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  • I also have a new question

    Ok, do other people with scoliosis think about how their body looks? I mean, I hate looking in the mirror, because I can clearly see the unevenness, when others don't even notice it. Is it all in my mind? Do other people feel like this, especially women?

  • #2
    Also, one reason that I have chosen not to have surgery at this time is because I have a 3 year old who constantly needs me. When she finally reaches the age for independence, would I still be able to have surgery?
    What happens to someone who never gets surgery? My curves haven't progressed in 6 years.

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    • #3
      I definately have a hard time looking in the mirror at my right side.

      Actually.. I am the kind of person who will run to a certian side of a group to take a group picture. Also I am getting married this October and am trying to get the church to let me stand on the right side so that when people watch us do our vows they won't have a great view of my rib hump. I was hoping to get surgery so that the hump might be reduced before the wedding but that won't be happening as I have run out of time.

      I work in a hospital/clinic and for some reason everyone started to notice my rib hump in the last 6 months (I've been working there for a year) they keep asking if I have been in an accident or why I walk "so funny." On of the ladies went so far as to threaten to "grab both ends of me and straighten me out"

      After I explained it to them they quit talking about it.. but I'm even more aware of my back now that it's so obvious to people that there's something different about me. No one ever noticed before this happened, including my fiance (I had to tell him)

      K.. I'm done venting. I guess I could have just answered "yes"
      Age 28
      diagnosed at age 12
      wore a boston brace until age 14
      No surgery, was on "wait and watch" till recently. Got a SpineCor (Jan 27th) to help ease the pain.
      T-curve 73 degrees with severe rotation (curves to the right)
      L-curve 45 degrees with slightly less severe rotation than my T-curve (curves to the left)

      1994 - 5'10" - T-?/L-? (i forget what they really were)
      2006 - 5' 4" - T-56/L-40
      2008/09 - 5' 4" - T-73/L-45

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      • #4
        From what I have read on here it is rarely "too late" to have surgery. Of course as you age and as the curves progress they seem to get less correction.

        The best thing you can do in the meantime is find a good spine specialist and let him/her know that you are considering surgery since they can help you weigh your options, keep monitoring your curves to make sure they aren't progressing or causing damage to your lungs or heart, eat well and exercise as healthy & flexible people tend to get more correction in their curves and heal faster.

        That's all I can think of right now.

        You also might want to check your daughter regularly for scoliosis with the bending test thing. When I have my daughter she makes me check her a lot.
        Age 28
        diagnosed at age 12
        wore a boston brace until age 14
        No surgery, was on "wait and watch" till recently. Got a SpineCor (Jan 27th) to help ease the pain.
        T-curve 73 degrees with severe rotation (curves to the right)
        L-curve 45 degrees with slightly less severe rotation than my T-curve (curves to the left)

        1994 - 5'10" - T-?/L-? (i forget what they really were)
        2006 - 5' 4" - T-56/L-40
        2008/09 - 5' 4" - T-73/L-45

        Comment


        • #5
          Hi...

          I've met people in their 70's who undergo scoliosis surgery. You just need to be sure to find the right surgeon.

          Sweetie... I've heard of brides and grooms facing the crowd (with the officiate's back to the crowd). That's probably what I'd do.

          Regards,
          Linda
          Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
          Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

          Comment


          • #6
            My hump is not that noticeable unless I bend over, I've never had people say anything to me about it. I really appreciate all the comments from you guys. I can't tell you how encouraging it is to know that I am not alone with scoliosis. I never knew there were such support groups. It almost makes me want to cry
            I will continue to post on here for sure.
            God Bless!

            Comment


            • #7
              You raise an issue which is not restricted to women with scoliosis. In the U.S. it seems that many, many adolescents and women are obsessed with body image. Most of the women I know are unhappy with some part of their bodies. The most difficult part is eventually coming to terms with your body. This is not meant as a commentary on whether you should have surgery. That is something you must decide along with your orthopedic surgeon.
              I had scoliosis surgery in 1966, but the hump is still somewhat pronounced. With the careful selection of clothing, my back doesn't look all that uneven. I never buy clothing on line or by mail order. I try on everything and stand in front of a three-way mirror to see how it looks in the back. Summer is tough, because all of the shirts are so flimsy. Fall and winter are great, because the layers of clothing tend to even things out across my back (love those cable-stitch sweaters!). If I find a shirt that fits evenly across my back, I will buy 2 or 3 of them in different colors. I also tend to shop in stores where I previously have found flattering and well-fitting items. I generally shop alone, because it is time consuming and tedious for my friends to watch me parade in front of that three-way mirror. Truthfully, I'm not thrilled with the way my back looks, but I accept it. There are so many other more important things to think about.

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              • #8
                I have accepted the way my back looks also, I didn't mean to come across that I am obsessed with body image. I was just wondering if other women thought about stuff like that.

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                • #9
                  Sweetie, I've always disliked the way my back looked and drove my mother absolutely crazy when we used to go clothes shopping when I was a teenager. But after the first surgery released me of that horrendous pain, I didn't care about the scar or the unevenness of my back (I was only corrected to 45 degrees so it is still noticeable), I was just so grateful I was painfree. I wouldn't, however, wear tight clothes ever, always wore a size larger in a top just so that it wasn't noticeable. But something happened when I turned 50 last year...... I truly do not care about the unevenness, anymore. I'm a small women, and now I wear clothes that are fitting and I actually feel better about myself. I think we see ourselves worse than it is. I must admit, I do look at my back in the mirror everyday, but I think it's more of a habit than feeling self-conscious. I also look at it this way - there are people that wear clothes that shouldn't, and I feel that certainly looks worse than an uneven back! Take care, LYNN
                  1981 Surgery with Harrington Rod; fused from T2 to L3 - Dr.Keim (at 26 years old)
                  2000 Partial Rod Removal
                  2001 Right Scapular Resection
                  12/07/2010 Surgical stabilization L3 through sacrum with revision harrington rod instrumentation, interbody fusion and pre-sacral fusion L5-S1 - Dr. Boachie (at 56 years old)
                  06/11/14 - Posterior cervical fusion C3 - T3 (Mountaineer System) due to severely arthritic joints - Dr. Patrick O'Leary (at age 59)

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                  • #10
                    Self-Esteem

                    Our doctor brought up the issue of self-esteem with us when we were given the option of thoracoplasty, which reduces the rib hump. Having read about people on this site who wished they had the thoracoplasty with their other back surgeries, I encouraged the decision to have the surgery. I know my daughter has had problems emotionally with people figuring out about her brace and how badly that had affected her self-esteem. She also complained about the pain of having to have her shoulder shoved forward constantly by the rib hump. Between the issue of desiring to have her shoulders both in a better position when she sits and the issue of self-esteem in the many years of wearing clothing in the future ( she is a tom-boy and has not had desires for anything other than t-shirts recently), such as hopefully a bridal gown and prom dresses someday, we decided to have the thoracoplasty. Her hump is reduced after surgery, and we will see how it affects her self-esteem when others see it after she heals in the months ahead.

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                    • #11
                      Bottom line, I was impressed that the doctor considered self-esteem an important point to consider in our decisions regarding the types of surgery to perform. She will have some rib-hump, I am sure, but this will hopefully help some.

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                      • #12
                        Dear Sweetie turtle,


                        How many degree yr curve???.....


                        Thanks

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                        • #13
                          I have a new question

                          Sweetie I know exactly how you feel. When the last time I went to the doctor which was almost two years ago, He told me that I would need surgery which he had told me that the first time that I went. We wanted to wait until my two year old which he is three now so that he wouldn't be so depending on me.

                          I have another question has anyone tried applying for disability for their scoliosis.

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                          • #14
                            I think about it often. I find that most people don't notice right away, but people I am around a lot will eventually comment that I walk funny or that I look like my back hurts. I typically just try on everything until I find something that looks good, wear lower-waisted pants (hooray for those!) to hide the uneveness of my hips and prevent that horrible crotch squishing from the high hip pulling the waistband up (instant wedgies, always!), and wear 2-piece swimsuits. I also find that when I am standing I can keep people from getting a good long look by moving around a lot. For me it's not so much obsession with body image as not wanting to be seen as different in the workplace. (I have a physically demanding job which I am afraid of losing if my curvature progresses.) I also think about it out of curiosity. I very often wonder what it's like to have a straight spine and plenty of room for my lungs. How would I look? I also wonder how tall I would be. My husband likes how I look, so that's good enough for me!

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                            • #15
                              Yeah, I think everyone cares how they look, especially teenage girls. I wore a brace from 5th-8th grade, and it was a horrible experience for me. When I had surgery at age 14, I was worried about the scars on the hip and back. They were nasty looking that summer, but a year later, they are barely visible! I am really excited for this because no one can notice. Anyway, surgery may not be so great for a few weeks (I bounced back really quickly), but the effects are wonderful!! There's no need to worry about halter tops or backless dresses; the scars fade!

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