Need some advice please

[Angelacross]

Hi my name is Angela I am from england, I was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 17 i am know 19, they said I had it a lot longer but I had a lot of health problems as a child and it was missed, I have been told that I have a 55-60 degree curve I went to a specialist and got told they will do a follow up appointment and never heard anything from them again,
I was wondering weather with the curve being that much would they recomend surgery or will they just leave it, I do get pain around my hip and lower back and by my shoulder blades know which is new..

Any advice would be grateful thank you
Angela

[Lucy7]

Hi Angela,

I am also a Brit but I now live in the US. I made my first post last month about how I had been allowed to fall through the cracks regarding treatment in the UK and I got a really nice reply from ToniBunny who runs a great online support group in the UK. Go to www.scoliosis-support.org As Toni told me, there are some great doctors in the UK, you just need a hand to find them. I think the above mentioned website would really help you - I wish I had known of it when I was living there. Toni is especially kind and positive.

Please let me know how you get on - I want to know you are getting help. I personally think that you will need several opinions as surgery is not something to rush into.

Take care,
Lucy

[LindaRacine]

Hi Angela...

I don't know about the UK, but here in the U.S. most specialists recommend surgery for curves starting around 50 degrees. However, if the curves are stable (in that they haven't increased over time), they often recommend and wait and watch approach.

Good luck.

Regards,
Linda

[Angelacross]

The reason I posted mainly is my scoliosis has never given me pain or anything but over the past few months I have had pain in my lower back and around my hip and shoulder blades and over the weekend the pain has been there all the time I dont know weather this is due to the scoliosis I have an appointment with my GP on Thrusday so hopefully he will send me to the specialist again

Angela
Thanks for the advice

[Frosty]

Surgery is usually advised for curves that are in excess of 50 degrees. If you are right about the degree of curvature I'm very surprised your surgeon/hospital hasn't contacted you. I think that you need to go back to your GP and explain the situation and take things from there. He may have received a letter from the consultant explaining your situation. I had surgery in the UK in 2001 as a 31 yr old and it was the best decision I've ever made.

[Angelacross]

Hi just an update, after being back and forth to the doctor again cause I have had bad back pain know for months, I have finally got an appoinment at a scoliosis clinic at exeter hospital, and not long to go on the 21st of this month they have asked for more x-rays cause they think the cruve might be getting worse, I dont know weather they will recomend surgery know, would just be nice to be out of pain.
Talk soon
Angela