So, here I am in life, age 66 with a one year old diagnosis of "adult onset degenerative scoliosis", cruising along basically in denial and then having looked in the mirror for the past 6 months, have noticed a marked leaning to the right [not politically....physically!]. My right shoulder is much lower than my left, I look pretty pitiful. Then I get severe R butt pain and frontal thigh pain. [I was the one waiting in line lying on the floor moaning for 45 minutes while waiting for an international airplane to load]. I thought that this pain was "solved" by an L4 corticosteroid 2 months ago, but the steroids wore off. I cannot stand for more than 5-10 minutes without sitting or lying down. Pain drugs don't help. So, now I will have my 3rd steroid inj in 5 months [rule, as I understand it is one can only have 3 inj/year...yikes!] tomorrow. Then there's the sudden weakness on going from sitting to standing when my legs give way beneath me.
My annual visit to the surgeon shows A BIG CHANGE in sagittal and coronal balance. The surgeon draws a computerline on my leaning stature and then shows me the zero line. They aren't even close. the Cobb angles didn't change much, although I have not received the radiologist's interpretation.
The surgeon said, "The decision to have surgery is yours, but I'd be surprised if you didn't want to have the surgery."
So now, intellectually, I know that I need to take the BIG STEP and have the fusion surgery....like soon. But, my heart isn't sure. Why am I unsure????? I really don't know. Things are not going to get better, certainly there is a big trend for the downhill slope. Then I read Wolport's book that says, "coupled with the surgical risks of anesthesia and the difficult recovery process, surgery for older individuals is seldom a good prospect." Bummer....just when I thought that I had made up my mind, I am now wondering if having surgery such a good idea. Damn the Wolport book! The alternative of not having surgery is not attractive either.
Can anyone loan me some confidence?
Susan
PS: I have set up a second opinion.....
My annual visit to the surgeon shows A BIG CHANGE in sagittal and coronal balance. The surgeon draws a computerline on my leaning stature and then shows me the zero line. They aren't even close. the Cobb angles didn't change much, although I have not received the radiologist's interpretation.
The surgeon said, "The decision to have surgery is yours, but I'd be surprised if you didn't want to have the surgery."
So now, intellectually, I know that I need to take the BIG STEP and have the fusion surgery....like soon. But, my heart isn't sure. Why am I unsure????? I really don't know. Things are not going to get better, certainly there is a big trend for the downhill slope. Then I read Wolport's book that says, "coupled with the surgical risks of anesthesia and the difficult recovery process, surgery for older individuals is seldom a good prospect." Bummer....just when I thought that I had made up my mind, I am now wondering if having surgery such a good idea. Damn the Wolport book! The alternative of not having surgery is not attractive either.
Can anyone loan me some confidence?
Susan
PS: I have set up a second opinion.....
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