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  • #16
    My daughter looked like she was leaning off to one side. No one noticed except when she was dancing!
    T12- L5 fusion 1975 - Rochester, NY
    2002 removal of bottom of rod and extra fusion
    3/1/11 C5-C6 disc replacement
    Daughter - T7 - L3 fusion 2004

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    • #17
      Originally posted by jillw
      Historian, I've been told that curves of 20 degrees or less are considered mild which is the same number you were told...this makes me think maybe when they told you that you have a 6% curve they meant to say a 6 degree curve? That would make sense.
      Yes, it would. Thank you. The back and shoulder pain is real, even if the curve is mild.

      Comment


      • #18
        Hi Historian...

        Although I've heard patients refer to scoliosis in percentages, I've never heard an MD refer to it that way.

        There's no question that you look a bit crooked, but one wouldn't be able to see a scoliosis curve from the front unless it was a huge curve. I wonder if you have a large leg length discrepancy or some sort of hip issue.

        Whatever it is, I hope you find a way to stay out of pain.

        Regards,
        Linda
        Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
        Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

        Comment


        • #19
          You do look crooked from the front to me too. I wonder if it is actually worse than 6 degrees or perhaps a leg length descrepancy as Linda suggested. It is hard to tell from the front.

          Sorry to hear about the back pain. I have back pain (not from scoli though) and I know how painful it can be.

          Comment


          • #20
            Historian, I've gotten the rude question, too

            Hi, The Historian,
            I had scoliosis as a teenager and had a lumbar spinal fusion, so I have a large posterior scar, as well as a lot of rotation that is very visible in a bathing suit. I lap swim regularly for exercise, so I notice people staring at my back, which is very awkward, as you experienced.

            One day I was at the swim center and drying off after my shower. I was not dressed yet. A woman I have never seen before or since came right up to me and asked all about my back surgery. I very briefly told her it was a long time ago and that my back is "fine." She said, "Oh good, I am glad to hear that back surgery can work, I was told it rarely works." This whole interchange, with a complete stranger, while I was naked, was very embarassing, but the lady didn't seem unkind, so I have to think that maybe she or someone she knows needs back surgery. I guess if she had pressed me any further I would have said I am uncomfortable discussing it.

            Please don't be put off by the other posts. I think the others are just trying to understand your situation, so that they may offer help. You are in the right place.

            Best wishes!

            Gayle
            Last edited by leahdragonfly; 03-30-2008, 10:28 AM.
            Gayle, age 50
            Oct 2010 fusion T8-sacrum w/ pelvic fixation
            Feb 2012 lumbar revision for broken rods @ L2-3-4
            Sept 2015 major lumbar A/P revision for broken rods @ L5-S1


            mom of Leah, 15 y/o, Diagnosed '08 with 26* T JIS (age 6)
            2010 VBS Dr Luhmann Shriners St Louis
            2017 curves stable/skeletely mature

            also mom of Torrey, 12 y/o son, 16* T, stable

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            • #21
              A friend of mine once said to me: "My back has been hurting a lot, and no offense, but I don't want to end up like you."
              I was like, thanks, that's nice.
              braceyourself.

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              • #22
                People

                I know what you mean I worked retall and their wasn't a day that went by I got some reaction to my posture. But people in this world we all are curios so just don't take it next time sweetie so personal it's a part of our lives we deal with it beauty is inside for it is what it is.

                plainjane








                Originally posted by The Historian View Post
                How do you deal with rude questions about your scoliosis? I had a complete stranger come up to me in a spinning class and ask "Excuse me, but what's wrong with your back?" I'd never seen the woman before, and since she was new to the gym and the spinning class I doubt she'd seen me. I mumbled some polite reply about scoliosis and left it at that, but I was bothered by it for the rest of the day. I realize that when I am dressed for exercising or cycling the curve is noticeable, but I never thought my six per cent was so noteworthy that a stranger would approach me about it.

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                • #23
                  Rude questions are a chance to educate

                  I still have a slight hump from the 100 deg curve despite a reduction. I work in the medical field so I did get asked some questions from colleagues. I decided to educate them-- since that's what they need.
                  One doctor, when I was a patient, said to another that I had a "winged scapular". This can come from a mastectomy if a nerve is cut- (never had a mastectomy)--so I promptly piped up it was from scoliosis and set him straight

                  After being examined by a cardiologist(he found no heart problems), he shows me his back (with scoliosis) and says HIS back is "a mess". Then he tells me about his child who has scoliosis. I promptly told him about the NSF Forum.

                  There is no shame in having scoliosis!!!
                  Original scoliosis surgery 1956 T-4 to L-2 ~100 degree thoracic (triple)curves at age 14. NO hardware-lost correction.
                  Anterior/posterior revision T-4 to Sacrum in 2002, age 60, by Dr. Boachie-Adjei @Hospital for Special Surgery, NY = 50% correction

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                  • #24
                    Im confused too.....saw the picture and it almost appears as if your trunk if rotated. I had a 58* Thorasic curve and a 60*Lumbar curve, and like Pam...I hid mine pretty well, except I knew it was there & I was uneven. Im now corrected to near perfect Thorasic and about 10-12 lumbar. I dont see how a 6* curve could throw your body off that much. Maybe your doc did say 60*? Or maybe you have a severe roation of the spine as well? I dunno....Pam knows LOTS AND LOTS about this stuff......I will let her do the homework on this one!

                    Either way, I agree,like everyone else, people can be rude!!
                    Last edited by LynnMarie74; 04-02-2009, 08:50 PM.
                    Lynn -30.... something
                    DxD @ 8 yrs old: 10* curve-no brace-no nothin'!
                    At age 26: Thorasic 48*/Lumbar 50*
                    At age 34: Thorasic 58*/Lumbar 60*
                    Posterior T5-L4 Fusion Jan 14th, 2009 w/Dr Tribus
                    UW Madison, WI Hospital
                    **AFTER: less than 10* Thorasic/15* Lumbar**

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      The thing I hate most is when I complain about my back pain, which is awful by the way, and people just laugh and say "oh honey, you're too young to have back pain." It makes me feel like my pain is not acceptable or I should just ignore it because of my age.

                      Historian, I hope your back problems get resolved. I understand your frustration, as I'm sure most on this forum do. I would try to see a scoli specialist if I were you even if your scoli is mild. I went to chiropractors for awhile and they all told me they could "fix" my scoli and after months of "treatment" nothing was resolved nor was my back pain gone. I have heard good things about steroid injections for temporary back relief. They can be done every few months I think. You should look into it.

                      Hope this helped.
                      ~Allison~

                      23 y/o

                      49* Thoracic
                      56* Lumbar

                      Posterior Spinal Fusion T4 to L4
                      Surgery scheduled for May 18, 2009


                      Dr. Matthew Geck
                      Austin, TX

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        The Rude Questions

                        My daughter has scoliosis and we have dealt with a lot of questions while she was in the body brace (no one noticed her 40/35 curves before the body brace). She finally decided to "educate" the questioners. She did get frustrated from time to time. I could fully understand her frustration since I have a congenital deformity of my right hand that affects the lower arm as well. I have spent 40 years answering the same question and sometimes the people are rude...but my favorite one of all time was when I was in sixth grade. This kindergartener saw me every day after school, every day he would ask me what happened to my hand. I answered that question too many times to him...one day I had enough *snap --I told him that "I had washed it and it shrunk!" I bet he never washed his hands again!

                        Some days are just better than others when dealing with people... My hat is off to all of you...wearing a brace and/or dealing with a curve or two!

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          When I was little (around 7 years old) and would go to a public swimming pool for lessons or just to splash around, I would constantly be fielding questions from children and adults. Its difficult when you're told to your face that I should not be swimming in a public pool with other children because of my disability. My mother told me she was told the same thing, that I should not be there. Its no wonder I stopped going. To this day I do not go to a public pool, nor to a beach, where I also had to put up with questions.
                          Surgeries July 26th & August 3rd 1983 (12 years old)
                          Still have 57 degree curve
                          2 Harrington rods
                          Luque method used
                          Dr David Bradford
                          Twin Cities Scoliosis Center
                          Preop xray (with brace on)
                          Postop xray

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                          • #28
                            Brad

                            That would make my blood boil in 3 seconds. Reminds me of the movie "Warm springs" about FDR in the pools down in Georgia.

                            I wouldnt let that stop you now. There is no reason why you shouldnt be swimming at any public facility or beach.

                            Ed
                            49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                            Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                            ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                            Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                            Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                            http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                            My x-rays
                            http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                            http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

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                            • #29
                              Many years ago when I was 15 and was seeking treatment from a chiropractor, his wife who was working in the office said to me "My you are so brave to go out with your condition. If I had a problem like yours, I'd never go outside". This chiropractor also told me that I never would be able to have a child. These statements weighed heavily on my 15 year old heart, and I never told anyone about them. However, because I went outside, I graduated from college, had 2 marriages (the second very happily), had a healthy son who is 6'3", three wonderful step-sons,& a beautiful baby grandson. I've also had corrective surgeries over the years resulting in some correction and improvement in my appearance.

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                              • #30
                                Originally posted by titaniumed View Post
                                Brad

                                That would make my blood boil in 3 seconds. Reminds me of the movie "Warm springs" about FDR in the pools down in Georgia.

                                I wouldnt let that stop you now. There is no reason why you shouldnt be swimming at any public facility or beach.

                                Ed
                                Ed,

                                Yeah, I should not let it effect me, but it still does. I have sat around pools and a beach, but they were at resorts, and not really 'public'.

                                When told things like that at an early age it really does sink in.
                                Surgeries July 26th & August 3rd 1983 (12 years old)
                                Still have 57 degree curve
                                2 Harrington rods
                                Luque method used
                                Dr David Bradford
                                Twin Cities Scoliosis Center
                                Preop xray (with brace on)
                                Postop xray

                                Comment

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