My sister has been told she has a pretty bad case of scoliosis by another of her doctors... I told her she needs to see a scoliosis specialist to do at least a baseline study. Does anyone have suggestions for a doctor?
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Scoli docs in Seattle area?
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Scoli docs in Seattle area?
71 and plugging along... but having some problems
2007 52° w/ severe lumbar stenosis & L2L3 lateral listhesis (side shift)
5/4/07 posterior fusion T2-L4 w/ laminectomies and osteotomies @L2L3, L3L4
Dr. Kim Hammerberg, Rush Univ. Medical Center in Chicago
Corrected to 15°
CMT (type 2) DX in 2014, progressing
10/2018 x-rays - spondylolisthesis at L4/L5 - Dr. DeWald is monitoring
Click to view my pics: pics of scoli x-rays digital x-rays, and pics of meTags: None
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Wow Suzie bee, Pretty bad case doesn’t sound good......
Dr Jen Chapman comes to mind...I used to watch him on the research channel years ago....
There are others of course....others should chime in....
Ed49 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
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Thanks for the suggestion, Ed. I went to the SRS site and noted the doctors (just 4), most of whom seem to be neurologists. I did send some info on to her and she will ask her rheumatologist in March if it is severe enough to warrant seeing a specialist. If so, that doctor can give a referral. I told her just to have a baseline study done if not anything more. "Pretty bad" can be relative... according to who, what they are used to (nothing?), etc. so I don't really know what she's dealing with.71 and plugging along... but having some problems
2007 52° w/ severe lumbar stenosis & L2L3 lateral listhesis (side shift)
5/4/07 posterior fusion T2-L4 w/ laminectomies and osteotomies @L2L3, L3L4
Dr. Kim Hammerberg, Rush Univ. Medical Center in Chicago
Corrected to 15°
CMT (type 2) DX in 2014, progressing
10/2018 x-rays - spondylolisthesis at L4/L5 - Dr. DeWald is monitoring
Click to view my pics: pics of scoli x-rays digital x-rays, and pics of me
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I now have to consider surgery in Seattle area as well
Hi all:
This is my very first post and since the original poster posted 10 months ago, I don't know if she'll even see this. Some background-- I was discovered to have scoliosis when I was probably 10ish. Watched and x-rayed until I was about 12 yrs 3 mos and put in a Milwaukee brace. I hated it, of course, and was so self-conscious. Plus, I was a swimmer and hated having to change in front of everyone into and out of it. I spent a lot of time alone in my room, so my parents wouldn't know I wasn't wearing it 23/7. I ended up calling my doctor the summer before I was to enter high school (which back them was 10th grade) and told him I hadn't been compliant and that I was refusing to wear it to high school. He agreed that if I would not be compliant, I could stop wearing it. I think I had just turned 15 and perhaps the thought was that I had reached skeletal maturity, or was very near it. I do seem to recall that my highest curve was 37 degrees, since back then, they threatened surgery for anything over 40 degrees.
Fast forward to Jan 2014. Walking on snow the first week of January led to severe hip pain, limping, MRI/X-rays of the hip and then the eventual full spine x-ray where it was discovered that my scoliosis had kept progressing. I think it was measured at about 54 degrees.
About March or so of this year, I have been having increased pain and was put on Vicodin by my primary about 4 months ago. I saw Dr. Sethi at Virginia Mason, who measured my most recent x-ray (done at Swedish-Cherry Hill in October) to be 62 degrees. I started crying, of course, because I DO NOT want surgery. It scares me to think of being inflexible for the rest of my life. That being said, I was very impressed with him.
I did have an appt. with Dr. Jens Chapman in October (hence the x-ray), but I never actually got to see him. I was worked up by a nurse practitioner, who said if I had the surgery, I would be very rigid for the rest of my life and suggested I do pilates. Dr. Chapman was then supposed to come in, but she told me that he got pulled into an emergency surgery. I had already looked him up and knew I would never let him operate on me. He has been involved in a lawsuit and used a compression fracture glue on two women who died on the table. He was involved in animal testing of the project, so I was shocked to see that he went ahead and used it on humans. :-(
So, this is all a long way of saying that I was very impressed with Dr. Sethi and will be following up with him yearly, until I am ready for surgery (or sooner if needed). I'm not ready right now.
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Thanks for pointing this out.....
Here is the article on the case....
http://blog.cvn.com/breaking-hospita...ly-bone-cement
I don’t understand why you would pay to see him if you already knew?
Ed49 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
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Great news about doctor in Seattle
Dr. Robert Hart recently moved from OHSU to Swedish Hospital in Seattle. He totally rocks! He has operated on my back 3 times due to an infection that I acquired during a previous surgery. He is very experienced, personable, and compassionate...a triple threat!
Highly recommended.
SusanAdult Onset Degen Scoliosis @65, 25* T & 36* L w/ 11.2 cm coronal balance; T kyphosis 90*; Sev disc degen T & L stenosis
2013: T3- S1 Fusion w/ ALIF L4-S1/XLIF L2-4, PSF T4-S1 2 surgeries
2014: Hernia @ ALIF repaired; Emergency screw removal SCI T4,5 sec to PJK
2015: Rev Broken Bil T & L rods and no fusion: 2 revision surgeries; hardware P. Acnes infection
2016: Ant/Lat Lumbar diskectomy w/ 4 cages + BMP + harvested bone
2018: Removal L4,5 screw
2021: Removal T1 screw & rod
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Originally posted by nbtrigirl View PostHi all:
This is my very first post and since the original poster posted 10 months ago, I don't know if she'll even see this. Some background-- I was discovered to have scoliosis when I was probably 10ish. Watched and x-rayed until I was about 12 yrs 3 mos and put in a Milwaukee brace. I hated it, of course, and was so self-conscious. Plus, I was a swimmer and hated having to change in front of everyone into and out of it. I spent a lot of time alone in my room, so my parents wouldn't know I wasn't wearing it 23/7. I ended up calling my doctor the summer before I was to enter high school (which back them was 10th grade) and told him I hadn't been compliant and that I was refusing to wear it to high school. He agreed that if I would not be compliant, I could stop wearing it. I think I had just turned 15 and perhaps the thought was that I had reached skeletal maturity, or was very near it. I do seem to recall that my highest curve was 37 degrees, since back then, they threatened surgery for anything over 40 degrees.
Fast forward to Jan 2014. Walking on snow the first week of January led to severe hip pain, limping, MRI/X-rays of the hip and then the eventual full spine x-ray where it was discovered that my scoliosis had kept progressing. I think it was measured at about 54 degrees.
About March or so of this year, I have been having increased pain and was put on Vicodin by my primary about 4 months ago. I saw Dr. Sethi at Virginia Mason, who measured my most recent x-ray (done at Swedish-Cherry Hill in October) to be 62 degrees. I started crying, of course, because I DO NOT want surgery. It scares me to think of being inflexible for the rest of my life. That being said, I was very impressed with him.
I did have an appt. with Dr. Jens Chapman in October (hence the x-ray), but I never actually got to see him. I was worked up by a nurse practitioner, who said if I had the surgery, I would be very rigid for the rest of my life and suggested I do pilates. Dr. Chapman was then supposed to come in, but she told me that he got pulled into an emergency surgery. I had already looked him up and knew I would never let him operate on me. He has been involved in a lawsuit and used a compression fracture glue on two women who died on the table. He was involved in animal testing of the project, so I was shocked to see that he went ahead and used it on humans. :-(
So, this is all a long way of saying that I was very impressed with Dr. Sethi and will be following up with him yearly, until I am ready for surgery (or sooner if needed). I'm not ready right now.
A major part of confidence going into surgery is having trust in your surgeon. For me, trust meant letting go of control and having faith that my surgeon would make good choices that would help me to achieve the best outcome.
Be in control of your decisions by being armed by lots of infomation. Talking to a couple of doctors will give you choices and support for whatever and whenever you make a decision whether or when you will do any treatment or surgery. The ball is in your court.
Are you doing physical therapy?
SusanLast edited by susancook; 12-15-2016, 02:19 AM.Adult Onset Degen Scoliosis @65, 25* T & 36* L w/ 11.2 cm coronal balance; T kyphosis 90*; Sev disc degen T & L stenosis
2013: T3- S1 Fusion w/ ALIF L4-S1/XLIF L2-4, PSF T4-S1 2 surgeries
2014: Hernia @ ALIF repaired; Emergency screw removal SCI T4,5 sec to PJK
2015: Rev Broken Bil T & L rods and no fusion: 2 revision surgeries; hardware P. Acnes infection
2016: Ant/Lat Lumbar diskectomy w/ 4 cages + BMP + harvested bone
2018: Removal L4,5 screw
2021: Removal T1 screw & rod
Comment
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Originally posted by titaniumed View PostThanks for pointing this out.....
Here is the article on the case....
http://blog.cvn.com/breaking-hospita...ly-bone-cement
I don’t understand why you would pay to see him if you already knew?
Ed
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Originally posted by nbtrigirl View PostI was referred to him by my neurologist.
I knew about Dr Chapman from all the research channel scoliosis programming, and knew about the sale of Synthes as I do have their hardware. Its Synthes “Pangea system” for those interested. So far, so good, and I will be 9 years post here next week. Synthes was the largest company in Switzerland. Its now owned by Johnson and Johnson.
Research channel is on You tube for those interested.....Search “UWTV scoliosis” or “UWTV deformity” for vids. I hope its not too boring....(smiley face)
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...uwtv+scoliosis
Basically, I think the bottom line is that the jurors reviewed his “intent”, which was sound....No surgeon wants complications or even death. This man is an incredible surgeon and has done some incredibly difficult procedures.
With the past BMP lawsuits, and some of the problems that might have happened here, (I say “might” since I have no proof) I think its wise for patients to know what an “off label” procedure is, and know if its being done. BMP for instance is only FDA approved for ALIF, and some dental and tibia procedures. One of the surgeons at TCSC quoted a member here “You don’t just slap this around”.....BMP is not approved by the FDA for posterior procedures, but its done often and by many scoliosis surgeons....
Another thing that’s been proven to work out best is to have multiple surgeons. I had 2 scoli surgeons and a vascular surgeon for my ALIF. Having a good team is a must for doing our surgeries.
Be sure to let us know what you decide. Its never an easy decision....
Ed49 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
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Originally posted by nbtrigirl View PostHi all:
This is my very first post and since the original poster posted 10 months ago, I don't know if she'll even see this. Some background-- I was discovered to have scoliosis when I was probably 10ish. Watched and x-rayed until I was about 12 yrs 3 mos and put in a Milwaukee brace. I hated it, of course, and was so self-conscious. Plus, I was a swimmer and hated having to change in front of everyone into and out of it. I spent a lot of time alone in my room, so my parents wouldn't know I wasn't wearing it 23/7. I ended up calling my doctor the summer before I was to enter high school (which back them was 10th grade) and told him I hadn't been compliant and that I was refusing to wear it to high school. He agreed that if I would not be compliant, I could stop wearing it. I think I had just turned 15 and perhaps the thought was that I had reached skeletal maturity, or was very near it. I do seem to recall that my highest curve was 37 degrees, since back then, they threatened surgery for anything over 40 degrees.
Fast forward to Jan 2014. Walking on snow the first week of January led to severe hip pain, limping, MRI/X-rays of the hip and then the eventual full spine x-ray where it was discovered that my scoliosis had kept progressing. I think it was measured at about 54 degrees.
About March or so of this year, I have been having increased pain and was put on Vicodin by my primary about 4 months ago. I saw Dr. Sethi at Virginia Mason, who measured my most recent x-ray (done at Swedish-Cherry Hill in October) to be 62 degrees. I started crying, of course, because I DO NOT want surgery. It scares me to think of being inflexible for the rest of my life. That being said, I was very impressed with him.
I did have an appt. with Dr. Jens Chapman in October (hence the x-ray), but I never actually got to see him. I was worked up by a nurse practitioner, who said if I had the surgery, I would be very rigid for the rest of my life and suggested I do pilates. Dr. Chapman was then supposed to come in, but she told me that he got pulled into an emergency surgery. I had already looked him up and knew I would never let him operate on me. He has been involved in a lawsuit and used a compression fracture glue on two women who died on the table. He was involved in animal testing of the project, so I was shocked to see that he went ahead and used it on humans. :-(
So, this is all a long way of saying that I was very impressed with Dr. Sethi and will be following up with him yearly, until I am ready for surgery (or sooner if needed). I'm not ready right now.
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