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Moderator

Scoliosis - Introduce yourself and meet others

Posted by Justin McClanahan, Moderator @JustinMcClanahan, Apr 25, 2017

Let's talk about living with scoliosis.
As a community moderator of the Bones, Joints & Muscles and Spine Health groups, I've noticed several members talking about scoliosis, but those discussions were scattered throughout the community. I thought I would start this discussion to bring us all together in one place.

Get comfortable in your favorite spot, grab a beverage of your choice, and let's chat. Why not start by introducing yourself?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.

lauralee | @lauralee | Jul 18, 2017
In reply to @marield65 "My name isMarie and gabapentine did the same for me. It was awful. Did ART relieve..." + (show)
@marield65

My name isMarie and gabapentine did the same for me. It was awful. Did ART relieve your back pain?
My Dr. is talking about a 2nd fusion and I would like to find out more about ART.

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Thank you for sharing. I'm going to make an appointment soon.

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gailfaith | @gailfaith | Jul 18, 2017
In reply to @marield65 "My name isMarie and gabapentine did the same for me. It was awful. Did ART relieve..." + (show)
@marield65

My name isMarie and gabapentine did the same for me. It was awful. Did ART relieve your back pain?
My Dr. is talking about a 2nd fusion and I would like to find out more about ART.

Jump to this post

@marield65. Hi! To answer your questions about ART and chiropractors. Yes I have been seeing my local chiropractor for about 7 years. In 2014 I went 15 times, in 2015, 14 times and in 2016 11 times. I only go when either my back, my neck or my legs are bothering me. Usually I can get an appt the same day I call, but max in 2 days and usually I see him 2 days later for the same problem at his suggestion and that appt is made before I leave the office. Each appt is 15-20 minutes long and he charges $50/visit. But my insurance pays the lion's share which leaves me with a balance of $3 at most once the deductible is met for the year. I forget what she charged and it was a little bit harder to get an appt with her. But with her I seldom came back 2 days later as a routine thing. SInce I have both knees replaced, instead of my moving my legs which hurts, when he works on my back. he moves them by putting my leg between his knee!!!!!!!!!! I can move my arms with no problem. SO far this year I have only needed him 6 times. And he has never done anything but ART with me. He's not expensive as doctors go but well worth every penny. One year when I had used up my allotment of visits for the year with Medicare, I had to pay the whole bill. Still worth every penny. I walk in in pain and out without pain!

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GailBL, Alumni Mentor | @gailb | Jul 18, 2017

@gailfaith. I saw my chiropractor yesterday for my first ART monthly appointment. I received the usual laser warmup on my right hip and thigh, and when he came back in and pressed on my lumbar area and asked if it was painful, to which I said yes. Then he worked on my jaw--I have TMJ--which he's never done before. I was surprised after he stopped working on my jaw, and suddenly swooped me up and tried to do a back adjustment, which didn't work and never does for me. He didn't work on my right hip or leg at all which was a surprise to me. In fact it all happened so quickly that I didn't say anything to him about my displeasure with the treatment. I don't know if he forgot what I was there for and hadn't reviewed my file first, or what. I wanted to let you all know about my followup appointment and my disappointment. I will go back and talk with him about the appointment as I don't want the next one to be like that. Interesting thing is that after initial back pain last night, my right hip and leg are much better this morning. He apparently does know what he's doing! I can't let him do chiropractic adjustments on my back because my surgeon warned me about that.

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gailfaith | @gailfaith | Jul 19, 2017

@gailb, gailfaith here. I think we almost put too much faith in busy doctors, not that that is an excuse. But I am now disabled due to a Dr.'s mistake but I don't blame him completely. Several years ago before I had one of my knees replaced, the Dr was giving me cortisone and Synvisc to hold off on the replacement as long as possible. One Friday he had injected such and I was fine for the weekend but woke up Monday morning very weak. I basically did nothing much physically except sit and read and by Friday I was back to my "normal." The next time I met with him I mentioned it and he said we'll never give you another big dose of cortisone again. Two years later I had my other knee replaced and at a post surgery follow-up, he had to aspirate the joint to remove fluid. He left that job for his resident to do, but the resident couldn't do it, so the Dr. came in and did it. Of course when I am lying down I can't see what they are doing. I was again fine for the weekend, but again on Monday morning I was very weak again and realized he had probably injected cortisone again. I figure,d since the resident started it, apparently their routine is to inject cortisone following an aspiration, so after the Dr. successfully removed the fluid, he saw the other syringe and per routine, injected it. I thought again by Friday I will be OK again, but this time the damage was permanent. So now I am fighting to stay out of wheelchair as even the Doctors at Mayo told me I can get worse but never better. So the lesson is......don't assume a doctor remembers every detail about every patient ....or even thinks you are someone else.. Several yrs ago I made an appt with another doctor in a totally different field. I had only seen him several times previously. Looking a "my" chart", he started asking me about some medications and I had no idea what he was talking about. Finally he asked my name and then he realized he had someone else's chart! So......if you have thoughts or ideas that any doctor or other professional may be thinking you are someone else, even though you both may be embarrassed ........ASK. They probably won't thank you verbally but I'm sure they will at least think about it later and be grateful for your questioning....even if they were correct in the first place. In your case, maybe he had the right person in mind, but had not updated himself with YOUR records. It doesn't cost anything to ask and it may save........who knows what!

REPLY
13 replies
mari | @mari | Jul 19, 2017
In reply to @gailfaith "@gailb, gailfaith here. I think we almost put too much faith in busy doctors, not that..." + (show)
@gailfaith

@gailb, gailfaith here. I think we almost put too much faith in busy doctors, not that that is an excuse. But I am now disabled due to a Dr.'s mistake but I don't blame him completely. Several years ago before I had one of my knees replaced, the Dr was giving me cortisone and Synvisc to hold off on the replacement as long as possible. One Friday he had injected such and I was fine for the weekend but woke up Monday morning very weak. I basically did nothing much physically except sit and read and by Friday I was back to my "normal." The next time I met with him I mentioned it and he said we'll never give you another big dose of cortisone again. Two years later I had my other knee replaced and at a post surgery follow-up, he had to aspirate the joint to remove fluid. He left that job for his resident to do, but the resident couldn't do it, so the Dr. came in and did it. Of course when I am lying down I can't see what they are doing. I was again fine for the weekend, but again on Monday morning I was very weak again and realized he had probably injected cortisone again. I figure,d since the resident started it, apparently their routine is to inject cortisone following an aspiration, so after the Dr. successfully removed the fluid, he saw the other syringe and per routine, injected it. I thought again by Friday I will be OK again, but this time the damage was permanent. So now I am fighting to stay out of wheelchair as even the Doctors at Mayo told me I can get worse but never better. So the lesson is......don't assume a doctor remembers every detail about every patient ....or even thinks you are someone else.. Several yrs ago I made an appt with another doctor in a totally different field. I had only seen him several times previously. Looking a "my" chart", he started asking me about some medications and I had no idea what he was talking about. Finally he asked my name and then he realized he had someone else's chart! So......if you have thoughts or ideas that any doctor or other professional may be thinking you are someone else, even though you both may be embarrassed ........ASK. They probably won't thank you verbally but I'm sure they will at least think about it later and be grateful for your questioning....even if they were correct in the first place. In your case, maybe he had the right person in mind, but had not updated himself with YOUR records. It doesn't cost anything to ask and it may save........who knows what!

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But I am now disabled due to a Dr.'s mistake but I don't blame him completely.
You don't Blame him, ? I do.

REPLY
lauralee | @lauralee | Jul 19, 2017
In reply to @gailfaith "@gailb, gailfaith here. I think we almost put too much faith in busy doctors, not that..." + (show)
@gailfaith

@gailb, gailfaith here. I think we almost put too much faith in busy doctors, not that that is an excuse. But I am now disabled due to a Dr.'s mistake but I don't blame him completely. Several years ago before I had one of my knees replaced, the Dr was giving me cortisone and Synvisc to hold off on the replacement as long as possible. One Friday he had injected such and I was fine for the weekend but woke up Monday morning very weak. I basically did nothing much physically except sit and read and by Friday I was back to my "normal." The next time I met with him I mentioned it and he said we'll never give you another big dose of cortisone again. Two years later I had my other knee replaced and at a post surgery follow-up, he had to aspirate the joint to remove fluid. He left that job for his resident to do, but the resident couldn't do it, so the Dr. came in and did it. Of course when I am lying down I can't see what they are doing. I was again fine for the weekend, but again on Monday morning I was very weak again and realized he had probably injected cortisone again. I figure,d since the resident started it, apparently their routine is to inject cortisone following an aspiration, so after the Dr. successfully removed the fluid, he saw the other syringe and per routine, injected it. I thought again by Friday I will be OK again, but this time the damage was permanent. So now I am fighting to stay out of wheelchair as even the Doctors at Mayo told me I can get worse but never better. So the lesson is......don't assume a doctor remembers every detail about every patient ....or even thinks you are someone else.. Several yrs ago I made an appt with another doctor in a totally different field. I had only seen him several times previously. Looking a "my" chart", he started asking me about some medications and I had no idea what he was talking about. Finally he asked my name and then he realized he had someone else's chart! So......if you have thoughts or ideas that any doctor or other professional may be thinking you are someone else, even though you both may be embarrassed ........ASK. They probably won't thank you verbally but I'm sure they will at least think about it later and be grateful for your questioning....even if they were correct in the first place. In your case, maybe he had the right person in mind, but had not updated himself with YOUR records. It doesn't cost anything to ask and it may save........who knows what!

Jump to this post

Lauralee here. At this point what good does it do to blame. The damage has been done. Hanging onto unforgiveness causes more angst in our own life. The other person is unaware. I'm so sorry
gailfaith. I'm a minister and will pray for His hand of healing and peace be upon you.

REPLY
gailfaith | @gailfaith | Jul 20, 2017
In reply to @gailfaith "@gailb, gailfaith here. I think we almost put too much faith in busy doctors, not that..." + (show)
@gailfaith

@gailb, gailfaith here. I think we almost put too much faith in busy doctors, not that that is an excuse. But I am now disabled due to a Dr.'s mistake but I don't blame him completely. Several years ago before I had one of my knees replaced, the Dr was giving me cortisone and Synvisc to hold off on the replacement as long as possible. One Friday he had injected such and I was fine for the weekend but woke up Monday morning very weak. I basically did nothing much physically except sit and read and by Friday I was back to my "normal." The next time I met with him I mentioned it and he said we'll never give you another big dose of cortisone again. Two years later I had my other knee replaced and at a post surgery follow-up, he had to aspirate the joint to remove fluid. He left that job for his resident to do, but the resident couldn't do it, so the Dr. came in and did it. Of course when I am lying down I can't see what they are doing. I was again fine for the weekend, but again on Monday morning I was very weak again and realized he had probably injected cortisone again. I figure,d since the resident started it, apparently their routine is to inject cortisone following an aspiration, so after the Dr. successfully removed the fluid, he saw the other syringe and per routine, injected it. I thought again by Friday I will be OK again, but this time the damage was permanent. So now I am fighting to stay out of wheelchair as even the Doctors at Mayo told me I can get worse but never better. So the lesson is......don't assume a doctor remembers every detail about every patient ....or even thinks you are someone else.. Several yrs ago I made an appt with another doctor in a totally different field. I had only seen him several times previously. Looking a "my" chart", he started asking me about some medications and I had no idea what he was talking about. Finally he asked my name and then he realized he had someone else's chart! So......if you have thoughts or ideas that any doctor or other professional may be thinking you are someone else, even though you both may be embarrassed ........ASK. They probably won't thank you verbally but I'm sure they will at least think about it later and be grateful for your questioning....even if they were correct in the first place. In your case, maybe he had the right person in mind, but had not updated himself with YOUR records. It doesn't cost anything to ask and it may save........who knows what!

Jump to this post

@lauralee Thanks for your kind reply. I was sort of shocked at the other reply I got. And thanks for your prayers. What denomination are you with? Depending on where I live and what churches are around I am Conservative Baptist or Christian Missionary Alliance members. gailfaith

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lauralee | @lauralee | Jul 20, 2017

Hi, I was raised Lutheran, realized God's gifts were still being utilized- went to a Lutheran Seminary;
Ordained yet not felt to be a pastor of a church. Rather, I am a speaker, teacher, writer,disciple others, organizer, officiate at weddings, in other words reds I wear many 'hats'. The area I love most is, as I speak, to know when God's spirit
(Holy Spirit) is around. Then tell others to wait and listen to what if anything He reveals to them.
Many want to hear and communicate with Him but are unsure what to do: when His presence is near we are all experiencing something which changes us.

REPLY
1 reply
lauralee | @lauralee | Jul 20, 2017
In reply to @gailfaith "@gailb, gailfaith here. I think we almost put too much faith in busy doctors, not that..." + (show)
@gailfaith

@gailb, gailfaith here. I think we almost put too much faith in busy doctors, not that that is an excuse. But I am now disabled due to a Dr.'s mistake but I don't blame him completely. Several years ago before I had one of my knees replaced, the Dr was giving me cortisone and Synvisc to hold off on the replacement as long as possible. One Friday he had injected such and I was fine for the weekend but woke up Monday morning very weak. I basically did nothing much physically except sit and read and by Friday I was back to my "normal." The next time I met with him I mentioned it and he said we'll never give you another big dose of cortisone again. Two years later I had my other knee replaced and at a post surgery follow-up, he had to aspirate the joint to remove fluid. He left that job for his resident to do, but the resident couldn't do it, so the Dr. came in and did it. Of course when I am lying down I can't see what they are doing. I was again fine for the weekend, but again on Monday morning I was very weak again and realized he had probably injected cortisone again. I figure,d since the resident started it, apparently their routine is to inject cortisone following an aspiration, so after the Dr. successfully removed the fluid, he saw the other syringe and per routine, injected it. I thought again by Friday I will be OK again, but this time the damage was permanent. So now I am fighting to stay out of wheelchair as even the Doctors at Mayo told me I can get worse but never better. So the lesson is......don't assume a doctor remembers every detail about every patient ....or even thinks you are someone else.. Several yrs ago I made an appt with another doctor in a totally different field. I had only seen him several times previously. Looking a "my" chart", he started asking me about some medications and I had no idea what he was talking about. Finally he asked my name and then he realized he had someone else's chart! So......if you have thoughts or ideas that any doctor or other professional may be thinking you are someone else, even though you both may be embarrassed ........ASK. They probably won't thank you verbally but I'm sure they will at least think about it later and be grateful for your questioning....even if they were correct in the first place. In your case, maybe he had the right person in mind, but had not updated himself with YOUR records. It doesn't cost anything to ask and it may save........who knows what!

Jump to this post

One more item; my rib cage has been pressing on my heart and lungs as my S curve moves to the right. I'm wondering how you are doing?

REPLY
gailfaith | @gailfaith | Jul 20, 2017
In reply to @gailfaith "@gailb, gailfaith here. I think we almost put too much faith in busy doctors, not that..." + (show)
@gailfaith

@gailb, gailfaith here. I think we almost put too much faith in busy doctors, not that that is an excuse. But I am now disabled due to a Dr.'s mistake but I don't blame him completely. Several years ago before I had one of my knees replaced, the Dr was giving me cortisone and Synvisc to hold off on the replacement as long as possible. One Friday he had injected such and I was fine for the weekend but woke up Monday morning very weak. I basically did nothing much physically except sit and read and by Friday I was back to my "normal." The next time I met with him I mentioned it and he said we'll never give you another big dose of cortisone again. Two years later I had my other knee replaced and at a post surgery follow-up, he had to aspirate the joint to remove fluid. He left that job for his resident to do, but the resident couldn't do it, so the Dr. came in and did it. Of course when I am lying down I can't see what they are doing. I was again fine for the weekend, but again on Monday morning I was very weak again and realized he had probably injected cortisone again. I figure,d since the resident started it, apparently their routine is to inject cortisone following an aspiration, so after the Dr. successfully removed the fluid, he saw the other syringe and per routine, injected it. I thought again by Friday I will be OK again, but this time the damage was permanent. So now I am fighting to stay out of wheelchair as even the Doctors at Mayo told me I can get worse but never better. So the lesson is......don't assume a doctor remembers every detail about every patient ....or even thinks you are someone else.. Several yrs ago I made an appt with another doctor in a totally different field. I had only seen him several times previously. Looking a "my" chart", he started asking me about some medications and I had no idea what he was talking about. Finally he asked my name and then he realized he had someone else's chart! So......if you have thoughts or ideas that any doctor or other professional may be thinking you are someone else, even though you both may be embarrassed ........ASK. They probably won't thank you verbally but I'm sure they will at least think about it later and be grateful for your questioning....even if they were correct in the first place. In your case, maybe he had the right person in mind, but had not updated himself with YOUR records. It doesn't cost anything to ask and it may save........who knows what!

Jump to this post

@lauralee I know by your response in the following post that you are addressing me based on my question to you previously. But I am not sure who this one is addressed to. I've been with Connect for a while and I just learned that if you put their name with the @ sign in front, that indicates to whom you are addressing! ( Colleen, please correct me if I am wrong in this statement!)

Good to hear that even though you don't have a church, you wear many hats . But sorry to hear that you have physical problems. Does that cause pain, or just discomfort? Does it inhibit easy breathing? I am very fortunate in that I seldom have any pain with any of my problems and even then not much. Last year I had a HUGE kidney stone and I was slightly uncomfortable for a week before I went to the ER. Others say a kIdney stone is worse than giving birth. I praise the Lord for sparing me the pain. gailfaith

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