Discharged after 3 1/2 years of examination

[Jadey]

Hiya all

My background more or less is explained in my signature but I'll be more detailed in this thread.

When I was 11 I started getting back pain in my Lumbar region, this started in October 2001 when I started secondary school. I went to the doctors in April 2002 and she said that I had sprained a muscle. After taking pain killers for a year the pain still persisted until April 2003 when my doctor told me to have an x-ray. I was then diagnosed with Scoliosis in June 2003.

I can't remember the exact dates but my curves were:

July 2003
Thoracic + Lumbar = 29 degrees

2004/2005
Thoracic = 26 degrees (-3 degrees)
Lumbar = 31 degrees (+ 2 degrees)

November 2006
Thoracic + Lumbar = 37 degrees (+11 and +6 degrees)

I was discharged on 28th November last month with those latest degrees. It really scared me because I was expecting the curved to be between 25 - 30 and not almost 40! My speciallist told me that in my menopause I could be at risk of getting Osteoporosis and my curves could get worse by 5 degrees each year. I also did not get any treatment during my examinations.

Even though my speciallist told my Mum to keep an eye on my posture and take me back in if it gets worse was it right that my speciallist discharged me now? I will be 17 this month and I have at least another year of growing left (I am currently 5'5"). I just need opinions, I can't see another speciallist becasue he is the only one in my area.

[coloradogirl]

Hello!
I just read your post. I have three curves in my back, the worst being in my middle back at 90 degrees. I cannot have the operation at this time because of a lung disease that I have. I was in a bracing program that I got kicked out of and the only other option for me is doing yoga stretching for the rest of my life.

[Frosty]

Your curve isn't bad enough for surgery, 50 degrees is the usual threshold. What you might try is to contact Scoliosis Association UK (SAUK) but they don't usually advise on treatment in specific cases. You might ask your GP to send you for a second opinion (I think that your GP can refer you elsewhere other than your local town but this is at their disgression) but if you've already gone to somewhere like the Royal National Orthpaedic Hospital or similar there would be a little point in seeing a specialist in a smaller local hospital. As a lay person the only other thing I can suggest is that it might be advisable to get a check up in few yrs time to make sure things aren't getting worse. The most important thing is that you don't let worrying about your back effect your overall quality of life. Concentrate on your interests, school work and developing friendships. Sorry if that last bit sounded a bit of a lecture.

There's an American website called spinkeids which is forum for teenagers with scoliosis. I don't know if you aware of it and I'm not sure if it has much of a UK focus but it has a lot more input from people who are your own age.

[LindaRacine]

Even though my speciallist told my Mum to keep an eye on my posture and take me back in if it gets worse was it right that my speciallist discharged me now? I will be 17 this month and I have at least another year of growing left (I am currently 5'5"). I just need opinions, I can't see another speciallist becasue he is the only one in my area.

Hi Jadey...

Are you male or female? If you're female, you're almost certainly done growing. If you're male, you might have another year or so before you're done. Either way, have your mother watch your back for signs that your scoliosis is getting worse. You can see what to check for here:

http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?...ontentID=20446

Regards,
Linda

[RoundTheTwist]

Also from the UK

Hi there,

Which hospital were you under?
I am also in the UK (and a fair bit older ) but if I were you I would get ur Mum to take a few pics of your back now(digital is better cos then u don't have to send in a film of you with few clothes on ) and keep them safe. Do back and either side and DATE THEM!

I reckon they discharged you because you are 17 and they feel you have stopped or will shortly stop growing, the bit about you post that worries me a little is where you say "my curves could get worse by 5 degrees each year" and that is why I say keep a photo record of your back That way if you do feel like things are getting worse you can compare the photos you have taken and decide if things really have gotten worse.

BTW if you do decide you want to be re-referred to ur Hospital in the future don't take 'no' for an answer from ur Gp, I had trouble getting re-referred a couple of years ago and really had to 'put my foot down' with my Gp to get referred. I had this feeling something wasn't right with my back and when I eventually got to see a consultant I was absolutely right always listen to your body,