College Student with Scoliosis.

[mmak]

Hi all,
Currently, I am a freshman college student, 18 year old male. If I remember correctly, I have been diagnosed with scoliosis my 7th grade year (12 years old?). So far, I have only had a total of 2 xrays over a time period of 6 years, the most recent being 3-4 years ago. Most of the professionals that I have spoken to say that I am still developing and still have a good chance of getting rid of any serious case of scoliosis.

Unfortunately, that was said more than 4 years ago, and I am still having back pains and a seemingly more deformed skeletal structure. The average male should still be growing at my age, but moreso, I feel as if I am shrinking, my back developing a more serious case of scoliosis. I have no clue as how to treat my back. Is is too late for a brace? will the brace even help? Is surgery needed? will surgery disable me more than Enable me?...

I am still very physically active: I workout everyday, play sports on the weekends..etc... My body is very un-uniform..Long arms, long legs, and a short/compressed torso. My siblings joke around about how tall I would be if my back were straight.. haha.. i'm 5'10 by the way...with a slight 'S' scoliosis (lower back more curved).

Thanks for reading, got to get to class. bye!

[marmyte]

it's very hard to say without knowing the degrees of your curves and your flexibility, but i'd imagine that if surgery were required it would be successful. you're not old! i'm 18 (though female ) and had surgery this summer and it's been a great success. i chose to wait until now, rather than having surgery when i was 16.

i don't think a brace would be a possibility for you, i'd say you're practically fully grown. optimum time for bracing whether you're male or female is early to mid teens so unfortunately i think you've missed that.

as for the implications of surgery - i've lost no flexibility, but i'm also only fused through 5 vertebrae. you sound like you're quite fit so you have that on your side too. there are many older people around here who have had or will be having surgery so age isn't an issue for you i'd say.

the thing to find out would be the degrees of your curves and ask the specialist what the implications are for you if you leave it to go untreated. surgery has to be worth it from every perspective in order for you to warrant putting your body through so much. if you want to ask me any more questions, feel free

[mmak]

Thanks for your reply!...

I was just wondering, how much was the total cost of having surgery? Did the rehabilitation take long?....

[mmak]

A few more questions...and ponderings.

I have been working out consistently...well..for the last year or so..and have been physically active for most all of my youth. I have noticed that my muscles on my right side of the body are significantly smaller than my left..very unproportional or un-bilateral. especially my pectorials and shoulders..and abnominals...my spine curves to the left so I suppose that my left side is compensating for that..?...

What exactly is spinal fusion? Does the procedure actually...fuse certain spinal discs together? Is the fusion permanent? Will I gain a few inches in height after the surgery or will my height be the same as I am now...(I was convinced at an early stage of my diagnosis that I would be taller if my back were straight..?)..And again...How long is the recovery (if the scoliosis isn't too sever) and about how much should I be expecting the procedure to cost?

Woo WEE...those are a lot of questions...sorry, but I think I am really considering surgery next summer.

thanks for your help!

[LindaRacine]

Hi...

Scoliosis surgery can be performed in several different ways, and whether or not you gain any height is based on the type of surgery. All surgeries essentially involve fusion, which joins vertebrae to each other. Here are some links where you can read about the various methods:

http://www.iscoliosis.com/treatment-surgical.html
http://www.spineuniverse.com/display...ticle1450.html
http://www.spineuniverse.com/display...rticle498.html
http://www.vh.org/pediatric/patient/...ion/index.html

You might also want to read Scoliosis Surgery The Definitive Patient Reference by David Wolpert (available for purchase on this website).

Regards,
Linda

[KRIS ATKINSON]

Since you are 18, you may qualify for Shriners Children's Hospital, who will pay all the expenses associated with Scoliosis. Surgery is normally $100,000-$200,00, I think. I know Shriners, in the USA, continues to care for their patients until they are 18 or 21, once they accept them. I am not sure what their top age is to accept them. There is an application for Shriners on their internet site, if you want to download it and fill it out, then send it in. It may require you to have a referral from an ortho. I'm not sure. Take a look. That would save you money right there, if you can get them to handle things while you are still 18. Age 18 may be the latest age they will start a patient, so try while you are 18. Good luck. Kris