Connect
← Return to My journey with a T11 to L4 spinal fusion - 40 degree scoliosis curve
Discussion
My journey with a T11 to L4 spinal fusion - 40 degree scoliosis curve
Spine Health | Last Active: May 9 10:33am | Replies (217)Comment receiving replies
I’m not sure why Dr Orisek didn’t treat the Thoracic Spine or go up further because there is a severe curve and rotation in my Thoracic Spine. Fortunately, I have a appointment with Dr Orisek tomorrow for my Cervical Spine. He replaced a disc in C5-C6 If for some reason Dr Orisek can’t do a fusion from T 11 to L3 I will be contacting Dr. McClendon at The Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. Was this your Surgeon Dr. Jamal McClendon Jr, MD? The bone growth stimulator looked like a steering wheel for a race car video game. you put it on with a belt around your waist with the steering wheel on your back. There is one on Ebay now "Bone Fusing Growth Therapy" and yes Dr Orisek had film and said the fusion went well. You had a 40° curve in your thoracic and lumbar spine, correct? The T11 to L4 was enough to correct that 40° curve and rotation? If I could get just the fusion from T11 to L2 as I have already had L3 L4 & L4 L5 fusion I would be so grateful.
Thank You for your comments and input, it is very much appreciated.
Replies to "I’m not sure why Dr Orisek didn’t treat the Thoracic Spine or go up further because..."
@rwdixon4 Hey Bob, I’m sorry for late response! Life has been busy lately.
How did your appointment go with Dr. Orisek?
Yes, my surgeon was Jamal McClendon. He is the director of neurosurgery at the Phoenix, Mayo Clinic. He’s absolutely amazing and you can Google him and see different topics that he speaks on at symposiums.
I did not have a spine rotation, but I apparently had slight kyphosis which is an arch in my spine.
My scoliosis curve was mostly in my lumbar and very slightly into thoracic, which resulted in my T11 to L4 fusion.
The surgery went very well and my back is pretty much almost perfectly straight. I love that I can go to 4H meetings and other events they require a lot of standing and sitting and not be in pain! Tomorrow I am 7 months post surgery. I still have some superficial skin nerve pain across my back and also some deeper post surgery pain, but it tends to happen towards the end of the day. It’s been a long and slow recovery, but I would not have made any other decision. I am in so much less pain now than I was before surgery.
As you know if you do a t11 to l2 it will almost tie you into your pelvis after what you’ve had done your lower lumbar to this point.
Sending prayers to you to the best decision for your body to heal! 😊🥰
Connect
@rwdixon4 Thoracic level spine surgery is complicated because the lungs are in the way and many spine surgeons do not do it. The ones who do are deformity specialists. I am a Mayo spine surgery patient, and my surgeon is at Rochester who is a spine deformity specialist. His name is Jeremy Fogelson. My surgery was cervical and I don't have personal experience with scoliosis. I'm sure you must have a lot of questions about what's going on in your thoracic spine and what is the best course of action for your care.