Scoliosis

Kenpo

Hi,

I've had bad back problems for 5 years. Only recently found out
it is Scoliosis - this is after 1000's of euros on doctors, etc.

Anyone know someone who has this and how they are treating it?

I don't fancy a op to have rods straighten my spine.

Been to Chiropractors in the past but only got a bit of relief (more so from my wallet being emptied so many times a week).

I found a good Spinologist but he won't treat people any more than 3 times.

Jimoslimos

Curvature of the spine,

My gf has this (not severe and the spine curves back - has a slight s-shape) and she hasn't had any treatment. It was however monitored closely when she was younger. I'd imagine your doctor would have recommended some excercises to strengten the muscles in your back since I believe the uneven distribution on one side is what causes most of the pain

NotSoDumbBlonde

Hi Kenpo

Sorry to hear you've got scoliosis, but at least you've got a diagnosis now and you can start to treat / rectify it.

I had/have scoliosis and had the surgery (spinal fusion) to rectify same, albeit 13 years ago. I had pretty severe curvature and surgery was my only option. I was in my mid-late teens at the time. Unfortunately, i'm one of the unlucky ones and I have suffered with back problems ever since, mainly due to the fact that I had to have the rods removed 3 years later. I would advise you to consider all your options prior to embarking on this road. It is a serious operation and is not to be considered lightly, although you seem to know this already and you don't want to get it done. There are other options - but times have changed since i had the surgery so I'm not abreast of the latest treatment for scoliosis. It all depends on how bad your curvature is and how quickly it is developing, if at all. Do you know the extent of your curvature? Also, if you dont mind me asking, how old are you? Have you considered or has the option of a back-brace been put to you? Is it purely a cosmetic issue or are you suffering from back pain? Have you been for phsyiotherapy? I'd steer clear of chiropracters, although this is purely my own opinion and is not in any way meant to disregard the work of chiropracters - I know many people who have found chiropracters to have worked wonders for them, although none of them had spine issues.

I believe that spinal fusions are a lot more common now than they were when i was having the surgery - even the way they are performed has drastically changed and it is no longer as invasive as it was for me. Have you spoken to a Consultant Ortho surgeon?

There are some informative websites out there for people with scoliosis, Spineworks being one of them.

If you want any further info on the actual procedure itself or on scoliosis / living with it, please feel free to ask me, although like I said above, it's 13 years since I had the procedure.

If you're in pain, I would definitely suggest considering some sort of treatment but there are a lot of options out there. Just be careful what type of treatment you decide to embark on - the spine is a complicated structure that needs only expert advice!

Best of luck!

elden

i noticed a curve in my 13year old daughter spine about a year ago. my gp after x rays confirmed my fears that it was scoliosis. i was refered to dublin to visit a specialist. he told me it would not progress very far, it was 38 degrees then, and told me to ring for an appointment in 6 months. told me to encourage her to excersize, and play a sport....:mad:
well when i returned 6 months later with x rays again was told it had gone to 48 degrees and she is borderline surgery, i nearly died, then he said a boston brace may work if worn 23hours per day for a year and a half...

thats what we are at now, last x ray showed a correction in curve to 26 degrees, and because of her bone age if she wears till her bone hardens it might stay at that, or may get a little worse.

just want people to know these brace are out there, they are expensive but they are worth there weight in gold....:):):)

opinion guy

Kenpo wrote: »

I found a good Spinologist but he won't treat people any more than 3 times.

Whats a Spinologist ?

0lddog

Kenpo wrote: »

.....Anyone know someone who has this and how they are treating it?.....

The Da had this. In his day there was nothing that could be done about it except get on with life. So thats what he did. He lived to his late 80's.

There is a suggestion of some sort of link ( reminder : correlation does not imply causation ) between this and Coeliac disease / gluten intolerance

2Scoops

opinion guy wrote: »

Whats a Spinologist ?

Splinter group of chiropractic with greater emphasis on 'philosophy' and less on treating maladies vs. typical. Unusually prevalent in Ireland for some reason.

RobFowl

2Scoops wrote: »

Splinter group of chiropractic with greater emphasis on 'philosophy' and less on treating maladies vs. typical. Unusually prevalent in Ireland for some reason.

Thanks a term I'd never come accross before.

Just to reassure scoliosis is usually a mild and fairly benign condition often requiring little if any treatment. Good posture helps by physio, pilates, yoga etc help but they prob could help us all to some degree.

Garynev

Scoliosis can be a very serious condition and to say that it often requires little or no treatment is complete nonsense.
I suffer from scheuermann's disease amongst other conditions so I have scoliosis, kyphosis and lordosis. I've been studying the condition for nearly 14 years and know several people with very mild scoliosis that have breathing difficulty, poor blood flow and circulation amongst other serious conditions that relate to scoliosis.
Schroth method is a very good non surgical method to try and treat and sometimes reverse spinal curvature, Rolfing is also quite good and focuses more on muscles that have been effected by the curve and releasing tension.
Breathing is also very important because as the ribcage rotates and the curve worsens it effects the lungs and heart so I would recommend deep breathing exercises, some yoga poses and pilates are also quite good as was mentioned in a previous post.
Legs can also be effected along with numbness of arms due to pinching of nerves and restricted blood flow.
If anyone has any questions above spinal curvatures please feel free to message me.
Gary

English Bob

There are lots of reasons for scoliosis and the primary objective should be to find out whether the curve is caused by some under-lying condition of the vertebrae or whether it is an idiopathic scoliosis.
Having had many years experience treating scoliosis as an Osteopath I would agree with RobFowl in that in the majority of cases monitoring and correct posture is all that may be required.
In the case of cardio-pulmonary crowding there would be a need to look into more direct types of treatment including using a brace (as in boston brace).
Sometimes a secondary scoliosis may be there as compensation for a pelvic inbalance as in leg length descrepency.
Find the cause for the scoliosis first and then look at what treatment options are availbale to you.

anji

Gary

Is there any treatment for scheuermann's disease for an older person in their thirties.
A

anji

Gary

Is there any treatment for scheuermann's disease for an older person in their early thirties. Thanks
A

_Tombstone_

anji wrote: »

Gary

Is there any treatment for scheuermann's disease for an older person in their early thirties. Thanks
A

Garynev
Last Activity: 24-07-2015 12:50

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dhstrott

Yes, there are multiple treatments for Scheuermann's Disease as an adult.  Of course, it is preferable to be diagnosed during adolescence (typically before the age of 15-16 while the bones are still forming) so non-invasive treatments like exercising and bracing have the most chances of being effective.  I was diagnosed too late in life so my future was pretty much set, but I was unaware of how bad it could be and nobody prepared me for the pain and lack of mobility that was coming my way.

dhstrott

We created the only charity in the world solely dedicated to help those of us with Scheuermann's Disease and are here to help if you need any information.  We also have finished the protocols and budgets for the first two comprehensive long term studies for Scheuermann's Disease and are now in the fund sourcing phase.  If you need more information on SD, please feel free to check out the charity's website at sdfund.org.

dhstrott

We developed the first charity in the world dedicated to help those of us with Scheuermann's Disease.  Our charitable fund's website contains a great deal of information, please feel free to contact me if you are interested in learning more about the disease.....

anji

Thank you very much dhstrott. I will check out the website

anji

Hi dhstrott

You mentioned multiple treatments. I would really appreciate if you could give me some information on these or tell me where to look. many thanks

dhstrott

anji,Our website offers links to suggested exercises by doctors and physical therapists for people with Scheuermann's Disease. They can be found at our home website. Hope they help. Please let me know when you receive the link. For some reason, it has been not letting me send the link to the charitable fund.
Lookup in browser: sdfund
Then go to: Articles and Research Studies
You will find the info under: Exercises

Sorry I can't be of more direct help, but please know, ANYONE with Scheuermann's Disease, there are recourses and support groups available and out here to help.

Thanks

biomedgirl

I have/had scoliosis s curve. Had surgery to correct the lower curve but upper curve still present. At the time it was 68 degrees and affecting my breathing so it was deemed that that was necessary.

Im glad I had the surgery but it wasn't a complete cure, still get back pain which is managed through muscle strengthening exercises and the occasional deep tissue massage. Like others on here I would recommend rolfing and finding an Alexander technique specialist.

anji

Thank you dhstrott

I have found the 3 exercises and other interesting information.

Das Reich

I have forward head and maybe an kyphosis and anterior pelvic tilt. No pain and no problem but my posture is aesthetic ugly. I would like to know if there is any place in Dublin to have an examination and possibly a correction.