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  • Scoliosis 80+ curve

    Hello All,
    Still awaiting my appt with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis, Aug 19th. It iwll get here someday, I am hoping. It has been a long wait!
    I am told by my orthopedic doc that my curve is 80+ degrees and that is all he would tell me pretty much and that I needed to see a surgeon as soon as I could get in.
    I'm experiencing a lot of shortness of breath basically whenever I walk anywhere, even to the kitchen from my chair.
    I have a lot of pain, sometimes that nearly is unbearable.
    I have a lot of numbness and tingling around my mid-section to my from abdomen on the front side and the ribs hurt a lot.
    But, recently I have been having problems swallowing. Anyone else experience this? What other surprises do we get - is this not enough? Ha!
    I seem to be able to chew and get it to go down partially but it seems to sit in the esophagus and at times I cannot swallow at all.
    Boy - I don't like this at all.
    thanks for any advice. Just wondered if this was a normal thing that someone else had experienced? Thanks much I appreciate it.
    Rita Thompson
    Age 46
    Milwaukee Brace wearer for 3 years in childhood
    Surgery Mar 1st - 95 degree thoracic curve
    Surgery by Dr. Lenke, St. Louis, MO
    Post-surgery curve 25-30 degree

  • #2
    Rita

    I had the same exact swallowing thing happening to me. Where it goes down and gets stuck.

    I mentioned this to my scoli surgeon and he said that it was not due to the scoliosis. I was ready to go to a upper gi guy, but it never happened. My insurance could only take so much abuse. LOL

    After my scoli surgery, that problem went away. Go figure.

    After my scoli surgery, and after I was off the meds, my heartburn went away.

    After my scoli surgery, my breathing improved.

    Now that I think about, all sorts of things improved. Except my memory, I'm forgetting everything now.

    Eat soft foods, chew thoroughly, drink water first before eating.
    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


    • #3
      Hi...

      It seems to me that it could be a problem with a lack of thoracic kyphosis, or even just the rotation of the thoracic spine. You should definitely mention it to Dr. Lenke.

      Regards,
      Linda
      Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
      Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

      Comment


      • #4
        Aside from any possible scoli causes, have you thought it may simply be stress? Anyone facing this surgery is under considerable stress.

        Good luck Rita.
        Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
        Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
        T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
        Osteotomies and Laminectomies
        Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

        Comment


        • #5
          I had a 95 curve which was corrected to about 60. I have never had any digestive problems since surgery. Prior, I had horrible coughing while eating & swallowing problems...I lived on Tums & now have not needed one in 3 yrs..!!
          Lynne

          fused T11-L5 Aug 1, 2006
          Dr. Boachie/Kim
          Last edited by lelc2002@yahoo; 07-31-2009, 08:17 AM.

          Comment


          • #6
            Does Tums really help with that? I'm doig the coughing and choking bit and having problems with swallowing. 80 deg +
            Rita Thompson
            Age 46
            Milwaukee Brace wearer for 3 years in childhood
            Surgery Mar 1st - 95 degree thoracic curve
            Surgery by Dr. Lenke, St. Louis, MO
            Post-surgery curve 25-30 degree

            Comment


            • #7
              Rita,

              Just want to wish you all the best on your appointment with Dr. Lenke next week. I'm praying that you get some encouraging news and that the wait to be rid of your pain and discomfort is very short!

              Keep us posted.
              ValleyGirl - age 54

              Diagnosed @ age 11
              Milwaukee brace 1967-1971 -- hated it!
              Never rechecked since 1971 until "tweaked" something in lower back in July 2008.
              Now curve is T38*, L53*
              Surgery scheduled for 9/8/09


              Fused T10 - S1 on 9/8/09

              Comment


              • #8
                Thanks guys. You are the absolute ! I have to say, though, I am nervous quite a bit about my appt coming up on Wed. Don't relish the idea of someone sitting there telling me how bad it is - I know it's bad - lord knows I can tell that. But, I know Dr. Lenke will take good care of me and I'm told he's worth the wait - so I will go with that. And, at least after Wed I will know exactly what I am facing... Is that a good thing here??? ha!

                Thanks for all the encouragement. I'll be sure to let you know what I find out.

                Thanks agian.
                Rita Thompson
                Age 46
                Milwaukee Brace wearer for 3 years in childhood
                Surgery Mar 1st - 95 degree thoracic curve
                Surgery by Dr. Lenke, St. Louis, MO
                Post-surgery curve 25-30 degree

                Comment


                • #9
                  That last post was supposed to be " absolute BEST!" Apologies
                  Rita Thompson
                  Age 46
                  Milwaukee Brace wearer for 3 years in childhood
                  Surgery Mar 1st - 95 degree thoracic curve
                  Surgery by Dr. Lenke, St. Louis, MO
                  Post-surgery curve 25-30 degree

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Good luck Rita. I hope you get some hopeful news on Wednesday. I known you've suffered badly for a long time. My 5.5 month appt. is also Wednesday. I will look for your news Thursday our time.
                    Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
                    Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
                    T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
                    Osteotomies and Laminectomies
                    Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Rita

                      Here is a list from Medtronic. Print it out, and ask Dr Lenke about Infuse and see what he says.

                      https://www.infusebonegraft.com/ques...r_surgeon.html

                      It fuses very quickly, and doesn't require any bone harvesting.(autograft from hip) which alleviates any pain from that area. Dr Menmuir used it on me and Ive had great sucess.

                      Good luck
                      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

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