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Have congenital kyphoscoliosis

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margaret53586
margaret53586

I am 70 years old and have lived with scoliosis since birth.  Spent most of my childhood in full body plaster cast, unfortunately this didn't work and has left me in severe pain with one leg shorter than the other and a hump from my left shoulder to my waist.  I have always been very self conscious of both my posture and my hump.  I always wear loose clothing but because the hump makes my waist larger and I look fatter than I am.

i go to my local pain clinic and have a very good consultant.  Treatment includes steroid injections, epidurals and Botox to my neck, shoulder and down my spine.  I am still in an awful lot of pain and have to go to bed each afternoon to take the pain away by using wheat wraps.   I can no longer lie of my sides and have to lie on my back placing wraps from hips to knees to burn away pain.

Also take Gabapetin, Amitripyline and Arthrotec.

I don't get depressed, I live on my own with my cat and just take each day as it comes.

After years of hating my hump I decided a few years ago it's part of me and I might as well get on better terms with HIM, so I called him Humphrey.

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • cheryl97005
    cheryl97005 margaret53586

    Posted

    You are amazing! How in the world do you keep your spirits up day after day?  Five weeks ago I had scoliosis surgery from T3 to S1. I  have had scoliosis since I was 12 years old. Three years ago I started having serious pain from the scoliosis and muscle imbalance. I tried everything to control the pain but nothing worked and so I decided to have the surgery. I am 73 so I was worried about my ability to recover from such a major surgery but I have to say I made it through the surgery just fine. However, after the surgery I developed an illeus and that has really slowed down my recovery. I am having many problems with digestion and my bowels. I am hoping these issues resolve soon.  I think the main problem I had was with the narcotics they gave me for pain. They really messed up my stomach and intestines. I wanted to mention that I had a very large S curve And a large right rib hump so I understand the large tops to hide the hump. I did the same thing. Have you ever considered surgery? Wishing you the best. What a strong character you have my admiration 
  • david25656
    david25656 margaret53586

    Posted

    Hello Margaret,

    I've had my "Boy on my back" since I was about 14 years of age. No one seems to know why it suddenly appeared, I had extensive x-rays, and was placed in a custom made "harness" which to my mind made the pain worse. I was eventually referred to the orthopaedic unit at St.Thomas,s hospital where after extensive examination they discarded the harness, a put me on a course physio therapy . What a difference that made. It did,nt of course get rid of my hump, but it did ease the pain quite considerably. I still do the exercises till this day, at the age of 81. My son has introduced me to simple yoga exercises which help with mobility. And to think my original consultant, way back in 1950, said you could be in a wheelchair by the time you are 40. 

  • margaret85310
    margaret85310 margaret53586

    Posted

    Hi Margaret,

    I can second David's testimony about stretching and yoga. I had back surgery as a child but was crippled by pain at age 48 with a curved tailbone. Instead of the additional surgery or opioids recommended by the spine specialist, I began practicing Bikram yoga. I could barely move when I started, but 5 years later I am completely able-bodied and have little to no pain as long as I practice at least 2x per week. Good luck!

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