I live in central PA and using the NSF website can find no spinal specialists near me. The closest that comes up is PGH and Philly which are both about 3-4 hours away from me.
There are surgeons about 1 hour from me at Geisinger Medical Center that do the spinal fusions but none that apparently are the spinal specialists or scoliosis specialists that are recommended in this forum - or if they are they are not listed by the National Scoliosis Foundation.
I've read here that it is hell on the ride home after surgery, plus I have 2 small children so being that far away for a week or so wouldn't work too good nor would having to pay for my husband to stay somewhere and find someone to basically move in with my kids and dog until we would get back.
How can I find out just how many surgeries a particular surgeon has done on scoliosis and maybe what the outcomes are...it's not like the hospital is just going to hand me a list on names, plus the doctor could easily lie and say he was great when if fact he's not.
Just wanted some opinions from you all who have been through surgery. I know it's not to be taken lightly and I realize you have to completely trust your surgeon but I'm wondering if I should drive the extra distance or how I can find more info on the local doctors. I image going far from home would also present a problem with pre-admission testing, donating blood, etc.
Would appreciate any advice. Thanks.
There are surgeons about 1 hour from me at Geisinger Medical Center that do the spinal fusions but none that apparently are the spinal specialists or scoliosis specialists that are recommended in this forum - or if they are they are not listed by the National Scoliosis Foundation.
I've read here that it is hell on the ride home after surgery, plus I have 2 small children so being that far away for a week or so wouldn't work too good nor would having to pay for my husband to stay somewhere and find someone to basically move in with my kids and dog until we would get back.
How can I find out just how many surgeries a particular surgeon has done on scoliosis and maybe what the outcomes are...it's not like the hospital is just going to hand me a list on names, plus the doctor could easily lie and say he was great when if fact he's not.
Just wanted some opinions from you all who have been through surgery. I know it's not to be taken lightly and I realize you have to completely trust your surgeon but I'm wondering if I should drive the extra distance or how I can find more info on the local doctors. I image going far from home would also present a problem with pre-admission testing, donating blood, etc.
Would appreciate any advice. Thanks.
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