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Scoliosis in the news - Boston

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  • Scoliosis in the news - Boston

    Channel 5 in Boston did a story on scoliosis this evening. For anyone interested, here is the link. http://www.thebostonchannel.com/heal...97/detail.html. They will finish the story tomorrow evening.
    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.

  • #2
    Wow. I donno whats on that page but my IE keeps crashing trying to load it. (my computer has problems)

    I'll try it on my wife's computer instead.

    *edit* Watched it. Very interesting. Can you please post the link for tomorrows segment when it comes up?
    Last edited by Qikdraw; 04-29-2009, 06:09 PM.
    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


    • #3
      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


      "We are all African."

      Comment


      • #4
        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.
        __________________________________________
        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


        • #5
          thanks

          loves to skate,
          Thanks for posting that ...look forward to the second half tomorrow.

          I wonder if the hormonal changes of pregnancy caused her to start slowly increasing????

          I worry about that happening in my daughter's case.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by hope404 View Post
            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.
            __________________________________________
            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


            • #7
              Originally posted by Qikdraw View Post
              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.

              Comment


              • #8
                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.

                Comment


                • #9
                  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*

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    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

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Part II update

                      Here is the link for the second half of the scoliosis story. http://www.thebostonchannel.com/heal...50/detail.html
                      Avis, I'm glad you had a good experience with your ct/myelogram.
                      Take care everyone. 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.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Thx Sally

                        It helps to have the awareness delivered even if its a short segment.

                        Her statement, "Waking up in debilitating pain is no way to lead your life" is something we think about often................

                        Thank you Rhonda Mann!
                        Ed
                        Last edited by titaniumed; 05-01-2009, 11:59 AM.
                        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


                        • #13
                          Sally,

                          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,
                          __________________________________________
                          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


                          • #14
                            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.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by CHRIS WBS View Post
                              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?
                              __________________________________________
                              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

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