December 28, 2011 One Final Opinion
Last week I spoke on the phone with Dr. Weinstein in Iowa, the last opinion I will be seeking. While we haven’t met in person, he reviewed all my studies and asked me all the usual questions about my history with scoliosis. He came to the same conclusion as all the other surgeons — that I have all the indications for surgery. He made a point to say that that doesn’t mean that I have to to do anything. Its possible that I won’t ever need surgery, and some people do choose to hold out as long as they possibly can. But on the other hand, he agreed that for the least risk and best outcome, sooner is better than later.
He saw it as a straightforward posterior selective thoracic fusion, and opposed the notion of a minimally invasive approach. I asked if he felt it was worth traveling to him or any other top guys in the country, and while he said we would be happy to treat me, he actually recommended against it. People travel for surgery for a variety of reasons, he said, including to LA. But he didn’t see any benefit that outweighs the comfort and support system of home, and the reassurance that your surgeon is nearby if needed.
He left me with the names of what he would consider to be the top scoliosis surgeons in California (by reputation, not by personal experience):
- David Skaggs, LA
- Serena Hu, San Francisco
- Peter Newton, San Diego
- Behrooz Akbarnia, San Diego
I told him my reservations about Dr. Skaggs’ practice being focused on kids and teens, and he didn’t see that as a concern. The surgery is the same, he said, and any good doctor is conscious of their individual patient’s needs. And since I’ve already met with Dr. Skaggs and liked him, and he is the closest to me, I’ve come to the conclusion that WE HAVE A WINNER! I’ve contacted his office to get the ball rolling. Holy expletive, I think I’m doing this.
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livingtwisted 
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livingtwisted
said
I forgot to mention that I also asked him about any future developments in research that he was aware of that may make it worth postponing surgery and his answer was a very definitive no. He doesn’t see any major advancements in treatment for adults.
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Robyn
said
Congratulations on making the decision, Wishing you All the Best! can’t wait for your future postings.
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livingtwisted
said
Thanks for your support!
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Nancy
said
Thank you for thinking out loud on the blog. Do you know anything about Dr. Lawrence Rinsky at Stanford?
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livingtwisted
said
I haven’t heard of him. Just did a quick search and it looks like he’s not an SRS member, although that doesn’t mean he doesn’t specialize in scoliosis.
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Nancy
said
He does a lot of the scoliosis surgeries at Stanford and we were referred to him by our pediatrician for my daughter. I’m a PT certified in Schroth method of exercise for scoliosis. Unfortunately, our daughter’s curves have progressed to be quite severe even with all we have done. She is not mentally or emotionally ready for surgery and not sure when the best time will be. I appreciate your thinking and sharing with others.
I have helped so many others, but unable to help my daughter stop this progression. Very difficult as a parent and the PT.
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livingtwisted
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I’m sorry to hear that you weren’t able to stop the progression, but it sounds like she is in good hands. I admire your courage to admit when something is beyond your control. I hope you and your daughter are able to talk openly about all of this. My dad is a chiropractor and that has created an extra strain on our relationship, not that he thought he had the answers, it just skewed my view of things for a long time. About her being ready, unless she is still progressing rapidly, it seems like there’s a pretty safe window to come to terms with it all. Many of the surgeons I’ve met this year spoke about young adults who had postponed until after high school or college and whose results were still on par with teens. Good luck whatever you two decide.
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Nancy
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That is interesting to hear what surgeons said. My husband and I have always hoped the decision could be delayed until she was ready to make it. At 14 y.o. she is not ready.
I work with 2 Chiropractors in San Jose who have had great successes with scoliosis treatment and they think out of the box! They are certified in an advanced chiro treatment for scoliosis but think about new ideas also. So, we have quite the mix of specialties at the clinic.
I’m always seeking to hear and read what others are facing on their scoliosis journey.
Thank you for your openness and support for teens and adults, but for mothers that are beside their daughters.