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  • boy am i making myself crazy

    Hi,
    I’ve conquered the surgery question, now for the doctor…
    I’ve posted here a few times and even spoken to a few of you (thank you all, you have been a tremendous help!) I have talked to all sorts of people (nurses, chinese medicine doctors, therapist, friends, family, etc…) and have finally resolved to the fact I need to have the surgery.
    I actually made the surgery date awhile back for July 12 which has pushed me to really focus and realize the actuality. Now that I am accepting the need, I struggle with the doctor.
    The doctor I made the appointment with is not listed/considered a scoliosis ‘specialist.’ He is the head of neurosurgery in Philly hospital who does most of his work on the spine, stenosis, scoliosis, etc, (can’t get any numbers of how many) and is well known/respected in his field.
    I have a terrific personal support group there, my friends mother who is ‘famous’ in the medical field there rising from nursing to a COO of a hospital, on many boards, etc. She is the one who referred me to him. She has also recently been the support for a friend who had Hodgkens, osteoporosis and spinal fusion (don’t remember if they said scoliosis, but it was quite an extensive fusion and I cant imagine what else it would be.) I trust these friends opinions and respect them and feel safe with them.
    I also like the idea that he is a neurosurgeon that leads a team, rather than just being on a team.
    However, I know the forum heavily suggests scoli specialists.
    Can there be a fine doctor for scoliosis patients but not listed/member?
    Am I taking too big a risk? what is it?
    Judy
    60 years old
    double 60 degree curves
    being fused Oct 19, 2011
    T4 to sacrum
    Dr. Boachie

  • #2
    Judy, I sent you a PM.
    Chris
    A/P fusion on June 19, 2007 at age 52; T10-L5
    Pre-op thoracolumbar curve: 70 degrees
    Post-op curve: 12 degrees
    Dr. Boachie-adjei, HSS, New York

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by judyat60 View Post
      Hi,
      I’ve conquered the surgery question, now for the doctor…
      I’ve posted here a few times and even spoken to a few of you (thank you all, you have been a tremendous help!) I have talked to all sorts of people (nurses, chinese medicine doctors, therapist, friends, family, etc…) and have finally resolved to the fact I need to have the surgery.
      I actually made the surgery date awhile back for July 12 which has pushed me to really focus and realize the actuality. Now that I am accepting the need, I struggle with the doctor.
      The doctor I made the appointment with is not listed/considered a scoliosis ‘specialist.’ He is the head of neurosurgery in Philly hospital who does most of his work on the spine, stenosis, scoliosis, etc, (can’t get any numbers of how many) and is well known/respected in his field.
      I have a terrific personal support group there, my friends mother who is ‘famous’ in the medical field there rising from nursing to a COO of a hospital, on many boards, etc. She is the one who referred me to him. She has also recently been the support for a friend who had Hodgkens, osteoporosis and spinal fusion (don’t remember if they said scoliosis, but it was quite an extensive fusion and I cant imagine what else it would be.) I trust these friends opinions and respect them and feel safe with them.
      I also like the idea that he is a neurosurgeon that leads a team, rather than just being on a team.
      However, I know the forum heavily suggests scoli specialists.
      Can there be a fine doctor for scoliosis patients but not listed/member?
      Am I taking too big a risk? what is it?
      Hi Judy...

      There are almost certainly specialists who are good, who choose not to be a member of the Scoliosis Research Society. However, I personally think it is a big risk to choose someone about whom you can't confirm good, long-term outcomes from scoliosis surgery. I've seen some absolute disasters from such surgeons. That's just my $.02.

      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


      • #4
        I agree with what Linda said.

        Our surgeon for my daughters is not an SRS member but an SRS member referred us to him for the surgery. He may have been at one point but he isn't now nor is the other surgeon at the hospital who was listed but no longer is.

        At the last appointment earlier this month I just found out why an SRS surgeon would refer us to a non-SRS surgeon... the non-SRS guy does the complex adolescent scoliosis cases.

        Mystery solved.

        He just released my second daughter. Her curve has been stable for the last year. He said kids never age out and that if they ever needed anything they could return even after they are adults. But he immediately followed that with the likelihood that he would be long retired before they might need anything. Earlier he told me they are not expected to need any more back surgery in their life because of where the distal end was located (L1).

        So while it's a good idea to start with the SRS surgeon list, you should consider that some folks not presently listed may have previously been listed. Also consider that some of the best guys who do the complex cases may simply not consider scoliosis their specialty. Some surgeons are just good at lots of things apparently.

        Good luck.
        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


        • #5
          well, I have cancelled my surgery with the neurosurgeon and have made an appt with Boachie.
          thank you all for your 2 cents and patient explanations…karen, thanks especially for your help in my understanding.

          will keep you all up to date as it goes along…
          now I can have a summer!
          Judy
          60 years old
          double 60 degree curves
          being fused Oct 19, 2011
          T4 to sacrum
          Dr. Boachie

          Comment


          • #6
            Judy,
            I am glad you are giving yourself more time. You will make the right decision and schedule the surgery when the time is right. I think you will be glad you are getting another opinion from Dr. Boachie.
            Feel free to call again.
            Karen

            Surgery-Jan. 5, 2011-Dr. Lenke
            Fusion T-4-sacrum-2 cages/5 osteotomies
            70 degree thoracolumbar corrected to 25
            Rib Hump-GONE!
            Age-60 at the time of surgery
            Now 66
            Avid Golfer & Tap Dancer
            Retired Kdgn. Teacher

            See photobucket link for:
            Video of my 1st Day of Golf Post-Op-3/02/12-Bradenton, FL
            Before and After Picture of back 1/7/11
            tap dancing picture at 10 mos. post op 11/11/11-I'm the one on the right.
            http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/k630/pottoff2/

            Comment


            • #7
              I agree with Karen. I think you made the right decision. If you have that many doubts, you should listen to your inner voice. There is no rush. Dr. Boachie is the best, and will not steer you wrong. Good Luck, and let us know how your appt. goes.
              Lori in PA, 52 yrs. old
              T54/L72
              Surgery 6/7/11, T3-S1, all posterior, with pelvic anchors
              Gained 2 inches!
              Dr. Boachie, HSS, NYC
              12/10/13 Hardware Removal for infection
              Lost 2", gained PJK!

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by judyat60 View Post
                well, I have cancelled my surgery with the neurosurgeon and have made an appt with Boachie.
                thank you all for your 2 cents and patient explanations…karen, thanks especially for your help in my understanding.

                will keep you all up to date as it goes along…
                now I can have a summer!
                Good! I totally agree with what the others said. You only have one spine--you should get the best talent possible the first time, because you don't want there to BE a second time where the mess has to be fixed up.

                Good luck,
                __________________________________________
                Debbe - 50 yrs old

                Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
                Told by Dr. my curve would never progress

                Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
                Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
                Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees

                Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
                Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degrees

                Comment


                • #9
                  Hi Judy,
                  I need to add my 2 cents as well. After years of searching and seeing many Doctors, I knew within the first 5-10 minutes that he was going to be the one.
                  Trust your gut, you'll know when you feel it!!!

                  Shari

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    judy don't feel like your making yourself crazy. it will be ok
                    Kara
                    25
                    Brace 4-15-05-5-25-06
                    Posterior Spinal Fusion 3-10-10
                    T4-L2
                    Before 50T
                    After 20T

                    Comment

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