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Stressed about Scoliosis

Posted , 3 users are following.

Becca88
Becca88

I am a 15 year old girl and I was diagnosed with idiopathic moderate scoliosis of the upper lumbar spine in September 2014. When I was about ten my ballet teacher made a comment about me not being able to stand straight but we all ignored it. I've always had wider hips than most girls my size (I'm rather skinny and only 5'3) but I always thought my right hip stuck out more. During the summer my grandma (ex nurse) saw my hip and nagged my mum who booked an appointment with our family doctor. He said I could have a mild case, but should go for X-rays to be sure. I found out I had an almost 30 degree curve in my lumbar spine (it bends out towards the right, making my right hip abnormally and noticeably stick out a lot) and an 11 degree curve further up that bends to the left, but that doesn't even matter. The specialist at a children's hospital that I saw told me I was done growing but booked an appointment for March to get more X-rays to see if the curve has progressed. I have prolonged lower back pain and have had it since summer last year, I think I've had it for a lot longer, but it wasn't that noticeable and I grew accustomed to it. The pain is worse at night when I'm lying down, I can't stand for too long (and when I do stand, I have to "pop" my right hip so not to strain my spine. I can't sit for too long in the same position, making school quite uncomfortable sometimes, but it's not too bothersome. I've read that pain usually doesn't accompany scoliosis, so could it be something else? I play rugby and that's about it, but my back tends to hurt more after I play or even after lifting heavy things. The usual pain is like a bad pulled muscle and achy. But if I bend over too far for too long it immediately starts to burn and feels like pins and needles but immensely painful. I do yoga sometimes and when I do I can't do the back bends as it really causes pain. I can't sleep on my right hip and it can be uncomfortable to sleep or even Kay in my stomach (as my back has a dip in it). If I bend my back just enough,a I can crack the lower back where it really hurts and it relieves the pain for a short while, sometimes pressing my hands and rubbing the pain helps. I use a heat pack on it most nights when it starts to hurt a lot. I have a long body pillow that I wrap around my self and pull tight and it sort of holds my back in place and it relieves a lot of pain.

Could the pain be something else? Or just the muscles trying to straighten out my spine?

Is there some kind of brace or treatment that would relieve the pain, by applying pressure?

Thanks so much!

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • claudiabkr
    claudiabkr

    Posted

    Hi Becca, scoliosis shouldn't be painful at all, which is what usually makes it difficult to detect it in adolescents while it is in its beginning stages, so your pain must be caused by something else, it could be muscular in nature or it may come from your bones. It is very advisable to look into it and to be able to cross out potentially serious problems.

    There are different kinds of braces that you can wear during your day-to-day activities and during the night, you should be able to find one that fits your particular curvature and positioning along the spine, but again, you have to allow a specialist to take the necessary measurements in order for it to fit properly and do its job. In your case I think a so called TLSO (thoracic-lumbar-sacral orthosis) brace is advisable, since it focuses on curvatures of the lower back. A brace will slow down the progression of the scoliosis and it is still the best non-surgical treatment available. You must keep in mind thought that the brace will not necessarily straighten your spine, it will just stop it from getting worse. I do not know if the brace would help with your pain, though, because as I said the pain is probably not related to the scoliosis to begin with.

    If your scoliosis should turn out to be very aggressive, and the bracing won't help you treat it, you will have to undergo a particular kind of surgery, called spinal fusion surgery, but that is only advisable once you are sure you are not growing anymore, since the surgery will stop your spine from growing and if the rest of your body instead is still growing, you can see how that can be a problem.

    Good luck!

  • stacey1989
    stacey1989

    Posted

    Hello,

    I have had 7 operations to correct my curve but still have a 70 degree curve. I to have one hip that sticks out a lot more then the other.

    I can undertand your pain as i to suffer a lot of pain still ( im now 25) i also find clicking my back relives the pressure for a short time..Im not to sure if a brace will help your pain as it didnt with me but it did however make me feel a little strengthened and secure if that makes any sence?

    I also suffer from pins and needles everyday and think when you next see your specialist you should mention this as they may want to do an MRI to check nothing is pushing on your spinal cord. I also experience the burning pain you have and find that keeping warm stops it from happening so often as the cold seems to make mine worse..Im not sure if it will help you but try an electric blanket for night times as i find it helps my muscles relax and the warmth seems to help with the pain..I hope this will also work for you as you said you use a heat pack when its very painful..

    I also have a brace for night times which isnt a hard plastic one its a soft corset type that wraps around..If you speak to your specialist they will be able to provide you with one as thats where i got mine it just keeps you nice a tight.

    Also you can ask them to refer you to a pain specialist who can sit down with you and find ways of helping you manage you pain in ways which are best for you..eg pain medication, physiotheray hydrotherapy.I think your GP can help you get an appointment with them not just your specialist.

    I am no expert everything i have to say is from my own experience and every case is different.

    If you need nay more advice or just want to chat feel free to message me. I do hope you feel better

    soon

    Stacey

  • stacey1989
    stacey1989

    Posted

    I forgot to mention that you can also get a TENS machine, its a small machine thats fits into you pocket its linked up with wire to little sticky pads that you apply to the painful area you control it on different settings and for how long its sort of like a little zapping tingling feeling which helps decrease the pain..its very good..your get more information if you goolgle it..you can get it prescribed by the pain clinic or you can buy one yourself there about £20 but check with your GP that your ok to use it before you do smile

    x

  • stacey1989
    stacey1989

    Posted

    I forgot to mention that you can also get a TENS machine, its a small machine thats fits into you pocket its linked up with wire to little sticky pads that you apply to the painful area you control it on different settings and for how long its sort of like a little zapping tingling feeling which helps decrease the pain..its very good..your get more information if you goolgle it..you can get it prescribed by the pain clinic or you can buy one yourself there about £20 but check with your GP that your ok to use it before you do smile

    x

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