Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

New Girl

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • New Girl

    Hey all , - Sorry the post is so long, but please advise me I would really appreciate it !!

    Almost 2 yrs. ago at the age of 16 I discovered something was wrong with my back. I was over at my aunt's house for a b'day party. Just sitting there having a good time, when someone walked over and said what's wrong with your back?? I had no idea what they were talking about... but then everyone started looking at my back and feeling it and telling me that one side was higher than the other. This began to get me worried... however at the time I was living in the caribbean and had never heard of Scoliosis before. Therefore I just thought that one side of my back was higher, one shoulder was higher and I was leaning to one side because I would always carry my backpack on one shoulder.

    A few months later though, at the age of 17, I went to the doctor for a physical and showed her my back and as soon as she saw it she said SCOLIOSIS and sent me for an x-ray. That same day I went to get an x-ray of my back and was shocked to say the least at the 'S' shape of my spine. Later that day I went to the specialist in the island and he said I had scoliosis, however the island, being very small and a third world country did not measure the curves of my spine and also had no means of correcting it. Also they said I was past the age that a brace would be of any benefit.

    A few months later my family and I moved to Canada and I went for a physical here where I was sent for more x-rays and this time my curves were measured. I was told a year ago that my curves were T35 and L46 degrees and I was told that I needed to see a specialist. Now one year later that doctor has still not gotten me an appointment with a specialist, so I decided to switch doctors and am now in the process of getting more x-rays to see if my scoliosis has gotten any worse. I am anxious to speak to a specialist and see if anything can be done. I am 18 years old now and I don't think that bracing woud be of any help, however I would like to know what you guys think.
    Also I'm not normally in any pain. However my lower back does feel fatigued and a little achey after standing for long periods and if I sit on a stool or a chair with a hard back for too long my back becomes achey and uncomfortable. I don't know it will be recommended that I have surgery or not, and I'm definitely worried about what is going to happen.

    I was extremely happy to find this site and to talk to people who went through and are going through the same things as I am. I will keep you updated as to whether or not my curves have gotten worse and what the specialist has to say. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions . Thanks a million !!!
    Last edited by VincySweety; 05-27-2006, 06:10 PM.
    Nadia
    I'm 19
    Diagnosed with Scoliosis at age 16
    Curves as of June 2006: 48T & 40L
    Curves as of June 2007: 52T & 43L
    Surgery date: June 18, 2007
    "A smile is a curve that can straighten out anything"

  • #2
    14yr old with scoliosis / no bracing.

    Hi, I read your story about your diagnosis and surprise about your own back. I am a REgistered Nurse, and never realized my own daughter had scoliosis. She just complained her back hurt and I lifted she shirt to notice the curve. It seems like it came on like gang-busters.......never even noticed it ever. anyways, the docs all recommended the back-brace, but she absolutely refuses to wear it.........having pressure sores, breathing problems, etc. So, we are going back to our specilists in early June to see if the curve got worse (it's currently at 35 degree). has anyone else had problems wearing a brace........and if you declined to wear it.........what were the consequences? on another note: i hope you are able to get to a good doc now that you are in Canada. thanks, dawn

    Comment


    • #3
      Issues with hard brace

      You mentioned in your post that your daughter refuses to wear a hard brace. There is another option you might want to check out - the SpineCor brace. It is completely flexible and comfortable and they are getting great results. You can read about it on this forum under Bracing, look at the SpineCor thread. They also have a website which I think is referred to on the thread.

      Comment


      • #4
        Hey Dawntexas,
        I'm in Texas too. My daughter didn't wear her brace either because of discomfort, difficulty breathing, eating, etc. She went from 35 lumbar to 34thoracic/45lumbar in one year, so there can be major consequences of not wearing the brace, but I also think she went through a big growth spurt during that year. You really won't know until you get her xrayed again. As mentioned by Latigner (hope that's right), my daughter is now wearing the Spinecor brace. It is like night and day compared to a hard brace, unfortunately, we should have done this when we first found out. Her curve was 25 deg. then and we would have had much better success with it. I spoke with Dr. Couillet yesterday (she helped invent the brace) and she said the correction won't be very good because a 45 deg curve is rigid and hard to correct. We are also getting some other forms of therapy too. I guess at this point the best we can hope for is stabilization and if there's any correction, that will be a bonus. On the bright side, she has no more pain and has very good posture. But I have seen others who have curves under 40 who are getting very good results. I wish I hadn't listened to the orthop. surgeon and "watched and waited", I should have done my own research but just have to do the best we can now.
        Sherie

        Comment

        Working...
        X