Scoliosis

[Lauren8211]

Anyone else had adult onset scoliosis? I just received my diagnosis, and my x-ray indicated a scoliosis of 46 degrees. I know that is a very significant scoliosis, and that perhaps surgery could be required.

Anyone else have a scoliosis of that magnitude or higher? Did you require surgery, or what did you do to improve pain?

I still have two weeks until I can see the specialist to talk about my options, but I'm really worried about it!

 

[MonkeyPants]

Hey Elle,
I haven't posted in forever, but since I'm getting my pilates certification, I see scoliosis a lot and the post jumped out at me. There was a woman (37) who came to the studio a few years ago with severe scoliosis (and pain) that she's had her whole life, but since she's been doing pilates over the past few years she no longer has pain and her spine is much more mobile than it was. Of course she still has that severe "S" curve in her back but if you looked at her without palpating her spine you wouldn't be able to tell she even has scoliosis.
I would advise against surgery just because your spine will never be mobile again after they put a rod in there.

Another woman (probably 60?) who discovered pilates after surgery for her scoliosis wished that surgery wasn't so commonly prescribed back in her day because she now she can't flex her spine at all.

Anyway, maybe give pilates or physical therapy a try (at a reputable studio of course), before you jump into surgery?

 

[mary poppins]

I was diagnosed with scoliosis in my 30s after experiencing years of back pain. I don't recall my degree of curvature, though. My orthopedist said everyone has some degree of scoliosis, as it is very rare to actually have a straight spine. I went to physical therapy which required that I take time off of work three time per week for a while, then two times per week. During physical therapy, I did exercises for core strengthening. After a while, I learned about Pilates (which is all about core strengthening) and my physical therapist said I could do Pilates instead of going to physical therapy. It works out better for me because I can do it on my own time with videos at home or classes at the gym so it doesn't interfere with work like physical therapy did. I've been doing Pilates for years now and it's helped a lot. If back pain gets really unbearable, I get a deep tissue massage which provides temporary relief.

I would suggest you start with physical therapy first so you understand the concept of core strengthening, and then move on to Pilates. Surgery should be a last resort after you've exhausted all other options.

On a related note, I came to realize that my pant legs needed to be measured separately for hemming. One time, a seamstress measured one pant leg and assumed the other would require the same alteration. When my pants came back, one leg was longer than the other so I figured she messed up. Then I realized the error was due to my misaligned body. The scoliosis caused my hips to be "off" so one of the pants legs appeared to be longer than the other. Now when I need pants hemmed, I ask the seamstress to measure both pants legs instead of just one. Just thought I would mention it so you could check and see if you are in the same situation.

 

[lilylover]

I have scoliosis and had surgery to correct it when I was 15. Mine developed at the age of 13 or so.

For moderate to severe scoliosis, pilates and other physical therapy CANNOT correct it. It can help with the physical discomfort, but it will not correct the curve itself. I was told by my orthopedic surgeon that if you have a curve of 50 degrees or more it is definitely going to continue to progress. 40-50 degrees is the unsure range. They will/should monitor you for 6 months to a year to see if your curve is going to progress before they decide on surgery.

My curve was 49 degrees when we decided to operate. The surgery was a big one, but I was only in the hospital for five days and I have zero back pain now. I have absolutely no complications from it, so do not be afraid to go that route if it is what your doctor suggests. If you have any specific questions for me please let me know!

ETA --- I do not have any restrictions in my flexibility. I took dance all throughout highschool and could bend over and touch my nose to my knees with straight legs. I am very flexible! The only thing I can't do is a back bend (the backwards bridge type, if you know what I am talking about). Is your curve in your thorasic (upper) or lumbar (lower) spine? Paitents that have a lumbar curve are the ones that experience restrticted mobility after operation, but nowadays it is very little restriction with the advances they have made in medical technology.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I've had scoliosis my entire life. It started getting very severe when I was around 6. By the time I was 11, the curve in my back was a little over 90%, so my S curve was so bad that my spine actually turned into itself. Unfortunately my bones were so soft at that point that they couldn't put my rods in until I was 12 and even then it was considered extremely high risk for fear that the screws would not stay in. In fact, my surgeries were videotaped and used for teaching at Boston Med.

My life post-surgery has been relatively normal. The first 6 months after surgery were the toughest because I had to stay in a wheelchair--my equalibrium was so thrown off by the fact that I was suddenly straight that I had to do physical therapy for 6 months. Also, they didn't want me moving at all, any wrong movement and my screws could pop out. Two years post-surgery I was finally allowed to run and I never looked back!

I'm fused from C4 to L3, so I really only have 2 non-fused vertabrae at the bottom of my spine. I also only have one functional lung because my scoliosis was so severe that my other lung could not fully develop. And since my torso hasn't been able to grow since I was 12, my other lung and heart aren't adult-sized. And my torso is super short, haha.

I do have flatback syndrome as a result of the rods, however I also have strong abdominal muscles, which really help it from getting worse.

Other than that I do feel completely normal. I danced in high school and college (and like lilylover am still flexible--not nearly as flexible as I was in college, but I can still do the splits), I rock climb, I mountain climb, I hike, kayak, golf, ride horses (and my instructor always tell me my posture is amazing). I plan to be active for the rest of my life and while my back does hurt at times, it has never restricted me from doing anything.

My only one fear is pregnancy because I am told it is risky given my situation (the level of fusing + my smaller organs). I am meeting with an orthopedic surgeon this week to talk about what I should expect when I get pregnant, since that is right around the corner. Still, I've lurked on scoliosis forums where pregnancy is a hot topic and it seems that a lof of women with scoliosis have perfectly normal pregnancies.

ETA: I didn't mean to write a novel about myself--I was just trying to say that I have severe scoliosis and feel that my life has been relatively normal. And after lurking on scoliosis forums recently I've realized that a lot of people who have scoliosis lead normal lives.

 

[soocool]

DD (age 17 will be 18 in December) has a 15 degree curvature of the spine. It has remained the same for the past 3 years. She has never had any back pain, but I am wondering if the curvature could get worse when she gets older. She did undergo some physical therapy when she was first diagnosed and she is athletic, but I am happy to hear that Pilates has helped some with their spinal problems in reducing back pain.

My question is can exercise keep scoliosis from progressing in the adult years?

 

[Anastasia]

I was diagnosed at the age of 10 with scoliosis, with a 48 degree curve. (It is an S, I'm not sure what the other curve measured). I wore a brace until the age of 15, at which point it progressed to the point of needing surgery. I believe that one curve measured in the 60s, and one in the 40s at that point. I had 12 vertebrae fused. This was 1978, and involved a month in the hospital, and 10 months total in a body cast. 6 of those months were mostly confined to bed (I could walk around, but not sit). I do not have any rods in my back. There was a 50/50 chance that I would need the rods, but I did not. Just because they do the surgery does not mean that you will need a rod. I believe that the recovery is nowhere near as long these days as it was in the "dark ages"! I am so thankful that I had the surgery. I have no back pain, and I look completely normal. I am sure that I would be significantly deformed if I had not had it.

I lead a COMPETELY normal life. I have had three children with uncomplicated pregnancies and easy deliveries (with the exception of not being able to have an epidural, because they could not find the "pocket" they need between the vertebrae). I get compliments alll the time on my wonderful posture! I didn't have any of the complications that NEL experienced, but like her, I am short waisted. I assume that it is because, even after the surgery, I still have a significant curve, and I really should be taller than I am. I have no restrictions on my activities whatsoever.

I am curious. You said this is "adult onset" scoliosis. Do they believe that it just developed, or is it that they just discovered it?

I will be anxious to hear what the doctor says. I know it's hard, but please try not to worry!