Ryleigh playing cards after surgery with her grandfather
2020 has been a rough year, but there is still good news out there!
Our doctors and staff at Tulsa Bone & Joint are as committed as we’ve ever been to helping relieve your orthopedic pain. Recently, Dr. William Clark performed 4-hour surgery on a 12-year-old with scoliosis, and it has drastically changed her life.
Before and after X-rays of Ryleigh’s spine
Ryleigh’s mom, Laura, shared that her daughter had severe scoliosis with a curvature more than 70°. Before surgery, her lungs were functioning only at 60%, and her pain and discomfort were growing worse by the day. If left undone, the curvature would have increased and continued to affect her lungs and also potentially her heart. After talking to a few doctors and enduring many X-rays, MRI’s, and a pulmonary test, Laura, Ryleigh and family decided that the best treatment was to have a rod put in her back to straighten her spine.
Laura said she was relieved to find Dr. Clark and heard wonderful things about him from other medical professionals. “Everyone we ran into – other doctors, etc. – kept saying, ‘Dr. Clark is the best.’ That made me feel good that everyone we talked to had nothing but good things to say about him. We are new to town, so that made me feel good about choosing him.”
Dr. Clark, the premiere scoliosis specialist in the Tulsa area, performed a Thoracic 2 to Lumbar 1 Posterior Spinal Fusion with Instrumentation on Ryleigh on May 26, 2020.
After surgery with a straight spine, Ryleigh is standing 2″ taller. She is back to doing all the things she loves – playing at The Gathering Place, dancing, running … she probably shouldn’t be doing all of these so soon after surgery, so shhhhh! Don’t tell Dr. Clark;)
Thanks for entrusting us with your care, Ryleigh!
If you or someone you know has questions about scoliosis, give us a call at 918-392-1400, or Request an Appointment online.
Ryleigh at the Gathering Place a few weeks after surgery
Monica McMahon
Each day at Tulsa Bone & Joint Associates, our scoliosis specialist, Dr. William Clark, is helping treat patients with scoliosis, and the results are truly amazing. We celebrate the victories we’ve been able to help many people with scoliosis achieve!
Here’s the story of a 12-year-old girl, Monica McMahon, who was greatly impacted by her experience with Dr. Clark at Tulsa Bone & Joint earlier this year.
“I am a competitive swimmer. Scoliosis runs in my family, so we were keeping an eye on my back throughout childhood. My physician did my physical every year and did not see any signs of scoliosis until I was 11. At my first X-ray, I had already progressed to a 50 degree curve, so Dr. Clark at Tulsa Bone & Joint advised surgery, but I was not having any pain at the time.
Before surgery, I noticed that if I sat for a long time or if I stood too long, it was uncomfortable. It felt like my ribs were being pushed over, and I had frequent headaches. I was still swimming well, so we decided to wait just a little longer before surgery. I was unsure of how long I would be out of swim, so waiting a few months gave me time to meet a few goals. I ended up having a great swim season.
Monica’s Before X-ray: December 2018
Monica’s after surgery X-ray: May 2019
My follow up X-ray 6 months later in December 2018 showed that my curve had progressed. At that time, we decided to schedule spinal fusion for Spring Break. I was nervous but knew surgery was the best option for me. The surgery was on March 13, 2019, and I am very happy that I chose to have Dr Clark and his team for my surgery. They all took great care of me. I am fused T4-L2.
After surgery, I was determined to get back in the pool as soon as possible. Once my incision was healed at 2 weeks, I returned to the pool only to walk in the water at first. I took it very slow, adding in a little more at each practice. After 3 months, I returned to compete in my first swim meet after surgery. I placed 1st in my 50 freestyle age group event! It was then that I knew everything would be OK. I would continue to get better and faster in time.
I was very happy that I had the surgery. It feels great to be back to my favorite sport. I even stand taller now!”
Thank you for sharing your story with us, Monica, and for choosing Dr. Clark and Tulsa Bone & Joint to help you move your life forward! Dr. Clark is the specialist for adult and pediatric spine deformity and scoliosis surgery in Tulsa and the surrounding areas. Call 918-392-1400 to schedule an appointment or for more information.
Monica returns to the pool after surgery!
Each month, we honor one of our doctors as Doctor of the Month. Our June honoree is William (Bill) Clark, MD. Dr. Clark is passionate about helping people with spinal deformities and scoliosis. He is an Associate Fellow for the Scoliosis Research Society. He is board certified through the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He cares deeply about his patients and is a truly skilled surgeon. We are so glad to have him on the team at Tulsa Bone & Joint Associates! Find out more about Dr. Clark at his physician page here.
