First off, I want to thank everyone for everything you guys write about getting the fusion surgery. It's a scary thing to consider but you guys are helping me be braver about facing it.
My scoliosis was discovered when I was 16. The doctor wanted to do the rod surgery, but my mother didn't want to deal with it--so another doctor fit me for the Milwaulkee brace. I wore it for 1.5 years--didn't really do any good. Not sure if it prevented anything either. He told my mother what she wanted to hear: my back shouldn't get worse.
Well, here I am in the bloom of menopause and I have noticed in the past year or two when showing dogs, I have become much more winded showing them. I noticed my height seems to be going down an inch a year and realized the big height loss was five years ago when I had to walk floors for 12 hour days, 13 out of 14 days for a five month period. Sigh.
Anyway, after hurting my back pulling some muscles getting a dog into a cage, I decided to visit a spine doctor. He did xrays and the top part of the curve is 85 degree angle and the bottom part (I know, I need to learn the appropriate terminology) is 60 degrees.
I have researched chiropractic sites to see if I an avoid the surgery, but with my big curves, it's looking like surgery for me.
How do I find the best doctor? I find lists, but not sure if the criteria isn't linked to the use of certain products used in the surgery. I don't hurt right now, but I understand that doesn't mean my spine isn't busy rotating or getting more crooked.
Any advice on finding the best in the Virginia/DC/Baltimore area would be appreciated. Thanks!
My scoliosis was discovered when I was 16. The doctor wanted to do the rod surgery, but my mother didn't want to deal with it--so another doctor fit me for the Milwaulkee brace. I wore it for 1.5 years--didn't really do any good. Not sure if it prevented anything either. He told my mother what she wanted to hear: my back shouldn't get worse.
Well, here I am in the bloom of menopause and I have noticed in the past year or two when showing dogs, I have become much more winded showing them. I noticed my height seems to be going down an inch a year and realized the big height loss was five years ago when I had to walk floors for 12 hour days, 13 out of 14 days for a five month period. Sigh.
Anyway, after hurting my back pulling some muscles getting a dog into a cage, I decided to visit a spine doctor. He did xrays and the top part of the curve is 85 degree angle and the bottom part (I know, I need to learn the appropriate terminology) is 60 degrees.
I have researched chiropractic sites to see if I an avoid the surgery, but with my big curves, it's looking like surgery for me.
How do I find the best doctor? I find lists, but not sure if the criteria isn't linked to the use of certain products used in the surgery. I don't hurt right now, but I understand that doesn't mean my spine isn't busy rotating or getting more crooked.
Any advice on finding the best in the Virginia/DC/Baltimore area would be appreciated. Thanks!
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