FAQ - Scoliosis
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What are the short and long term effects of scoliosis?


I am 19 and was just diagnosed with mild scoliosis after experiencing a lot of back pain...I just had an MRI today and don't know if anything is causing the problem. What are the short and long term effects of having mild scoliosis?
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At 19 you are probably finished growing. If your curve is below 40 degrees, it is not likely to get worse later in life. However, if the curve is greater than 40 degrees, it is likely to continue to get worse by 1-2 degrees each year. If this is not prevented, the you'll eventually be at risk for heart and lung problems or problems with carrying a pregnancy.  (+ info)

What would a person with thoracic scoliosis look like if it occurs around the neck?


Just wanted to know what it would look like to have thoracic scoliosis in a photo?
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Thoracic Scoliosis is more in the upper back, cervical Scoliosis is more in the neck area. It could look like it is in the neck area since it is very close, or it could also be a high thoracic curve.

Here is a picture of all the sections of the spine including the thoracic Spine I hope it helps.
http://www.eorthopod.com/images/ContentImages/spine/spine_general/adult_scoliosis/adult_scoliosis_anatomy02.jpg  (+ info)

What is better for somebody with scoliosis- yoga or yogalates?


and is swimming good too? i only have minor scoliosis, but it can give me back pain and i would like to get as straight as possible. I have check ups with a chiropractor and apparently it is muscular so can changed- he has given me a set of daily exercises..but i was just wandering, what else should i be doing to help?
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How much will I grow after scoliosis surgery?


I'm having scoliosis surgery this summer. My curvature is 53 degrees on top and 51 degrees on the bottom. I'm 15 years old and I'm 5'5. So how much do you think I'll grow?
I haven't had the surgery yet, but I was just wondering how much I will grow after the surgery, not gradually, immediately because my spine will be straighter, so logically I will be taller. I just don't know how much.
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It's really hard to know. It depends on how much they straighten the curve. You probably won't get all of the height lost to the curve. Good luck with your surgery. :-)  (+ info)

Is Scoliosis surgery the only thing that will work?


I'm 13 and I have quite bad scoliosis (it's a 43 degree curve, I think), and I was just wondering if surgery is the only thing that will completely cure it? I'm going to start physio soon but my doctor didn't reccomend a brace or similar. I'd rather not have surgery if I don't have to! Also if there are any other cures or preventions for it getting worse, please say!
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hi! i was exactly in your position about a year ago. i was diagnosed with a 35 degree curve when i was like 14 and it just got worse till i was 16 and it became 45. i did get a brace, but i hated wearing it. it was so uncomfortable, and i never wore it to school beacuse i was too embarassed ( it was that age when i wanted to fit in rlyy bad).

i also had really bad back pain. and it really bothered me from a day to day basis. i figured that i wanted to solve this problem before i went off to college. so after discussing with my parents and doctor for a while, i decided to have the surgery beginning of summer.

its not as horribly painful as you think. the most pain occurred the first few days i was in the hospital. it was really bad and i couldn't really move without help. but then as time progressed it got less and less. plus, they give you good pain medication that makes a huge difference.

i basically had to spend my whole summer in bed/on the couch watching tv because you have to rest for the 3 weeks for it to heal properly. it wasnt that bad though because my friends would visit often and i got to spend more time with my family. i could stand up and walk but my back just felt really stiff. the dr also prohibits sports for about a year.

after about the 3 weeks, i could stand up, move around but the stiffness and pain, althought little, was still noticeable. now, its been about a year. and im pretty much back to normal. i can exercise, sit, lay, move around like i used to. its interesting though because i never slouch now. i have really good posture, but i used to slouch so much before the surgery!

my curve went from 45 degrees to 11. in the xrays, its almost completely straight. i cant tell that its curved. its pretty amazing.

althought i wont be as very flexible as i used to, but overall after the recovery period, youre pretty much back to normal

i would reccomend talking it over with your parents a lot. surgery is not the right decision for everyone. make sure that its for you and the time is right. its also pretty costly, so that should be discussed also. dont be afraid to ask your doctor any questions you have. i did, and it helped me relax and understand it a lot. i got mine done at a childrens hospital, and i think that made the difference in my experience beacuse..idk i feel like they were much more gentler and caring for my needs.

good luck and hope this helps!  (+ info)

Does the curve of scoliosis get worse during and after pregnancy?


My husband and I are trying to get pregnant. I do have mild to moderate scoliosis and just recently have seen my neck begin to curve. Has anyone been pregnant with scoliosis and seen their curve get worse?
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I have scoliosis and have had 2 children 14 months apart. Women with scoliosis are able to become pregnant and have children with no increased risk for complications. You may be at increased risk for additional low back pain during pregnancy.

If you think your curve isn't stable, then open a conversation with your spine doctor, OB/GYN, or both to make sure everything is okay to proceed. Specialists some times are so focused on their specialties, they forget about your other health systems until you bring them up.

Once you get the ok and get pregnant, here are some thoughts:
While you may have more back aches than most people, I found it to be tolerable. Pregnancy #1, I worked full time as a nurse until 1 mo. before delivering. Pregnancy #2, I was chasing my younger baby around (just 14 mo. apart). Both pregnancies, my back never slowed me down.

If you are in pain, treat it. Talk with the OB about taking Tylenol (almost all allow it) and heat vs. cold therapy (most will so ok to warm showers or baths, but NO hot tubs, and will ok cold packs to the back). These worked for me.

Thinking ahead to labor & delivery: Depending on how far down your spine is affected and what degree of curvature it is, you may not be able to have a spinal (spinal is better for scoliosis and fusion than epidural). Anything below T12 is tricky, and you want someone with expertise in OB anesthesia. If you have been fused below T12 it may be impossible.

Now that you're getting to your due date get a referral to consult with the anesthesia group who covers where you'll be having the baby. Take a letter from your spine doc detailing what her last spine x-ray showed. You may need to request a group discussion with an orthopedist, obstetrician, and the anesthesiologists. Sometimes specialists forget that there are other parts of your body. They will be able to determine whether to do it naturally or c-section based on the severity of your curves.

I'm fused to T12 and didn't want anyone touching my spine. I did it naturally, and requested general if I had to have an emergency C-section. First labor, 3 hrs. No back labor, no problems pushing. Second labor, 1 hr. Had back labor (but so can a non-scoliosis mom), but no problem pushing.  (+ info)

What is the major downside to having scoliosis?


I've been diagnosed with scoliosis and was just wondering what others that was annoying or if the had pain from the crocked spin disease. ha ha that sounds messed up. Like, as I get older am I going to look like I have a hunch-back or something...
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What is the rare form of fatal scoliosis called?


My friend said that the doctors are giving her until age 19 to live because she has an extremely rare form of scoliosis that, around age 19, her heart will eventually be crushed by her spine.
What exactly is this called? I would like to do some more extensive research on it.
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i couldnt find anything on that and it doesnt really make any sense. how would your heart end up getting crushed by your spine? also scoliosis gets better as you get older not worse and if someone has a severe case of scoliosis they get corrective surgery or if theyre still growing a lot a corrective brace. also neither lordosis nor kyphosis are life threatening conditions and you cant die from them.  (+ info)

Is it scoliosis if the curvature increases in a front to back direction?


If I notice my 10 year old's curvature increasing in an anterior posterior direction severely, should I have her checked for scoliosis?
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Scoliosis is a side to side curving of that spine, kyphosis is the curvature you are talking about. And yes, if you are asking the question you should take her to the doctor. Follow your gut.  (+ info)

How do you deal with/get rid of scoliosis through chiropractic medicine?


I'm speaking for a friend of mine who has minor scoliosis, and whose hips are misaligned because of this. They would like to be able to find a way to cure this through chiropractic treatment and various places (in New Hampshire) where it could be done, and also whether it would be a permanent solution or not. We'd both really appreciate your help on this because its causing my friend some serious pain and frustration.
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There are many variables. I will assume that your friend is female just because they get scoliosis most often, but how old is she. What is slight? Has it been measured in degrees? Is there disk changes?

My wife has scoliosis, she has an "S" curve. It has improved a lot in the past 13 years since we have been married but I know it will never be textbook aligned.

Chiropractic is, in my biased opinion, the best coarse of action to take. Medicine for pain will only cover the symptoms while the problem degenerates. Allopathic medicine will only weight until it reaches a magic number and then they want to operate. The progression of the degeneration of the condition can be slowed or stopped with chiropractic care, and maybe even improved but your friend will likely be a life-long chiropractic patient.

I have a patient that came to me with a 15 degree curvature. Six months later I retook her x-rays and her curve has been reduced to 7 degrees. (She is 10 years old so did not have significant disk changes) No pain and taller to boot....

I am sorry for whatever negative experience that S P must have had. I am afraid she will never benefit from chiropractic like she could now that someone has turned her off to it.

If she was saying that I am not a real doctor because I don't give drugs to cover symptoms, then she is right and I would never want to be mistaken for medical doctor. (Love em in a crisis though)
8 years of college, 2 years intern, 4 national board examinations, 1 state exam makes me a "real doctor" Not to mention when the checks come from the insurance companies they are written to "Dr. Michael" Well, maybe S P is the only one who is right, more likely she went into the wrong office. I wish you had come to mine. I am sorry for her bad experience.

SHORT ANSWER: Complete cure, most likely not. Marked improvement, pain free and slowing of degeneration, absolutely yes when chiropractic is properly applied. Permanent? An initial course of corrective care will have frequent visits but likely she will need maintenance ongoing. (Like wearing a retainer after your braces come off)

I pray you find a good chiropractor near you. I am sorry that I don't know anyone to refer you to in your area.  (+ info)

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