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Scoliosis caused by Injury???

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  • Scoliosis caused by Injury???

    Hi Everyone,

    As I'm researching more I'm reading that scoliosis can be caused by disc herniation? Has anyone else heard of this or know if this is their case?

    No doctor ever told me this could be the case.

    Here is a quick story of what happened to me:

    Around age 12 diagnosed with scoliosis- cannot remember if that was before or after I had a bad fall off my horse (landed on my tailbone). I kept complaining about pain and finally had an MRI done only to discover the last two discs of my back (L4 and L5??) are bulging/herniated. My scoliosis happens to be in the lumbar region and to the left.

    If this is true that scoliosis can be caused by herniation is it possible to believe I can somehow "fix" it.

    My theory:
    The fall caused my discs to bulge. The muscle spasms/tightness in the muscles gradually pulled my spine out of place (since I was young and still growing). As time went on and nothing was done to correct the imbalanced and tight muscles they simply continued to pull my spine further and further to the left which might explain why it did not stop/stabalize when I hit puberty. Therefore, if I can get those muscles to relax and get my back to somehow pull the other way or realign itself (looking at structural integration/rolfing for that) I could eventually "cure" or reduce the curve.

    Questions:
    Has anyone heard of hernation causing scoliosis and if so (since the muscles would mainly be causing the problems) can it be reduced or corrected without surgery.

    Thank you for help!
    ~Tracy

  • #2
    Hi Tracy,

    Yes, disc herniations can induce a scoliosis, particularly when the herniation is lateral (protruding out the side verses the front or back). A relatively severe fall onto the coccyx, or tailbone, can also create a lateral fixation of the bone and consequently alter the curvature of the spine and positioning of the pelvis.

    Depending on severity, duration, and type of treatment rendered for the herniation there are varying possibilities for correction of the scoliosis. Following a herniation your body will deliberately offset its balance and overall alignment to relieve pressure on the affected area. So generally if the herniation is on the left the spine will begin to bend to the right in that region to minimize additional pressure and further protrusion... "Generally" is the operative word there. Ultimately you end up developing a scoliosis to 'protect' the injured area.

    Fortunately, as you mentioned, there is often a good chance for correction or reduction in the curvature. However if the herniation is still present it may reduce that possibility substantially.

    It does become predominately a muscular/fascial/soft tissue imbalance which stands a better chance for correction than if it were say neurologically or genetically based... for instance.

    Massage is a good start for general relief of painful symptoms and such, but the fascial network (the connective tissue that gives the muscles their shape, form and length) must be addressed in order to actually have any chance at changing the whole of the structure. Structural integration is your best bet... chiropractics may prove useful for the individual segment mobility, but it's limited in that it won't do anything for the fascial network as a whole.

    Hope that helps confirm what you've been researching. I've seen it often in my practice... scoliosis from mild to severe caused by such later in adolescents and adulthood.

    Best to you,
    Structural

    Comment


    • #3
      Fell from horse as well

      Hi Tracey,

      Read your post with interest. My daughter also fell from a horse at 9 1/2 and it was then (looking at a badly scrapped back) that we noticed her shoulder blade jutting out. After x-rays, cat scans - they could find nothing causing the shoulder blade. I was told to keep an eye on her back though, which I did - 18 months later I noticed the curve (age 11) and after seeing specialist discovered her scoliosis. We are convinced that it all started from the fall from the horse (a bad fall from a galloping horse that took off!).

      I was advised by well meaning friends to see an Osteopath and they stated that if caught early enough they could correct the "over pulling" muscles that were causing the Scoliosis. Unfortunately they also recommended Accupuncture to go a long with this and 3 visits a week. I didn't follow through - although very kind and helpful - I couldn't afford the 3 visits a week and secondly my daughter would have nothing to do with the accupuncture. I don't know if any of that helps you, but I thought I would just suggest it for you to have a look into.

      xx
      Del
      Elysia 16 in Feb 2010
      Sydney - Australia
      Feb 2008 Fused T5-L1 and 5 ribs removed.
      Dec 2009 - Crankshafting
      Dec 10 - Revision surgery...3 vertebrae taken down, hooks removed, at T11-L1 - screws inserted, fusion extended down to
      L3 using Pedicle screws, some rib removed to try to derotate. Praying for things to settle.

      Comment


      • #4
        I've also been recommended to try acupuncture by friends. I did try deep tissue massage hoping to relieve some of those muscles that I believe are pulling my spine out of place but it did not release them. The therapist told me muscles were stubborn and she could not get all of them to release and that I had more knots than anyone she had seen before. Since acupuncture- to me- is a deeper form of that massage- as in they have the same concept of relieving muscles- i'm not sure if it would work on me.

        I'm seeing a specialist for the first time in awhile tomorrow. I'll post what he tells me about my back/shoulder and the fall I had. If there is a connection I don't see why it can't be reversed if I simply tighten the muscles on the other side and loosen the ones on the tight side or something.

        Also- I recently fell off again and since then my shoulder pain/range of motion has only gotten worse. I'm wondering if I've fallen off enough times on my back that I've herniated another disc. (So far I only have two that I know of). No fall has been as bad as the first that I think caused all of this but still falling on my back probably can't be good for it. Chances are I'll never learn because until the day a doctor says I cannot ride anymore I'm not going to stop. The pain may be bad and I may be upset but this problem is not going to stop me from doing the things I love...

        More to follow tomorrow...

        ~Tracy

        Comment


        • #5
          I did post a thread stating that I treat patients very regularly, who have fallen on the tailbone region. They all end up like you. Scoliosis ,pelvic mis-allignment, headaches, kyphotic lumbar or thoracic spines or both. However no-one seems to be interested in the fact that the treatment that I give removes all of these problems. I treated one today - a 30 something female who just fell on the pavement. Her spine is now practically straight and her headaches are reduced. However she fell in her early 30's so she would not have experienced the changes in the spine experienced by a young child who then grows rapidly. But even these cases can get huge changes in their problems. Massage, acupuncture etc are next to useless in my experience for these cases.
          I now await the sarcasm.

          Comment


          • #6
            Ray

            I've read the posts on the TAMARAS thread- I believe it was- it got a little out of hand so I'm hoping the same thing does not happen to this one.

            From what I could gather it seemed as though your clinic/work is in the UK and not funded/researched enough yet for the scoliosis foundations to endorse/support. To me it seemed wonderful. If it is in the US or comes to the US I would definitely give it a try or at least want to talk to patients that have had success before spending a lot of money.

            I bought a package deal for the Egoscue method and have my last two appointments still to go to- it seemed to help some with the pain but never really seemed to focus on re-aligning my back or rotation- more so with straightening my shoulders and arched back- so I'm a little skeptical on alternative methods especially when I its so much cheaper to buy a package than one at a time. I would like to try a few visits to see what happens then decide from there. Talking to actual patients that have had success is always the best sales pitch (sorry to use that but I can't think of a better term) to me.

            Anything that can fix this over surgery I'll try at least once.

            Comment


            • #7
              Hi Tracy,
              Out of hand is a mild description of what happened to the other thread!
              This treatment is actually being used in the USA, in Florida after I introduced it to guy over there (I assume that is where you are) I am not sure how advanced they are with their results. I have been over a couple of times to try and help them. Your condition needs quite a lot of pressure to resolve and even some practitioners that I employ struggle a bit. As I tried to tell people on that thread I see your condition very very regularly and they may mock but you can tell what has happened by the feel of the joints when mobilising. I generally get very good results with this sort of problem.
              The Americans got FDA approval for the treatment by the way so they have spent quite a lot of money on it already
              Ray
              Last edited by Rayknox; 06-05-2007, 02:51 AM.

              Comment


              • #8
                I'm actually on the other side of the country. I am interested to learn more and if the practice ever moved my way I would be interested to try it. I would however want someone with great experience so that I know I'm getting my moneys worth.

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