RE: I am very scared now.-Also can be known as 'Cold in Canada

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon, thanks for the welcome.

I assume that I have juvenile idiopathic scoliosis, i have never been told.

This is just want i am picking up from everything i have been reading at

this site. Both of my parents are pasted away so i don't have anyone to ask

these questions to. Up until i started having problems i just took my back

for granted. But know things have changed, since having my son and with my

husband having a small lower curvature that is now giving him some problems.

As to wearing that awful backbrace for 7 years at the time it was all i knew

thinking back it was terrible but it held me in place until they could

operate when i was 13 and 55 degrees out.

Its also interesting to read thing that have been written by other members

because i live in Winnipeg , Manitoba Canada. We have Manitoba medical and

it covers all our medical expenses. My back surgery was covered, when i had

my son 5 years ago and had to spend 6 weeks in hospital before having him

and then he was in for 6 weeks after delivery it was covered. But for how

long this current system will hold out is not promising we also tend to lose

a lot of our doctors to you guys, and get a lot of your bad doctors.

Well thanks again for the welcome and i would love to hear from you again

and get to know you and others.

Debbie from Winnipeg

-- Re: I am very scared now.

Welcome to the forum, Debbie!

We're a " special " bunch all right,more special than we'd like to be, if I

may speak for the group.

7 years in a Milwaukee! Wow! I had about a year, but they said it was

helping one curve and worsening the other. As I recall, it wasn't too bad

once I got used to it, but it was sheer torture at first. Then again, they

always said I wore it too loose, or some such nonsense. I was 9 at the time

and it took them months to make. I'm convinced the blasted thing was

already too small (the pelvic girdle part) by the time they stuffed me in it

Before and after that I had axillary jackets, and as a baby was in a plaster

shell that made me look like a little turtle, if I turned onto my stomach.

I have congenital scoliosis, which means some mal-formed vertebrae caused my

spine to grow crooked beginning in the womb. Is yours juvenile idiopathic?

(assuming you've been told) It seems most people got diagnosed later than

you or I did.

I'm sorry to hear you've now joined the bunch of us with surgically induced

flatback. It's no picnic, but neither is untreated scoliosis, from what I

hear. Best wishes to you in your pursuit of health, and please stay around

so we can get to know you.

Sharon in Southern New Hampshire

Congenital scoliosis w/ spina bifida and other vertebral anomalies

1971 Harrington rod fusion, T5-L4, flatback, L5-S1 degeneration, etc.

I am very scared now.

hi, I am shocked to learn about this condition that i obviously have

but thought i was alone. i was diagnosed with scoliosis when i was

6 years old. i wore the milwake backbrace for 7 years then had

the " surgery " yes harrington rods and fussion. my hole spine except

for the lower two vertabra.

I started having back pain (lower)in my late teens. But in

the last 15 years it was getting to the point that i was going to be

not only crippled from pain but know i realize many more things

could have happened.

Around two years ago, my husband had to go to a

chiropactor for some reason. By this point he was use to picking me

up off the floor from spasms, or having to carry my infant son for

me. Well i was told 26 years ago never, ever, never go to a

chiropractor, ever. So when my husband told DR.Rick about me he

wanted me to come see him. At first i was leary but by this point i

had nothing to lose.

Well as i see i am running out of room. Let me just say he

saved my life. I would really like to start chatting with others

who are special like myself.

e-mail me Debbie

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

-- Re: I am very scared now.

Welcome to the forum, Debbie!

We're a " special " bunch all right,more special than we'd like to be, if I

may speak for the group.

7 years in a Milwaukee! Wow! I had about a year, but they said it was

helping one curve and worsening the other. As I recall, it wasn't too bad

once I got used to it, but it was sheer torture at first. Then again, they

always said I wore it too loose, or some such nonsense. I was 9 at the time

and it took them months to make. I'm convinced the blasted thing was

already too small (the pelvic girdle part) by the time they stuffed me in it

Before and after that I had axillary jackets, and as a baby was in a plaster

shell that made me look like a little turtle, if I turned onto my stomach.

I have congenital scoliosis, which means some mal-formed vertebrae caused my

spine to grow crooked beginning in the womb. Is yours juvenile idiopathic?

(assuming you've been told) It seems most people got diagnosed later than

you or I did.

I'm sorry to hear you've now joined the bunch of us with surgically induced

flatback. It's no picnic, but neither is untreated scoliosis, from what I

hear. Best wishes to you in your pursuit of health, and please stay around

so we can get to know you.

Sharon in Southern New Hampshire

Congenital scoliosis w/ spina bifida and other vertebral anomalies

1971 Harrington rod fusion, T5-L4, flatback, L5-S1 degeneration, etc.

I am very scared now.

hi, I am shocked to learn about this condition that i obviously have

but thought i was alone. i was diagnosed with scoliosis when i was

6 years old. i wore the milwake backbrace for 7 years then had

the " surgery " yes harrington rods and fussion. my hole spine except

for the lower two vertabra.

I started having back pain (lower)in my late teens. But in

the last 15 years it was getting to the point that i was going to be

not only crippled from pain but know i realize many more things

could have happened.

Around two years ago, my husband had to go to a

chiropactor for some reason. By this point he was use to picking me

up off the floor from spasms, or having to carry my infant son for

me. Well i was told 26 years ago never, ever, never go to a

chiropractor, ever. So when my husband told DR.Rick about me he

wanted me to come see him. At first i was leary but by this point i

had nothing to lose.

Well as i see i am running out of room. Let me just say he

saved my life. I would really like to start chatting with others

who are special like myself.

e-mail me Debbie

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi Debbie,

I live in BC but I have corresponded with another person in Winnipeg, who

has scoliosis. If you would like to e-mail (mad.monk@...) privately, I'm

sure that she would like to talk with you. I'm in the process of starting a

chapter of the Scoliosis Association and has sent her some of the

information that I have obtained. I was in a Milwaukee brace for 5 years,

after being in the body cast for 8 months and before having the surgery at

15.This happened in Saskatchewan, with the surgery in Toronto.

Llweyn

Re: I am very scared now.

Welcome to the forum, Debbie!

We're a " special " bunch all right,more special than we'd like to be, if I

may speak for the group.

7 years in a Milwaukee! Wow! I had about a year, but they said it was

helping one curve and worsening the other. As I recall, it wasn't too bad

once I got used to it, but it was sheer torture at first. Then again,

they

always said I wore it too loose, or some such nonsense. I was 9 at the

time

and it took them months to make. I'm convinced the blasted thing was

already too small (the pelvic girdle part) by the time they stuffed me in

it

Before and after that I had axillary jackets, and as a baby was in a

plaster

shell that made me look like a little turtle, if I turned onto my stomach.

I have congenital scoliosis, which means some mal-formed vertebrae caused

my

spine to grow crooked beginning in the womb. Is yours juvenile

idiopathic?

(assuming you've been told) It seems most people got diagnosed later than

you or I did.

I'm sorry to hear you've now joined the bunch of us with surgically

induced

flatback. It's no picnic, but neither is untreated scoliosis, from what I

hear. Best wishes to you in your pursuit of health, and please stay

around

so we can get to know you.

Sharon in Southern New Hampshire

Congenital scoliosis w/ spina bifida and other vertebral anomalies

1971 Harrington rod fusion, T5-L4, flatback, L5-S1 degeneration, etc.

I am very scared now.

hi, I am shocked to learn about this condition that i obviously have

but thought i was alone. i was diagnosed with scoliosis when i was

6 years old. i wore the milwake backbrace for 7 years then had

the " surgery " yes harrington rods and fussion. my hole spine except

for the lower two vertabra.

I started having back pain (lower)in my late teens. But in

the last 15 years it was getting to the point that i was going to be

not only crippled from pain but know i realize many more things

could have happened.

Around two years ago, my husband had to go to a

chiropactor for some reason. By this point he was use to picking me

up off the floor from spasms, or having to carry my infant son for

me. Well i was told 26 years ago never, ever, never go to a

chiropractor, ever. So when my husband told DR.Rick about me he

wanted me to come see him. At first i was leary but by this point i

had nothing to lose.

Well as i see i am running out of room. Let me just say he

saved my life. I would really like to start chatting with others

who are special like myself.

e-mail me Debbie

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

---

[Guest guest]

Hi, Debbie.

I know what you mean about taking your back for granted. Those were the days!

My 1971 fusion surgery was done for free at a Shriners' hospital, so my parents

got around insurance deductibles that way. Such charity facilities do wonderful

work, without the burden of public beaurocracy. It will be interesting to say

the least to see what happens to the medical system in Canada. Socialization

sounds good in theory; the problem is that it doesn't take human nature into

consideration. People will only do their best work if they are appropriately

compensated. And our system of " managed care " and its ever-tightening grip is a

serious problem as well. We have problems here with doctors making an expdus

from states with high malpractice insurance, and with the better doctors

refusing to settle for insurance reimbursement. I don't think anyone really has

the answers.

Take care, and I'm glad to see you're still with us.

Sharon

I am very scared now.

hi, I am shocked to learn about this condition that i obviously have

but thought i was alone. i was diagnosed with scoliosis when i was

6 years old. i wore the milwake backbrace for 7 years then had

the " surgery " yes harrington rods and fussion. my hole spine except

for the lower two vertabra.

I started having back pain (lower)in my late teens. But in

the last 15 years it was getting to the point that i was going to be

not only crippled from pain but know i realize many more things

could have happened.

Around two years ago, my husband had to go to a

chiropactor for some reason. By this point he was use to picking me

up off the floor from spasms, or having to carry my infant son for

me. Well i was told 26 years ago never, ever, never go to a

chiropractor, ever. So when my husband told DR.Rick about me he

wanted me to come see him. At first i was leary but by this point i

had nothing to lose.

Well as i see i am running out of room. Let me just say he

saved my life. I would really like to start chatting with others

who are special like myself.

e-mail me Debbie

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------