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No surgery til bones are stronger

Spine Health | Last Active: 5 days ago | Replies (7)
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@berniej1

willow5, I am sorry to hear that your surgery is postponed. I am experiencing a similar problem. I posted a question on the Osteoperosis and Bone health about it. I have a neurosurgeon and an orthpedic surgeon who recommened spinal fusion from t10 to s1. The neurosurgeon said my dexascan showed mild osteopenia, and he will not do the surgery until I am on a treatment plan for that for six months. The orthopedic surgeon said I could go forward wtih surgery and begin a treatment plan later. Luckily, I was able to schedule an appointment with an endocrinologist in December to get a real diagnosis on this. I have scheduled the surgery with the ortho surgeon in January, but that may change depending on what the endocrinologist says.
Please post the outcome of your visit with the endo doctor, I hope the appointment goes well for you.

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Replies to "willow5, I am sorry to hear that your surgery is postponed. I am experiencing a similar..."
willow5 | @willow5 | Nov 8 9:41am

Hi Bernie,
The endocrinologist said that over the last six months or so, that the surgeons in our area want their patients on anabolic bone building drugs. I assume he meant patients that have osteoporosis, to get their bones strong enough to hold the hardware that is put in. My lumbar T score is now 0 (such great news!), but the hips are not improving with weight lifting and fosomax. So based on that my surgeon isn’t wanting to operate. I’m grateful my surgeon wants a good outcome so is willing to put it off.

There’s Evenity and Tymalos. Evenity has been around about five years. Tymalos (spelling is incorrect) quite a bit longer. These drugs hopefully will be approved by Medicare as long as the doc says its in preparation for surgery.

I’m actually grateful for the delay. I want to set up a program for more specific core strengthening and stretching. I am also going to check out a few acupuncturists and do some mind/body work.

I’d rather not have surgery, so this six month delay lets me delve into other things to see if I can help myself there. You never know! But i know I’m not willing to live life not knowing if I can only walk 1/2 mile before leg pain kicks up. And I do wonder if I should check out a neuroligist. I never have. My surgeon has a dynamite reputation. The endo thinks he’s fantastic, as does a sports med doc I’ve gone to.

Good luck on yours. I imagine medical views may vary in different areas. I’m just north of San Francisco.

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