Re: Revision to Thoracic Spine

[Guest guest]

Hi Bev - I have had osteotomies in both my thoracic & lumbar. Initially I had osteotomies in my thoracic to correct my scoliotic curve. I also had to have osteotomies to both my thoracic & lumbar areas to correct my flatback. Osteotomies in the thoracic & cervical areas are considered more dangerous than the lumbar due to the higher risk of nerve damage/paralysis. Hope this helps..............Kathy

From: Bev <bev.heron@...>Subject: [ ] Revision to Thoracic Spine Date: Sunday, April 17, 2011, 12:29 PM

Hi AllI have Harrington Rod Induced Flatback, Which affects my Thoracic spine as well as my Lumbar spine (fused T-3-L3). I live in the UK and the surgeon I have seen has said that he is prepared to restore the natural lordosis in my lumbar but would not correct my thoracic curve, as he says this is too dangerous. When people have had salvage surgery in the US, has anyone had there thoracic spine corrected. My surgeon mentioned doing 'closing wedge osteomies' of the lumbar spine and fusion to the sacrum. I would really appreciate your advise Luv Bev x

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy

Thanks for your reply.

Can I ask if you had any complications following the revision to your thoracic

spine and when and who did your surgery. Also what was your recovery like and

has the surgery made a diference to your pain and mobility.

kind regards

Bev x

>

>

> From: Bev <bev.heron@...>

> Subject: [ ] Revision to Thoracic Spine

>

> Date: Sunday, April 17, 2011, 12:29 PM

>

>

>  

>

>

>

> Hi All

> I have Harrington Rod Induced Flatback, Which affects my Thoracic spine as

well as my Lumbar spine (fused T-3-L3). I live in the UK and the surgeon I have

seen has said that he is prepared to restore the natural lordosis in my lumbar

but would not correct my thoracic curve, as he says this is too dangerous. When

people have had salvage surgery in the US, has anyone had there thoracic spine

corrected. My surgeon mentioned doing 'closing wedge osteomies' of the lumbar

spine and fusion to the sacrum.

> I would really appreciate your advise

> Luv Bev x

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy...

Did you see Dr. Hu today? If so, how did it go? Are you doing any better?

By the way, Dr. Hu was named the first recipient of the UCSF S. Bradford

Endowed Chair this evening. I was at UC (Parnassus) for my 3 month checkup

today, so got to attend the ceremony.

I'm hopeful that I'll be able to start working part-time in the next few weeks.

I'm going to try stopping my nighttime oxycontin dose tonight (my third try).

Once I'm successfully off the oxy, I need to stop taking Ambien. Once I'm

successfully off both of those things, and know I can sleep at night on my own,

I'm going to start doing half days every other day. Keeping my fingers crossed!

--

>

>

> From: Bev <bev.heron@...>

> Subject: [ ] Revision to Thoracic Spine

>

> Date: Sunday, April 17, 2011, 12:29 PM

>

>

>  

>

>

>

> Hi All

> I have Harrington Rod Induced Flatback, Which affects my Thoracic spine as

well as my Lumbar spine (fused T-3-L3). I live in the UK and the surgeon I have

seen has said that he is prepared to restore the natural lordosis in my lumbar

but would not correct my thoracic curve, as he says this is too dangerous. When

people have had salvage surgery in the US, has anyone had there thoracic spine

corrected. My surgeon mentioned doing 'closing wedge osteomies' of the lumbar

spine and fusion to the sacrum.

> I would really appreciate your advise

> Luv Bev x

>

[Guest guest]

Good morning - "Dangit"...I would have loved to see you yesterday. I was at the clinic on Owens St. Hopefully I'll get to see you at my next 3 month appointment. I wish I would have known about Dr Hu's award. I would have loved to told her congrats. She is a fantastic surgeon!!! My appointment went very well...even though I got some "not so good" news. I'll give all the details in my next group post. I'm also (for the first time in 4 years) weaning off my meds. I am down to 3 Hydrocodone & 1 Flexeril per day. I think giving up that 1 Flexeril at bedtime is going to be the hardest. Without it, I tend to get restless legs. Good luck with your meds & I hope to seen you soon.........Kathy

From: <linda.racine@...>Subject: [ ] Re: Revision to Thoracic Spine Date: Monday, April 18, 2011, 7:54 PM

Hi Kathy...Did you see Dr. Hu today? If so, how did it go? Are you doing any better?By the way, Dr. Hu was named the first recipient of the UCSF S. Bradford Endowed Chair this evening. I was at UC (Parnassus) for my 3 month checkup today, so got to attend the ceremony.I'm hopeful that I'll be able to start working part-time in the next few weeks. I'm going to try stopping my nighttime oxycontin dose tonight (my third try). Once I'm successfully off the oxy, I need to stop taking Ambien. Once I'm successfully off both of those things, and know I can sleep at night on my own, I'm going to start doing half days every other day. Keeping my fingers crossed!--> > > From: Bev <bev.heron@...>> Subject: [ ] Revision to Thoracic Spine> > Date: Sunday, April 17, 2011, 12:29 PM> > > Â

> > > > Hi All> I have Harrington Rod Induced Flatback, Which affects my Thoracic spine as well as my Lumbar spine (fused T-3-L3). I live in the UK and the surgeon I have seen has said that he is prepared to restore the natural lordosis in my lumbar but would not correct my thoracic curve, as he says this is too dangerous. When people have had salvage surgery in the US, has anyone had there thoracic spine corrected. My surgeon mentioned doing 'closing wedge osteomies' of the lumbar spine and fusion to the sacrum. > I would really appreciate your advise > Luv Bev x>

[Guest guest]

Hi Bev,

I am not sure, but I think that generally speaking, flatback tends to flatten

the whole spine eventually over time...so I am wondering if you have other

issues in the thoracic area that need addressing? There are members here that

have had work done in that area, but generally I think the surgeons will attempt

to restore enough balance in the lumbar area to allow the patient to compensate

for anything higher up. That was my case anyway.

I guess the other question is...do you have an opportunity to have a second

opinion if you feel you need more confidence in this doctors approach?

Take care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Bev - I stand corrected regarding my last statement. I did NOT have thoracic osteotomies done for correcting my flatback. I DID however have 6 small closing wedge osteotomies to correct my thoracic scoliotic curve, back in 2007. My curve was corrected from 81 degrees to +/- 25 degrees. I had no prior thoracic pain, so I can't speak to that issue. The reason the osteotomies were done was so my surgeon could use long rods instead of 2 sets of shorter rods (which I now have). I haven't had any complications or additional pain from it. I remember him talking about the dangers of thoracic osteotomy work. It's different from the lumbar spine in the way the nerve & nerve roots are located. I remember him saying that the higher up you go...the higher the risk of paralysis. So

choose your surgeon carefully. Hope this helps................................Kathy

From: Bev <bev.heron@...>Subject: [ ] Re: Revision to Thoracic Spine Date: Monday, April 18, 2011, 6:58 AM

Hi KathyThanks for your reply.Can I ask if you had any complications following the revision to your thoracic spine and when and who did your surgery. Also what was your recovery like and has the surgery made a diference to your pain and mobility. kind regardsBev x> > > From: Bev <bev.heron@...>> Subject: [ ] Revision to Thoracic Spine> > Date: Sunday, April 17, 2011, 12:29 PM> > > Â > > > > Hi All> I have Harrington Rod Induced Flatback, Which affects my Thoracic spine as well as my Lumbar spine (fused T-3-L3). I live in the UK and the surgeon I have seen has said that he is prepared to restore the natural lordosis in my lumbar but would not correct my thoracic curve, as he says this is too dangerous. When people have had salvage surgery in the US, has

anyone had there thoracic spine corrected. My surgeon mentioned doing 'closing wedge osteomies' of the lumbar spine and fusion to the sacrum. > I would really appreciate your advise > Luv Bev x>

[Guest guest]

Hi Cam

Thanks for your reply.

In my opinion, Flatback dosen't seemed to be as widely recognised in the UK as

it appears to be in the US, so there seems to be little information available

regarding any surgeons that might specialise in this particular area. I can see

by looking in the mirror that my thoracic spine has been flattened. I am so

fearful of agreeing to surgery, but being in the wrong hands.

MY consultant is highly regarded here generally, but I can find no information

regarding success/or failure rates of flatback revision surgery.

Kind regards

Bev

>

> Hi Bev,

>

> I am not sure, but I think that generally speaking, flatback tends to flatten

the whole spine eventually over time...so I am wondering if you have other

issues in the thoracic area that need addressing? There are members here that

have had work done in that area, but generally I think the surgeons will attempt

to restore enough balance in the lumbar area to allow the patient to compensate

for anything higher up. That was my case anyway.

>

> I guess the other question is...do you have an opportunity to have a second

opinion if you feel you need more confidence in this doctors approach?

>

> Take care, Cam

>