Revision after revision?

[Kelley]

Is there anyone out there that has had revision surgery from a revision surgery?
I had revision surgery due to flatback in Sept. '99* and now I am experiencing the same problems as before! I was fused to S1 making my total fusion T3 - S1 now. I'm having a lot of pain in my neck and hips/legs. Can't stand or walk for any length of time and need a cart or wheelchair to go shopping.
I know that finding a qualified surgeon to do these revision surgeries is a challenge, but what about finding one that has done a revision of a revision?
HELP! My saggital plane needs a new hangar!

*anterior/posterior lumbar reconstruction with osteotomy and supporting hardware - damaged nerve at L4-5 level with pedicle screw

[LindaRacine]

Hi Kelley...

Do you still have flatback? Or, do you just have the same symptoms as before?

Also, who did your revision surgery?

--Linda

[Kelley]

Hi Linda,

Well, have you read the SRS white paper regarding sagittal plane alignment? (http://www.srs.org/professionals/res...hite_paper.pdf) Figure 6 on page 9... yeah, that's me!

James E. Shook, MD at Loma Linda University Medical Center in California did my revision surgery. Super doctor, dedicated to his patients. He referred me to Donald PK Chan, MD at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. I've yet to see Dr. Chan only because I'm hesitant to go to another teaching hospital for another major surgery. Is that being paranoid? I guess having student interns practicing new techniques on me and honing their surgical skills, albeit with a professional overseeing their every move, is just something I'd rather not subject myself to again. Gettin' a little picky in my old age, I guess. Ha, ha!

Dr. Shook's follow-up would have included another osteotomy. He could only do so much when he did the revision and explained to me that my spinal cord would only allow for so much correction at the time. Initially, my scoliosis was complicated by hyper-kyphosis and hyper-lordodisis and wasn't really addressed upon my first corrective surgery with Harrington Rod implementation in 1985.

So, here I am with an iatrogenic uncompensated sagittal imbalance - again. Is that the correct medical term? I've been in contact with Jean-Pierre C. Farcy, MD's office in New York and they have offered to review my radiographs and if I can find someone here in the area that has the correct equipment to take the required three foot standing x-rays on one film cartridge, I'll do it. That's a challenge in itself, huh?

Locally, their is J. A. Abbott Byrd, III, MD who is an active member of the SRS. I'm interested in learning more about his background in the area of adult scoliosis and revision surgeries.

I have great insurance coverage (Blue Cross/Blue Shield of CA PPO and Medicare Part A), so I think can go anywhere in the country and be treated as long as they are a listed provider with BC.

[LindaRacine]

I don't know the doctors in your part of the country. I'm sure that Dr. Farcy is qualified. If you're OK with New York, you might also want to check out Dr. Oheneba Boachie.

Good luck finding the right person and getting fixed. :-)

--Linda

[Danite]

PLEASE, anyone and everyone that is considering any form of surgery of the spine, you need to consider the risk. Surgery after surgery, after surgery is not a life. Look for as many medical documentations regarding revision surgery, ask for more than two, three or four second opinuon, not just from the specialist, but from individuals who have had revision surgery.
Don't jump into anything, as for me, surgery is an option and was completed once, but not my choice now, and will not again be considered unless it is obsolute.
I have lived with this scoliosis for over fifty years now, and had one of the first spinal surgery in the country with over 80% of my spine totally fused. I have no rod or hardware and don't care too. But this is my choice, I will live with the pain and discomfort, the medical model is not my choice.
Live Long and Prosper........

[luvteddybears]

Hey Kelley, You might want to try Dr. Chester Sharps. He did my surgery in 1989 and did my revision March of this year. He is rated one of the best doctors in VA!