Hi,
This is my first post and I'm so grateful that this message board exists. My name is Lynette and I'm 42 years old. Nine years ago I just found out for the first time that I had scoliosis, my lumbar curve was 61 degrees.
I just went to a top surgeon in my area to have my back checked out again, as I've noticed more pain when I'm standing stationary. He told me after my x-rays that I had a lower lumbar curve of 76 degrees and an upper thoracic compensatory curve of 37 degrees. I trust this doctor to be good because he has a very good reputation, also I spoke to the head of one of the local scoliosis foundations, and she had major surgery done by him, and also she knows many other people who have had surgery with him.
However, I don't suffer pain most of the time. He told me that I need to have surgery fairly soon because if I leave it, he said that the pain will become very bad, and my curve will continue to progress and he may not be able to help correct the curve as much as he could now. He said he would only operate on the lower lumbar and bring it to a 35 degree curve which he said would straighten me out quite a lot. The risk is 20 to 40% that I may in the future find my upper back leaning forward, which would then mean I'd have to have a second surgery to correct that.
I'm terrified. I'm a single mom with two young boys aged 5 and 7. They rely on me totally however I do have a wonderful mother who sees us every day. Also my insurance won't cover me for this surgery due to pre-existing condition. My doctor seems to think that they should pay for the hospital part, but the actual surgery and instrumentation would be on me.
So not only worried about how to pay - but mostly the actual surgery. Right now I'm very flexible, I practice yoga every day. And if I have surgery I'll be operated from the sacrum/pelvis to T9. This would then leave me very inflexible afterward especially with yoga etc.
I wish there was another way and wondered what all of you think with your experience as to whether you think surgery is inevitable for me or not? Whether I could delay surgery for a few years because my children hate the idea of staying with their father for a whole week during the first week of recovery at home.
I hate scoliosis and wish to God I didn't have it - but as all of you understand, this is the way it is.
Any suggestions?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Lynette.
This is my first post and I'm so grateful that this message board exists. My name is Lynette and I'm 42 years old. Nine years ago I just found out for the first time that I had scoliosis, my lumbar curve was 61 degrees.
I just went to a top surgeon in my area to have my back checked out again, as I've noticed more pain when I'm standing stationary. He told me after my x-rays that I had a lower lumbar curve of 76 degrees and an upper thoracic compensatory curve of 37 degrees. I trust this doctor to be good because he has a very good reputation, also I spoke to the head of one of the local scoliosis foundations, and she had major surgery done by him, and also she knows many other people who have had surgery with him.
However, I don't suffer pain most of the time. He told me that I need to have surgery fairly soon because if I leave it, he said that the pain will become very bad, and my curve will continue to progress and he may not be able to help correct the curve as much as he could now. He said he would only operate on the lower lumbar and bring it to a 35 degree curve which he said would straighten me out quite a lot. The risk is 20 to 40% that I may in the future find my upper back leaning forward, which would then mean I'd have to have a second surgery to correct that.
I'm terrified. I'm a single mom with two young boys aged 5 and 7. They rely on me totally however I do have a wonderful mother who sees us every day. Also my insurance won't cover me for this surgery due to pre-existing condition. My doctor seems to think that they should pay for the hospital part, but the actual surgery and instrumentation would be on me.
So not only worried about how to pay - but mostly the actual surgery. Right now I'm very flexible, I practice yoga every day. And if I have surgery I'll be operated from the sacrum/pelvis to T9. This would then leave me very inflexible afterward especially with yoga etc.
I wish there was another way and wondered what all of you think with your experience as to whether you think surgery is inevitable for me or not? Whether I could delay surgery for a few years because my children hate the idea of staying with their father for a whole week during the first week of recovery at home.
I hate scoliosis and wish to God I didn't have it - but as all of you understand, this is the way it is.
Any suggestions?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Lynette.
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