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Curve Progression in adulthood

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  • Curve Progression in adulthood

    I just recently found out that my curves have progressed from 25 degrees to 30 degrees since the first time I diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 15. That means what the doctors said my curves won't changed is totally false. I'm so disappointed and worried that my curves will continuely getting worse. At age 15-25, I'm not even getting old, and still got progression, that means worst is yet to come. I was wondering any of you guys have adulthood curves progression? and any ways to prevent it?

  • #2
    curve preogression

    My curves was upper curve 25, lower 12.
    now is 30, 7.
    It's interesting that my upper progressed 5 degrees while my lower curve decreased 5 degrees.
    And I suddenly have a thought that, since our spine curves progressed in adulthood, then why not the curves can also be reduced in adulthood with exercise and treatment? Isn't it the same theory?

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by yellowfish
      I just recently found out that my curves have progressed from 25 degrees to 30 degrees since the first time I diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 15. That means what the doctors said my curves won't changed is totally false. I'm so disappointed and worried that my curves will continuely getting worse. At age 15-25, I'm not even getting old, and still got progression, that means worst is yet to come. I was wondering any of you guys have adulthood curves progression? and any ways to prevent it?
      Yellowfish,

      A Cobb change of ±5° in 10 YEARS may mean *nothing*. Standard margin of error is 5°, and can be even higher when another ortho reads the films.

      That said, 10 years ago, many people were told curves didn't progress in adulthood; it's now common knowledge that's not always the case. What you were told 10 years ago was accepted knowledge of scoli, and in no way means your doctor misinformed you or was intentionally negligent.

      Neither does it mean your curve has changed one single BIT.

      Don't just assume your curve has progressed based on x-rays taken 10 years apart that are well within acceptable variance. Get yearly baselines - and go from there.

      You ask about prevention: You're getting ahead of yourself, in my opinion. You may very well have nothing TO prevent.

      Regards,
      Pam
      Last edited by txmarinemom; 02-22-2008, 03:05 PM.
      Fusion is NOT the end of the world.
      AIDS Walk Houston 2008 5K @ 33 days post op!


      41, dx'd JIS & Boston braced @ 10
      Pre-op ±53°, Post-op < 20°
      Fused 2/5/08, T4-L1 ... Darrell S. Hanson, Houston


      VIEW MY X-RAYS
      EMAIL ME

      Comment


      • #4
        I totally agree with TX, you need to keep getting regular x-rays to monitor for progression... I'm not sure if you would need to be getting annual ones, but definilty regularly. As for the curve progression, many people have experienced curve progression in adulthood.

        There is no scientific evidence to support therapies designed to prevent curve progression, however I believe that it is worthwile including exercises into your routine that maintain your back muscles.
        1994 curve at age 13, 70 degrees, untreated
        2000 Anterior fusion with instrumentation T9-L2, corrected to 36 degrees, 14 degree angle between fused and un-fused thoracic spine.
        2007 26 degrees junctional scoliosis
        Revision surgery, 6th December 2007 T4 to L3, Posterior approach.
        msandham.blogspot.com

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by nzgirl
          I totally agree with TX, you need to keep getting regular x-rays to monitor for progression... I'm not sure if you would need to be getting annual ones, but definilty regularly. As for the curve progression, many people have experienced curve progression in adulthood.

          There is no scientific evidence to support therapies designed to prevent curve progression, however I believe that it is worthwile including exercises into your routine that maintain your back muscles.
          Hi. Again " don't wait and see" during and after menopause even with a bone fusion. Be ahead of the curve and in many cases by taking photos or videos of your back ( dorsal area) and sideways ( sagital area) you can keep an eye for progression and with the Schroth and Physio-logic method you can prevent pain and disability in latter years . The brain is very pliable and it continuelly is learnning new neuro-paths. Surgical approaches are not enough

          Comment


          • #6
            check up

            Thx, I did mention about margin error, but it seems my family doctor doensn't know much about it. I will try to regularly do my x-ray from now on, but it's not easy. I have to lie that my pain is getting painful in order to get my x-ray in ten years, she even asked me why I need an x-ray since there's no way to improve it anyways. Now I totally understand why people say the canadian health care system is collapsing.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by BETall
              Hi. Again " don't wait and see" during and after menopause even with a bone fusion. Be ahead of the curve and in many cases by taking photos or videos of your back ( dorsal area) and sideways ( sagital area) you can keep an eye for progression and with the Schroth and Physio-logic method you can prevent pain and disability in latter years . The brain is very pliable and it continuelly is learnning new neuro-paths. Surgical approaches are not enough
              At 25 years old, I'm fairly certain menopause isn't even a factor in what may not even be an issue ...

              And there's no indication "bone fusion" is either.

              Please don't confuse the girl by tossing in a bunch of irrelevant conjecture.
              Fusion is NOT the end of the world.
              AIDS Walk Houston 2008 5K @ 33 days post op!


              41, dx'd JIS & Boston braced @ 10
              Pre-op ±53°, Post-op < 20°
              Fused 2/5/08, T4-L1 ... Darrell S. Hanson, Houston


              VIEW MY X-RAYS
              EMAIL ME

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by nzgirl
                There is no scientific evidence to support therapies designed to prevent curve progression, however I believe that it is worthwile including exercises into your routine that maintain your back muscles.
                As NzG suggests, Yellowfish, the best thing you can do (progressing or not) is maintain flexibility via yoga, pilates, and NzG's (codename "AquaGrrrrrrrrrrrl!" - one of the stealthy superheroes from down under -LOL!) favorite activity, swimming ;-).

                Whether the curve progresses or not, maintaining flexibility can often keep pain at bay - or make recovery MUCH easier in the event surgery would ever be warranted (and with what you've posted, you're a loooooooooong way from that becoming a concern).

                Try not to worry ... I know that's much easier said than done, but I'd almost bet your curve has remained stable the last 10 years. Normally, one that isn't remaining static will demonstate a higher (more demonstrable) rate of change.

                Best of luck to you, and I don't think I said it before ... welcome to our odd lil' group ;-).

                Regards,
                Pam
                Fusion is NOT the end of the world.
                AIDS Walk Houston 2008 5K @ 33 days post op!


                41, dx'd JIS & Boston braced @ 10
                Pre-op ±53°, Post-op < 20°
                Fused 2/5/08, T4-L1 ... Darrell S. Hanson, Houston


                VIEW MY X-RAYS
                EMAIL ME

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by yellowfish
                  Thx, I did mention about margin error, but it seems my family doctor doensn't know much about it. I will try to regularly do my x-ray from now on, but it's not easy. I have to lie that my pain is getting painful in order to get my x-ray in ten years, she even asked me why I need an x-ray since there's no way to improve it anyways. Now I totally understand why people say the canadian health care system is collapsing.
                  Yellowfish,

                  I just read you're Canadian - I missed that the first few pass throughs on this thread. Instead of seeing a family doctor (untrained in scoli), could you get a referral to a specialist and get x-rays more easily?

                  (I fully admit I have NO idea how the Canadian system works. I do know I gripe about the cost of healthcare in the US, but it IS nice to get healthcare on demand ...)
                  Fusion is NOT the end of the world.
                  AIDS Walk Houston 2008 5K @ 33 days post op!


                  41, dx'd JIS & Boston braced @ 10
                  Pre-op ±53°, Post-op < 20°
                  Fused 2/5/08, T4-L1 ... Darrell S. Hanson, Houston


                  VIEW MY X-RAYS
                  EMAIL ME

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by txmarinemom
                    As NzG suggests, Yellowfish, the best thing you can do (progressing or not) is maintain flexibility via yoga, pilates, and NzG's (codename "AquaGrrrrrrrrrrrl!" - one of the stealthy superheroes from down under -LOL!) favorite activity, swimming ;-).

                    LOL! Love the swimming though!
                    1994 curve at age 13, 70 degrees, untreated
                    2000 Anterior fusion with instrumentation T9-L2, corrected to 36 degrees, 14 degree angle between fused and un-fused thoracic spine.
                    2007 26 degrees junctional scoliosis
                    Revision surgery, 6th December 2007 T4 to L3, Posterior approach.
                    msandham.blogspot.com

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Thx Pam, I just saw your surgery pics, but I can't finish it LOL. Anyways, how are you doing now?

                      I'm so glad to find this forum, I wish I had join this forum earlier so I'd know much more.

                      Regards to finding specialist, since the health care is free, it's not easy to get specialist do check ups for me regularly unless I'm very serious.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        By the way, what's PILATES?

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Pilates is an exercise program that has been around since the 1920's, it is doing exercise either on the floor or on a machine that are designed to strenthen your body. It is probably best to google it, I can't really explain very well what the exercises are. There is more movement than yoga, and it uses resistance for some of the exercises.
                          1994 curve at age 13, 70 degrees, untreated
                          2000 Anterior fusion with instrumentation T9-L2, corrected to 36 degrees, 14 degree angle between fused and un-fused thoracic spine.
                          2007 26 degrees junctional scoliosis
                          Revision surgery, 6th December 2007 T4 to L3, Posterior approach.
                          msandham.blogspot.com

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Pilates ...

                            A friend of mine has a pretty good description for it:

                            "Yoga with props". - LOL

                            And sorry you couldn't make it through the surgery photos ... as I mentioned here (or maybe in another thread) the camps are firmly split on "COOOOOOOL!!!" and "OMG, I'm gonna be sick!!!".

                            It's been quite funny to try and peg who will have which reaction. I've been almost exclusively wrong on each guess ;-).

                            My Mom even watched it without major issue, she just said "I kept having to stop and remember to breathe ... ".

                            Fingers crossed you never have your OWN collection of photos, girl!

                            Regards,
                            Pam
                            Fusion is NOT the end of the world.
                            AIDS Walk Houston 2008 5K @ 33 days post op!


                            41, dx'd JIS & Boston braced @ 10
                            Pre-op ±53°, Post-op < 20°
                            Fused 2/5/08, T4-L1 ... Darrell S. Hanson, Houston


                            VIEW MY X-RAYS
                            EMAIL ME

                            Comment

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