[Laurie Montgomery]

Greetings - I am 49 years old - born with spina bifida occulta and developed scoliosis at age 11 - no significant problems until 3 years ago. I sarted having seriod injections to help with entire left leg pain - then was referred to a neurosurgeon - after 2 spine surgeries, within 6 months, to remove bone (L2,3,5 then 5 again) to release pressure he thought was causing the pain a different doctor noted that my entire left hip was dislocated, probably happening over the three year period. Now he is thinking I need a total spinal fusion then a hip replacement. I need to know the best doctor to do the surgery - the stats on my current neurogurgeons and the referrals to scool buddies are not good.

who should I work with, I have a very complex spine?

thank you for any advise. Laurie

[Hockey]

Hi Laurie and welcome to NT!

I am so sorry for all that you have suffered. I'm afraid that I can't answer your back surgery questions, but I'm sure other members will weigh in with helpful advice.

In the meantime, please make yourself at home. I see you've found the Spinal Disorders and Back Pain forum. If you need any help navigating the rest of the board, please let us know.

Cheers

[rosenkazoo]

Hi Sweetie!

I'm out here looking too! We'll find the answer eventually!!

Hugs, Rose:

[Leesa]

Hi Laurie ~ This sounds AWFULLY drastic! If I were you, I would definitely get at LEAST two and possibly three other opinions. Having your complete spiine fused is a horrendous and drastic operation. Plus having a total hip replacement??? Good grief. I'd want to make sure that this is absolutely necessary before I had it done. PLEASE ~ get other independent opinions. Being fused from top to bottom isn't going to be fun, believe me.

God bless, and please keep us posted, ok??? Peace, Lee

[ibjustwrite]

Originally Posted by Laurie Montgomery

Greetings - I am 49 years old - born with spina bifida occulta and developed scoliosis at age 11 - no significant problems until 3 years ago. I sarted having seriod injections to help with entire left leg pain - then was referred to a neurosurgeon - after 2 spine surgeries, within 6 months, to remove bone (L2,3,5 then 5 again) to release pressure he thought was causing the pain a different doctor noted that my entire left hip was dislocated, probably happening over the three year period. Now he is thinking I need a total spinal fusion then a hip replacement. I need to know the best doctor to do the surgery - the stats on my current neurogurgeons and the referrals to scool buddies are not good.

who should I work with, I have a very complex spine?

thank you for any advise. Laurie

I don't know whre you live to give a doc referral. Let us know where you are. I went to The spine doc in Indianapolis Indiana. This is the guy who puts the race car drivers back together. Let me know if you are in the area