From: bounce-scoliosis To: scoliosis-digest@ai.mit.edu Subject: scoliosis V1 #988 Reply-To: Errors-To: bounce-scoliosis Precedence: bulk scoliosis Wednesday, 21 October 1998 Volume 01 : Number 988 Today's subjects for scoliosis, scoliosis-medical, scoliosis-child and scoliosis-teens: New to the List [Deb8@aol.com] two weeks post-op! ["Robin Murphy" ] reconstructive surgery [cubfan@icss.net (John Hamilton)] Re: reconstructive surgery [Leah640@aol.com] Re: reconstructive surgery [KRdazy@aol.com] Re: New to the List [CarolPerk@aol.com] To Robin [CarolPerk@aol.com] Mailing List [BRETYBEN@aol.com] Hi ["Robin Murphy" ] Re: scoliosis V1 #987 [Richard Lethin ] 1 day pre-op [Marla Dowdeswell ] 14 Weeks Post-Op [Cyndi King ] Spasms [Diana Laurent ] Re: scoliosis V1 #987 ["Dean A. Hoppenrath, DC" ] atardif@ctel.net ["Mike Tardif" ] scoliosis and the Milwaukee brace [Connie Edwards ] [none] [KKRUGER@ddiworld.com (KKRUGER)] NSAID [ianjan ] Re: NSAID ["Dean A. Hoppenrath, DC" ] Re: NSAID [Diana Laurent ] Re: NSAID [hmc ] Robin's Exactomundo! remark [hmc ] Re: scoliosis and the Milwaukee brace [HugEBear36@aol.com] Re: NSAID [HugEBear36@aol.com] Re: NSAID ["Dean A. Hoppenrath, DC" ] For Marla, after Surgery [hmc ] Hiding the Brace :o ["zOnly One" ] Re: two weeks post-op! [Kathy Mayhall ] Re: reconstructive surgery [Kathy Mayhall ] Re: NSAID [Lildagover@aol.com] Re: Jennifer & MRIs ["Jennifer Wright" ] Re: scoliosis V1 #987 [Kathy Mayhall ] Re: Jennifer & MRIs ["Gail Walsh" ] Re: Hiding the Brace :o [richa@softcom.net] Re: Jennifer & MRIs [Linda Racine ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Deb8@aol.com Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 03:31:08 EDT Subject: New to the List My 14 year old daughter is supposed to have surgery on November 10th. She has a 47 degree thoracic curve and after 15 months in a "Boston" type brace it is actually a few degrees worse than before the brace. Her doctor is Dr. Michael Tanner in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has anyone here heard of him? Is there any way to check on a doctor's surgical record? After reading some of the mail on this list, I feel that I know very little about this surgery. Her doctor said that she would have a 1' incision down her spine and a 3" horizontal incision across her hip, that the surgery would last approximately 5 hours, and that she would be out of school for 4 to 6 weeks. He also wanted her to donate one unit of blood for her surgery, is this the normal amount to donate, is one unit normally enough for a 5 hour surgery? I am getting more nervous about this every day, any help would be greatly appreciated. Debra ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: "Robin Murphy" Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 04:47:58 -0500 Subject: two weeks post-op! Today I am two weeks post op. It is 4 am in the morning. Somehow this part has not changed. That's the part where I wake up at 3-4 am in pain and it takes a while to settle back in. I just got through reading yesterday's digest and wish I could go sit with Marla and keep her company for a while. My prayers go out to her. I am getting a bit stronger every day. I do not use my walker around the house anymore. I was supposed to start walking outside yesterday but it got delayed until today. So today I hope to start taking short walks around the yard and neighborhood. I can finally watch TV and read a book without falling asleep after only a few minutes. I am starting to get restless every once in a while from all of the enforced inactivity. Not being able to lean over and pick things up (especially off the floor) is proving to be slightly frustrating. It is even more of a challenge to figure out how to pick things up. Even without the weight restrictions I would have trouble picking things up that are too heavy. I am not able to sit up for very long either. Yesterday, I finally got all of the digests read from the last two weeks. I sat up too long and had muscle spasms most of the evening. The heating pad helps some. I am definitely going to talk with the doctor on Thursday about maybe a different muscle relaxer. I seem to have at least once (ot twice) a day where the muscle spasms get pretty rough. Especially in the evenings. And at 4 am in the morning. I think I am still a bit scatter brained (at times) especially when I take the muscle relaxers and pain pills at the same time. But overall every day gets a little better. I have lots of sores and bruises from the IV's and surgery that are healing. I had a bunch of tape burns on my legs, neck, face, and arms. Anywhere they used tape to strap something down, I ended up with a sore. These are healing well with the help of a bit of antibiotic ointment. I saw KMayhill's note on her frustration with trying to work with back pain. I can sympathize. My boss was none too happy with me when I left because of all the time off I took due to my back pain. Although he is not supposed to, he was trying to rate my performance down due to the absences. My work was OK, I just got less done because I was working fewer hours. It is something I will have to deal with when I go back to work since I intend to only start out at part-time and work my way back to full time as my health allows. Time to go as I have already been sitting upright in this chair entirely too long and the muscle spasms are starting to get really nasty. Robin I have also finally started eating some and find I am not as tired. My three teenagers have also started getting the knack of things and at least I am getting fed. Of course they are not as good at keeping up with the housework but one thing at a time. My parents left Thursday or Friday after they made sure I was getting around OK. I am a bit worried about them since Dad called me from Corpus Christi and told me that had to lay over a night for repairs to their motor home. Here in Texas there is severe flooding going on in South Texas and that is where my folks went. I am hoping that they cut their trip short down there and headed on over to Arkansas. I was looking for some current news on Ben's surgery from Mary. I must have missed it. Has anyone heard from Mary lately and how is Ben doing? ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: cubfan@icss.net (John Hamilton) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 06:16:30 -0500 Subject: reconstructive surgery Hi I am having "reconstructive scoliosis surgery in december.I had surgery 21 years ago already. I now have flat back syndrome and with sagittal plane decompensation and degenerative disc disease at L5/S1.The surgery they will do will realign my back to relieve some pain. This is a two operatition procedure. I also have a broken harrington rod. They will be using the different screws and rods that they didnt use the first time. If anyone has had this kind of surgery please let me know. Im wondering whats down the road for me. I had no problems with my first surgery, but I was l6 then and now am 37. Im not really worried I knew this was comming for along time but Im still a little scared. I know I should be better afterwards. I have 3 small children and will be able to take better care of them after all said and done. That is what I am hopeing. Am I right? It is so nice to know there are others out there that feel the way I do. Its hard to explain to people the pain if you dont have this disease. Tina ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: Leah640@aol.com Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 08:33:15 EDT Subject: Re: reconstructive surgery Tina, Find out what kind of rods and screws they are using. Some are better than others. There is a lawsuite on the pedicle screws out there for faulty use in the spine. I had my fusion back then too and am hoping to avoid more surgery. Mine was done at Columbia Pres. in NYC by Dr. Hugo Kiem. It will be 25 years this month. Mine was done on my parents 20th wedding anniversary so I never forget the date. Leah ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: KRdazy@aol.com Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 09:38:59 EDT Subject: Re: reconstructive surgery what is the cause of degenerative disk disease? kr ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: CarolPerk@aol.com Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 10:01:13 EDT Subject: Re: New to the List All sounds about right for a girl her age. I donated 3 units of blood, although the doctor only used one, the others served as a back up for any post-surgical blood related problems. Fortunately none were needed. I was 45 at the time of surgery. C.P. ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: CarolPerk@aol.com Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 10:06:55 EDT Subject: To Robin I used What I referred to as a "grabber" to pick things up off the floor for a good two months, minimum. It's a long rod with a trigger in the handle and a grabbing apparatus at the end. It was a life saver. You can get one at a medical supply store. C. P. ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: BRETYBEN@aol.com Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 10:21:33 EDT Subject: Mailing List Hi, I am a 43 year old female who had surgery in 1969 for a 40 degree curve. It was performed at the Mass. Hospital School in Canton. I am doing fine, but I have been worried about my 8 year old son since he was 3. I requested an x-ray from our pedi and last week we found he has a 10 degree curve. I realize that is small, but I am a nervous wreck about his future growth and what it will do to the curve. I would like any info treatments of children in this age group with mild curves. I would also like to be put on the mailing list. Thanks for your help Denise ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: "Robin Murphy" Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 10:06:12 -0500 Subject: Hi marla, my name is Robin and I am assuming that you had your surgery this morning. So I will understand if it is a few days before you get back to me. I had my surgery on Oct 6th. My surgery was done in Dallas, TX. I hope that all went well for you. Don't be surprised if you are very sore and bruised for a few days. (weeks actually). The morophine pc pump will keep you feeling slightly confused. I had some other side effects (mainly nausea and a lot of disorientation) so I had to quit the pc pump. My father is allergic to morophine so i was surprised that i tolerated the morophine as well as i did. I, too, had both scoliosis and spondylolithesis. The spondylolithesis would cause mostly problems in the hips and legs, shooting pains, trouble standing or walking, any moving around. You needed to have that fixed because some day if that vertebrae were to shift too far they would have to eventually fuse it anyway. Otherwise it would cause some permanent nerve damage. I have had cortisone shots and went through a year of problems with my spondylolithesis. When I was 26 the doctors told me that if the spondylolithesis ever got to the point of needing surgery then I would want to consider having the whole back done. They also suggested that I could get the spondylolithesis fixed without the scoliosis surgery but not to have the scoliosis surgery without the other. I did not catch your age. I am 42 and the pain had gotten increasingly worse over the last 16 years. I could tell when the pain was associated with the spondylolithesis because it was different and affected mostly my legs, hips, and lower back. My back pain with the scoliosis was mostly with the waist and up. My left side was a bit shorter than the right so the combination caused all kinds of problems. I have a double major curve of 58/40 degrees. They reduced some ribs on the right side. The rib hump never bothered me as much as my "wings" (scapulas). My scapulas always flared out and I never looked straight. I just looked like I had bad posture and could never sit still. I go to the doctor on Thursday and will get the final results from the surgery. Somewhere in the process of getting out of the hospital I did not get or do not remember the details of the corrections. Even though they did not correct the upper curve as much as I had hoped I can see the difference in the scapulas and the rib hump area. I am looking forward to physical theraphy so I can find out just how much difference the surgery really made. right now it is raining here and i can tell where the doctor operated. The ribs especially. I could probably draw you a picture of every screw, rod, and cut just from the aches and pains. I can tell that i should be quite good at predicting weather in the future. One of the things that the doctors told me was that I had several genetic anamolies in my spine. The S5/L1 has some kind of extra hooks on that vertebrae. I have an extra set of ribs and the bottom two sets are underdeveloped. He said that I was probably born with the spondylolithesis also. I am getting tired from sitting up for too long so I must go. Keep writing. I think everyone here can relate in some way to your situation. I know that it makes me feel better when I see that a lot of the aches and pains I am experiencing are not "just in my head". The advise, support, and just plain caring from people who really do understand what I have been through has been an immense help. Being able to compare notes and information makes me feel like I am just a bit more in control than when I just hurt and no one can tell me why. Robin ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: Richard Lethin Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 09:19:28 -0700 Subject: Re: scoliosis V1 #987 > From: Kate Hauer > Date: Mon, 19 Oct 1998 14:42:40 -0500 > Subject: Re: "Rib" humps -Reply > ... Maybe. But isn't the X-files a fictional drama? Plenty of doctors make money on braces. > I know surgery is the only answer for many. > I have heard so many good things about the Copes system on this list, I > would hope the people in the position to try bracing would look into every > ... And I hope people will read www.quackwatch.com as they explore and try to understand the alternatives and their patter. > > > Why do you think there is no National health care system? because the > ... Or, maybe it's because the current system is what has encouraged the investment that makes the capabilities of our medical system the envy of the world. Where is the long-promised peer-reviewed paper on Copes showing efficacy advantage over other braces? When that comes out, you'll see the medical community take notice. ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: Marla Dowdeswell Date: Mon, 19 Oct 1998 23:12:46 -0600 Subject: 1 day pre-op - ------ =_NextPart_000_01BDFBB6.6E7198C0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I can't believe how much has happened in this day. I promise this is my last post on this subject. It's now after midnight = and officially Op-Day. I did the enema thing. It wasn't bad at all. No one says anything = about it, so I really feared it. Even the nurse wouldn't give me a = direct answer to my questions. So for everyone else like me who = wonders, I'll explain it. You get a small plastic bottle with a spout = on top, there is about 150 mL of liquid inside. You poke the spout = inside your hiney and squeeze. You can't even feel the fluid going in. = You wait and "hold it in" for 2-3 minutes, it takes a small amount of = effort to hold it in. Then you release and have a normal bowel = movement. I sat on the can a few minutes longer just in case anything = came out (and it did). The whole process took less than 10 minutes. I had the iodine shower. The soap was dark brown like iodine, but it = was also sudsy like soap. The soap bubbles were yellow. I was afraid = it would stain my skin, but it didn't, it all washed away. The bad = thing is that it stained my jewellry. My gold turned an orangy-brassy = colour and my silver tarnished a dull gray-yellow. I think that both = will be able to be cleaned though. At 11:30 my nurse Sheila left. At midnight my new nurse, Leslie came in. She took away my water and = told me that the surgery had been changed to 8:00, so they would wake me = up at 6:00 and give me the valium at 6:30, they would take me to the OR = at 7:30. I asked if the valium could be given later, since I didn't = want to be groggy for too long, but she said they like to give it 90 = minutes beforehand. I suppose that she couldn't make a decision to = change it anyway. But since I had the option of not having it at all, I = don't see why I don't have the option of what time to take it. I called Mom and Dad to tell them that the time had changed and they = were already asleep! It's only 10:00 in our time zone, it seems unfair = that they are asleep and I'm not. I'm glad I wasn't asleep though, they = probably wouldn't have woken me up to tell me the time had changed and = then I wouldn't have been able to tell my parents. I don't think I'll = sleep much tonight at all, maybe listening to some music will help = (thanks again for the suggestion to bring the CD player). I think the decision to change my surgery from T9-L5 to L4-S1 was a good = one, but I am concerned that he is treating only the spondylolysthesis = and not the scoliosis. I know that most of the pain I experience now is = due to the spondylolysthesis, but I know that I had scoliosis pain = before because it was in a different location. I hope that the = scoliosis pain is bearable after surgery and in the years to come, = because I think that if I had another fusion to treat the scoliosis then = I would have other problems associated with such a long fusion to the = sacrum. I haven't paid much attention to previous posts on short fusions or = sacrum fusions because I didn't think they applied to me. Can anyone = offer any info on fusion from L4-S1, recovery time? pain level? future = complications? Marla =00=00 - ------ =_NextPart_000_01BDFBB6.6E7198C0 Content-Type: application/ms-tnef Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 eJ8+IjsFAQaQCAAEAAAAAAABAAEAAQeQBgAIAAAA5AQAAAAAAADoAAEIgAcAGAAAAElQTS5NaWNy b3NvZnQgTWFpbC5Ob3RlADEIAQ2ABAACAAAAAgACAAEEkAYAnAUAAAMAAAAQAAAAAwAAMA0AAAAL AA8OAAAAAAIB/w8BAAAAVwAAAAAAAACBKx+kvqMQGZ1uAN0BD1QCAAAAAHNjb2xpb3Npcy1tZWRp Y2FsQGFpLm1pdC5lZHUAU01UUABzY29saW9zaXMtbWVkaWNhbEBhaS5taXQuZWR1AAAeAAIwAQAA AAUAAABTTVRQAAAAAB4AAzABAAAAHQAAAHNjb2xpb3Npcy1tZWRpY2FsQGFpLm1pdC5lZHUAAAAA AwAVDAEAAAADAP4PBgAAAB4AATABAAAAHwAAACdzY29saW9zaXMtbWVkaWNhbEBhaS5taXQuZWR1 JwAAAgELMAEAAAAiAAAAU01UUDpTQ09MSU9TSVMtTUVESUNBTEBBSS5NSVQuRURVAAAAAwAAOQAA AAALAEA6AQAAAB4A9l8BAAAAHQAAAHNjb2xpb3Npcy1tZWRpY2FsQGFpLm1pdC5lZHUAAAAAAgH3 XwEAAABXAAAAAAAAAIErH6S+oxAZnW4A3QEPVAIAAAAAc2NvbGlvc2lzLW1lZGljYWxAYWkubWl0 LmVkdQBTTVRQAHNjb2xpb3Npcy1tZWRpY2FsQGFpLm1pdC5lZHUAAAMA/V8BAAAAAwD/XwAAAAAC AfYPAQAAAAQAAAAAAAANEAAAAAMAADAOAAAACwAPDgEAAAACAf8PAQAAADwAAAAAAAAAgSsfpL6j EBmdbgDdAQ9UAgAAAQBBICYgUyBMYW5zZXIAU01UUABsYW5zZXJAY3liZXJ1cy5jYQAeAAIwAQAA AAUAAABTTVRQAAAAAB4AAzABAAAAEgAAAGxhbnNlckBjeWJlcnVzLmNhAAAAAwAVDAIAAAADAP4P BgAAAB4AATABAAAADwAAACdBICYgUyBMYW5zZXInAAACAQswAQAAABcAAABTTVRQOkxBTlNFUkBD WUJFUlVTLkNBAAADAAA5AAAAAAsAQDoAAAAAHgD2XwEAAAAhAAAAQSAmIFMgTGFuc2VyIFtsYW5z ZXJAY3liZXJ1cy5jYV0AAAAAAgH3XwEAAAA8AAAAAAAAAIErH6S+oxAZnW4A3QEPVAIAAAEAQSAm IFMgTGFuc2VyAFNNVFAAbGFuc2VyQGN5YmVydXMuY2EAAwD9XwEAAAADAP9fAAAAAAIB9g8BAAAA BAAAAAAAAA4RAAAAAwAAMA8AAAALAA8OAQAAAAIB/w8BAAAAUQAAAAAAAACBKx+kvqMQGZ1uAN0B D1QCAAABAGVocm1hbnRyYXV0QHNhc2sudXNhc2suY2EAU01UUABlaHJtYW50cmF1dEBzYXNrLnVz YXNrLmNhAAAAAB4AAjABAAAABQAAAFNNVFAAAAAAHgADMAEAAAAaAAAAZWhybWFudHJhdXRAc2Fz ay51c2Fzay5jYQAAAAMAFQwCAAAAAwD+DwYAAAAeAAEwAQAAABwAAAAnZWhybWFudHJhdXRAc2Fz ay51c2Fzay5jYScAAgELMAEAAAAfAAAAU01UUDpFSFJNQU5UUkFVVEBTQVNLLlVTQVNLLkNBAAAD AAA5AAAAAAsAQDoAAAAAHgD2XwEAAAAaAAAAZWhybWFudHJhdXRAc2Fzay51c2Fzay5jYQAAAAIB 918BAAAAUQAAAAAAAACBKx+kvqMQGZ1uAN0BD1QCAAABAGVocm1hbnRyYXV0QHNhc2sudXNhc2su Y2EAU01UUABlaHJtYW50cmF1dEBzYXNrLnVzYXNrLmNhAAAAAAMA/V8BAAAAAwD/XwAAAAACAfYP AQAAAAQAAAAAAAAPAgH5DwEAAABRAAAAAAAAAIErH6S+oxAZnW4A3QEPVAIAAAEAZWhybWFudHJh dXRAc2Fzay51c2Fzay5jYQBTTVRQAGVocm1hbnRyYXV0QHNhc2sudXNhc2suY2EAAAAAWz8BBIAB AA4AAAAgMSBkYXkgcHJlLW9wACIEAQWAAwAOAAAAzgcKABMAFwAMAC4AAQBEAQEggAMADgAAAM4H CgATABcADAAuAAEARAEBCYABACEAAABCMTEwRjE2M0U0RkJCRDExQTAzODJFMTQ2Njg0MkUwRQAZ BwEDkAYA+AsAACIAAAALAAIAAQAAAAsAIwAAAAAAAwAmAAAAAAALACkAAQAAAAMALgAAAAAAAgEx AAEAAADXAAAAUENERkVCMDkAAQACAEwAAAAAAAAAOKG7EAXlEBqhuwgAKypWwgAAbXNwc3QuZGxs AAAAAABOSVRB+b+4AQCqADfZbgAAAEM6XFdJTkRPV1Ncb3V0bG9vay5wc3QAGAAAAAAAAACrN6Li IUq9EaA4LhRmhC4OooAAABgAAAAAAAAAqzei4iFKvRGgOC4UZoQuDqSXIgAYAAAAAAAAAKs3ouIh Sr0RoDguFGaELg7CgAAAEAAAALEQ8WPk+70RoDguFGaELg4OAAAAIDEgZGF5IHByZS1vcAAAAwA2 AAAAAABAADkAYJ0iRuj7vQEeAHAAAQAAAA4AAAAgMSBkYXkgcHJlLW9wAAAAAgFxAAEAAAAWAAAA Ab37572DVveiYWelEdKYiL8OcmhFbAAAHgAeDAEAAAAFAAAAU01UUAAAAAAeAB8MAQAAABEAAABt YXJsYUBuZXQxZnguY29tAAAAAAMABhBqwOkCAwAHEGYJAAAeAAgQAQAAAGUAAABJQ0FOVEJFTElF VkVIT1dNVUNISEFTSEFQUEVORURJTlRISVNEQVlJUFJPTUlTRVRISVNJU01ZTEFTVFBPU1RPTlRI SVNTVUJKRUNUSVRTTk9XQUZURVJNSUROSUdIVEFORE9GAAAAAAIBCRABAAAABwgAAAMIAAAZDQAA TFpGdcrfMP4DAAoAcmNwZzEyNQYyAPgLYG5nNDEwOjUB9yACpAPjAgBjaMEKwHNldDAgBxMCgGZ9 CoAIyCA7CW8OMDWzAoAKgXVjAFALA2MAQXMPAg9QMzMLpwqxCoBJFCBjAHAnBUBiZWxBCJB2ZSBo bwfgbTUUcGgXkGEEIBEAcHCLCfAJgCALgCB0aAQAYCBkYXkuFkQWRnAfA2EEABeAGTMZUW15IOUL YHMFQHBvG/ECIBkkEHN1YmoFkHQuIFAgSXQnBCBuF7FhJwGABJAX0GlkAwBnaHcFQABwGOBvASAN 4AcxbKEbsE9wLUQZn2QekH8ZIReAGLEAwBkiDyAdYyDWdxhAFuNhGOBhHvEfwNkdYU5vHGEXgHMg QAQgXQBweSIzHhAG4HUFQGl8dCwc4CQwFqAJcB+zZu8mcAlxJcEdYUUXcBkSF4DWbghwGvF3CGBs HqAW8fxnaRdxB4AeECFBCXAdQLcfAQPgHlF0JDAboXEKUNUb8GkCIHMdYVMkMAIQ8wXAF2FyeSRS FzAa8RdAemspQ3cXoChxHyAEkHPZJfBJJx/AIcB4C1MnNN5ZCGApABFAKYFzAMAucasLUSshYxcQ bwJAbChhPyXQGBAv8RwgJaEccm9wnyXwIZEJcBtiJXQxNRFg/G1MH0Es8SrwIWELgACQfwEAL0Uc IC0hIZIx1DS0IG8sYAhwF5ALgGUbsB8Sc/kq8WV6NQYWxBdhA6Am0M8XMCGDDvA0cmdvJTILgO8v RSLgJdAfAyIXoCiwJcHFGPEiK9MyLTMecSggfx5ALiE7YQGQLSAkwTAFYf0EYHUCMDQCAREJESqC O+j9HWFUIaADoDbhJlExMBhAvylxHyERABdxIhAd4HIwIf8w4SpQAyAEYBdwB4ACMB1i/ySBHFUX gBbBKYEm0BfBPTTPG8ACIC+wBcBqdRvxGQG/FsBBsyUFFsApYSWSKB8SezthIVEpQKQtcjExGqFj /weQBCAqkDWQG8BKMxEAA6D/D1A9Fhm9EQAhdCtAIVAkYn8XoQSQSSUmEBiAItIZcXL1SqBiA2B3 A6AtA010JfA+YiWjTvMHQCYRHPBkc98bsS0STrJOSlDAYgJgB5HvKlE2wRcwCQB3Q+NRMwNQfwtw PBMogxzgAZAZARuhc/5rC4BQpyFRFuE9kzAyIuH/IaAjcSLgGaBJNCNSJRQZUX9LEVDjVjMY0Ruh HSBDIWy7LFAdYU0bsDpQPAF0CHDPGMIDkQWwDxF5LU+QGED/UfEI4jcBHxJWkgMQLDE90f8EoAQA WLMZcCigAyAJwCBA/i1USSIySqBaczDxGBAD8L8ucRcgJWExMSqRYwFjQYFfGMIZMAhgHtAZu0Ez gTHcOjMzwRuwKCRTIaADEP8iEDEwAYBkzh6HZiIH0Sgj/SXwTAeQF0FHxDqzZrFKZP9Y8huSIuAe Qh8SKpA8ASlh/1pzNdMIcEYxG7BM8hcgJ7EHEPFGIWxyIDg6MDC/JfMhkWvRVeMi4C0kdU7gvSOR Nm9xHwMpFiGSdgdA+Gl1bXFEZfAyk3AmPeLXbNNv0x/wUiOCN2XhQ+P/GEAtIBjhNCBymQWgVfJj Af8pEk/RbAIl8QuASiAmMVeUzyLRPwFjhAnAb2ddsCvT/0pxRfNQpFihJIEhZFIFKpG7KRM7YTlL dxcRK+FlSyH+ZEPkcSAcIWz1fDJ3oxbi/wDALSEpkQWQBAArQSqCbrT3WAMk8FkEQnwCeRVM9jJw /ysyNAId4AVAQiE6cx7xI6P/LjEZcAIgFvERMC1iG7CG9v9CI4S8LYBtMgdxdPNwsidB7xnMFsAf wBjRTQNwHwMgMP9vEx5ALnEhkXMgbReJ80zyv262bFNwAzLSB0AmYWQ3cfNp8AngcCEddQIgH9EP UO9xkhkBNvKJ83okUT2Th3H2bQQgPvBmC3AqcW0lN3H/kCKQ4x8DLlBzIIWRHWKWIf5nC2CV8SLW lWVkZHO1GqH/I1ACYHAliDcogC0gVnFxA/+NBnJljm+PdQOgVNGZu25j/2M2m3SY8SbxAjArcob2 YbR/LlOVdBfjKpAetYaFAMB5/2MBF0Ab8AnwJTIqkSYQKWGvF+AN0WKkIaBsTuAoSxL6ayTBZy7i exNtc3rQKxTPY3MFEKRyIaFDRDBiVED+ckkQGcxhtheAgc8pQVahh221A1JAwDktTDUqguBMNC1T MVEkOkEEcP8kQlCkdkF3gnkhXPNac01Cf0pRJmErMCVBkbM11R8gef8JAB/QG/AhoACQJMIY4IWS 3zXTCOErQLMxQ+NrHeJac/8EYBxCdtQKsBkBFqAuoQZx/wnweTEd4hlSClB09rJfrzb/tRhM1LQ3 tmR+xBcRFsBGgP99w08CGQEpkgEgMtE/AQkA/xbAKzJD4xegGKBtCbtcGVH/FyAKwGMzHiRtpkhz J8RUQP8REYJDpOFQoby1YZt2wUzU9wBwYnEeUWalMYIksTO/7f+dikIUxmSZEjEwk+FeAUoQ/wcw HkBwgTFyHPAYAWcBRhH/xrp8QwUAcxBMDyehFvG2cf9bUcvDAkBDsYIVGqAXYCtA/0aAHBORkk3S P6HGxJGRwiH/zWPSB8RoeYWqlzdxGJAXQfdvEweAHWFDRPIk8CRSH1H/bCMbsAuAAhAcYsbFrROt 898l8CnRQ3Ft8YnyP7ZkMTC9F3Bs2kDGwFzRgKJt1ZHpvqRzPxnKTQrAC2AZygUR8QDegAADABAQ AAAAAAMAERAAAAAAAwCAEP////9AAAcwAIxSi+T7vQFAAAgwYJ0iRuj7vQELAACACCAGAAAAAADA AAAAAAAARgAAAAADhQAAAAAAAAMAAoAIIAYAAAAAAMAAAAAAAABGAAAAABCFAAAAAAAAAwAFgAgg BgAAAAAAwAAAAAAAAEYAAAAAUoUAALcNAAAeACWACCAGAAAAAADAAAAAAAAARgAAAABUhQAAAQAA AAQAAAA4LjAAAwAmgAggBgAAAAAAwAAAAAAAAEYAAAAAAYUAAAAAAAALAC+ACCAGAAAAAADAAAAA AAAARgAAAAAOhQAAAAAAAAMAMIAIIAYAAAAAAMAAAAAAAABGAAAAABGFAAAAAAAAAwAygAggBgAA AAAAwAAAAAAAAEYAAAAAGIUAAAAAAAAeAEGACCAGAAAAAADAAAAAAAAARgAAAAA2hQAAAQAAAAEA AAAAAAAAHgBCgAggBgAAAAAAwAAAAAAAAEYAAAAAN4UAAAEAAAABAAAAAAAAAB4AQ4AIIAYAAAAA AMAAAAAAAABGAAAAADiFAAABAAAAAQAAAAAAAAAeAD0AAQAAAAEAAAAAAAAAAwANNP03AAAWiw== - ------ =_NextPart_000_01BDFBB6.6E7198C0-- ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-medical-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: Cyndi King Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 09:16:42 -0400 Subject: 14 Weeks Post-Op Read posts from Marla and Linda re: Nancy this morning. All the best wishes and prayers from me to you today. Also to others having or had surgery this week. I had a wonderful compliment from the water physical therapist last Thursday. She came over to me in the pool while I was warming up and told me that I was such an inspiration to the group. She said the personality of the whole group has changed (for the better) since I joined in September. The other patients have different ailments and realized how far I had come after I was allowed to stop wearing the brace on 10/5. When I came to the pool on 10/6 in my swimsuit the incision scar was very noticeable. It is healing very well, but it is 16 inches long down the center of my back. All of the other patients could see it and it made quite an impression on them. I guess while I was gone for the 10/8 & 10/13 sessions they all asked Laurie, the PT, about my surgeries and came to a group consensus that I was pretty amazing. Somehow their own ailments became a little less to them. I want to thank you all for giving me the courage to have this surgery and for maintaining my confidence during the recuperation. I gain so much from this list that I am able to go out into the world each day and perhaps inspire others. Regards, CBK ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-medical-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: Diana Laurent Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 09:39:03 -0700 Subject: Spasms This is a real simple and obvious thing, but I find that a lot of people who complain of muscle spasms, especially in the legs, are chronically dehydrated and don't realize it (I work in rheumatology). I tell them to increase their water intake and see if it helps. Quite often it does, especially for folks on diuretics or blood pressure medications. Worth a try for those of your having this problem. Diana ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: "Dean A. Hoppenrath, DC" Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 14:22:21 -0500 Subject: Re: scoliosis V1 #987 I have only one thing to comment on with this reply and its not the copes stuff (I too would like to see some studies)... It is Richard's referancing the "quackwatch" site. This is not an informational site, it is a witch hunt site. The man in charge of it is a retired MD by the name of Dr. Stephen Barrett. He has a personal vendetta against all things alternative. His theories are flawed but never questioned by the same standards that he asks you to question alternatives. Just a few weeks back he was featured as an expert on Dateline NBC in a story about hair analysis. He stated that he was a specialist in this field (which he is not) He also sent in a mixture of dog hair to be analysed and marked the sample as being human. when the report came back as showing a decrease in thyroid function and low leavels of most minerals, Dr. Barrett stated that the hair analysis was totally flawed (because the dog was healthy). But as we all know, dogs and humans do not have the same physiology and since he purposfully put "human" on the sample, there was no way to determine that it was actually a healthy dog. It is these types of methods that Dr. Stephen Barrett uses and then turn around and says "see they are quacks". He has yet to admit that chiropractic is the most effective treatment for back pain (even though study after study shows this to be true). Richard, you are right, this is not X-Files. But, in the real world, many people use false hoods to advance their own personal belief, regardless of facts. Dean A. Hoppenrath, DC >> I know surgery is the only answer for many. >> I have heard so many good things about the Copes system on this list, I >> would hope the people in the position to try bracing would look into every >> alternative. > >And I hope people will read www.quackwatch.com as they explore and try to understand the alternatives and their patter. > >> ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: "Mike Tardif" Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 15:48:20 -0400 Subject: atardif@ctel.net This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_000C_01BDFC41.0FEE6F40 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable unsubscribe - ------=_NextPart_000_000C_01BDFC41.0FEE6F40 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
unsubscribe
- ------=_NextPart_000_000C_01BDFC41.0FEE6F40-- ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: Connie Edwards Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 14:42:00 -0700 Subject: scoliosis and the Milwaukee brace My 13-year-old daughter, Carrie, was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of five. Until this summer we lived in Germany where they prescribed physical therapy. Now that we are here, the doctor has saidd she needs a brace right away. Her cervical curve is 32 and her thoracic is 24 degrees. I am a single mom and plan to get a second opinion but from reading I am beginning to suspect the doc here is correct in his assessment. Since we are new insurance holders, there is no coverage for this pre-existing condition.I would appreciate any information or simply support. Thanks. Cononie Edwards gibibl@interaccess.com ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: Dean Wall Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 15:50:02 -0500 Subject: Judy Wall surgery successful Greetings, Judy Wall finished the second part of her back surgery today just a little bit ago. Total surgery time (both days combined) was about 14 hours. The doctor reports that all went very well and there were no problems. Judy is doing well, but will be heavily medicated for awhile, so I do not encourage phone calls. However, all emails will be read to her. Also, her room is already filled with flowers, so more will not be necessary. Should you desire to send a card the address is: Judy Wall, Room #7104 Barnes-Jewish Hospital South One Barnes-Jewish Hospital Plaza St. Louis, MO 63110 Thank you for all your prayers and good wishes. Dean Wall ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-medical-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: KKRUGER@ddiworld.com (KKRUGER) Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 17:32:08 +0100 Subject: [none] Hi everyone, I'm new to the list and would like to comment briefly on the Copes brace because I've read so much discussion about it here. From age 12 to 16 I wore a milwaukee brace. It corrected my curves successfully, but to make a long story short the curves started to worsen around age 31. This was likely due to a variety of factors including long term use of birth control pills, severe lack of protein in the diet, etc. I'm sure someone out there will ask about that but I won't go into it here. My ortho. surgeon recommended surgery (I'm 35 now) but I opted for the Copes brace. I got it the last week of May of this year. On Sept. 17th I had x-rays taken. My lumbar curve has decreased from 49 to 39 degrees. My thorasic curve is down from 41 to 36 and the top curve (going into my neck) is down from 21 to 5 degrees. Not bad for 4 months. Actually, I'm ahead of the game because as I understand it the average correction is 1 degree per month. The differences between the Copes brace and the Milwaukee are many, but they work on the same basic principal of pushing with pads to achieve correction. I'm not sure how long these messages are allowed to be so I won't go into the differences between the braces here. But if anyone out there would like my thoughts, please ask. I think I'm Dr. Copes' only patient who has worn both kinds of braces, but I may be wrong. Any one else out there have a similar story? I'm glad this site is here and very happy to "meet" all of you! Best wishes in whatever course of treatment you are pursuing!!! To A.K.-thanks for cluing me in on this! KAT. ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: ianjan Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 07:59:32 -0700 Subject: NSAID Can someone please explain to me what an NSAID is? Thanks, Ian Melbourne, Australia ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: "Dean A. Hoppenrath, DC" Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 17:36:38 -0500 Subject: Re: NSAID N on- S teroidal A nti- I nflamatory D rug Or the likes of Tylonol, ibuprofen, naproxin. Dr. Dean - -----Original Message----- From: ianjan To: scoliosis@ai.mit.edu Date: Tuesday, October 20, 1998 5:16 PM Subject: NSAID > >Can someone please explain to me what an NSAID is? >Thanks, > ... ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: Diana Laurent Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 16:01:48 -0700 Subject: Re: NSAID At 07:59 AM 10/21/98 -0700, you wrote: > >Can someone please explain to me what an NSAID is? >Thanks, > ... "non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug" - aspirin in higher doses (but not Tylenol), Motrin, Naprosyn, Relafen, DayPro, Voltaren, Feldene, etc. There are many. They are designed to treat inflammation, but also are used just for pain with no inflammation. Diana ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: hmc Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 18:32:01 -0600 Subject: Re: NSAID Is Tylenol a NSAID? I cannot take ibupfrofen, naproxin, etc., but the same Dr. that advised against NSAIDs said that Tylenol was my best bet. Or aspirin, if I wanted. Therefore, I was under the impression that Tylenol was not an NSAID. Was I mistaken? - --hmc. ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: hmc Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 18:49:17 -0600 Subject: Robin's Exactomundo! remark Robin Murphy wrote: Being able to compare notes and information makes > me feel like I am just a bit more in control than when I just hurt and no > one can tell me why. Amen, Robin! Precisely how I feel and why I find this list such a huge help. SHaring opinions, information, and moral support make this list so rewarding to be a part of. Thanks, you guys! - --hmc. ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: HugEBear36@aol.com Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 20:29:01 EDT Subject: Re: scoliosis and the Milwaukee brace This is in response to no insurance or pre-existing condition. Shriners Hospitals are all over the US and do not require payment from anybody weather you can pay or not. Shriners hospital is for children and its free. Hope you get this message. ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: HugEBear36@aol.com Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 20:34:38 EDT Subject: Re: NSAID check back a few e-mails and you will see ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: "Dean A. Hoppenrath, DC" Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 19:44:56 -0500 Subject: Re: NSAID My fault, your right tylenol is NOT an NSAID. (Technically it is not a steroidal but not really a NSAID) - -----Original Message----- From: hmc To: scoliosis@ai.mit.edu Date: Tuesday, October 20, 1998 7:01 PM Subject: Re: NSAID > >Is Tylenol a NSAID? I cannot take ibupfrofen, naproxin, etc., but the >same Dr. that advised against NSAIDs said that Tylenol was my best bet. > ... ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: hmc Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 18:43:39 -0600 Subject: For Marla, after Surgery I know you are going to be groggy, even when you do get around to reading this, but I just wanted to tell you my good thoughts are with you today (Op-day!) and as you recover. Thank you for the blow-by-blow of your Pre-Op days and for covering (tackfully! ;*) some things we had never mentioned on-list before. Keep up posted, whenever you feel up to it. Be well. - --hmc. ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-medical-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: "zOnly One" Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 22:47:55 EDT Subject: Hiding the Brace :o Hey everyone!!! I just got my brace yesterday, and I'm already finding loads of trouble with my waredrobe. What do you guys wear to hide your brace? zOnlyOne _________________________ “Don’t be so humble-you are not that great.”-Golda Meir ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-teens-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: Kathy Mayhall Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 23:28:41 -0400 Subject: Re: two weeks post-op! Robin this has nothing to do with you...I just wanted to tell you that when I got home after having a rod placed from the top of my spine to the bottom..I had no spasms and only felt weak..two week after surgery I was driving and went to the mall with my sister..I still felt week but I never took a pain pill, but Tylenol when I got home..why is everyone so painful when they come home??? I had no feeling in my back and I had two 60 degree curves they where only able to get them to 20 degrees after surgery...I just do not understand..Why all the pain???? Robin Murphy wrote: > > Today I am two weeks post op. It is 4 am in the morning. Somehow this part > has not changed. That's the part where I wake up at 3-4 am in pain and it > ... ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: Kathy Mayhall Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 23:30:59 -0400 Subject: Re: reconstructive surgery Leah Did you have all this pain when you came home..like the others are talking about..we had our surgery about the same time..??? Leah640@aol.com wrote: > > Tina, > Find out what kind of rods and screws they are using. Some are better than > ... ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: Lildagover@aol.com Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 23:18:37 EDT Subject: Re: NSAID Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: "Jennifer Wright" Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 21:12:24 -0600 Subject: Re: Jennifer & MRIs Dear Alyssa, I can't tell you the number of times that I have been told by surgeons and radiologists that I cannot have a MRI due to the hardware in my back. I did read on this list (I think from Allison) that a very skilled radiologist could still do a MRI on me, but when I have asked medical personnel about this, I was told it was not possible. I have an abundance of hardware in my lumbar region, so perhaps that makes a difference. Since I am facing another myelogram and am now fused fromT3-L5 which means they will have to inject the dye in a cervical disc..........I would certainly want a MRI. I will keep trying to see if it is possible in my case. Thanks. Jennnifer ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-medical-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: Kathy Mayhall Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 23:39:53 -0400 Subject: Re: scoliosis V1 #987 FACT....I went to a Chiro for 1 full year, at 3 times per week..he claimed to know alot about scoli..and he was going to make my scoli. stop or improve 50 percent..I went every week...well nothing..I got worse from the manupulations.....I would cough and my back would go out...just 2 months after seeing him..it was so much worse I could not even tell you..You chiro maybe good for headaches but you can forget this..it is way beyond your 4 year degree.. Dean A. Hoppenrath, DC wrote: > > I have only one thing to comment on with this reply and its not the copes > stuff (I too would like to see some studies)... > ... ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: "Gail Walsh" Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 00:49:17 -0500 Subject: Re: Jennifer & MRIs Jennifer, I thought I would add my two cents worth re: the MRI. I have Harrington rods and this past year had an MRI without any problem at all. It was the first time I had undergone the test and had some concerns but other than the clautophobia of being in a confined space, all went well! Maybe you should discuss it with your doc. My rods cover the entire thoracic area. Good luck! Sincerely, Gail ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-medical-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: richa@softcom.net Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 20:49:01 -0700 Subject: Re: Hiding the Brace :o zOnlyOne, I used to wear a brace. ONly have to wear it at nights now. ONly had to wear it for 'bout.....um.......5 months total. I had to wear it to school also. I didn't wear anything to hide my brace at all! My friends already knew about it, I go to a private school, and they were pretty kind to me. I didn't hide my brace. It wasn't until the 5th month of wearing it when I reached to my back to itch myself, when I noticed that my brace stuck out of my back that much! No wonder so many kids were asking , "What'z that hump on your back?" I heard that wearing a jacket with a hood helps. Don't worry! God is with you! He'll help you through everything! You can ask me anything about the brace, hopefully i'll be able to answer all of your questions. I wore a minnesota brace 23 1/2 hours a day! Bye! Reece For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-teens-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ From: Linda Racine Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 21:03:38 -0800 Subject: Re: Jennifer & MRIs Hi all... I found the following Medline reference, that [hopefully] will answer the question as to whether MRIs are possible, and worthwhile, after spine surgery with instrumentation: TITLE: Metallic artifacts in magnetic resonance imaging of patients with spinal fusion. A comparison of implant materials and imaging sequences. AUTHOR: Rudisch A; Kremser C; Peer S; Kathrein A; Judmaier W; Daniaux H AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Innsbruck, Austria. SOURCE: Spine 1998 Mar 15;23(6):692-9 CITATION IDS: PMID: 9549791 UI: 98210960 ABSTRACT: STUDY DESIGN: Devices for spinal fusion were compared with respect to their influence on magnetic resonance images. In addition, different magnetic resonance pulse sequences were evaluated to elicit their susceptibility to imaging artifacts. OBJECTIVES: To determine the implants with the least imaging artifacts as a recommendation for the spine surgeon and to assess the best imaging strategy for the radiologist. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: For patients who have had surgical spinal fusion with instrumentation, magnetic resonance imaging is the most favorable diagnostic method. Unfortunately, metallic implants lead to severe degradation of image quality. These artifacts depend on the material of the implant and on the choice of the pulse sequence. METHODS: The fusion devices were mounted on a simple plastic phantom in various combinations and were imaged on 1.5-T magnetic resonance units. Frequently used types of plates and screws made of titanium or steel in various alloys were examined on the phantom with routinely used pulse sequences. The results of these examinations were compared with those in patient studies involving the same implants as well as the same pulse sequences. RESULTS: The least imaging artifacts were caused by titanium implants, especially when using shorter screws, wider screw placement, and thinner titanium plates. Nevertheless, there were distinct image distortions that could lead to erroneous image interpretation. The best images were acquired by spin echo (T1), turbo spin echo (T1, T2), and half Fourier single shot turbo spin echo (HASTE) sequences. Sequences containing any gradient echo components (gradient echo or turbo gradient and spin echo sequence or frequency- selective fat saturation techniques) resulted in the highest amount of image degradation. CONCLUSION: By choosing appropriate spinal fusion devices as well as pulse sequences, postoperative magnetic resonance imaging examinations can give acceptable results, in spite of the presence of metallic implants. ______ For help on using this list (especially unsubscribing), send a message to "scoliosis-medical-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". ------------------------------ End of scoliosis V1 #988 ************************ You're reading a composite here: the scoliosis-digest is a daily encapsulation of messages sent to four different mailing lists: scoliosis, scoliosis-medical, scoliosis-child and scoliosis-teens. If you're responding, you can determine which list message above was posted to by looking at the message footer. To post your own email to scoliosis, send it to "scoliosis@ai.mit.edu". To post your own email to scoliosis-medical list, send it to "scoliosis-medical@ai.mit.edu". To post to scoliosis-child, send your message to "scoliosis-child@ai.mit.edu." To post your message to scoliosis-teens, send it to "scoliosis-teens@ai.mit.edu". Be sure to see the scoliosis web page at "http://www.ai.mit.edu/extra/scoliosis/scoliosis.html". For help on using the scoliosis-digest, (especially unsubscribing) send an electronic mail message to "scoliosis-digest-request@ai.mit.edu" with one line of text: "help". Spammers and promotional posts not allowed.