Breathing problems

[skygirl]

Hello
I am so happy I found this forum. I am 40 years old with 53 deegre thoracic scoliosis diagnosed at age 17 (that time only 32 deegrees. I went through rehabilitation centres and other facilities doing exercises. For last few years my scolisis did not progress. Stopped at 53. I did not have any major pain, until now. I am seeing my doctor once a year. He did not recomend surgery because I am neurologicaly OK, no major pain and no breathing problems until now. I feel such a disomfot in my chest. It is so hard to breath. I don't know what is going on. Is enyone had that kind of problem?

[blackwidow]

My son has neuromuscular scoliosis. He did develop breathing problems from the scoliosis. On his first checkup he was 40 degrees and he has a thoracic curve. At that time I noticed he was having apnea all the time and sometimes short of breath. His ortho doctor told me that the scoliosis was probably not the cause of it. Since, heart and lung problems don't start to occur til 90-100+ curve. Although there was nothing to explain why this was happening all of a sudden. I took my son back six months later and his curve had progressed to 65-70 degrees by then he needed oxygen at night and sometimes during the day depending on his positioning. He has had posterior spinal fusion since and I will say this his breathing is a lot better. He doesn't sound short of breath and no longer needs oxygen. Though, from what I've read you sound like you are a healthy person so my son's circumstances are much different than yours since he has cerebral palsy and a different type of scoliosis.

I'm not sure what the possibilities are that your curve is affecting your breathing? It could be something else entirely. I just wanted to share my son's experience since he was having the same problem and his curve was in that range. I hope you're able to find an answer to your problem from your doctor.

[sweetness514]

Hello
I am so happy I found this forum. I am 40 years old with 53 deegre thoracic scoliosis diagnosed at age 17 (that time only 32 deegrees. I went through rehabilitation centres and other facilities doing exercises. For last few years my scolisis did not progress. Stopped at 53. I did not have any major pain, until now. I am seeing my doctor once a year. He did not recomend surgery because I am neurologicaly OK, no major pain and no breathing problems until now. I feel such a disomfot in my chest. It is so hard to breath. I don't know what is going on. Is enyone had that kind of problem?

I really doubt it has anything to do with your scoliosis(since it's not that big of a curve-over 70 degrees at least to get those types of problems), I have been fused and sometimes have breathing problems due to other things. Maybe you should try to see what other causes could bring this. It can't help, that's for sure, but I don't think it would cause big problems or it would be the main cause for breathing problems.

[Karen Ocker]

When was your curve actually last measured?

I did have breathing problems even thought one doctor's nurse said it was unlikely . When I went to have my pulmonary function measured I had lost 30% of my lung capacity.

On the other hand it could be from something else: asthma, smoking, heart valves, or anxiety just to name a few--and just being out-of-shape.

The only way to really know is to see a pulmonologist and have it measured. My doctor thought it was my heart (I was 59) but I had a normal stress test and the cardiologist said it was from my deformed chest.