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  1. #1

    Default Misdiagnosis of Scoliosis

    My question involves medical malpractice in the state of: California

    My main question is are there any recommendations on attorneys that mite take my case.

    With out getting to in depth in to my situation I'll try to make it short.
    I've been doing search and rescue for a few years. I was offered a job doing SAR in the snow which would involve hiking 2-10 miles every day with a 60 pound pack on. I've had pain in my back for a year or so. I found a spine doctor to look at my back and clear me for the job. I had an mri and the doctor said my back looked great. 3 months later due to alot of pain I went to a different doctor who had me get Xrays and diagnosed me with Scoliosis due to a leg length difference. If the first doctor would of done his job right I wouldn't of taken the job and caused more damage and had to spend over $2000 on gear that I can no longer use.

  2. #2
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    Jan 2006
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    Default Re: Misdiagnosis of Scoliosis

    If the first doctor would of done his job right I wouldn't of taken the job and caused more damage and had to spend over $2000 on gear that I can no longer use.
    I can't say I have ever heard scoliosis diagnosed based on leg length. Unequal leg length can be a noticeable symptom when scoliosis is present but in itself, it is not a means to diagnose scoliosis. A review of the spine through X rays and physical exam are how scoliosis is diagnosed. You can have unequal leg length and not have scoliosis.

    In fact, it is quite often the opposite; unequal leg length can cause scoliosis.

    but beyond that, there is no reason you would not be able to do the job other than how the work effected you specifically. While some people experience pain and are handicapped by scoliosis, others have no real symptoms. So, it's not s much that you have scoliosis so you can't do some particular activity. It's that you can't do some activity because your scoliosis is causing you pain. Even if you had quite visible scoliosis, unless it caused you pain, which is something you have to decide for yourself, there would be no reason you could do the work.

    If you had scoliosis, there would be a measurable curvature of the spine since that is what scoliosis is. So, what is the angular measurement of your spine?

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Misdiagnosis of Scoliosis

    Scoliosis is a lateral curvature of the spine, not a difference in leg length; I can see how a leg length difference could cause posture problems resulting in a lateral curvature of the spine, if that's what you mean. But it's quite possible that your back looked fine to the first doctor. Also, I expect that in the opinions of the lawyers you consulted a complaint of back pain not requiring any significant medical treatment falls well short of the damages necessary to justify the very high cost of a malpractice lawsuit, and the money you paid for gear would not be recoverable as damages.

    How are you addressing the difference in leg length now? A shoe insert? Orthopedic shoes?

  4. #4

    Default Re: Misdiagnosis of Scoliosis

    Xray report said. There is a scoliosis and pelvic tilt with the left iliac crest higher than the right. R/O leg length.

    I don't have curve measurements or treatment options yet, I'm going in for an Mri.

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    Default Re: Misdiagnosis of Scoliosis

    so, did the pelvic tilt cause the scoliosis or did the scoliosis cause the pelvic tilt? It can go either way.

    The only way to determine anything is to get the exam records from the first doctor and have another doctor review them to see if there was any curvature at the time.

    if there was not noticeable curvature of the spine and you had no symptoms upon that exam, you really don't have much of a claim, if any at all.

  6. #6

    Default Re: Misdiagnosis of Scoliosis

    I appreciate the input. I'm going to work on getting a copy of the first scans.

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