Pat and finding a doc

[Guest guest]

Pat,

I can't remember your whole history, but am I right in thinking that

your original fusion was fairly recent (1990s) and was not primarily

due to scoliosis? I do remember you mentioning that you had slight

scoliosis in the lumbar region, and that would imply that you don't

have severe scoliosis? I'm asking because I suddenly remembered a

member mentioning on this list last year that Dr. LaGrone was ONLY

interested in seeing patients that needed flatback revision surgeries

due to scoliosis surgery problems (see message #17891). She had

developed flatback from a surgery for something other than

scoliosis. So if I was right that you don't have extensive scoliosis

(and I may be totally off here!), perhaps this is why Dr. LaGrone has

refused to see you? I'm hoping that the answer is as simple as that,

and that you just need to find a surgeon who is interested in all

varieties of spinal fusion revision surgeries.

I remember also that you mentioned workman's comp. Do you have to

use that, or do have private insurance that may cover your office

visits and possible surgery?

If you are still looking around, my surgeons at Northwestern have

operated on a variety of complex spinal problems, and might be worth

an opinion if you can travel. Me being in a wheelchair didn't even

phase them, as they've had many patients with muscular dystrophy,

spina bifida, etc who have scoliosis and are in wheelchairs, as well

as operating on ambulatory post-Harrington rod patients, and many

other types of spinal issues. I don't know if they take your

insurance, but a quick phone call could answer that.

So please hang in there. Whether you got flatback from a fusion in

the 60s or whether you got it (or another problem) from a surgery in

the 90s, you definately need and deserve to find someone who can work

with you to give you a better quality of life.