Overweight and physical exertion

Hi Dudy,

I know how you feel, to an extent anyway! I too have experinced the pain that can come with scoliosis/kyphosis and I have also found a lot of day to day chores and activities really hard to complete - all I can say is that no matter how hard it is, you have to keep going!

Being overweight will only worsen the pain and the scoliokyphosis, so I would advise going to see your doctor, explaining the issue and obtain some painkillers that you can take, at least just until you are happy with your weight again.

Other pain management options that I have found helpful are TENS machines, heat pads & gels, sometimes even ice after a long day!

I am sorry that I can't be of more help and I really hope that you are feeling better soon!

Izzie

I am 59 with kyphoid scoliosis and have been fairly lucky regarding back pain until recently and am suffering quite a lot at the moment. I was told that as you get old the curve can move so that may be part of the problem. Like you say I am also a little over the wright I would like to be. I also suffer from COPD and asthma which does not help. I struggle with everyday activity but do try to do as much as possible

This may seem a statement of the obvious. Go and see your GP, and ask for a referral to a rheumatologist. You are entitled to this and, from my experience, they are kind helpful people.

they may suggest measures which will help you; and/ or arrange appropriate pain relief.

at so young an age you do not want to live like this. Certainly lose the excessive weight: it will reduce the load, and you will feel better for the achievement; while it will help your health in other respects.

i wish you well.

I am sorry to hear this. We can only hope that doctors have improved over the last 15 years.

it may be that a MRI scan can tell more than a basic X-Ray.

A specialist consultant should do far more. For example, have you been told:

* the degree of curvature e.g. 70 degrees

* whether the individual vertebrae are correct, or are "wedged"; and the state of the top & bottom of each where the vertebra meets the cartiledge disc

* whether the bone is sound, or is fractured or crumbling.

without this knowledge, how can a consultant make a diagnosis?

A large degree of kyphosis can cause downward pressure on your internal organs. This should be checked.

I can only suggest you go back, ask for a referral, and see a good consultant.

in the meantime, some research may be useful; but check more than one source. My own problem is Scheurmann's kyphosis and I found some useful commentaries. However, beware self diagnosis: insist on a competent specialist. I am very fortunate to have a superb GP and consultant: there are good physicians out there.

 

I don't have anything to add except hi from yet another person with the same disorder.  My numbers are 68 degrees kyphosis and 13 scoliosis. I'm 60 years old.

Doctors--they have hundreds of patients.  We have only one "us."  I've felt let down by quite a few over the years and now I research everything.

I'm sure we'd all like to know how you're doing as time goes by,

I did Weight Watchers for about a month and it did work for me. I also used the Dr. Max Powers Burn for about 2 weeks and even my friends have really noticed a difference. I am at that age where weight is really hard to budge. The Max Powers Burn combined with Weight Watchers has made a huge difference. Although I also have a load more energy.