I have been lurking here for a long time, but have finally joined the forum since it looks as if I will not avoid surgery.
I was diagnosed at age 8, in 1966, and wore a Milwaukee Brace for nine years. At 17 I was so, so happy to be free of the brace I'd lived with for so long, and no one ever told my family or me that I needed follow-up.
In my early 30s, I began to have back pain, and by 40 I was sure my back had moved. I got the first x-rays in more than 20 years, but no longer had my old records for comparison. Doctors initially told me my curves might be stable, but they have progressed, and over the last two years they have moved nearly 10 degrees. The handwriting that has been on the wall is now in all caps.
My spine guy tells me I will almost certainly need a fusion from T1 to the sacrum. He said he could do it, but when I asked him who would do it if I were his daughter or wife, he decided I should be at one of the big centers out of state. When I asked if there were anyone in Florida he felt was qualified to do my surgery, he said only one, Dr. Michael S. O'Brien.
Turns out, Dr. O'Brien has moved his surgery from Miami to Baylor Scoliosis Center in Dallas, but he still sees patients for pre-op workups and post-op follow-ups in Miami. This would be so great for me; Miami is 100 miles, but Dallas is 1000.
I'm in the process of scheduling a consult with Dr. O'Brien and would like to hear any feedback on him that anyone has. His background is very impressive, and he is now co-medical director of Baylor's center. You will see a million more questions from me as I move ahead. Thanks to all of you who have shared your brave stories on this forum. It gives me hope, but I'm TERRIFIED.
I was diagnosed at age 8, in 1966, and wore a Milwaukee Brace for nine years. At 17 I was so, so happy to be free of the brace I'd lived with for so long, and no one ever told my family or me that I needed follow-up.
In my early 30s, I began to have back pain, and by 40 I was sure my back had moved. I got the first x-rays in more than 20 years, but no longer had my old records for comparison. Doctors initially told me my curves might be stable, but they have progressed, and over the last two years they have moved nearly 10 degrees. The handwriting that has been on the wall is now in all caps.
My spine guy tells me I will almost certainly need a fusion from T1 to the sacrum. He said he could do it, but when I asked him who would do it if I were his daughter or wife, he decided I should be at one of the big centers out of state. When I asked if there were anyone in Florida he felt was qualified to do my surgery, he said only one, Dr. Michael S. O'Brien.
Turns out, Dr. O'Brien has moved his surgery from Miami to Baylor Scoliosis Center in Dallas, but he still sees patients for pre-op workups and post-op follow-ups in Miami. This would be so great for me; Miami is 100 miles, but Dallas is 1000.
I'm in the process of scheduling a consult with Dr. O'Brien and would like to hear any feedback on him that anyone has. His background is very impressive, and he is now co-medical director of Baylor's center. You will see a million more questions from me as I move ahead. Thanks to all of you who have shared your brave stories on this forum. It gives me hope, but I'm TERRIFIED.
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