Joyce E.
I am a 57-year-old female from Alabama and a scoliosis survivor. I have known since I was a child that I had scoliosis but did not show any noticeable symptoms until I was in my early 50's. By that time, one shoulder hung down further than the other, one leg was shorter than the other, and my clothes didn't fit correctly.
In January 2001, my family doctor arranged for me to see a scoliosis specialist. This doctor told me I had a 55 degree curve and explained the surgery to correct it. I decided I wasn't in bad enough shape to warrant such a major surgery.
In August of 2003, I went to a specialist in Georgia. He told me my curve had progressed to 110 degrees and that I needed surgery even though there was a 40% chance that my spine would pull away from the hardware and I would be in worse shape than before. I went home and did some research on the Internet about this doctor and found out that he had only been in practice for two years. I just didn't feel comfortable with that.
I prayed for guidance. Thank God for the Internet! I met a young lady who also lives in Alabama and had scoliosis. She told me that she had already found the most qualified scoliosis specialist. His name was Dr. Lawrence Lenke. She told me that she scheduled her surgery on her first visit to see him. I knew I wouldn't let a doctor that was over 500 miles away from home operate on me, but I agreed to talk with him.
I made an appointment and when my husband and I were put in an exam room, my MRI and x-rays were already on the walls. When Dr. Lenke came in, he pointed out his findings and talked with us as if we were part of his team. He told me my curve was now 135 degrees. He told me he had never had a patient with that severe a curve to be as flexible as I was. With that in mind, he felt he could straighten me all the way up. I had not heard that before. He made my husband and I feel very secure and, despite my previous doubts, I scheduled my surgery on that first visit.
When I first woke up from the successful surgery, Dr. Lenke was tapping on my brace saying, "Your husband is going to be very proud of you". I said, "No, he is going to very proud of you"!
It has been almost eight months since my surgery and I feel like a million bucks and I am as straight as an arrow. Thank you, Dr. Lenke!
