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Hi, everyone -
I've been waiting since the end of August to have my account activated so I could post. Finally! For two years now, I've been reading the forum, knowing that one day I would schedule my surgery. Every single one of you has been of great help to me - thank you.
In 1987, I had back surgery (laminectomy and diskectomy) for a herniated disk at L5-S1. The surgery and recovery went well. Over the years, I've had intermittent bouts of pain and disability, but for the most part I've managed those well. Numerous MRIs showed mild lumbar scoliosis and several herniated disks in the lumbar area, for which I've had steroid injections, physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, etc. About four years ago, the pain got markedly worse after a coughing spell (I heard the "pop"). For the first time in 27 years, my primary care physician decided to order a set of plain films - standing films. Upon standing, my "mild to moderate" lumbar scoliosis increases to "marked scoliosis." When lying down, my lumbar curve is in the 27 degree range. However, upon standing, the curve now becomes 43 degrees. Three years ago, the standing curve was 31 degrees (January, 2011). In June, 2012, the standing curve had increased to 39 degrees, and now (September, 2014) is at 43 degrees.
Four years ago, when we found out the extent of the scoliosis, I was offered an anterior-posterior fusion with instrumentation from L3-S1. In fact, the ortho group locally put me on the emergency surgery schedule because my bone scan showed the spine was unstable. I have listhesis and subluxation at several levels, plus a couple of broken facet joints. The ortho group locally told me the surgery they offered would fix the problem. Suffice it to say I was skeptical. I sought a second opinion from the university teaching hospital here locally. They offered a posterior approach and a fusion from L4-S1 with instrumentation. They said that if anyone told me they could fix my scoliosis, they were lying. That was December, 2010.
After much research online, I obtained a third opinion from Dr. Buchowski in St. Louis in June, 2012. He actually told us that both procedures offered locally were contraindicated. He offered a posterior fusion with instrumentation from T10 to the sacrum. Scared the crap out of me, so we went home to consider options and maybe find an alternative. He was fine with "watchful waiting." Dr. Buchowski spent a LOT of time with us that day, acted like he had no other patients except me, and we had a great (but scary) visit.
Since June of 2012, I've been muddling along, knowing that one day I would have this "giant" surgery. My ability to stand has decreased to where I only have about five minutes before I have to sit. Walking is worse than standing - every step compresses and uncompresses the curve. Hard to explain. However, the absolute worst pain that I have is in my ribcage, right under the right breast. There is a some muscle that feels like it is attached to the sternum, and it spasms like a charley-horse when I bend over. I have to get my hands above my head and arch backward to get it to go away, but it never truly goes away. My pelvis is now tilted, and the psoas muscles on the right are shortened to where the ribs on the right are sitting directly on top of the pelvis. I've lost about three inches in height in the ten years (no osteoporsis yet - DEXA scan is perfect).
In August of this year, I was doing my usual yoga routine when I twisted at the waist. There was a "pop" in my spine so loud that the dog actually heard it. It actually made me cry out when it happened. When I tried to stand, I couldn't feel my right foot. There was no position I could get into to relieve the pain. Turns out I broke another facet joint. The pain is better now and I can feel my foot again. This whole four years of knowing that I needed surgery and putting it off, never once did I consider that I might actually do something to where I no longer had a choice about surgery. That is hard to explain. I had a "one of these days" mentality...believing I could push through the pain and just limit my activities and I could get through it. So, I'm really sorry now that I put it off, even though it was just a couple of years. Because of the instability in the spine, now I'll have to have the pelvic fixation, too, which I didn't need two years ago when I saw Dr. Buchowski.
It's been a tough road, but I'm ready. I figure a "planned" intervention is way better than an "emergency" intervention, especially when an emergency would have to be treated here locally. Now, it's on to St. Louis!
I hope you are all well. The posts in this forum have been extremely beneficial to me and my family as we debate, prepare, and pray. Thank you all very much. If anyone here has any advice, suggestions, anything - I would be grateful to hear from you. Also, if anyone has any specific experience with Dr. Buchowski and/or Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, I would love to hear what you have to say (positive or negative).
Fifa
(soon to be bionic)
I've been waiting since the end of August to have my account activated so I could post. Finally! For two years now, I've been reading the forum, knowing that one day I would schedule my surgery. Every single one of you has been of great help to me - thank you.
In 1987, I had back surgery (laminectomy and diskectomy) for a herniated disk at L5-S1. The surgery and recovery went well. Over the years, I've had intermittent bouts of pain and disability, but for the most part I've managed those well. Numerous MRIs showed mild lumbar scoliosis and several herniated disks in the lumbar area, for which I've had steroid injections, physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, etc. About four years ago, the pain got markedly worse after a coughing spell (I heard the "pop"). For the first time in 27 years, my primary care physician decided to order a set of plain films - standing films. Upon standing, my "mild to moderate" lumbar scoliosis increases to "marked scoliosis." When lying down, my lumbar curve is in the 27 degree range. However, upon standing, the curve now becomes 43 degrees. Three years ago, the standing curve was 31 degrees (January, 2011). In June, 2012, the standing curve had increased to 39 degrees, and now (September, 2014) is at 43 degrees.
Four years ago, when we found out the extent of the scoliosis, I was offered an anterior-posterior fusion with instrumentation from L3-S1. In fact, the ortho group locally put me on the emergency surgery schedule because my bone scan showed the spine was unstable. I have listhesis and subluxation at several levels, plus a couple of broken facet joints. The ortho group locally told me the surgery they offered would fix the problem. Suffice it to say I was skeptical. I sought a second opinion from the university teaching hospital here locally. They offered a posterior approach and a fusion from L4-S1 with instrumentation. They said that if anyone told me they could fix my scoliosis, they were lying. That was December, 2010.
After much research online, I obtained a third opinion from Dr. Buchowski in St. Louis in June, 2012. He actually told us that both procedures offered locally were contraindicated. He offered a posterior fusion with instrumentation from T10 to the sacrum. Scared the crap out of me, so we went home to consider options and maybe find an alternative. He was fine with "watchful waiting." Dr. Buchowski spent a LOT of time with us that day, acted like he had no other patients except me, and we had a great (but scary) visit.
Since June of 2012, I've been muddling along, knowing that one day I would have this "giant" surgery. My ability to stand has decreased to where I only have about five minutes before I have to sit. Walking is worse than standing - every step compresses and uncompresses the curve. Hard to explain. However, the absolute worst pain that I have is in my ribcage, right under the right breast. There is a some muscle that feels like it is attached to the sternum, and it spasms like a charley-horse when I bend over. I have to get my hands above my head and arch backward to get it to go away, but it never truly goes away. My pelvis is now tilted, and the psoas muscles on the right are shortened to where the ribs on the right are sitting directly on top of the pelvis. I've lost about three inches in height in the ten years (no osteoporsis yet - DEXA scan is perfect).
In August of this year, I was doing my usual yoga routine when I twisted at the waist. There was a "pop" in my spine so loud that the dog actually heard it. It actually made me cry out when it happened. When I tried to stand, I couldn't feel my right foot. There was no position I could get into to relieve the pain. Turns out I broke another facet joint. The pain is better now and I can feel my foot again. This whole four years of knowing that I needed surgery and putting it off, never once did I consider that I might actually do something to where I no longer had a choice about surgery. That is hard to explain. I had a "one of these days" mentality...believing I could push through the pain and just limit my activities and I could get through it. So, I'm really sorry now that I put it off, even though it was just a couple of years. Because of the instability in the spine, now I'll have to have the pelvic fixation, too, which I didn't need two years ago when I saw Dr. Buchowski.
It's been a tough road, but I'm ready. I figure a "planned" intervention is way better than an "emergency" intervention, especially when an emergency would have to be treated here locally. Now, it's on to St. Louis!
I hope you are all well. The posts in this forum have been extremely beneficial to me and my family as we debate, prepare, and pray. Thank you all very much. If anyone here has any advice, suggestions, anything - I would be grateful to hear from you. Also, if anyone has any specific experience with Dr. Buchowski and/or Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, I would love to hear what you have to say (positive or negative).
Fifa
(soon to be bionic)
I saw your daughter's x-rays. I haven't figured out how to post mine yet, but will be doing that soon. She sounds like a trooper!
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