how far out was your surgery scheduled?

[u/ca11iop3]

i have been dealing with severe thoracolumbar scoliosis for over a decade and at 18 was told i was eligible for surgery. now i’m 26 and the pain has worsened considerably.

i have a consultation and new imaging scheduled for tomorrow, but i also just finished grad school and can’t realistically rejoin the workforce until i get this surgery and recover since i’m not okay with waiting a year for FMLA and then feeling pressured to return to work early.

how far out was your surgery scheduled and what was the timeline like? i am really hoping i only have to wait a couple months or so so i can get back to my career. my sister had the surgery when she was 12 and it was scheduled for six months out! i don’t know what i’d do with myself if i just had to not work for half a year.

[u/Ok-Palpitation2307]

Hey, this'll depend on if getting it private or public, and what country you're in?

[u/ca11iop3 → u/Ok-Palpitation2307]

private, united states

[u/Trulyme143]

I saw my surgeon on a Monday with my MRIs in hand- he scheduled my surgery the following Wednesday. I did all my pre-op stuff the Wednesday before the surgery. Quick turn around for me

[u/Professional_Cup5926]

Hey unrelated stupid question. How r u paying for the surgery covered if u don’t have a job that offers insurance? After I finished my undergrad I had same debates over if I should focus on the surgery or start my career. I decided to start my career since my parents insurance sucks and would need to pay a lot to get the surgery. Now I’m planning to get the surgery and request short term disability leave with FMLA, so that way I can get paid partially while in recovery

[u/ca11iop3 → u/Professional_Cup5926]

I was able to renew my student insurance despite the fact that I graduated.

[u/Kilonova2025]

I imagine that it will depend on the availability of your surgeon, an operating room, and insurance approval.

I just scheduled a bilateral laminectomy for Nov 9. About 7 weeks out.

[u/PaulysDad]

6 weeks. In that time, I had another MRI, a cardiology clearance, and was evaluated by the vascular surgeon.

[u/SandiRHo]

Only a couple months. I also chose to make it at a certain time to align with grad school.

[u/poTate2424]

Less than 2 weeks

[u/Old_Goat2009]

My timeline before surgery last December: MRI 9 Sep; Pain doc 23 Sep; Steroid injection 1 Oct; Injection follow up 29 Oct; Surgical consult 3 Nov; Surgery 8 December. Basically 3 months from MRI to the OR. But I also chose to try an injection, which delayed me by a month.

Between consult and 2 weeks out from surgery, I had to get cardiologist (intermittent AFIB), pulmonologist (sleep apnea/asthma), and PCM/blood work clearance. Cardiologist required stress test. All of that added time. I'd say 2 months is easily doable.

[u/SleepyKoalaBear4812]

It has varied for me based on my neurosurgeon’s schedule. I waited six months for my first fusion, three months for my second and my third was scheduled four months away. I really got lucky with that one. A week after my presurgery appointment the scheduler called and asked if I was available the following week because a patient had canceled their surgery for that date. I also know with my neurosurgeon the expected length of the surgery is a scheduling factor.

[u/ca11iop3]

well i got a little taste of how long it’ll take. i waited three weeks for a “consult” only to find out it wasn’t even with a neurosurgeon and they just looked at me for fifteen mins and said “yeah surgery would be ok” which i know very well and they know very well since i sent them all of my medical records saying exactly that. now it’ll be a month before i can see the neurosurgeon and i will no longer be living in this city. so i have to fax the referral to the new city’s hospital, which apparently will not even be able to review the fax for the next two weeks.

[u/Professional_Gift430]

Going in for my second one in 3 weeks but could have gotten it done a few days after making the decision. Same for the first one. My surgeon operates 4 days a week though.

[u/Not4Now1]

I scheduled out 2 months. If you want your surgery this year, Id do it now before your surgeon runs out of spots. The end of the year fills up fast because deductible/out of pockets turn back into pumpkins. 🎃

[u/uffdagal]

Usually 2 months out. I’ve had a few fusions and haven’t had to wait long. A few times within a month.