So...
I saw a well respected surgeon in August after my "regular" orthopedic doctor said it was time to seek surgical intervention for my curve. He recommended surgery, sooner v. later as to prevent worsening of my curve, a chance at a better correction, and prior to having children, since waiting would mean waiting YEARS, and I would thus have a more difficult recovery period...
Well, I went to get a second opinion and that Dr said no way. He just recommended physical therapy, and wrote my diagnosis as degenerative disk disease and sacroilitis. He even offered cortisone shots and vicodin. (I said no to the drugs, but the shot does sound tempting... He said my hip/low back pain was common for young females (?!) and not related to my scoliosis. (The other Dr said the pain was a result of my body trying to compensate for my cuve, and fixing the curve should fix the problem, as it is inerconnected.)
It seemed the second opinion guy wants to treat symptoms, and not underlying problem? I am confused by what the second Dr. said. He suggested that my curve could perhaps not even ever progress, even after menopause. I thought it was well documented that thoracic curves progress 1-2 degrees a year. He basically seemed shocked that I was even considering surgery, but also didn't seem to listen or read the reports I brought with me, and the letter I wrote rating my pain numbers with corresponding activities.
How do I reconcile the two opinions? How much weight do I give the second Dr? I did feel in general much more comfortable with the first Dr. - he took close to an hour to talk with me, the second Dr saw me for about 5 minutes. I do have an appt on 10/26 for a THIRD opinion with a third Dr. so I guess, we'll see. But I am trying to figure out what to make of the conflicting and totally opposite opinions i have received thus far.
I was seeking more information to get less frustrated, not MORE!!
FYI:
First Dr: Glenn Minster (St. Johns)
Second Dr.: Lawrence Kurz (Beaumont)
Third: Dr. Montgomery (Beaumont)
I saw a well respected surgeon in August after my "regular" orthopedic doctor said it was time to seek surgical intervention for my curve. He recommended surgery, sooner v. later as to prevent worsening of my curve, a chance at a better correction, and prior to having children, since waiting would mean waiting YEARS, and I would thus have a more difficult recovery period...
Well, I went to get a second opinion and that Dr said no way. He just recommended physical therapy, and wrote my diagnosis as degenerative disk disease and sacroilitis. He even offered cortisone shots and vicodin. (I said no to the drugs, but the shot does sound tempting... He said my hip/low back pain was common for young females (?!) and not related to my scoliosis. (The other Dr said the pain was a result of my body trying to compensate for my cuve, and fixing the curve should fix the problem, as it is inerconnected.)
It seemed the second opinion guy wants to treat symptoms, and not underlying problem? I am confused by what the second Dr. said. He suggested that my curve could perhaps not even ever progress, even after menopause. I thought it was well documented that thoracic curves progress 1-2 degrees a year. He basically seemed shocked that I was even considering surgery, but also didn't seem to listen or read the reports I brought with me, and the letter I wrote rating my pain numbers with corresponding activities.
How do I reconcile the two opinions? How much weight do I give the second Dr? I did feel in general much more comfortable with the first Dr. - he took close to an hour to talk with me, the second Dr saw me for about 5 minutes. I do have an appt on 10/26 for a THIRD opinion with a third Dr. so I guess, we'll see. But I am trying to figure out what to make of the conflicting and totally opposite opinions i have received thus far.
I was seeking more information to get less frustrated, not MORE!!
FYI:
First Dr: Glenn Minster (St. Johns)
Second Dr.: Lawrence Kurz (Beaumont)
Third: Dr. Montgomery (Beaumont)
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