Recently a frantic mother called, and stated her daughter was just diagnosed with bad scoliosis.
Her surgeon found a 47 degree scoliosis curve and recommended surgery. The surgeon stated it was imperative that the surgery was performed as soon as possible, because the scoliosis curve had progressed from 27 degrees to 47 degrees in less than 6 months.
To pick a surgeon, you start by asking several surgeons, at least 4 to 5, theses following questions:
How many times have you done this scoliosis operation?
What is your success ratio of the scoliosis surgeries you performed?
What is your (the surgeon's) definition of a successful surgery?
Continue reading "Scoliosis Questions You Should Ask Your Surgeon?" »
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October 7, 2008
Please remember that the scoliosis surgeon doesn’t view scoliosis surgery as a potentially harmful invasion of your body. Many surgeons see scoliosis surgery as a beneficial action that could help provide you some relief.
Back to picking a scoliosis surgeon…
Here are more questions you should ask scoliosis surgeons you are considering to use for an operation:
What is this scoliosis operation supposed to accomplish?
How will surgery do this?
Does scoliosis surgery cure the disease?
What will happen down the road of time in 2 years? 5 years? 10years? 20years?
What are the complications of this particular scoliosis surgery you are recommending for me?
Continue reading "Scoliosis Questions You Should Ask Your Surgeon? Part 2" »
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October 9, 2008
Scoliosis surgery is an extreme operation, potentially life threatening and
riddled with complex problems years after the scar heals.
Don’t be shy, or scared to ask these questions, it’s your life that will be
forever affected. It is a good idea to travel and explore doctors in different
cities. The different perspective of the information may just save you from
future pain and suffering.
Back to the scoliosis questions…
Can you refer me to some of your patients who have had this scoliosis surgery?
The good and the bad results please.
What is the healing time of this scoliosis operation?
What is the true daily activity after surgery? In other words, what exactly can
I expect to do or not do after scoliosis surgery? 6 weeks? 6 months? 2 years?
10years?
Some of my favorite questions are….
Continue reading "Scoliosis Questions You Should Ask Your Surgeon? Part 3" »
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October 14, 2008
Don’t hesitate to confront your doctor with whatever scoliosis information, opinions, and feelings you gather from your homework. You’re bound to learn something from his or her reactions.
Back to the scoliosis questions you need to ask your surgeon before surgery is performed on you!!
When and where were you trained in this scoliosis surgery technique you propose to use on me?
What are the actual physical limits of the proposed scoliosis surgery technique after surgery?
How have you addressed them? (Please do not settle for a "brush off" answer here, this is your life)
Continue reading "Scoliosis Questions You Should Ask Your Scoliosis Surgeon: Part 4" »
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October 16, 2008
Here are even more challenging questions one should ask their scoliosis surgeon before scoliosis surgery is performed.
What is the typical blood loss during this proposed scoliosis surgery?
What is the typical hospital stay?... and with complications?
What type of pain killers are used for this scoliosis surgery and for how long?
What possible side effects from the pain killers should I expect?
Will using these pain killers effect other organs in my body?
Continue reading "Scoliosis Questions You Should Ask Your Scoliosis Surgeon: Part 5" »
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October 21, 2008
“Here are three of my favorite questions” and possibly the most revealing.
Will my scoliosis spine be totally straight after scoliosis surgery?
If not, what will my scoliosis curve be reduced to?
Here again, you do not want a blow off answer. This is very important information. Make sure your answer is received in corrected degrees, not some percentage.
If the curve correction is small and the complications are high, do you think the scoliosis surgery is worth it?
Continue reading "Scoliosis Questions You Should Ask Your Scoliosis Surgeon: Part 6" »
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October 23, 2008
My goal in the upcoming posts is to express and reveal several unspoken facts of scoliosis surgery. This information is delivered to you for educational purposes, knowledge building and choosing an informed scoliosis treatment.
Many scoliosis surgical decisions are made under high pressure from the treating physician, usually because of the rapidly increasing scoliosis curves. Scoliosis surgery procedures should be thoroughly researched, all possible complications understood, with possible alternative treatments reviewed.
This decision may, and can take up to two weeks, barring any traumatic emergences. Scoliosis curve condition will not change greatly in two weeks. (Remember the wait and see time prior to the magical curve number for scoliosis surgery). An improperly chosen path of scoliosis treatment can become very painful once a person moves beyond their 21st birthday.
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October 28, 2008
Learning the different facts about scoliosis surgery may just become somewhat shocking to you. Again the goal of this series of writings is to inform you of the realisms of scoliosis surgery and possible untold problems. A well informed person could experience reduced fear and worry surrounding scoliosis decisions.
Scoliosis spinal fusion surgery still cannot correct all of the 3-D deformities of scoliosis. There is no perfectly straight spine after scoliosis spinal fusion surgery. The curves are still present, still twisted, just reduced and fused.
The ribs are not corrected in surgery, they remain untouched, asymmetrical shaped, meaning the rib hump is still present.
Unlevel hips and shoulders are present post scoliosis surgery. Some shoulder correction is seen, but unlikely straight and or level.
Continue reading "Uncensored Scoliosis Surgical Facts: Part 2" »
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October 30, 2008
Did you know, during your scoliosis surgery that bone tissues are taken from your hip?
Yes this is called autologous bone grafts. Bone tissue is laid in-between the posterior spinal vertebra as to promote bone fusion (a cementing affect).
During scoliosis surgery an incision is made along your hip (Iliac crest area), it’s proximally 3” to 5” long.
Some of my scoliosis patients that have undergone this scoliosis procedure say that the pain is worse than the long excision of the back area. To understand this comment, the scoliosis fusion does not move, but the hips are in constant movement, walking, setting, standing and of course working. This surgical site often leads to future pain and suffering.
Along with removing the bone tissue, the muscle attachments of the hip area are cut. Yes …again creating another biomechanical challenge for which the scoliosis body has to overcome. Some scoliosis surgeons may use the floating rib as autologous bone grafts. The scar is left around the mid waist. Yes, again you guessed it, the pain occurs while breathing, no chance of getting around the pain here.
So much to think about and more to come,
We Take Fear and Worry Out of Scoliosis.
Dr. Art Copes
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