I'M BACK W/QUESTIONS (Long Post, sorry)

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My name is Tami, I live in Oregon and I posted some back in October

but then basically buried my head in the sand and prayed for a

miracle. Guess what; it didn't make the pain go away and I am

bending over more and more. My pain seems to be getting worse every

day with new symptoms popping up all the time and I can't take it

anymore.

I have been reading all the posts basically every day (thank you to

all you pioneers for your wisdom) but have just recently decided it's

time to move forward and get this taken care of. I sent all my

films, history, etc. to Dr. Lagrone in Texas and to Dr. Hu in in San

Francisco. Dr. Hu's office called me on the same day she received my

package and I have an appointment on 4/30 @ 10:00. I received an

email from Dr. Lagrone this afternoon. I have a feeling things are

going to move very quickly from here on out.

Dr. Lagrone's e-mail basically states what I already knew (dreaded) I

would hear from my research on this site and others.

Dr. Lagrone says:

To summarize, you had a posterior spinal fusion with Harrington rod

instrumentation from T7 to L4 for idiopathic scoliosis. You

subsequently developed symptoms related to Grad II spondylolishtesis

L5-S1 and underwent decompression and fusion. You currently have

fairly significant spinal stenosis and instability at the L4-5 level

which is the only level not previously fused. You may also have a

failure of the fusion at the L3-4 level. I believe this to be the

source of your sciatic pain. You also have imbalance of your spine

with a flat back syndrome causing your trunk to be pitched forward.

In general, treatment of problems such as yours is going to involve

decompression of the nerve roots, that is a laminectomy at the L3-4

and L4-5 levels along with fusion of these levels. In addition to

that, you need realignment of your spine which will require an

osteotomy probably at the third lumbar level. This would restore

more normal countours of your lower back and allow you to stand

upright.

Although this is a fairly extensive procedure, I don't see you

getting better without it. Any small operation ie laminectomy alone

or localized fusion is not likely to be successful over the long

term. "

Now my first question is; If I receive basically the same info. from

Dr. Hu at the end of the month when I fly to San Francisco and I feel

she is the surgeon for me, do I still schedule an appt. with Dr.

Lagrone? Should I go ahead and schedule one now? I have already

seen my local ortho doc who, while a very good surgeon, does not have

the experience (in my opinion) to entrust my back to him for this

procedure. I know both Dr.'s Lagrone and Hu are highly regarded in

the flat back community. Who would you go to?

Question 2; If you could stay anywhere in San Francisco you wanted

to (my father has offered to pay for it) where would you stay (within

reason $$ wise). My husband and I have decided to make it a mini

vacation from Saturday thru Monday.

I have many, many more questions but I think this post is long enough

for my first post in nearly 6 months. I am feeling a sense of relief

in moving forward but also I am very scared!!

Thank you for your patience if you've made it this far and I look

forward to any and all reply's, opinions, etc..

Tami