Scholiosis???

[porshiepoo]

Both of my daughters were diagnosed with scholiosis last year and they went for a 6 month check up yesterday and unfortunately one of them has gotten worse and now has to make the decidion re spinal fusion surgery asap.
Has anyone out there had this kind of surgery? (She will have 2 metal rods fused to the spine at the curve points) or know anyone that has had the surgery? Or even opted not to have the surgery?

I'd love to be able to talk to someone with some exepience of the procedure etc. Our specialist has advised us not to look on the net as we'll get every horror story going (Guess who's not gonna listen to that advice though) but to be honest we don't get much info from the specialist / surgeon. He just tells us that we should ask him whatever we want to know!!!!! DUH!!!!!! We would if we knew what to ask.
The liason nurse assigned to us has answered most of our questions but I know there's going to be stuff I haven't thought of asking and we want our daughter fully armed with ALL info before she makes the decision.

Thanks

[Liz]

I am so sorry to hear that your daughters have this condition. I don't have any personal experience of this but have heard of very successful outcomes following surgery.
One of the girls from "All Saints" has this and a successful op.

I have found a website which may be helpful. It is www.sauk.org.uk

Good luck!

[Valerie Campbell]

I have scholiosis. I was diagnosed when I was 14 but thankfully when the discussion on surgery came up, I managed to avoid surgery. However that said, the older I get the more I am aware of it. At that time though, there was a 50-50 chance of paralysis if I had gone for surgery. I think now the chances are minimal but don't be fooled. The risk is still there. Don't look on the internet for information. As you say, too many scare stories. Speak to your specialist and discuss all the options before making a decision.

[danc1ngwitch]

i know nothing about it but i am sorry to hear.

[Valerie Campbell]

Danc1ngwitch, scholiosis is basically a malformation of the spine. It can vary in its degree of severity from a very slight squint of the spine to the kind such as described in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It can be a single curvature or double, like an 's' which is the one I have. It means one side of the rib cage is higher than the other, one shoulder lies higher than the other and one leg can be longer than the other because of it. It mainly occurs in early teenage girls and can be hereditary, although it can develop by luck of the draw.

[lab]

I also have Idopathic scholiosis, my spine has two curves but also the coxis juts out. I was offered surgery but refused to many days in hospitle for me.
I opted for the back brace and 10 years on it seems to be working. It does get very painfull at times.
My oldest daughter was also recently dignosed but it is very mild. My dr told us not to take her to specialist at the moment as they encourage you to take surgery so they can practice as this kind of spinal surgery is rare.

[porshiepoo]

Thanks for the replies.
Both my daughters have idiopathic scoliosis so basically it's cause is unknown although the specialist is convinced that up until a few years ago their spines would have been completely straight but the sudden growth spurt during puberty is what commonly causes its onset. As they are identical twins it's only acceptable that they would both have it.
One of them has one curve while the other has the two curves which then seem to compensate each other. The strange thing is that it's the one with the less obvious 's' curve that needs the op.

I've come up with a couple more questions to ask which I've written down ready but mainly I was wondering where the new bone is grafted from and is the spinal cord monitored during the op in case it's restricted in any way. I guess I'll have many more questions by the time I get round to ringing the consultant.
Thanks again for the replies.

[colmac]

My mother had 7 vertebrae fused together and a titanium rod fitted in her lower spine in 1982 and she hasn't looked back. My dad in the last year has had 5 vertebrae in his lower back fused and a titanium rod fitted. Both were for different reasons. My mother had/has scoliosis and my dad had old back injuries that caused spurs to form on his vertebrae and were pressing against his spinal cord. HE was 78 when he had it done and he is doing great!

OH yes, Porshiepoo, I almost forgot...my mother's graft came from her hip and not being too certain I would like to say that is where my dad's came from too!