What was your experience from scoliosis and how did you try to fix it or tell us how you fixed it?
I had to wear a Milwaukee brace for a year. I had physical therapy. I avoided surgery at that time due to my flexibility. The doctor literally lifted me off the floor with his hands under my chin/head. Apparently my spine straightened out to idk what degree.Now, in my fifties, I had two back surgeries and tons of epidurals. Not sure if I had gone though the spinal surgery in around 1973 if that would have made a difference.
What was your experience with spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis?
I underwent a spinal fusion in June 2017 starting at T2 and ending at L2. I had a 52° curvature in the thoracic spine when I was 17.Immediately after the operation, I had unbelievable pain. I was in the hospital for five days, in part due to constipation (gotta love morphine!). The worst pain I experienced in the hospital was breathing due to the fact that my curvature was affecting my lungs. The severe pain stayed for about two months, and then it began to subside quite quickly.The biggest problem I have experienced since my operation is shoulder pain, and random shooting pains that last for 1–3 minutes. My surgeon explained to me that the shoulder pain is from the muscle becoming used to the hardware, and the random bouts of shooting pain is from the nerves healing. He also explained that the shoulder pain would last one to two years.Now, I’m over a year removed from my operation, and I experience very little pain from the fusion. I only experience pain if I lift too much weight the previous day. Most days, I do not even feel the hardware unless I am touching my spine, and most of the numbness has left.
Can you get the rod taken out after scoliosis surgery?
There are three main categories of scoliosis treatment: observation, bracing, and surgery. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is the most common form of scoliosis. If the curve is small when first diagnosed, it can be observed with routine x-rays and measurements. If the curve stays below 25 degrees, no other treatment is needed. If the curve is between 25-40 degrees, a brace may be recommended. If the curve is greater than 40 degrees, then surgery may be recommended. If the curve is greater than 40 degrees, it is likely to continue to get worse by 1-2 degrees each year. If this is not prevented, the you 'll eventually be at risk for heart or lung problems and problems carrying a pregnancy. Talk with you spine surgeon about you concerns, the risks, and the benefits. You can have your hardware removed, but only if it is causing a problem. It is harder to get it out than in. I have scoliosis. I was fused 23 years ago. I am a nurse with 16 years of experience in the operating room. With the knowledge I have from personal experience and professional training, I will not have a problem saying yes to the surgeons if (when?) my girls were to develop scoliosis and need this.
Do people die from scoliosis surgery?
There are risks with every surgery, even minor procedures (I'm an OR nurse), including death. You/your parents have to make an informed decision about surgery's benefits vs. risk. If your curve is severe and you are not corrected it can affect your ability to breath or carry a pregnancy. Talk with your surgeon about the chances of complications arising during the surgery and from anesthesia (i.e. infection, bleeding, paralysis, etc.) . I was fused 23 years ago. If/when the time comes to decide about my children needing spinal fusions, I'll choose surgery over the risk for heart or lung problems developing from unresolved scoliosis.
Is scoliosis surgery safe?
It has been my experience that some doctors, like other people, are reluctant to admit that they are unfamiliar with some area of medicine a patient has asked about, and tend to shut down the discussions by declaring it “too dangerous.” Your doctor seems to be giving you some worst case scenarios. The first statement is arguably just plain wrong: after a fusion operation has fully healed the rods no longer bear much of the load, the fused bone does; and infection 5 years after surgery is very rare. If this is not an actual spine deformity specialist—a surgeon who does this type of surgery—please try to see such a specialist. If it is a spine deformity surgeon telling you this, consider a second opinion. No surgery is without risks, but neither is living with scoliosis. Get a thorough expert evaluation and then decide what is right for you.
Scoliosis trunk shift surgery?
Hello, I am 18 years old and have scolisis. Although the curve itself is not terrible (22), my trunk shift is so significant and has my hips unaligned along with my rib cages. I sit, lay and stand leaning significantly more to one side. I have severe back pain causing me to home more than I am at school. A lot of it is muscle pain in the upper back wich May or may not be related to scolisis, but my lower back is also in severe pain and I have spasms at the back of my tailbone/hipbone area. I visited an amazing orthopedic surgeon and he had told me this is how I am, and surgery is something to think about but of course there is no garanutee with how much pain it will alleviate. The surgery would consist of two incisions, one through the bottom of my stomach to fuse and move the lower, shifted disks and then an incision in my lower back to put the rods in. I wanted to see if anyone has had anything similar. I'm really considering surgery because I have tried absolutely everything and I've had to put too many dreams back on the shelf due to my pain level. I'm done living in back pain, it's misery. I cannot do day to day activities, I can't play sports, I can't sit at school for more than an hour, I can't wash my car, etc. please share your experience!
I'm gonna have my period during scoliosis surgery!... What will I do and what will they do ? Please help?
Have a quiet word with a female nurse and they will make sure your protected,and anyway even if your period wasn't due you would automatically start once surgery is done and i take it nobody has told you this little detail,will add a link for scoliosis support so you can chat to others with scoliosis too, http://www.scoliosis-support.org i too had scoliosis surgery and as expected periods started a day after just as i was told it would,surgery can mess up your pattern a little too but soon settles down,but please tell a nurse at the hospital and she will make sure your okay.