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My journey with a T11 to L4 spinal fusion - 40 degree scoliosis curve
Spine Health | Last Active: Nov 29, 2025 | Replies (189)Comment receiving replies
@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! 😊🥰
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Hi Sherri,
This sums it up for my last appointment's with Dr Orisek ! He is a great surgeon and I like him as a person. He sent me out to get an x-ray of my thoracic and lumbar spine in March. I got that and I’m always told to bring the disc back with me. I don’t know why because it takes two months to get an appointment with him and the films are all available to him online way before that! Anyway, two months later when I got into see him, he asked me to go get the same x-ray only laying down another month and a half goes by. I get in to see him in July and he tells me he’s got to get a hold of the rep from Medtronic and makes me an appointment to come back in six weeks ! ! !
I’ve had enough, I don't feel I have another 6 weeks. I called Mayo Phoenix somebody there called up to neurosurgery when she came back on the phone she said they had my file, but they had not reviewed it and gave me their direct # told me to call them the following day and they will probably have an answer for me. She gave me a heads up, they’re extremely busy and they’re booked out for quite some time!!!
~They called me the next day ~
IVE GOT AN APPOINTMENT FOR EVALUATION WITH DR CHANDAN KRISHNA !!!!!
I am so much looking forward to going to Mayo Clinic Phoenix in September ! ! !
Thank you for all your suggestions and encouragement and most of all Your Prayers ! ! !
Sincerely,
Bob