        My x-rays
                        http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                        http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          pedicle depth-synthes spinal fixation

                          Ed

                          Great attachment! Thanks

                          Do you know how the surgeon gauges the depth/length of the pedicle screw; is xray imaging used during surgery?

                          I've read articles where the screw has been too long and caused irritation requiring removal later and others where the screw insertion caused dural tears

                          In cases where the spine has been rotated for some time, do you or others know, if some vertebrae are deformed and make placement of the pedicle screw difficult or impossible?

                          Thanks
                          [FONT="Comic Sans MS"]
                          Spinal fusion 1961
                          HR 1981 T3-L4
                          Thoracic curve 75Cobb; post 40
                          Present: Thoracic 60Cobb Lumber?
                          [FONT]

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Pedicle screw placement inspection and procedures

                            Hi Elizabeth

                            Good to see you posting again.

                            Placement of pedicle screws is challenging. On one of my levels, I was wedged, and in the hospital report, it said that a clear trajectory was not obtainable. One screw was omitted. A C arm was used.

                            http://www.medical.siemens.com/sieme..._eng_DRUCK.pdf

                            Ultrasound is used. Steinman pin or K wire used for depth check.
                            http://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/neur...r/tlscrew.html

                            http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9755762

                            http://www.ijoonline.com/article.asp...8;aulast=Rajan

                            Hope this helps
                            Ed
                            49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                            Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                            ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                            Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                            Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                            http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                            My x-rays
                            http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                            http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              one more
                              http://www.bioline.org.br/pdf?ni05158

                              Ed
                              49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                              Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                              ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                              Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                              Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                              http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                              My x-rays
                              http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                              http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                              Comment

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