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  • Good news

    A few weeks ago I sent a letter to the doctor who did my surgery 25 years ago, basically wishing his a happy 25th anniversary of the surgery and also explaining a few things that are going on with me currently. He sent a reply today!

    Brad

    I remember you very well. I am delighted to hear from you and to find that the operation has helped you and indeed for such a longtime. It was a big deal However am sorry you are now having trouble. I think you should see a orthopedic spine doc you will require xrays, and probably a CT /myelogram -- a routine MRI will not do very well with all of the metal in your back. I doubt you are a candidate for a disc replacement. , but an evaluation would be helpful to determine what could and should be done.

    I can have you see a friend of mine in the LA area, or have you come up to SF and see one of my partners. I prefer the latter option. We have a large spine group, and that would be my choice that you see one of my group. I am not seeing patients, but in your case I would be happy to look in and discuss with my partners after they saw you and discuss with you the options etc.

    Let me know how to proceed with this

    Best regards

    David Bradford, MD
    Professor
    I am just soooooooo happy right now! To me this is a huge thing. I am going to see if my insurance will at least pay for the visit, I doubt it, but it never hurts to ask. So far I have not been impressed with any of the doctors I have seen so far, none have been a spine specialist, but even the one I am seeing on the 28th of Sept I do not have confidence in. It took a lot of phone calls just to get them to see me, and that just for an opinion. I am going to try so hard to get to see Dr Bradford's group.

    This is a good day for me, so I thought I would share.

    Brad
    Surgeries July 26th & August 3rd 1983 (12 years old)
    Still have 57 degree curve
    2 Harrington rods
    Luque method used
    Dr David Bradford
    Twin Cities Scoliosis Center
    Preop xray (with brace on)
    Postop xray

  • #2
    Yay, Brad. That sounds so encouraging! I'm really happy for you! Keep us updated with what happens-- but I REALLY HOPE it works out for you to go there. I think with all your history, that you really NEED to go there. Best wishes for that to work out!
    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

    Comment


    • #3
      Brad I am thrilled for you!!!! I've thought so often to write my own doc and say, THANKS -- I was in Playboy magazine in a bend over to the sink position. Did you see me? Thanks again for your help.

      I am not sure what your doc is talking about re an MRI. They have come a long way. People here scared the s... out of me when I went for mine, "You're going to burn" yada.

      I went to the MRI place in advance and talked to the techs, "NEVER HAD A PROBLEM." My MRI was a cinch, abetted by three valium (I highly recommend -- I wasn't drugged out, just worried but didn't freak out)

      Our doctors do remember us. Every single case. Mine is retired now but I will always remember, Dr. John Hurley, his pipe, his sense of humor and letting me in to speak with my mother present instead of sticking me outside. ok, sometimes they talked... but I never felt like an object. Dr. John Hurley of Spokane Washington was wonderful. I was never scared with him.

      Other people messed up but he didn't.
      Traction at 13, body cast 1 mos., Milwaukee, first plastic (severe allergy, abdomen skin burst, watery) then leather. Harrington Rod @ 15, 9 mos body cast, hips up. 9 more mos being careful and protective. Degenerated disc C4-5 I think well above the rod. Degenerated disc below the rod now? Probably.

      Comment


      • #4
        Thanks Susie, I am hoping that I can go there too. We will see how things go.

        ck43
        I'm not sure why he said that about an MRI, I do have a lot of metal in my back, not only the steel from the rods, but platinum as well. Maybe that reacts bad. I don't really know. But I will take his advice. He is one of the top people in his feild. However if I can get an appointment up there then we will see what happens.

        Brad
        Surgeries July 26th & August 3rd 1983 (12 years old)
        Still have 57 degree curve
        2 Harrington rods
        Luque method used
        Dr David Bradford
        Twin Cities Scoliosis Center
        Preop xray (with brace on)
        Postop xray

        Comment


        • #5
          yes, good news

          Brad

          Wow, that was really cool of Dr Bradford to reply after all the years that have passed since your surgeries! He probably remembers more than most people would believe about your case. It probably would be good idea to go see him. If you come out, e-mail me.

          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


          • #6
            That is so cool! It makes me want to write my doc from 10 years ago!
            How nice of him to help you out!
            26 year old female
            wore a brace in junior high
            fusion of T4-L4 at 15 years old
            broken hardware at 23 due to failed fusion
            November 10, 2008 hardware removal and fusion of L3-L4

            Comment


            • #7
              That's just WONDERFUL Brad! It makes me think that there really are good people in this world.

              I agree you should contact the insurance and see if they will cover it. Do you have any out-of-network coverage?
              __________________________________________
              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


              • #8
                Brad, why worry about it? Call the MRI guys and ask, or do as I did, and ask.

                I stopped by. They could see I was nervous (tremors dude in my hands and I probably seemed like a crazy person which I think they correctly registered as nerves?).

                Don't sweat it.

                I am thrilled your doctor remembers you, but there are others out there, as I learned.

                Unfortunately, my brand new guy moved out of state but he sure knew his stuff and new stuff too. Modern. I will always love my old doc though. How can we not?
                Traction at 13, body cast 1 mos., Milwaukee, first plastic (severe allergy, abdomen skin burst, watery) then leather. Harrington Rod @ 15, 9 mos body cast, hips up. 9 more mos being careful and protective. Degenerated disc C4-5 I think well above the rod. Degenerated disc below the rod now? Probably.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Brad, I am so happy for you! This is great news and I hope and pray you can get the help you need to become pain free. We will all be sending good vibes to you.
                  TIMING IS EVERYTHING!

                  Comment

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