http://www.scoliosis-support.org Providing support, information and friendship for people affected by scoliosis, kyphosis and related spinal conditions. en Fri, 18 May 2012 17:12:31 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.scoliosis-support.org http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14857&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 14:31:10 GMT Hi everyone,

I joined a little while back and then tried to forget about surgery so I disappeared...

I'm back now and, after seeing Mr Tucker at the Wellington, seriously considering surgery if my private health insurance will pay.

Mr Tucker has suggested combined anterior and posterior surgery (in one session) and fusion from T4 to L4. Just wondering if anyone else has had this done? My initial consultation with another surgeon was for anterior lumbar fusion T11 to L4 but Mr Tucker doesn't think this will be stable enough as my curves are 47 upper and 62 lower and I am 32 years old.

It just seems like a lot to go through and, like everyone else who faces this, I'm getting scared.

Wondering about other people's experiences and looking for some words of encouragement!

Thanks
Kake ]]> General Discussions Kake http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14857 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14855&goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 15:57:28 GMT Went to royal orphapedic hosp ... was quite suprised how easy it was.... it took all of 5 mins wasnt sedated in anyway. me and my husband held him... Went to royal orphapedic hosp ... was quite suprised how easy it was.... it took all of 5 mins wasnt sedated in anyway. me and my husband held him down while they did it. but before hand we saw a spinal team. e sed e wants to caste him 3 times at 2 weeks at a tym.then put a brace on him i feel this isnt enough to correct it. i told the plaster women my concerns and she spoke to someone and theyve agreed to caste him for 3 months i stil feel this isnt wnuf time to get the curve down as much as they can. the spinal consultant told me e has a bad curve and theres an 80% chance e wil need surgery im so gutted !!! i asked about edf casting and they dont do it :( i feel im not getin the beat care for my son... e is being xrayed in 3 mnths by then e wud av ad 6 serial castes fitted.im praying yha es curves til go down .... is it possible to go from 60 degree curve to under 10 degrees by serial castin or have i just gota face facts theyme trying to get it dwn to a reasonable degree to operate on him :( i reli thort edf castin might av got us there :( ]]> Infantile, Juvenile and Congenital Scoliosis Room charlie83 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14855 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14853&goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 11:04:29 GMT Hi I'm 29 years old, I just found out a few months ago I have Scoliosis and Khyposis. They say it's congenial, I'm not sure what my curvature is as yet. I've been referred to go and see a specialist but have not yet been contacted which is frustrating because I'm in so much pain. I can hardly walk do daily things or sleep. I was on panadine fort and voltarin rapid tablets which does nothing to easy my pain. I cry so much because of the pain my doctor has now given my Tramadol and I've reading up on it and the side effects and how it makes you tired and you can become dependent on it or addicted. I am now trying to push past the pain so I don't have to take Tramadol but the pain is becoming unbearable! What does everyone surggest I do I'm at my wits end and I'm at a loss I feel so down. :( ]]> General Discussions Bee82 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14853 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14851&goto=newpost Wed, 16 May 2012 15:35:32 GMT Hi All,

I had a spinal fusion about ten years ago to correct severe scoliosis. I've read that one of the long-term risks associated with this type of surgery is that the adjacent discs can degenerate more quickly. Is there anything that can be done to mitigate this? Have any of you received information from medical professionals about what can be done? Are there exercises or something I can do?

I'm not going to limit the things I do to try and avoid this. I want to be able to live my life. But if there's some exercises or something I can do to strengthen certain muscles or something, I'm perfectly happy to do that if it could lessen the risks...

I'd appreciate any thoughts!!

Kirbz ]]> General Discussions kirbz http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14851 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14850&goto=newpost Tue, 15 May 2012 21:55:12 GMT rang the hosp this morning regarding starving my son before going under anaestetic to be told its cancelled til thursday morning now... god im so... rang the hosp this morning regarding starving my son before going under anaestetic to be told its cancelled til thursday morning now... god im so nervous for him :( just the thought of him going into theatre to be put to sleep is a fear to me :( i hope e settles to this casting... joined a casting website tonight hosping for some successful stories on casting with out the need of surgery.. :) ]]> Infantile, Juvenile and Congenital Scoliosis Room charlie83 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14850 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14848&goto=newpost Tue, 15 May 2012 18:09:38 GMT Hi everyone, Iv just come home after my consultation and I cant stop crying. Burst into tears outside Stanmore! Iv been told my back is now a two... Hi everyone,
Iv just come home after my consultation and I cant stop crying.
Burst into tears outside Stanmore!

Iv been told my back is now a two stage op.
And my fusion will be big.
And a blood transfusion is very likely.

And then I heard all the risks.
I have progressed to 69% curve.

I am devastated. I need the op but I'm petrified something will go wrong!! ]]> General Discussions Camilla_1 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14848 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14847&goto=newpost Tue, 15 May 2012 17:40:42 GMT Hi! I'm new here and I am searching for someone who has had anterior/posterior revision for spinal fusion & osteotomy surgery. The dr plans to do them both same day and I am so totally freaked out. He says the anterior should take approx 2 hours then they flip me over and the posterior should take approx 6 hours. If it was just the posterior I would go for it, but the anterior part, esp. the same day, just seems too much. I had scoliosis corrective surgery 39 yrs ago with Harrington rod (more info on my member profile under surgery). Thanks in advance for any help you can give.:) ]]> Kyphosis, Lordosis and Flatback Room Dilyco3 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14847 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14845&goto=newpost Tue, 15 May 2012 17:04:18 GMT I finally got a new operation date for end of May. 6 weeks after the original date, hopefully it won't get cancelled for a third time at the last minute. Phoebe. ]]> General Discussions Phoebe http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14845 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14844&goto=newpost Tue, 15 May 2012 15:24:57 GMT Late last night (a few hours ago) when my parents were in a good mood and my siblings had already gone to bed, I stripped my upper half and nervously... Late last night (a few hours ago) when my parents were in a good mood and my siblings had already gone to bed, I stripped my upper half and nervously asked my folks whether my back looked okay. My mum who last saw me naked a little over a year ago felt that my back looked similar to the last time she saw it. However, my dad was a little shocked and wants to take me to the GP this week. I told him that I don't want to see the GP but would like to get an x-ray in July. He insisted that we must visit the GP first as that's the way it works.

Sorry for the incoherent post... I'm getting sleepy. ]]> General Discussions girl97 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14844 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14843&goto=newpost Mon, 14 May 2012 21:59:55 GMT if my son has got to be put under local aneastetic on wed is e allowed anything to eat before hand ? if my son has got to be put under local aneastetic on wed is e allowed anything to eat before hand ? ]]> Infantile, Juvenile and Congenital Scoliosis Room charlie83 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14843 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14842&goto=newpost Mon, 14 May 2012 20:28:03 GMT Just want to wish Tiff good luck tomorrow as she is sitting the first of her GCSE exams, I know she will do amazingly well, so GOOD LUCK TIFF. love... Just want to wish Tiff good luck tomorrow as she is sitting the first of her GCSE exams, I know she will do amazingly well, so GOOD LUCK TIFF. love Sue xx:) ]]> General Discussions wildcats56 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14842 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14841&goto=newpost Mon, 14 May 2012 18:16:04 GMT Hi everyone, I hope you are all well. I am meeting with my surgeon tomorrow and am feeling really worried today. I already know I am having the... Hi everyone,
I hope you are all well.
I am meeting with my surgeon tomorrow and am feeling really worried today.
I already know I am having the surgery on my AIS 66 degree curve but I find out more tomorrow -like if it will be two ops.

I want to ask loads of questions about the surgery as I am so scared, but my mind has also got blank with panicking.

Can anyone offer some questions I must ask.

Feeling overwelmed by this whole experience.

Camilla x ]]> General Discussions Camilla_1 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14841 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14839&goto=newpost Mon, 14 May 2012 15:32:50 GMT Hi Everyone - sorry I have not been posting for a while - have been trying to absorb what has been happening over the last three weeks. Last month I... Hi Everyone - sorry I have not been posting for a while - have been trying to absorb what has been happening over the last three weeks. Last month I went for the anaesthetic assessment at QMC Nottingham and they were concerned over my lung function. The anaesthetic consultant referred me to the RVI at Newcastle (as I live in the North East) and they have done overnight pulse ox, heart and carbon dioxide tests. The results came out that I have symptomatic night time respiratory failure and need to have non-invastive ventilation at night via a BIPAP machine. This was started immediately. It is taking some getting used to but I am determined to use it. The consultant said that it will take about three months for me to be in a position to consider the surgery but I will need to be on this machine at night for life (felt really down about this). He said if I did not use this I would be putting my life at risk. However, he also could not understand why I was not referred to him when they originally found that I was desaturating at night two years ago when I had the overnight pulse ox tests done by the respiratory consultant at Durham.
I go back down to Nottingham to see Mr. Shafafy on 24th May to discuss what is going to happen. Really scared of the risks of the aneasthetic as well as the procedure as I am a complex case due to a tethered cord and dystematamelie as well as a curve over 130 degrees.
However, the BIPAP machine is making me feel more altert during the day which is a positive step forward - it has taken so long to get there. However, the other night I felt really down as I could not sleep because of the nerve pain and the noise of the machine on top of that made me start to cry and tears do not go well with the mask. However, I gave myself a good mental talking too and feel a bit more settled about the situation today. Not looking forward to the appointment next week but need to find out what the next steps are as my life is on hold at the moment.
Sorry to ramble on a bit. Tracy x ]]> General Discussions tracy1 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14839 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14837&goto=newpost Mon, 14 May 2012 14:35:21 GMT Been to roh... his curve as progressed rapidly from a 28 degrees ... to a "guessing 60 degree curve" been told they cant affors to hang around so e needa plaster casting this wednesday at 10 oclock es gona be sedated to have this dun... and an mri is being booked at birmingham childrens hosp very soon.... E sed e wudnt like to say whether e needs an op in future but ses theres a good chance e may stil need one :'( sed weve got a long haul ahead of us :( ]]> Infantile, Juvenile and Congenital Scoliosis Room charlie83 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14837 http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14836&goto=newpost Mon, 14 May 2012 12:08:58 GMT I met up with my sister yesterday and out of the blue, she mentioned to me that she has Scoliosis! I never knew this as she was diagnosed when she... I met up with my sister yesterday and out of the blue, she mentioned to me that she has Scoliosis! I never knew this as she was diagnosed when she was 18 when she was away at Uni.

The big question is, does this change anything? Izzi is being treated as having Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, is the treatment any different if it is possibly Congenital?? I have told every doctor that I have come in contact with that there has been no Scoliosis in my family.....

I would be interested to hear any thoughts/suggestions!!!

Kathryn xxx ]]> General Discussions http://www.scoliosis-support.org/showthread.php?t=14836