Hi all. I am 42 and had fusion from t3-t12 a dozen years ago, correcting my S-curve to ~35-40 degrees from about 60. I'd say that by all accounts I'm a success story - very active, little/no pain, I exercise regularly, I xc-ski, scuba dive, etc. I do stretch a bit and do yoga once in a while, but on the whole I'm able to pretty much ignore my back most of the time other than some increased discomfort in my low back/hips while sleeping in the last year or two (which could just be pending middle age). I do have somewhat of a rib hump on the right, and my right shoulder has always been slightly curved forward/dropped relative to my left.
In recent months, I feel like the right shoulder rotation is worse, and the rib hump a bit more so as well. Most of the time it's just that I have a feeling that my shoulder is curving in, so I try to pinch my shoulder blades together to bring it back. But I occasionally get some numbness/tingling in my right arm - and it always falls asleep if I lay on that side for even a few minutes. I have more right shoulder blade pain now, too - not really bad, mostly just a near-constant ache. I assume this is partly because those muscles are trying to hold things in place and they get tired, and partly because I'm always trying to adjust how I hold my back, pinch the shoulder blades back, etc.
I do plan to go see my doctor this fall to check it out. But I'm trying to prepare myself a bit for what it might be. Any thoughts? I hear about thoracoplasties, but it seems that's usually more for cosmetic issues or for pain related to the rib hump specifically, not the shoulder rotation. Does this mean my spine is rotating somehow? Is there anything that can be done for it? Should I pursue physical therapy or muscle strengthening for my upper back, and would that help?
Thanks for any advice/insight -
Diane
In recent months, I feel like the right shoulder rotation is worse, and the rib hump a bit more so as well. Most of the time it's just that I have a feeling that my shoulder is curving in, so I try to pinch my shoulder blades together to bring it back. But I occasionally get some numbness/tingling in my right arm - and it always falls asleep if I lay on that side for even a few minutes. I have more right shoulder blade pain now, too - not really bad, mostly just a near-constant ache. I assume this is partly because those muscles are trying to hold things in place and they get tired, and partly because I'm always trying to adjust how I hold my back, pinch the shoulder blades back, etc.
I do plan to go see my doctor this fall to check it out. But I'm trying to prepare myself a bit for what it might be. Any thoughts? I hear about thoracoplasties, but it seems that's usually more for cosmetic issues or for pain related to the rib hump specifically, not the shoulder rotation. Does this mean my spine is rotating somehow? Is there anything that can be done for it? Should I pursue physical therapy or muscle strengthening for my upper back, and would that help?
Thanks for any advice/insight -
Diane
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