Sport&Scoliosis

[Decis]

Hi everyone
It's my first post so please be polite for newbie
Well I just want to ask if someone has the same problem like me
I really wanted to be a profesional sportsman but it appeard that I have scoliosis and I wasn't allowed to go physicial test to go to University School of Physicial Education
I have visited many scoliosis specialist and diagnosed as that it is because my one leg is longer and corection can be only gained by operation witch is not very good to do, because after fusion I can forget about sport ;(
I have 18 and 21 deegre , I'm 19, 196cm, I'm from Poland
I have questions:
Has anyone have problem like me?
And if yes how did you solve it?
Is there is any treatment that can help me?

[Mary Lou]

Hi. Why is surgery your only option? In the USA, most doctors won't do surgery until the curves reach 40-50 degrees. At 18 and 21 degrees, most doctors wouldn't even use a brace. Do you have pain? Has your doctor suggested putting a lift in your shoe to help with the difference in leg length? What sports are you talking about? My daughter had surgery 8 months ago and once she is fully recovered from her surgery, there will be very few sports that she isn't allowed to do, like football.

Sorry about so many questions.

Mary Lou

[Decis]

No problem with many questions
I didn't have any brace
I don't have pain
Yes i had a lift in shoe but know scoliosis specialist said said that now i'm an adult i don't need it
i'm talking about full contact sport like:football, judo, wrestling esc.
I just want to speak with someone who has\had the same problem like me
Well in my country there is no option but maybe in west Europe / USA there is some possibility for me
Some kind of clinic for sportsman :P
Well i can train but i don't have any chance with someone whos spine is straight
Maybe i want to much, doctors said that i cannot think about profesional sport but maybe there is someone who can make my dream come true

[sweetness514]

That's too bad

You don't have much of a scoliosis so I don't understand why they don't want you to do all the sports you want, especially if you can they do them without pain. It's probably some requirement that you be in "perfect" shape but that's bull if you ask me, and I don't know if it would be different in North America.

[Decis]

Well as an option i see some kind of treatment to make my spine straight.
Yes you're right if someone don't have scoliosis and i have who do you choose for training?
Maybe there is an operation reserved for sportsman?
Maybe some new kind of operation?
I really would like to have a chance can anyone give me hope?

[Abbyjo_21]

About 4 years ago i had surgery to fix my curve of 50 to 60 degrees. The surgery was in November 2001, i was in 7th grade, and in 8th grade i was allowed to play volleyball. Volleyball isnt that much of a contact sport, except for the floor at times, and the fact that i was still able to mess up my fusion However i was right away told that i was not able to play Football wrestle, or as my doctor likes to joke..."wrestle with fat boys." So i guess what im trying to say is that you probably wont be able to go out for them sports unless your seeing some doctor who isnt watching out for your own good, which almost sounds like the case. Like Mary Lou said, i also dont understand why they would be doing surgery on your when your curve is only 18 and 21 degrees. Thats crazy! Maybe your getting your numbers mixed up because like the others have said, bracing isnt even done in the US on people with that low of a curve. Hope i could help somewhat!
Abby

[SpineWhine]

Hi there.

I am 30 and about to have surgery. Today I ran a 5k race. When I was in college (ages 18-21) I played tennis at a Div. 1 school and played co-ed intermural soccer. My curve at that time was around 30 degrees. I was a very competitive athlete, and wore a leg lift and back brace off the field/court. It wasn't until I stopped being active/athletic that my curve progressed and I had a significant increase in pain. My doctors recommended being as active as i could stand to be. Even now, my doctors tell me I will be able to play the sports I want, including downhill skiing, after I have surgery. I think that just high-impact contact sports might be a no-no. (Although he did tell me he had a gymnast with a fused spine.)

I would seek a second opinion, and continue to chase your dream!

[Decis]

hey everyone
what do you think about sport medicine?
They cure sickness which wouldn't be normal cure for not-sportsman.

[Rosella]

Similar situation- sort of

Decis, I am 45 and have had scoliosis since I was 4. When I was 11 all doctors told my parents I needed surgery- I believe my curve was about 80 degrees, but am not positive. I had no surgery, but studied ballet and became a professional dancer. My scoliosis never hurt, or significantly affected my ability to dance. I started experiencing pain about 10 years ago, and now am facing surgery since my curve has increased to 105 degrees. If I had surgery when I was 11 I could never have had the life I had- dancing as a career would not have been possible. I don't know that ballet could be considered a contact sport, so I don't know that we can really compare our situations. While ballet is extremely physical and strenuous, it is also very balanced and stresses correct body alignment. That, I believe, is what kept me "on my toes" all these years! Good luck to you as you gather your information and make your decision!
Rosella

[violinprincess3]

hi

my right leg is about 2 1/2 cm shorter than my left, which may have caused my scoliosis. however, my doctor had lifts put into the sole of my shoes, making the right shoe taller than the left. that way i didn't need surgery. maybe you could talk to your doctor about that option so you possibly won't need the surgery.

good luck

[Decis]

I have done some dancing but this is completly diffrent probably because there are throws
now i'm searching about fusionless operation to corect my small scoliosis
i think that fusion is need for large scoliosis but for small that new kind of scoliosis operation would help
i just really don't want to lose my flexibility but because of this little scoliosis i haven't such flexibility as people with straight spines
Now i'm going to sport medical center in poland where they cure sportsman
i hope that there i find information i'm looking for

[Rosella]

sports and scoliosis

In my experience, scoliosis far more severe than yours did not stop me from being very flexible and strong. As a female dancer I didn't throw, but I was thrown, and tossed and lifted and dipped and caught! Fortunately I was never dropped! I think you need to be aware and keep watching to see if your curves are progressing. I hope you find good news at the sports medical center!

[sweetness514]

I used to take a lot of dancing lessons as well and it was my passion for a long time(until the fusion ), and even with a large curve then it didn't stop me and I was very flexible.

[Decis]

i was wrong about dancing sorry
but i know that in wrestling spine and muscle have really hard work so i hope that i won't have any problems