"Scoliosis does not hurt" RANT

[dawney]

I too was told scoliosis does not cause pain from my family doctor. My pain definitely progressed to the point where I could not function without pain pills. I finally had surgery and my pain is bearable. I also had a physicians asst from an orthos office say to me, why would you ever condider having that surgery, it is horrible. Needless to say I did not go back.
Have you been xrayed lately? If not maybe your curve has progressed. I think it is a matter of finding the right doctor.

[Dimitri]

Chiropractor

I've very new to this site, but I just haven't seen anything about Chiropractors for pain. I'm worried that I'm going to read something discouraging...but it would be difficult to persuade me that seeing a Chiropractor is bad. We didn't know my 13-year-old daughter had scoliosis until we went to a Chiropractor, who took x-rays as part of the initial consultation--and we just kept going to see him because her relief from pain was almost immediate!--while we waited for appointments with her primary care physican, then on to 3 different ortho-surgeons for advice.

Gwen had complained of back pain and had pretty lousy posture...thus the initial visit to the chiropractor. She was a 54+ Cobb angle but all the ortho-surgeon-doctors commented on how good her posture was, including her pelvic alignment, etc....something they couldn't have said if she hadn't been to the Chiropractor first because she did not look good when we first walked into the Chiropractor's office! Incredibly important: the pain relief she honestly experienced within just the first few visits.

[rtremb]

Dr. Rivard told us this week that structural integration is good for relief of pain.

Dimitri: I noticed in your other post that you said you were going for the Shroth therapy. I am wondering if you did and if it is helping?

[cherylplinder]

Scoliosis causes pain. My 9 year old did not imagine that she had pain and couldn't run, play, sit upright for very long, etc.
She had immediate relief when she got the Spinecor brace at 10. She was in pain for about a year before that. She is 12 now and has no pain.She is still in her brace.

[ang_crash]

No pain with scoliosis????

I too was told that and I do NOT comprehend how a medical doctor could think that scoliosis would NOT cause pain!!! Your spine is curved! Anyway. I had pain long before I found out what was wrong with me. Went to a family doctor when I was in the 8th grade who said oh, we just need to watch it! At that point it was 25 degrees - 6months later it was 60 in the lumbar and 45 in the thoracic. Anyway, point is I've always had pain and still have pain. I had my first surgery in 1985 and my second in 1990. I am now 37 years old and live in constant pain! Had to go on disability at 36 years old!!! Not an easy thing for me to do!! Can't play with my kids like I want or pick them up - no doctor will every convince me scoliosis doesn't hurt!!!

[CHRIS WBS]

What I find even more disheartening than hearing a doctor tell you that your crooked spine should not cause you pain is the fact that you’ve undergone two corrective surgeries only to end up in constant pain and on disability at age 36.

Chris

[Writer]

Doctors who say scoli does not cause pain have been reading the wrong clinical reports, since some of them say there's no pain, perhaps because the authors didn't encounter a scoli patient who had pain. There are over 12,000 articles on scoliosis listed in PubMed. This myth is also apparently propagated in some medical schools.

Dr Martha Hawes' book Scoliosis and the Human Spine (available from the National Scoliosis Foundation -- see the Store > Books page) devotes quite a few pages to pain in several sections.

Yes, pain is often associated with scoliosis, but the doctors don't know what to do about it. Hawes writes in one section about post-operative pain, and second or third surgeries that are at least in part an attempt to reduce or eliminate the patient's pain.

Chiropractors can be helpful for pain, they did help with mine, but the effects did not last.

[trcylynn]

I have heard this my whole life. I too have minor scoliosis 19-25 degrees depending on the xray and doctor but the rotation is much more severe. They all treat me like I should feel guilty for even seeing them since I'm nowhere near being a candidate for surgery. Its so irritating. The nurse or whoever walks in (on my first appt with the new doc) and says "you have scoliosis? it didn't look like it when you walked it." no lady I'm here because I missed the door to the dentist- are you serious? These people have no idea what its like!! I hate wearing bathing suits or anything revealing because you can see how off my lower back is. The emotional stress and pain is almost as bad as the physical. BTW I found out I have a degenerative disc "much worse than the doc would like for someone my age" but hey its not supposed to hurt so his advice- exercise, and don't smoke. PT helped some but I'm still skeptical. My next plan is to try rolphing and possibly this form of therapy my PT told me about I forget what its called though- some funky name. The PT I was seeing said she saw one person's curve correct during the process and told me if I could find a different PT that specialized in it she would rather have me go there than stay with her.

Anyways, just adding to the rant. And its irritating that no one seems to understand. I hate when people say oh my back is hurting today- they have no idea what its like to wake up everday feeling a 5 on a scale from 1-10. I'm excited when the pain goes down to a 3. I can't remember a day that my back did not hurt. I wonder if there are tests for pain tolerance- I swear anyone with scoliosis must have a very high pain tolerance.


Ok, I feel better now, sorry for the long rant.

Oh, PS- not sure who posted by my scoliosis did get worse. Age 13 -13degrees, Age 16- 15degrees, Age 18- 18degrees, Age 22- 23-25degrees. But I think the rotation is worse than that- I'm not sure if they measure for the rotation or if I have to ask for that or something- if anyone knows please let me know.

Thanks,

[becky1956]

Scoliosis and Pain

Yes....Scoliosis does cause pain! Since finding out I have Scoliosis (july 07), all the Dots have connected. Since I have been "diagnosed" with a 35 degree upper Lumbar curve, the only relief provided (by Orthopedic Spinal Surgeon) was Celebrex and one hour conversation with a physical therapist. The only relief I've received since then was a muscle relaxer for a groin muscle I pulled while attempting to do my therapy at home. Currently, I am taking over the counter antiflammetory drugs and even though I swore off alcohol for the past fifteen years, I have fallen to half a glass of wine every night, heating pad, and shiatsu machine massage......... No, I'm not a whiner about "pain", and I have to be crawling on the floor before I see a doctor.

I'm a 51 year old female, and have suffered with mild to severe back pain that have gradually increased over the past fifteen years. I had know idea what was wrong with me. During that time, I would go to medical doctors and once I was refered to an ortho. specialist. "None" of them saw what was happening to my spine. I've had two bone scans, one MRI, and one CAT scan all covering my back and hips. I always got a "shrug", and don't know, maybe just muscle spasms, bursitis, etc................

But this past year, I had a really bad bout of pain, but instead of going to a "medical doctor", I went to a Chiropractor. And he was the one who told me I had Scoliosis. Of course he promised he could straighten me out, the cost of $9000 took me off guard, especially since my insurance only covers $500 a year for Chiropractor services. Due to the money issue, I opted for the Medical field, which as noted above, this particular doctor was of little help, and with a continuous wait of three hours plus on all appointments with him (sorry, I have to work to make a living), I am switching to another doctor of whom I hope will work out better. Will know in a couple of weeks......

I DO NOT fully trust medical doctors, therefore I am also searching alternative methods to either/or straighten my spine, relieve the pain. Since any alternative would come completely out of my pocket, I'm taking it slow and careful on what I decide to do. I am researching - Structural Interfacing, Myofascial Therapy (spelling?), Accupuncture, .... anything.... EXCEPT SURGERY!

But let me digress......... connect the dots....... I've always been 5'6", I'm now 5'4" (closer to three inches). I noticed over the past three years that it seemed one pants leg was shorter than the other, just thought it was "cheap clothing". Continuous menstrual cramps are getting worse.... yes I should be into menopause by now, but not yet....... During physical therapy from knee surgery, I mentioned my height loss and leg length difference to my therapist, and he just shrugged his shoulders.

I have always "worked out". And I still do - five hours a week doing TaeBo. Don't know if it helps or hurts my curve, but it's my moment that I "fight" my pain, "fight" my aging body, and feel some since of accomplishment in overcoming this Scoliosis. Some mornings are harder than others, but I keep at it. I've tried Yoga for Scoliosis, but haven't really applied enough time to it to receive any relief. Am also looking into Pilates..... I stretch and stretch and stretch... but receive only temporary relief.

My one big risk factor I am facing, is not Scoliosis, but the fact that my maternal grandmother had Osteoporosis. Therefore, no matter what, I will stay in contact with a medical doctor and continue to get a bone density test yearly. (curving of the spine with brittle bones does not go well together)


Enough of my "pity pot". Yes, medical doctors are good, but no one should depend totally on what the doctor says. Do your own homework. One description of Scoliosis really grinds my nerves, and that is "Deformed Spine". Now I know it shouldn't matter, but to me it does. Scoliosis is a disease, no matter whether you have surgery, or opt for other methods, even after your spine may seem to be straightened, it will eventually curve back. Some may disagree, but that is their right and I respect it. This comment is strictly from my own experience and from doing my own research. No, I'm not a doctor, but I do feel like a victim that gave way too much trust to the medical
profession. I know better now, and hold no one responsible for me except me!

Good luck to you all, and I will continue to read this forum. No one understands Scoliosis better than the people on this forum and I thank you all for enlightening me, and helping me to know that I am not alone in this.

Everyone have a Happy New Year!

[csc]

Admire your spirit

Becky,
I really admire your spirit and proactive stand. It really sounds like you are doing the right thing. I, too have been fighting this disease most of my life. It was not until my 40's that I really started experiencing pain. I've always kept my weight down and exercised. Finally, going into surgery on Jan. 29th. It's time.
You're really on the right track. Knowledge is power!

[becky1956]

Scoliosis - Pain

Dear CSC,

Thanks for your positive response. Sad to hear about your surgery, but I fully understand. I know it will be a long recovery, just try to stay positive... Hope you the best of luck, and God Bless and look over you.

Becky

[green82]

New here

HI guys i'm a 25 year old male that has just recently been diagnosed with scoliosis after visiting the familt doctor for back pain.He said it was mild and seemed to blow it off as no big deal but it's causing me great pain.Does anyone know if orthopedic doctors are more sympathetic about the condition?

[Writer]

Hi green,

I'm afraid that neither orthopedists or almost any other physician in Anglo-American medicine understands any scoliosis treatment beyond 1) watch and see if it gets worse, 2) put the young patient in a torso brace, or 3) fuse vertebrae surgically if the curves get bad enough.

None of these addresses the real problem in scoliosis, which is a complex imbalance of musculature, particularly (but not exclusively) in the back.

Read around in some of the other threads here, particularly patient experiences with the Schroth physical therapy method of treating scoliosis. There are a few American Schroth therapists practicing now, as well as prominent Schroth clinics in Spain and Germany.

Yoga or Pilates could conceivably help your pain, normally if the specialist knows how to diagnose your particular case, which one really has to have extensive kinesiology or physical therapy training to do. The point is that to be effective and not counterproductive, an exercise must address the particular pathological configuration in an individual body, and my scoliotic configuration is not exactly the same as yours.

[green82]

Orthopedic visit

Well I decided to go see a specialist on this.He did x-rays and said I have a 20 degree curve,not bad but it still hurts.He gave me anti-inflammatory medication but nothing for pain.Am I being a baby about the pain seeing my curve isn't so bad?

[aktech23]

I have two twenty degree curves and my back hurts!

When I received my diagnosis, the Dr. told me "scoliosis causes pain, and it will cause you pain for the rest of your life"