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i have recently been diagnosed with scheurmanns disease..

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warren02098
warren02098

Hi anyone,ive recently been diagnosed with scheuremanns disease & im not entirely sure what to expect in the future? Im a 37 year old male & this illness has affected me & my life in a massive way!! I've been on long term sick from work (6 months) & the way things are looking I may even become unemployed due to me not being able to carry out my normal duties due to my condition?? Im limited to what I can do in everyday life walking etc! I went for an m.r.i for a slipped disc but they detected SD instead so its all new to me.the pain is intense what ever I do,stand,sit,lie down pretty much anything really..i used to be an energetic out going person but I'm the shadow of the man I used to be & to be honest the future feels bleak??? So if anyone has got any help & advice I would appreciate it so much..

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Lawyer
    Lawyer warren02098

    Posted

    Warren: sorry to hear of this. Did your consultant explain the consequences of Scheurmann's Kyphosis? I assume yes: if not ask. I understand that the unequal growth in the thoracic vertebrae occurs during adolescence; and by adulthood nothing can be done to correct it. So in that sense we put up with it.

    From your post it seems that, like me, the pain has started many years later: for you age 37, for me 63. In my case the consultant said it is "neuropathic" pain I.e. caused by the nerve itself; and it is impossible to predict if or when it will go.

    So that leaves only pain relief and put up with it; although physiotherapy may help. I find Bu-Trans trans-dermal patches plus codeine help. You will probably not get rid of the pain, unless you take so much drug that you are out of it, but you can make it tolerable. Before taking pain medication it was agonising e.g. I could not drive, and woke up every 90 minutes at night. Now I can live fairly normally, provided I do not lift or bend.

    Ensure you have an open discussion with your consultant and GP. I am very fortunate in that regard. 

    • warren02098
      warren02098 Lawyer

      Posted

      Hi thank you so much for taking the time out to reply,but as I've just recently been diagnosed with this condition its all new to me,my gp has prescribed me 30/500mg co codamol for now & im due to see a consultant in April...its just such a massive blow to my self esteem as ive worked every day since leaving school so for me to start claiming benefits has just increased the pressure on me! I've got 3 teenage girls that have relied on me since birth & for all that to suddenly stop coz off falling off a van at work has affected my whole life in a massive way.how do I cope? How do they cope? & my wife?
  • Lawyer
    Lawyer warren02098

    Posted

    Warren: one aspect confuses me. You say you fell off a van (nasty); with an implication that this caused your back problem. In that case, I think, it cannot be Scheuermann's kyphosis. Scheuermann's is where the vertebrae grow incorrectly producing a "wedging" effect. The front of the vertebra is shorter than the back. It occurs as our bones grow during adolescence: so you would always have had a bent back. This deformity causes the curve. A trauma would not cause it.

    I may have misunderstood. Ask the consultant. Ask him or her to show you the MRI scan: you will see clearly the affected vertebrae. 

    As regards pain relief, it depends on the cause and degree of the pain. For me, Co-codamol were useless; although I am not saying they are wrong for you or that the GP was not being sensible in starting you on this. 

    Let us know how you get on after seeing the specialist. 

  • Aussie
    Aussie warren02098

    Posted

    Hi Warren

    I was told at 19 that I had schuermanns disease. I am now 62. My doctor has put me on a medication called Lyrica. (This medication is available in the UK as I ran out while travelling). At first I slept 22hours a day until my body got used to it. (A great pain relief in itself haha). I have 75mg twice a day. I also have a very deep tissue massage to my shoulder blades every week at first, now every 6 weeks. A helpful exercise is to lay on the floor with your feet up and push your shoulder blades into the floor. good luck it is not an easy condition to have but I worked until I was 50. I gave up then due to an accident which buggered my back even more.

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