I would like to know who decides that orthopedic surgeons are the only acceptable physicians to treat scoliosis? Where is this written? Is this scoliosis law, or what over time, has become what is accepted?
Over the last 7 years, my daughter has seen 4 top pediatric orthopedists and orthopedic surgeons in NYC, whom all specialize in scoliosis. If I had followed their advice, she would have either 1) had years of growing rods with the 90% expectation that fusion would follow in the end 2) had 10 years of bracing with the 90% expectation that fusion would follow in the end.
One miscounted her ribs (she only has 11 sets), which in turn affected his surgical plan (I had to tell him how many sets she has). Another told me I would have to pay him for an additional visit if I wanted everything he advised in writing. Another said her surgery "could not wait until summer," which at the time, was only 5 months away (This was 2 years ago. Today she is not dead, her heart is not crushed, her curve is stable due to treatment sought elsewhere, she has grown over 4 inches (and still growing), and she has over 100% lung capacity. This is no way suggests she is in the clear, but obviously surgery could wait).
None of them found her Marfan-like symptoms (her PT did), other than ordering an MRI, none of them even attempted to find an underlying cause for her scoliosis (I have had to do this relentlessly on my own), none of them checked her lung capacity (her PT and European scoliosis specialist did), none of them addressed her pain (several of her therapists have at least tried), and none of them offered anything in the way of "prevention," other than what I listed above.
So, then why and how are pediatric orthopedic surgeons the "only people with the requisite training to treat scoliosis in children?" Please, I would like to know who decided this. Is it the monitor who is shutting down people's threads because they are exploring other options? Did NSF forum members make this decision? The Scoliosis Research Society? The American Surgical Society? Who?
While pediatric orthopedic surgeons are A choice in treating pediatric scoliosis, they are not the ONLY choice. And, no one has the right to determine that they are. If they knew all of the answers, none of us would be on this forum losing our minds daily in search of such answers. If/when my daughter gets surgery, THEN I will go to an orthopedic surgeon-surgery is what they do best. In the meanwhile, I am NOT convinced they have enough expertise in prevention-other than dismissing their patients who seek advice elsewhere.
Over the last 7 years, my daughter has seen 4 top pediatric orthopedists and orthopedic surgeons in NYC, whom all specialize in scoliosis. If I had followed their advice, she would have either 1) had years of growing rods with the 90% expectation that fusion would follow in the end 2) had 10 years of bracing with the 90% expectation that fusion would follow in the end.
One miscounted her ribs (she only has 11 sets), which in turn affected his surgical plan (I had to tell him how many sets she has). Another told me I would have to pay him for an additional visit if I wanted everything he advised in writing. Another said her surgery "could not wait until summer," which at the time, was only 5 months away (This was 2 years ago. Today she is not dead, her heart is not crushed, her curve is stable due to treatment sought elsewhere, she has grown over 4 inches (and still growing), and she has over 100% lung capacity. This is no way suggests she is in the clear, but obviously surgery could wait).
None of them found her Marfan-like symptoms (her PT did), other than ordering an MRI, none of them even attempted to find an underlying cause for her scoliosis (I have had to do this relentlessly on my own), none of them checked her lung capacity (her PT and European scoliosis specialist did), none of them addressed her pain (several of her therapists have at least tried), and none of them offered anything in the way of "prevention," other than what I listed above.
So, then why and how are pediatric orthopedic surgeons the "only people with the requisite training to treat scoliosis in children?" Please, I would like to know who decided this. Is it the monitor who is shutting down people's threads because they are exploring other options? Did NSF forum members make this decision? The Scoliosis Research Society? The American Surgical Society? Who?
While pediatric orthopedic surgeons are A choice in treating pediatric scoliosis, they are not the ONLY choice. And, no one has the right to determine that they are. If they knew all of the answers, none of us would be on this forum losing our minds daily in search of such answers. If/when my daughter gets surgery, THEN I will go to an orthopedic surgeon-surgery is what they do best. In the meanwhile, I am NOT convinced they have enough expertise in prevention-other than dismissing their patients who seek advice elsewhere.
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