Get a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Opinion! Please!

While Spondylolisthesis itself is not a rare condition and found in a fairly large percentage of the general population, it is not a condition which is well known like that of Scoliosis. Most of those who have some degree of slippage as a result of Spondylolisthesis don't even know they have it, and fewer actually experience a severe slip of the spine, let alone a complete slip, which is also referred to as Spondyloptopsis. While the medical community is familiar with Spondylolisthesis, because the greater slips (or rather, high grades, which are typically in the category of grades 3, 4 or 5) are much less common, fewer medical professionals have actually dealt with a greater number of patients whom present with said grades, especially that of a complete slip. As a result, orthopedic spine surgeons who specialize in surgeries to help to correct and stabilize this condition often have a limited number of cases under their belt, and therefore, a lesser surgery count as a general rule. Unlike more common surgeries, like that of heart surgeries, or even extremely common and routine surgeries, like that of getting one's appendix removed, surgeons who deal with Spondylolistheis in high grades do have a fairly limited practice. For example, at the time of my multiple operations and full body traction, my doctor, while very experienced in his field and this specific series of surgeries, in 1997 his total number of operations for a twenty year time frame hovered around twenty. Now, when you consider this and compare it to the possible 10 surgeries a week with another more common condition, which adds up to many hundreds, if not thousands of routine operations for the other mentioned operations, it becomes pretty clear that this condition is not exactly a common practice. It's very much a case of it's all relative. My surgeon's track record was actually quite impressive considering the number I mentioned above seeming to be rather low for such a skilled and seasoned expert. Yes, my surgeon was and is very talented, and for how severe my condition was, and all of the things that could have very likely gone wrong, he was nothing short of brilliant when it comes to "correcting" my spine, avoiding paralysis, and ultimately saving my life. Long story short, I encourage anyone whom is dealing with this condition, most specifically in a high grade or full slip, to visit a number of surgeons before proceeding forward with any surgeries. Because the condition - when so severe - is fairly rare, there remains some mystery around it, and an eagerness on the doctor's, and medical community's part, to play experimental surgery and use patient's as something of a guinea pig. This concept is very scary and I have had several people approach me online throughout these past few years since I began blogging about the spine condition and my experience, stating that they or a family member experienced exactly what everyone fears, and what I hope to assist in steering away from, .. that is, if i can reach others and they are able and willing to truly listen before diving head first into something which is beyond serious, and very well may be, extremely life altering on many levels. So please, if you have questions, if you'd like me to share my experiences .. my opinions, my knowledge, my research, .. and anything else, please, please, please contact me!!! It makes be sick to my stomach to hear some of these horror stories, especially since I know that just by reaching out and sharing my journey and ongoing knowledge, that I could have really helped avoid some of the terrible outcomes which befall some people when it comes to this painful condition.