New to the group - advice on having revision surgery

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone. I am new to the group and am looking for some advice on having

revision surgery for flatback. I am 33 and living in Sydney, Australia. I had a

fusion for scoliosis in 1991 with distraction impants similar to the Harrington

Rod, from L1 to L4. I have been diagnosed with flatback, and my pain is very

severe - pain thorughout my back, thighs, calves, feet, shoulders, neck,

headaches and even into my hands. I have had to give up my job, I can't sit and

stand for long periods, I get woken up at night from lying prone on my back, I

find travelling almost impossible and my life is very limited at the moment. I

do a lot of exercise including pilates, walking, backwise classes and core

strengthening. My surgeon has proposed a revision surgery with a pedicle wedge

osteotomy involving both anterior and posterior staging, and refusing only L1 to

L4 again. I have had severe pain symptoms for only 18 months and according to

beth Mina's article there is a good chance of reversal of pain symptoms if

revision surgery is done within a 2-year period.

I don't feel like I have real quality of life right now - I don't socialise with

friends, I basically live my life from my living room, and my husband and I were

planning to have a baby which will be impossible now with my current pain

levels.

I would like your advice on having the revision surgery - do you think the

outcome would be good, or is it better to continue living with the pain and

doing pain management? My doctor says he can't say whether or not the pain would

be relieved, and I know it is a massive surgery. Any advice or personal

experiences would greatly help me make my decision, I would appreciate some

sincere advice.