So do you think i should have surgery for kyphosis?!
Question: So do you think i should have surgery for kyphosis!?
so i was diagnosed with kyphosis last december!. so like my mom didnt leave me alone about standing up straight, so we went to the doctor!. while we were at the doctor i was standing up as straight as i could, kinda to make it look like i dont have a problem so my mom would just shut up already!. so he sent me to get x-rays, and while i was taking the x-rays i was like standing up straight too!. so he told me i had a 60 degree curve, and told me i could do nothing about it (not an option for my mom!) i could wear a brace, or i could have surgery to correct it!. so my mom chose the option for me, not even considering what i had to say, and she chose the brace!. so what im concerned about is, what if the brace doesnt work!? because when i took the x-rays, i was standing up as straight as i could, and i still had a curve!. but i noticed that when i dont stand up striaght my curve is like worse, so im concerned that the curve could be worse, but the doctor doesnt know about it becasue of the wayWww@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Although I don't have kyphosis experience, for now I'll treat it like scoliosis (which I *do* know about)!.
It is always good to try the non-invasive option first even though you still may have to have surgery!. If the brace can control your curve or keep it from getting worse, your (potential) surgery will be easier to get correction!.
In scoliosis, the brace isn't for getting correction, but rather to keep the curve from increasing!. It may get you correction or your curve may still increase (hopefully slower than without the brace), but its important to set your expectations on what's "supposed" to happen!.
Another reason to try bracing first is that scoliosis surgery can have a down side (possible infection, non-fusion at one or more levels, paralysis in very rare cases, degenerated discs below the fusion, etc!.)!.
Lastly, the levels that are fused won't grow any more!. So if you can wait until you're done growing, you won't have to be concerned about your condition affecting your height!.
If after you've worn the brace as directed (no fair not wearing it and then complaining that it didn't work) and your kyphosis is still bad enough for surgery, then that'll be the recommendation your doctor will make!.
I've posted the following a few times for other people with questions!. I hope I'll answer the things that have you concerned!. Some of the procedure I discuss may change because you are dealing with kyphosis, but alot will be the same!.
Let me talk about the hospital stay!.
You'll have meds to help with the pain!. You'll start out with stronger meds and then wean yourself from them over time!. So, yes, it does hurt, but you shouldn't be left hurting!.
The size of your scar depends on how many vertebrae need fusing and the technique used to do the fusion!. A four-level fusion will have a smaller scar than a 12-level fusion!. Some surgeries (probably not yours) need both anterior and posterior (A/P, or front and back)!. Lastly, some people may be candidates for "minimally invasive" techniques!. So, this is a hard question to answer without knowing more about your situation!.
Your hospital stay will probably be between four and seven days!. Teens typically heal quicker than adults and so their hospital stay is less!.
As for what they do, each case is different!. Here's one possible scenerio!. Its incomplete as I'm describing things pretty quickly!. The amount of time spent doing things will probably differ!. Maybe even the order that things are done will differ!. But it will give you kind of an idea of what happens!. Just take it with a grain of salt!.
You'll arrive at the hospital early to check in!. You'll change into your gown and get an IV hooked up!. You will talk to your nurse(s) and perhaps a couple of other staff members!. You'll then get put to sleep (injected through the IV that you had put in earlier)!. The operation then happens!. You'll wake up, probably in the ICU, but possibly in your hospital room!. Probably on the first or second day after surgery, you'll be shown how to sit and then stand!. You'll be able to take walks up and down the hallway but you'll tire quickly!. Your IV will be removed in a couple of days as will the catheter you've had in you since the surgery!. You'll be allowed to go home once your stomach starts rumbling, you're eating, and going to the bathroom!. When you are in the hospital, your scar will be checked by a doctor each day!.
You will feel like a truck ran you over for the first couple of days!. Once your body starts to recover, you'll feel better!.
When you wake up from surgery, your bed will have a machine that gives measured doses of pain meds (morphine or something as effective)!. You're self-medicating, so if you're hurting, just hit a button!. The machine won't let you overdose yourself, though!.
You'll be weaned off of the meds from the machine and given oxycontin (or the like)!. This is what you'll be taking for the first few weeks you're at home!.
Bottom line is that you'll be hurting, but you'll be given pain meds to take care of the pain!. They'll do the job for you!.
It still takes two months to be doing basic things!. You'll be cleared to do more things at six months!. At one year, you'll be able to do about anything you could do before the surgery!. Take it easy!. This is major surgery!. It takes a while for the spine to fuse!.
There's a couple of things, off-topic, that will make life easier for you!.
o Make sure you has a robe in case you gets up in the middle of the night when the house is colder!. The surgery may mess up your body's temperature control!.
o Get a toilet seat extender so that you don't have to squat as far!. These also have handles and certainly made my life a lot easier!. Since your chest muscles are fine, you'll be able to use them to raise and lower yourself!.
o It might be nice to get a "grabber" which will help you pick things up from the floor!.
o You may or may not have a walker when you get home from the hospital (probably not, but!.!.!.)!. I did and discovered that I had to meneuver through the bathroom door sideways because the walker was too wide!. This works, but it may be a bit more difficult!.
o You will be sleeping an awful lot!. This is a combination of your body needing rest and the pain meds knocking you out!. Expect it!.
o When I was in my bed, my wife made kind of a "nest" with pillows so I wouldn't roll out!. I don't normally roll but I think it made both of us feel better!. You might want to do the same!.
o It will be helpful to sit in a chair with arms when you're having his meals and is sitting at the dining room table!. Since your chest muscles are fine, you'll be able to use them to raise and lower yourself!.
Please email me if you have questions!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
It is always good to try the non-invasive option first even though you still may have to have surgery!. If the brace can control your curve or keep it from getting worse, your (potential) surgery will be easier to get correction!.
In scoliosis, the brace isn't for getting correction, but rather to keep the curve from increasing!. It may get you correction or your curve may still increase (hopefully slower than without the brace), but its important to set your expectations on what's "supposed" to happen!.
Another reason to try bracing first is that scoliosis surgery can have a down side (possible infection, non-fusion at one or more levels, paralysis in very rare cases, degenerated discs below the fusion, etc!.)!.
Lastly, the levels that are fused won't grow any more!. So if you can wait until you're done growing, you won't have to be concerned about your condition affecting your height!.
If after you've worn the brace as directed (no fair not wearing it and then complaining that it didn't work) and your kyphosis is still bad enough for surgery, then that'll be the recommendation your doctor will make!.
I've posted the following a few times for other people with questions!. I hope I'll answer the things that have you concerned!. Some of the procedure I discuss may change because you are dealing with kyphosis, but alot will be the same!.
Let me talk about the hospital stay!.
You'll have meds to help with the pain!. You'll start out with stronger meds and then wean yourself from them over time!. So, yes, it does hurt, but you shouldn't be left hurting!.
The size of your scar depends on how many vertebrae need fusing and the technique used to do the fusion!. A four-level fusion will have a smaller scar than a 12-level fusion!. Some surgeries (probably not yours) need both anterior and posterior (A/P, or front and back)!. Lastly, some people may be candidates for "minimally invasive" techniques!. So, this is a hard question to answer without knowing more about your situation!.
Your hospital stay will probably be between four and seven days!. Teens typically heal quicker than adults and so their hospital stay is less!.
As for what they do, each case is different!. Here's one possible scenerio!. Its incomplete as I'm describing things pretty quickly!. The amount of time spent doing things will probably differ!. Maybe even the order that things are done will differ!. But it will give you kind of an idea of what happens!. Just take it with a grain of salt!.
You'll arrive at the hospital early to check in!. You'll change into your gown and get an IV hooked up!. You will talk to your nurse(s) and perhaps a couple of other staff members!. You'll then get put to sleep (injected through the IV that you had put in earlier)!. The operation then happens!. You'll wake up, probably in the ICU, but possibly in your hospital room!. Probably on the first or second day after surgery, you'll be shown how to sit and then stand!. You'll be able to take walks up and down the hallway but you'll tire quickly!. Your IV will be removed in a couple of days as will the catheter you've had in you since the surgery!. You'll be allowed to go home once your stomach starts rumbling, you're eating, and going to the bathroom!. When you are in the hospital, your scar will be checked by a doctor each day!.
You will feel like a truck ran you over for the first couple of days!. Once your body starts to recover, you'll feel better!.
When you wake up from surgery, your bed will have a machine that gives measured doses of pain meds (morphine or something as effective)!. You're self-medicating, so if you're hurting, just hit a button!. The machine won't let you overdose yourself, though!.
You'll be weaned off of the meds from the machine and given oxycontin (or the like)!. This is what you'll be taking for the first few weeks you're at home!.
Bottom line is that you'll be hurting, but you'll be given pain meds to take care of the pain!. They'll do the job for you!.
It still takes two months to be doing basic things!. You'll be cleared to do more things at six months!. At one year, you'll be able to do about anything you could do before the surgery!. Take it easy!. This is major surgery!. It takes a while for the spine to fuse!.
There's a couple of things, off-topic, that will make life easier for you!.
o Make sure you has a robe in case you gets up in the middle of the night when the house is colder!. The surgery may mess up your body's temperature control!.
o Get a toilet seat extender so that you don't have to squat as far!. These also have handles and certainly made my life a lot easier!. Since your chest muscles are fine, you'll be able to use them to raise and lower yourself!.
o It might be nice to get a "grabber" which will help you pick things up from the floor!.
o You may or may not have a walker when you get home from the hospital (probably not, but!.!.!.)!. I did and discovered that I had to meneuver through the bathroom door sideways because the walker was too wide!. This works, but it may be a bit more difficult!.
o You will be sleeping an awful lot!. This is a combination of your body needing rest and the pain meds knocking you out!. Expect it!.
o When I was in my bed, my wife made kind of a "nest" with pillows so I wouldn't roll out!. I don't normally roll but I think it made both of us feel better!. You might want to do the same!.
o It will be helpful to sit in a chair with arms when you're having his meals and is sitting at the dining room table!. Since your chest muscles are fine, you'll be able to use them to raise and lower yourself!.
Please email me if you have questions!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
With your age and activity level, fitting in the group is a big part of your environment!.
With that in mind, surgery will be recommended, but it will not be a permanent solution!.
A brace is less invasive, little to no risk, quick, but it is going to be in the way of dressing!.
You need to let your mother know that you need to speak with the doctor to know the pros and cons of the surgery and the brace!. It is also beneficial to speak to someone who had surgery; and to someone who is wearing a brace that is close to your age when they first had it!.
Then make an informed decision after the conversation!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
With that in mind, surgery will be recommended, but it will not be a permanent solution!.
A brace is less invasive, little to no risk, quick, but it is going to be in the way of dressing!.
You need to let your mother know that you need to speak with the doctor to know the pros and cons of the surgery and the brace!. It is also beneficial to speak to someone who had surgery; and to someone who is wearing a brace that is close to your age when they first had it!.
Then make an informed decision after the conversation!.Www@Answer-Health@Com