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Doctor said I'm past the age for sugery?? Need advice + Questions

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  • #16
    This is very sad!!!!! How is it possible that orthopedic MD's, in this country, are not aware of all spinal conditions. Even if they don't treat it, they should at least be aware that there are many MD's that do. How can any MD still be in that dark in regard to this.

    First of all, most middle schools now test for scoliosis, second, it's something that should have come up in a biology or an anatomy class.

    What a shame,
    Shari

    Comment


    • #17
      Originally posted by Shari View Post
      This is very sad!!!!! How is it possible that orthopedic MD's, in this country, are not aware of all spinal conditions. Even if they don't treat it, they should at least be aware that there are many MD's that do. How can any MD still be in that dark in regard to this.
      I find it breath-taking. I guess specialty areas of medicine are pretty walled off from general medicine.
      Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

      No island of sanity.

      Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
      Answer: Medicine


      "We are all African."

      Comment


      • #18
        I'll join in and say that is crazy. I am 49 and having surgery fusing T2-L1, next week. Surgery is based on your condition, health, fitness, and need.
        I'm glad you wil find a specialist in your area, even a short travel to a good Dr. is well worth it. Good luck to you! Welcome to the forum, I have found it is awesom for learning and asking questions.
        Shari - 55 years old
        Pre-Surgery 62 degree thorasic curve with shifting.
        Post op 13 degree curve.
        Successful surgery 4/15/10, T3-L2 fused.
        2nd surgery to reopen incision 10" to diagnose infection, 5/18/10
        Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI - the late Dr. Harry Herkowitz
        www.scoliosisthejourney.com

        Comment


        • #19
          Kaiser is unique because everything is in-house. I could see how their specialist would not recommend surgery, hospital would lose money. With Obama's plan, insurance companies will not be able to deny any of us with pre-existing conditions. I'm not sure if you know this yet, but our surgery is still considered an "ELECTIVE" surgery. Crazy, huh? I also could see kaiser recommending against an elective surgery.

          rich

          Comment


          • #20
            Originally posted by rich1752 View Post
            Kaiser is unique because everything is in-house. I could see how their specialist would not recommend surgery, hospital would lose money. With Obama's plan, insurance companies will not be able to deny any of us with pre-existing conditions. I'm not sure if you know this yet, but our surgery is still considered an "ELECTIVE" surgery. Crazy, huh? I also could see kaiser recommending against an elective surgery.

            rich
            Does this mean that Kaiser won't cover this, since this is considered an elective sugery? How much does surgery like this cost if I have to pay out pf pocket? Am I going to go bankrupt?

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            • #21
              considered "elective" by whom? the government?

              i have not heard that from insurance companies, nor have i seen it on this forum from those whose insurance companies APPROVED their surgery....do you mean that they were approving "elective" surgeries...how is it elective if heart and lungs become involved and limit breatheing?
              what if 5 surgeons say patient cant walk?

              i have heard 2 insurance companies that i deal with directly, and neither one asked me if my surgery would be "elective"

              just want to know who is it who is using that word...maybe you should name the company? also, disability doesnt consider surgery for this "elective"....

              jess

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              • #22
                Hi....

                You won't need to go outside of Kaiser. You just need to get your ignorant doctor to refer you. If you're in northern California, you'll likely get referred to Oakland, where you'll be seen by Drs. Ravi Bains or Joseph Gorek. When you have your xrays taken, be sure that they take full spine xrays. Then, hopefully you can view the xrays. If you do get to see the films, take a picture of them. If your curve(s) is/are significant, you should be able to get the referral. If you're in southern California, I'm afraid I'm not of much assistance.

                Regards,
                Linda
                Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
                ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
                Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

                Comment


                • #23
                  hmmmm...well, if it is Kaiser calling this elective, then it just proves how....crappy they are (trying to keep it semi-clean)...
                  his Kaiser doctors didnt give my father blood thinners...he was 90 years old...of course, he had a stroke...never really was the same after that...so you can imagine what i think of Kaiser...it is just not printable...

                  good luck with them!

                  jess

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Welcome Curious!

                    Well, I guess it was a good idea that you started posting.

                    It’s a shame that some MDs do these things....At least in the 60s you could forgive them....most didn’t know what to do.

                    Its 50 years later, and still, this stuff happens.....Hard to believe...

                    If you have scoliosis, you should learn about your disease, methods of management, and of course how Doctors think and work.

                    If you have scoliosis, you should see a "scoliosis trained orthopedic surgeon" and have an analysis done by him. It doesn’t mean that you are going to rush into surgery, its mainly the first step. Its not an emergency, but you will need to be thinking about this, and start getting all your ducks in a row. I waited 34 years for my surgery after my initial dx in 1974.

                    It wouldn’t be a bad idea to buy a few books from NSF. Buy them from this site.

                    I don’t know if you are benching a million pounds, but you might tone the weight lifting down a tad.
                    Good luck
                    Ed titaniumed@hotmail.com
                    49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                    Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                    ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                    Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                    Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                    My x-rays
                    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                    http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      I was also given misinformation by certain doctors and told nothing could be done. I will tell you how to get around that - RESEARCH AND PERSISTENCE! Find a great surgeon who empathises with your problem and if surgery is necessary, get them to do it.

                      It is absolutely stunning how incompetent some of these doctors are. How they ever got a medical degree is beyond me.
                      45L/40T
                      Surgery 25/1/2010
                      Australia

                      Knowthyself

                      Scoliosis Corrected 25/1/2010 by Dr Angus Gray, Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Sydney. Fused T3-L4.

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Oh by the way, I am 28 and wasn't too old for surgery
                        45L/40T
                        Surgery 25/1/2010
                        Australia

                        Knowthyself

                        Scoliosis Corrected 25/1/2010 by Dr Angus Gray, Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Sydney. Fused T3-L4.

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Originally posted by rich1752 View Post
                          Kaiser is unique because everything is in-house. I could see how their specialist would not recommend surgery, hospital would lose money. With Obama's plan, insurance companies will not be able to deny any of us with pre-existing conditions. I'm not sure if you know this yet, but our surgery is still considered an "ELECTIVE" surgery. Crazy, huh? I also could see kaiser recommending against an elective surgery.

                          rich
                          http://xnet.kp.org/reform/

                          Need I say more?

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Curious, I was also scared about mobility and my ability to work out after surgery, but after I found out that we have body builders on our site, it re-assured me. I found an old post from ED (titanium).

                            Im a professional weightlifter now.
                            Ed
                            Attached Images ed post surgery.jpg (32.0 KB, 111 views)


                            __________________
                            49 yr old male now 51 the new 31
                            Pre surgery curves C12,T70,L70
                            A/P T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                            Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Rich

                              For maximum comedic effect, that thread needs to be read from the beginning!

                              That one was an NSF classic! LOL

                              My surgeons in 1974 didn’t want me lifting, or skiing. I quit the lifting, but continued skiing. Addiction to powder skiing has no cure....

                              I have been putting things to the test lately and have been having great results. I would say shoveling large amounts of snow and rock qualifies...

                              Just lay low till you are fused.
                              Ed
                              49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                              Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                              ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                              Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                              Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                              http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                              My x-rays
                              http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                              http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Hello Curious293: I'm 46 years young and just had surgery on Mar 1st. Wow! I can't believe it. I never thought it being that long ago. Geesh. Time flies I guess. So, not sure why your dr says your past the age.
                                Rita Thompson
                                Age 46
                                Milwaukee Brace wearer for 3 years in childhood
                                Surgery Mar 1st - 95 degree thoracic curve
                                Surgery by Dr. Lenke, St. Louis, MO
                                Post-surgery curve 25-30 degree

                                Comment

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