Tons more questions

[caligal]

Sorry I have more questions.

I have curves of 26 and 18.

1. One doctor (non-Kaiser) said that i should check every 10 years to see if my curve is going to progress. Is that normal or should I have an xray more often than that?

1a. Will my curavature increase with age?

2. Does anyone have Kaiser in San Francisco? How can I see a speciliist within Kaiser about my scoliosis? My primary care doctor doesn't seem to have a lot of knowledge in this area. My dcotor thinks I am pretty healthy (never missed a day of work due to scoliosos). A lot of my symptoms are annonying but not painful yet.

3. What symptoms should I look for to indicate a worsening condition? I have a lot of symptoms such as decreased lung capacity, soemtimes I feel tingling in my leg once in a while and I am getting some tests (echocardiogram) to check for MVP. My EKG came out normal.

Thanks again (I know not everyone on this board is a medical doctor) but I am just curious about everyone's opinion.

I was treated for scolioss when I was 13-18 by wearing a brace.

[LindaRacine]

Hi Caligirl...

Yes, unless you have some new pain (that doesn't go away in 6-8 weeks), having your spine checked every 10 years is probably right. The Kaiser scoliosis specialists in the bay area are in Oakland. I suspect that it will be difficult to get an appointment with one of them unless something about your condition changes.

At 26 degrees, your thoracic curve should not be causing any problem with your pulmonary function. If you have decreased lung function, your doctor should be searching for another cause.

Regards,
Linda

[caligal]

resources in San Francisco

Thanks for everyone's answers.

1. Is there a support group in San Francisco that I can go to? While my symptoms are mild, I am afraid they will progress with age. I am 30 years old.

I would love to hear tips and hints from everyone on how to keep healthy and be pain-free. I am using a "tush cush" and a memory foam pillow when I work and it helps quite a bit ( I was having some tailbone pain for a while).

2. I also have a throbbing sensation in my leg (I don't know if its sciatica) or just nerves being pressed on. I have a lot of symptoms that come and go so hopefully this one will go away by itself.

[LindaRacine]

Hi Caligirl...

I run the scoliosis support group for the SF bay area. Send an email with your contact information to me at linda @ scoliosislinks.com (without the spaces), and I'll add you to my list.

Regards,
Linda

[DiakosUCF]

I personally disagree with the 10 year checkup. I have got a 70ish degree kyphosis and 20ish degree scoliosis and get new sets of x-rays and exam done at least once a year, insurance will cover one every six months so might as well right. My kyphosis has progressed from 50 degrees in the last two years but the doc feels it is now stable at 70 which does however put me in need of surgery. Over the last few years I have tried a chiroprator and physical therapy for the pain. Learned a few stretches from the physical therapist to keep things a bit loose and feel the chiropractor really didnt do much. Few months ago I bought an inversion table and it is absolutely amazing!!! Hang upside down, fully inverted, for a good ten or fifteen minutes in the morning and night and it really helps to alievate the compression that standing all day puts on my back...on top of that doing some crunches will inverted is a hell of a workout!! First few sessions hurt like hell I will give you that but what treatment doesnt at first. I highly recommend everyone to look into getting one!!!

[caligal]

thanks. Can I duplicate any exercises (similar to the inversion table) on the Swiss/exercise ball? The table is rrather expensive and I don't know if I have space for it.

[Silverfox]

Forget about it and get on with your life. If you search the internet it will tell you curves under 30 degrees rarely increase. The 10 yr checkup sounds sensible as a precaution although I suspect that some doctors might advise that you won't need any further check ups unless you run into trouble which would be unlikely. I like most people on this forum have no medical training so you should always go by what your doctor tells you rather than the advice you get from here. However the under 30 degress and no probs in future is in my undertanding well established.

I'm guessing your scoliosis is hardly noticeable to anyone other than yourself. You should not let it hold you back from doing the things you really want to do with your life. Wearing a brace as a teenager must have been quite tough so you are obviously a pretty resourceful person.

[caligal]

thanks Silverfox. Your words are very wise. I have to admit I have to balance not worrying about my scolisoss and not letting it affect my life.

Part of me wants to make sure that I check every sympton so it doesn't progress.

But part of me wants to ignore it becasue I can't really control some of these symptoms. I do have a lot of little symptoms like muscle spasms and sometimes occasison pain in my knees (nothing so serious that I hve to take a painkiller for). I do excerise.

I guess I have to find the right balance or else I wil drive myself crazy worrying.