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Diagnosed with severe lumbar scoliosis at age 65.
Posterior Fusion L2-S1 on 12/4/2007. age 67
Anterior Fusion L3-L4,L4-L5,L5-S1 on 12/19/2007
Additional bone removed to decompress right side of L3-L4 & L4-L5 on 4/19/2010
New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA
Dr. Frank F. Rands735.photobucket.com/albums/ww360/butterflyfive/
"In God We Trust" Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.
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
So she went from a "stable" 24* at maturity to an unstable 54* on the table.
Our surgeon says that only 5% of people with sub-surgical curve (<50*) at maturity ever have progression later in life.
If true, this 5% seems to be over-represented in this sandbox.
My one daughter is 36* - 40* now. Make me wonder if she has any chance whatsoever of avoiding surgery later in life due to progression or pain from other scoliosis complications despite what our surgeon says.
Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis
No island of sanity.
Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works? Answer: Medicine
I'd like to see the 2nd piece tomorrow too Sharon. She reminded me of myself, getting worse and not expecting it. She's right--when they describe the surgery to you the first time you think the Dr.'s are just NUTS.
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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
loves to skate,
I wonder if the hormonal changes of pregnancy caused her to start slowly increasing????
Hope,
In my non-professional opinion, I believe that's what happened in my case. I do remember after giving birth to each of my 3 kids having the WORST backache of my life; the pain was so bad it was worse than the childbirth pain. Again (in my non-medical opinion), that's when my back progressed the worst. If I had to do it again, would I? Probably, but it would have been nice to know what to expect.
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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
Watched it. Very interesting. Can you please post the link for tomorrows segment when it comes up?
I absolutely will post the next segment.
Sally
Diagnosed with severe lumbar scoliosis at age 65.
Posterior Fusion L2-S1 on 12/4/2007. age 67
Anterior Fusion L3-L4,L4-L5,L5-S1 on 12/19/2007
Additional bone removed to decompress right side of L3-L4 & L4-L5 on 4/19/2010
New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA
Dr. Frank F. Rands735.photobucket.com/albums/ww360/butterflyfive/
"In God We Trust" Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.
Thanks for posting this, Sally. Any scoliosis story that I’ve seen covered by the media focused on adolescents. It’s educational and informative to show what can be done for the adult patient.
Thank you so much for posting this. Since I am just at the starting point of discussing with my doctor what my surgery will be like this gives me more questions I can ask. I can't wait to see the rest of the story.
Lori
Age: 40
Diagnosed @ at of 11
Muscle Stimulator for 1 year
Milwaukee Brace from 1982-1987 47* (center curve)
(was told would never get worse)
Surgery November 11, 2009
Fused T6-T12
Pre Op 25* - 54* - 40*
Post Op 24* - 33* - 21*
Thanks for posting this Sally. As someone said, it's nice to see a scoliosis story on adults as they usually feature children. As an aside, I had my ct/myelogram done yesterday at St. Luke's in Bethlehem. The doctor who performed it was just the cat's meow. He was amazing, kind, gentle and I believe he was so kind and caring because his 15 year old daughter had major scoliosis surgery done 2 years ago so he knew all about it from his daughter. Usually people see the hardware and don't know how to react. I didn't feel it when he located the spot that was able to receive the syringe and then the dye. He had me upside down with my head on the floor. It was an unusual experience and I have had 2 others before this one.
avis
1987 Lumbar Laminectomy (forget which levels)
2005 A/P fusion, L2 - L5, 2/2005
2009 2 Posterior fusions, T6 - Pelvis, 2/10 & 2/18,
Dr. Frank Rand, NEBH
Diagnosed with severe lumbar scoliosis at age 65.
Posterior Fusion L2-S1 on 12/4/2007. age 67
Anterior Fusion L3-L4,L4-L5,L5-S1 on 12/19/2007
Additional bone removed to decompress right side of L3-L4 & L4-L5 on 4/19/2010
New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA
Dr. Frank F. Rands735.photobucket.com/albums/ww360/butterflyfive/
"In God We Trust" Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.
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
what a wonderful story; it brought tears to my eyes. We should bookmark this and point all new adult members to watch this story. My favorite line is when she says 'it's not about being straight..it's about being normal.'
Thanks again for posting this,
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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
I find it interesting that this surgeon felt the need for an anterior surgery on this patient, especially since her curve was not that significant and did not involve the sacral area.
I find it interesting that this surgeon felt the need for an anterior surgery on this patient, especially since her curve was not that significant and did not involve the sacral area.
I wondered that too, but then just assumed she must have had significant disk deterioration?
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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
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