Guest guest Posted September 16, 2010 Report Share Posted September 16, 2010 Glen Give me a call I specialize in scoliosis. I have advanced training through Clear institute. What does her lateral cervical look like? Carl  Bonofiglio, D.C. 503-608-7484 Cell 53-312-5744 Www.spinalquest.net    -- scoliosis Morning Docs;I have a 14 year 7 month old female with a 33deg. thoracolumbar scoliosis between T8-L2 with an apex at T11 to the left. On the films leg length is even with little to no pelvic rotation. Risser’s sign is still at stage I. When she bends forward the curvature mostly disappears but not completely. Surface EMG and thermal scans are pretty intense along the outside of the apex and on the opposite side in the regions where the curve returns. Mom first noticed the curve this summer while she was in a bathing suit. Her daughter did just go through an intense growth spurt this summer; she is ~5’7â€. She has not reached menarche yet. My plan is to start chiropractic and exercises while waiting for a consult from a scoliosis pediatrician. Does anyone have any recommendations for a medical referral in the Gresham-Sandy area? Thanks ahead of time. Glenn Sykes, DCGresham, Or__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5456 (20100916) __________The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5456 (20100916) __________The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.http://www.eset.com__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5456 (20100916) __________The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.http://www.eset.com       Carl  Bonofiglio, D.C. 503-608-7484 Cell 53-312-5744 www.spinalquest.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2011 Report Share Posted July 9, 2011 Hi Terri, I hope that the surgeon will reconsider doing your surgery. I live in the USA and had back pain from scoliosis and arthritis for 40 years. Slowly my spine curved to a 55 degree lumbar curve. I was in unbearable pain but I was still working at an office job. At the age of 60, I found a surgeon that fused my spine from T10-L5. The surgery lasted 6 hours and I was only in the hospital for 4 nights. The pain was not unbearable as they left the epidural in for 48 hours along with IV pain killers. On the third day I was allowed to get up and walk with the help of a physical therapist and on the fourth day they let me go home around supper time. I used a walker at home mostly to help me get to a standing position for the first week or so. I was given adequate pain killers and my recovery was pretty musch uneventful. I did have to wear a brace for six months but that was not bad because it was the winter months. I not walk my dogs and play with my grandchildren. Six month ago I had a knee replacement done to correct the damage done to one of my knees from walking for so long with a crooked spine. I hope that you can find someone to give you some pain relief that I received from my sugery. I am also a postpolio patient who has nerve damage to both arms and one leg. This was all documented before my surgery. Good luck! Bev > > I am 69 years old & live in Australia. I have had scoliosis for numerous years & finally found a surgeon who said he could possibly help with surgery. This was 2 and half years ago. I have no insurance so had to wait to go through the public hospital system. The surgeon knew how much pain I was in yet I still had to wait all that time until my turn came up. Now he doesn't want to do it because he says the curve has got too bad, the osteoporosis has got too bad & he is afraid the pins he will put in may pop out again due to the osteoporosis. I also have osteoarthritis, spondylethesis, fibromyalgia, disc bulge & nerve endings being caught up in the disc where it has been pushed right out of line. The curve is 30 degrees. Also he was worried that due to the amount of drugs I take to cope with the pain he would have nowhere to go with pain relief after the op. So now says I have to make the call to have it done if I cannot possibly live with this pain > continually. He said I would have a 60%/40% of getting some pain relief in my leg where I get the sciatica pain but very little can be done for the pain in the back. Breaking down the 40% he said 30% I would have the same amount of pain as now & possibly more & 10% would be a disaster. I don't particularly like those odds knowing that I seem to attract problems all my life & am afraid I would be in the 40% bracket. How do you make a decision based on those odds? I am so upset it wasn't done 2 and half years ago but what can I do, cannot change that now. Somehow I have to make a choice. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Hi, I was just reading Terri's story and decided to look at the replies. First, after hearing about the history of what her doctor has put her through, I'd hope she could find a specialist who does scoliosis surgeries ALL the time (he " possibly " ? could do it??)!! I'm sorry she waited 2 1/2 years and then was told that the curve had gotten " too bad " ?? - 30 degrees? I'd question that to begin with as surgery usually isn't even necessary unless it's 45+ degrees and it " sounds like " her's is higher than that now... A specialist would measure it and know what to do. I had regular insurance at the time of my surgeries, unlike Terri, but now I live alone and am on disability so receive Medicare & Medicaid so when I need medical attention now, I have the help (insurance). I wonder if there's something like that in Australia; it'd definitely be worth looking in to. My curvature was 150 degrees and was " taken down to approx. 40 degrees " after 2 surgeries with fusion and CD instrumentation (rods) from T1-T12) I was lead to a doctor in the next state who was a specialist in this field; he literally averaged surgeries on a weekly basis. I remember another woman (76) coming into the hospital who, like you, had Osteoporosis along with the Scoliosis and the doctor found a way to apply rods w/fusion for her so it can be done =) I also live in the USA but would think that in Australia there'd be specialists, but if not you may have to travel to get the help you need. I was 36 when I had my surgeries, I'm 58 now. I'm also a post polio survivor (had Polio @ 2 yrs old) so have a lot of other issues that go along with the scoliosis (advanced weakness, fatigue...) but am still glad that I had those surgeries as I'd probably not be writing this right now! As most of us have heard and know that the progression of the curvature(s) slowly squeezes our hearts & lungs so that they no longer react sufficiently leading us into irreversable damage so that our life expectancy can be lessened due to those facts. To me, these are the reasons for surgery at the EARLIEST NEEDED time so that would never be a concern. Unfortunately, my family switched religions 2 years after I got Polio so never went back to a doctor again until I was an adult and learned on my own that indeed there were such surgeries out there!! Prior to this, I went to doctors/physical therapists/chiropractors and NONE of them ever mentioned anything about surgery (you wouldn't believe what one of them said to me!) I'm not sure now if they " didn't know " or chose not to mention it cuz it wouldn't be in " their benefit " to do so; I certainly hope it's not the latter... All my life I just wanted to look like " everyone else " , as so many of us feel, so once I knew, I was LITERALLY in the hospital a month after I met with the specialist! I've gone on long enough for now. Emails are welcomed if there are any questions. Sorry if I jumped around; I write as it " comes in " =) I wish you the best, Terri, and pray that you find YOUR answers. Diane > > > > I am 69 years old & live in Australia. I have had scoliosis for numerous years & finally found a surgeon who said he could possibly help with surgery. This was 2 and half years ago. I have no insurance so had to wait to go through the public hospital system. The surgeon knew how much pain I was in yet I still had to wait all that time until my turn came up. Now he doesn't want to do it because he says the curve has got too bad, the osteoporosis has got too bad & he is afraid the pins he will put in may pop out again due to the osteoporosis. I also have osteoarthritis, spondylethesis, fibromyalgia, disc bulge & nerve endings being caught up in the disc where it has been pushed right out of line. The curve is 30 degrees. Also he was worried that due to the amount of drugs I take to cope with the pain he would have nowhere to go with pain relief after the op. So now says I have to make the call to have it done if I cannot possibly live with this pain > > continually. He said I would have a 60%/40% of getting some pain relief in my leg where I get the sciatica pain but very little can be done for the pain in the back. Breaking down the 40% he said 30% I would have the same amount of pain as now & possibly more & 10% would be a disaster. I don't particularly like those odds knowing that I seem to attract problems all my life & am afraid I would be in the 40% bracket. How do you make a decision based on those odds? I am so upset it wasn't done 2 and half years ago but what can I do, cannot change that now. Somehow I have to make a choice. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 Thank you so much for your answers and messages of hope, especially Diane & Beverly. In Australia I cannot afford insurance as I am on the social security aged pension and there is hardly enough to live on let alone afford insurance. The surgeon I am seeing is a Professor with his own spine center & that is all he deals with so is conversant with the problem. Sadly he is the only one who does any work in the public hospital system. I would probably have to travel 1000kms or more to find one in Sydney & double that if I tried Melbourne so that is out of the question. I am thinking that maybe there is a different way they measure curves here as mine certainly is a large curve, it is frightening to think it affects the heart & lungs as I have not been told about that. This surgeon was talking of fusions from T11 to L5 with bone grafts as well, that is until he had the latest scans & osteoporosis reports. The osteoarthritis doesn't help either. I get very depressed with fibromyalgia & very fatigued which does not help & am still getting over a fractured foot which is not healing well. I live on my own & had a friend who was helping me but he upped & walked out when all these things happened. I think the thought of having to look after a possible cripple sent him running, he didn't stop to ask any questions. My children live at least 100kms away so cannot come very often, they are tied with families. So I will let you know what decision I make then take it from there. Thank you all. God Bless. > > > > > > I am 69 years old & live in Australia. I have had scoliosis for numerous years & finally found a surgeon who said he could possibly help with surgery. This was 2 and half years ago. I have no insurance so had to wait to go through the public hospital system. The surgeon knew how much pain I was in yet I still had to wait all that time until my turn came up. Now he doesn't want to do it because he says the curve has got too bad, the osteoporosis has got too bad & he is afraid the pins he will put in may pop out again due to the osteoporosis. I also have osteoarthritis, spondylethesis, fibromyalgia, disc bulge & nerve endings being caught up in the disc where it has been pushed right out of line. The curve is 30 degrees. Also he was worried that due to the amount of drugs I take to cope with the pain he would have nowhere to go with pain relief after the op. So now says I have to make the call to have it done if I cannot possibly live with this pain > > > continually. He said I would have a 60%/40% of getting some pain relief in my leg where I get the sciatica pain but very little can be done for the pain in the back. Breaking down the 40% he said 30% I would have the same amount of pain as now & possibly more & 10% would be a disaster. I don't particularly like those odds knowing that I seem to attract problems all my life & am afraid I would be in the 40% bracket. How do you make a decision based on those odds? I am so upset it wasn't done 2 and half years ago but what can I do, cannot change that now. Somehow I have to make a choice. > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Hi Terri, They consider adult curves differently than child ones. I think anything over 30 something in an adult is serious. I hope you get the help you need. I'm 62 so I feel for you.I had a major multi-level fusion May 2010 and now have " flat back " disability... But that is really unsual in this day and age. My surgeon was the best in my area, but it's a small community.BTW, when I was in the recovery center after my surgery my roommate was a 86 yr old num who had just had knee replacement and I met another woman in her 80s who had a huge multi-level fusion. These days 60s and 70s are considered young. Especially when we don't have diabetes or extreme high blood pressure. I hope to hear how things went for you. I'd go back and see him if you can. Especially if it's too hard for you to get surgery at another town. Bev (another Bev) > > > > > > > > I am 69 years old & live in Australia. I have had scoliosis for numerous years & finally found a surgeon who said he could possibly help with surgery. This was 2 and half years ago. I have no insurance so had to wait to go through the public hospital system. The surgeon knew how much pain I was in yet I still had to wait all that time until my turn came up. Now he doesn't want to do it because he says the curve has got too bad, the osteoporosis has got too bad & he is afraid the pins he will put in may pop out again due to the osteoporosis. I also have osteoarthritis, spondylethesis, fibromyalgia, disc bulge & nerve endings being caught up in the disc where it has been pushed right out of line. The curve is 30 degrees. Also he was worried that due to the amount of drugs I take to cope with the pain he would have nowhere to go with pain relief after the op. So now says I have to make the call to have it done if I cannot possibly live with this pain > > > > continually. He said I would have a 60%/40% of getting some pain relief in my leg where I get the sciatica pain but very little can be done for the pain in the back. Breaking down the 40% he said 30% I would have the same amount of pain as now & possibly more & 10% would be a disaster. I don't particularly like those odds knowing that I seem to attract problems all my life & am afraid I would be in the 40% bracket. How do you make a decision based on those odds? I am so upset it wasn't done 2 and half years ago but what can I do, cannot change that now. Somehow I have to make a choice. > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2011 Report Share Posted July 27, 2011 Hi everyone....I thought I would update you on what has happened. I saw the cardiologist last Tuesday in Brisbane & he is concerned as to what happened when I had 2 suspected heart attacks. I have to have a CT angiogram & am waiting for an appointment. The cardiologist will ring me with the results to save me going back to Brisbane again. When we know what caused them we will know what to do about that. After that is fixed I should then have an idea as to whether I can have an operation. I then have to decide if I want to take the risk that is involved. I honestly do not know how I can make that decision with those odds but that is another story to be considered at the time. Thank you everyone for your input it is helpful knowing others have been through ops & what happened & the fact you are willing to share is very comforting. I will let you know what happens. Thank you. Terri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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