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Answers about Controversial Trends in Spine Care

Spine Health | Last Active: Oct 21 9:54am | Replies (36)
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@jenniferhunter

@stpchair I saw from your profile that you are 73. Do you think this may be a factor in being dismissed by a surgeon as a surgical candidate? As for pain, usually surgeons can't promise to fix pain, and instead they preserve function or stop something from getting worse. I think you are right to look for specialists at centers with medical schools that are teaching about spine deformity. Are you still looking and considering surgery?

Here is a Mayo Clinic Q & A about Scoliosis https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-for-adults-affected-by-scoliosis-treatment-based-on-severity-of-symptoms/

Here are some other discussions about scoliosis that might connect you to patients with experience with treatments.

Adults living with Scoliosis, thoracic stenosis, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/searching-for-adults-living-with-scoliosis-thoracic-stenosis/

Scoliosis, introduce yourself, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/scoliosis-introduce-yourself/

Scoliosis and sleep number beds, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/scoliosis-and-sleep-number-beds/

Scoliosis and chronic back pain, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-back-pain-2c72ae/

Degenerative discs & Scoliosis, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/degenerative-discs-and-scoliosis/

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Replies to "@stpchair I saw from your profile that you are 73. Do you think this may be..."
stpchair | @stpchair | Sep 27, 2021

Hi, Jennifer! No, I don't think it was my age. The NYP surgeon should have used a better excuse (or a better messenger) than he only operates on spinal deformities! I've talked to a couple of surgeons so far and neither hesitated because of my age. I have no osteoporosis (except for one hip) and I passed the cardio tests and pulmonary function tests just fine for an 8-hour surgery. One surgeon also said he'd just operated on a 90-year-old. So, i don't think age was the disqualifier. I think he's looking for little kids in 3rd world countries that will get him publicity. Or maybe that will get publicity for the hospital. If that's what he's about, I can't change that. Yes, I'm still looking and waiting to hear from a prominent doc at Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC. It's just that it's so far away and I have to do this ALONE! Strange you would mention an article about Sleep Number Beds. I just got off the internet from looking at the Temper-Pedic Luxe Breeze mattresses. It's a real investment at $5k+!! Sleep Number just worries me about the mechanical aspects of it. Anyway, surgery first! I really, really need to talk to post-op patients to find out what life will be like after the surgery and to find out how a person who lives alone can manage! I was in senior living for 30 years as a sales director and I do not want to have to move into assisted living for the rest of my life. I'm hoping I will be able to function independently enough to continue to live alone--even if it's in independent living in a senior living community. Not what I imagined retirement would be like, for sure. I worked 50 years! For this? Yikes. My neurologist was in favor of my waiting and not doing anything aggressive (i.e., surgery) for years because I think he felt it may never reach the point of being necessary. Now I'm not sure waiting was the best thing. I could have probably had the minimally-invasive procedure if I'd done it years ago. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. as they say. I didn't even know that alternative existed. I will check out your articles and thank you very much for caring and sharing this information.

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