Guest guest Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 Beth, you're right to take offense. I believe this was a statement quoted from a chiropractor, and they've always been outspoken and even cultish in their opposition to surgery. My dad remembers his family's chiropractor, circa 1940, making the comment that if a particular family member let a surgeon " cut into " my father's aunt, the chiropractor would " cut into " him! But to be fair to the chiropractors, fear of surgery was not at all unfounded then, and, frankly, it is often still founded today. But the professional rivalry, and the looking-down-the-nose that MDs have traditionally given to chiropractors are surely also to blame for such rhetoric. I feel both sides are wearing blinders, though education of both has undoubtedly improved over the years. Yes, the surgeons who operated on us years ago were doing what they believed was the best way to prolong our lives and preserve our quality of life. And it was the best they had to offer at the time, miserable an experience as it was. They were blind to the potential harmful effects then, and I have no doubt they are currently blind to others, or at least limited by technology to prevent them. I am quite disappointed that with all the miraculous advances made in the medical field in the past 30 years, they still have nothing better to offer for severe or progressing scoliosis than fusion. I will take the risk of prognosticating here and say that there will always be serious undesirable effects created by fusion surgery for scoliosis. I believe they do currently have better ways to treat my deformity, congenital scoliosis, in that they currently operate very early to correct the malformation of the affected vertebrae, thus allowing the remaining portions of the spine to grow straight. I think this could have been the case for me had I been born 25-30 years later. I'm guessing I could have had a much smaller fusion and maybe averted flatback. So, yes, they are making progress, but I do wish they'd do more thinking " outside the box " , and look to more aggressive programs of early intervention, gene therapy for genetically at-risk children, etc. Re: Re:OLD HARRINGTONS Hi All, I have been sitting here reading with fascination (not to mention mild to moderate horror!) the postings from " bahadreama " (?who are you?) as well as the comments from Sharon, etc. While some may find stories like hers (his?) incredible, they are not really that usual for anyone who sought help for scoliosis in the early days of surgical intervention. I take great offense, however, to the comparison of surgeons in those early days of Harrington rods and Riser body cast to HITLER??!!! Give me a break!!! Granted, the surgeries and long, bed-ridden months of recuperation may seem " over-the-top " and " barbaric " as compared to how scoliosis is treated in the 21st century but those skilled, wonderful Orthopedic surgeons who performed Harrington rod surgeries in the 60's, 70's (and even into the early 80's in some areas), they were doing the best and ONLY surgical procedures they knew of!!! I personally thank GOD for my first Orthopedic surgeon in 1970!! I had my surgery done at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital by one of the most skilled and respected Orthopedic surgeons in the country. My parents were terrified to put their, apparently healthy 16 y/o daughter, through a surgery and recuperation like what I had done; but I am so grateful to them and to my first surgeon for giving me the opportunity for a normal, happy, healthy life for the past 34 years!!! My father passed away in 1987; and for many years after my surgery, he often questioned their decision in 1970...until I placed his Grandson, my first and only child, in his arms on February 12, 1985!!! I don't know what my life would have been like had I not had my Harrington rod surgery...sure, I have had to have revision surgery for Flatback Syndrome; and yes, it was probably a direct result of the method used to correct my 78 degree curve!!!! An YES, I still have residual neuro and bone pain as a result of the Flatback...but NEVER on even the worst day of pain I can remember, would I compare what I've gone through to the horrors inflicted on human beings by Hitler!!! " OOPS! I DID IT AGAIN " as the Brittany Spears song goes!! I went off on one of my tirades!! Apologies to those who don't know me and my penchant for going ballistic in my postings!! All the best, Beth Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any advertised products. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 Sharon, I was watching TV about a month ago and it was talking about the new technology for young scoliosis patients.How they can now perform the laproscopic and only make a few holes on their side so they don't even have scars. And maybe I heard this or did I dream this. I thought they said that in the future that a person could wear a cast with some sort of wire connected to the cast pulling the spine in the right direction so they didn't have to fuse at all. Does that sound like science fiction or what? Sandy > Beth, you're right to take offense. I believe this was a statement quoted from a chiropractor, and they've always been outspoken and even cultish in their opposition to surgery. My dad remembers his family's chiropractor, circa 1940, making the comment that if a particular family member let a surgeon " cut into " my father's aunt, the chiropractor would " cut into " him! But to be fair to the chiropractors, fear of surgery was not at all unfounded then, and, frankly, it is often still founded today. But the professional rivalry, and the looking-down-the-nose that MDs have traditionally given to chiropractors are surely also to blame for such rhetoric. > > I feel both sides are wearing blinders, though education of both has undoubtedly improved over the years. > > Yes, the surgeons who operated on us years ago were doing what they believed was the best way to prolong our lives and preserve our quality of life. And it was the best they had to offer at the time, miserable an experience as it was. They were blind to the potential harmful effects then, and I have no doubt they are currently blind to others, or at least limited by technology to prevent them. > > I am quite disappointed that with all the miraculous advances made in the medical field in the past 30 years, they still have nothing better to offer for severe or progressing scoliosis than fusion. I will take the risk of prognosticating here and say that there will always be serious undesirable effects created by fusion surgery for scoliosis. > > I believe they do currently have better ways to treat my deformity, congenital scoliosis, in that they currently operate very early to correct the malformation of the affected vertebrae, thus allowing the remaining portions of the spine to grow straight. I think this could have been the case for me had I been born 25-30 years later. I'm guessing I could have had a much smaller fusion and maybe averted flatback. > > So, yes, they are making progress, but I do wish they'd do more thinking " outside the box " , and look to more aggressive programs of early intervention, gene therapy for genetically at-risk children, etc. > Re: Re:OLD HARRINGTONS > > > Hi All, > I have been sitting here reading with fascination (not to mention mild to moderate horror!) the postings from " bahadreama " (? who are you?) as well as the comments from Sharon, etc. While some may find stories like hers (his?) incredible, they are not really that usual for anyone who sought help for scoliosis in the early days of surgical intervention. > I take great offense, however, to the comparison of surgeons in those early days of Harrington rods and Riser body cast to HITLER??!!! Give me a break!!! Granted, the surgeries and long, bed- ridden months of recuperation may seem " over-the-top " and " barbaric " as compared to how scoliosis is treated in the 21st century but those skilled, wonderful Orthopedic surgeons who performed Harrington rod surgeries in the 60's, 70's (and even into the early 80's in some areas), they were doing the best and ONLY surgical procedures they knew of!!! I personally thank GOD for my first Orthopedic surgeon in 1970!! I had my surgery done at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital by one of the most skilled and respected Orthopedic surgeons in the country. My parents were terrified to put their, apparently healthy 16 y/o daughter, through a surgery and recuperation like what I had done; but I am so grateful to them and to my first surgeon for giving me the opportunity for a normal, happy, healthy life for the past 34 years!!! My father passed away in 1987; and for many years after my surgery, he often questioned their decision in 1970...until I placed his Grandson, my first and only child, in his arms on February 12, 1985!!! > I don't know what my life would have been like had I not had my Harrington rod surgery...sure, I have had to have revision surgery for Flatback Syndrome; and yes, it was probably a direct result of the method used to correct my 78 degree curve!!!! An YES, I still have residual neuro and bone pain as a result of the Flatback...but NEVER on even the worst day of pain I can remember, would I compare what I've gone through to the horrors inflicted on human beings by Hitler!!! > " OOPS! I DID IT AGAIN " as the Brittany Spears song goes!! I went off on one of my tirades!! Apologies to those who don't know me and my penchant for going ballistic in my postings!! > > All the best, > Beth > > > > Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any advertised products. > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 The first operation I have seen described quite well on the net. It's still a fusion, with a painful, lengthy recovery, but normally does not require blood transfusion, and leaves no large scar. I believe they said part of a rib is removed for it, and they do have to collapse a lung temporarily during the surgery. The other thing does sound like science fiction. I wonder if artificial discs might hold part of the answer, or if it might be possible to devise a hardware system that straightens the spine while not eliminating flexibility. Probably the most important goal is to figure out the biological mechanism that causes idiopathic scoliosis. If they don't know what causes it, how can they be expected to prevent or cure it? Re: Re:OLD HARRINGTONS > > > Hi All, > I have been sitting here reading with fascination (not to mention mild to moderate horror!) the postings from " bahadreama " (? who are you?) as well as the comments from Sharon, etc. While some may find stories like hers (his?) incredible, they are not really that usual for anyone who sought help for scoliosis in the early days of surgical intervention. > I take great offense, however, to the comparison of surgeons in those early days of Harrington rods and Riser body cast to HITLER??!!! Give me a break!!! Granted, the surgeries and long, bed- ridden months of recuperation may seem " over-the-top " and " barbaric " as compared to how scoliosis is treated in the 21st century but those skilled, wonderful Orthopedic surgeons who performed Harrington rod surgeries in the 60's, 70's (and even into the early 80's in some areas), they were doing the best and ONLY surgical procedures they knew of!!! I personally thank GOD for my first Orthopedic surgeon in 1970!! I had my surgery done at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital by one of the most skilled and respected Orthopedic surgeons in the country. My parents were terrified to put their, apparently healthy 16 y/o daughter, through a surgery and recuperation like what I had done; but I am so grateful to them and to my first surgeon for giving me the opportunity for a normal, happy, healthy life for the past 34 years!!! My father passed away in 1987; and for many years after my surgery, he often questioned their decision in 1970...until I placed his Grandson, my first and only child, in his arms on February 12, 1985!!! > I don't know what my life would have been like had I not had my Harrington rod surgery...sure, I have had to have revision surgery for Flatback Syndrome; and yes, it was probably a direct result of the method used to correct my 78 degree curve!!!! An YES, I still have residual neuro and bone pain as a result of the Flatback...but NEVER on even the worst day of pain I can remember, would I compare what I've gone through to the horrors inflicted on human beings by Hitler!!! > " OOPS! I DID IT AGAIN " as the Brittany Spears song goes!! I went off on one of my tirades!! Apologies to those who don't know me and my penchant for going ballistic in my postings!! > > All the best, > Beth > > > > Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any advertised products. > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 Sharon, I like your idea of a hardware system that straightens the spine with out eliminating flexibility or fusing. That sounds VERY feasible to me!Why couldn't they put the rods along the spine & then wire parts of the spine to the rods to keep it growing straight? And go in periodically (like braces on teeth) and adjust them. I agree the technology should have been farther along by now. I guess not enough famous people have scoliosis or population wise there are not enough of us. Eleven years ago when I had my surgery, my orthopedist said I would need the bottom 2 discs fused in 10 or 20 years depending on if I did the right things, I guess I didn't do the right things and I didn't even think to ask him what the right things were. I was too wrapped up in the present surgery. Darn, I wish it were 20 years because in 9 more years the artifical disc will probably be available to us long fusions. Unfortunaly, I can't wait that long. Sandy > > Beth, you're right to take offense. I believe this was a > statement quoted from a chiropractor, and they've always been > outspoken and even cultish in their opposition to surgery. My dad > remembers his family's chiropractor, circa 1940, making the comment > that if a particular family member let a surgeon " cut into " my > father's aunt, the chiropractor would " cut into " him! But to be > fair to the chiropractors, fear of surgery was not at all unfounded > then, and, frankly, it is often still founded today. But the > professional rivalry, and the looking-down-the-nose that MDs have > traditionally given to chiropractors are surely also to blame for > such rhetoric. > > > > I feel both sides are wearing blinders, though education of both > has undoubtedly improved over the years. > > > > Yes, the surgeons who operated on us years ago were doing what > they believed was the best way to prolong our lives and preserve our > quality of life. And it was the best they had to offer at the time, > miserable an experience as it was. They were blind to the potential > harmful effects then, and I have no doubt they are currently blind > to others, or at least limited by technology to prevent them. > > > > I am quite disappointed that with all the miraculous advances made > in the medical field in the past 30 years, they still have nothing > better to offer for severe or progressing scoliosis than fusion. I > will take the risk of prognosticating here and say that there will > always be serious undesirable effects created by fusion surgery for > scoliosis. > > > > I believe they do currently have better ways to treat my > deformity, congenital scoliosis, in that they currently operate very > early to correct the malformation of the affected vertebrae, thus > allowing the remaining portions of the spine to grow straight. I > think this could have been the case for me had I been born 25-30 > years later. I'm guessing I could have had a much smaller fusion > and maybe averted flatback. > > > > So, yes, they are making progress, but I do wish they'd do more > thinking " outside the box " , and look to more aggressive programs of > early intervention, gene therapy for genetically at-risk children, > etc. > > Re: Re:OLD HARRINGTONS > > > > > > Hi All, > > I have been sitting here reading with fascination (not to > mention mild to moderate horror!) the postings from " bahadreama " (? > who are you?) as well as the comments from Sharon, etc. While some > may find stories like hers (his?) incredible, they are not really > that usual for anyone who sought help for scoliosis in the early > days of surgical intervention. > > I take great offense, however, to the comparison of surgeons > in those early days of Harrington rods and Riser body cast to > HITLER??!!! Give me a break!!! Granted, the surgeries and long, bed- > ridden months of recuperation may seem " over-the-top " and " barbaric " > as compared to how scoliosis is treated in the 21st century but > those skilled, wonderful Orthopedic surgeons who performed > Harrington rod surgeries in the 60's, 70's (and even into the early > 80's in some areas), they were doing the best and ONLY surgical > procedures they knew of!!! I personally thank GOD for my first > Orthopedic surgeon in 1970!! I had my surgery done at the Cleveland > Clinic Hospital by one of the most skilled and respected Orthopedic > surgeons in the country. My parents were terrified to put their, > apparently healthy 16 y/o daughter, through a surgery and > recuperation like what I had done; but I am so grateful to them and > to my first surgeon for giving me the opportunity for a normal, > happy, healthy life for the past 34 years!!! My father passed away > in 1987; and for many years after my surgery, he often questioned > their decision in 1970...until I placed his Grandson, my first and > only child, in his arms on February 12, 1985!!! > > I don't know what my life would have been like had I not had > my Harrington rod surgery...sure, I have had to have revision > surgery for Flatback Syndrome; and yes, it was probably a direct > result of the method used to correct my 78 degree curve!!!! An YES, > I still have residual neuro and bone pain as a result of the > Flatback...but NEVER on even the worst day of pain I can remember, > would I compare what I've gone through to the horrors inflicted on > human beings by Hitler!!! > > " OOPS! I DID IT AGAIN " as the Brittany Spears song goes!! I > went off on one of my tirades!! Apologies to those who don't know me > and my penchant for going ballistic in my postings!! > > > > All the best, > > Beth > > > > > > > > Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod > Malalignment Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control > ads or endorse any advertised products. > > > > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------- ---- > ----------- > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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