Hi everyone! I know this is a scoliosis forum, but I figure I can be the oddball and throw in an interesting variation, lol. I am a 21 year old male and have the scheuermann's disease kyphosis (or however the heck you spell it!). I am a senior @ Purdue University studying aviation technology and electrical engineering. I have had this since i was 14 years old. My curve is about 72 degrees I believe. I really don't know exactly because I try to not think about it too much. When I lost a ton of weight in high school, it became obvious that the back was a little rounded and I had pain sometimes. I play drums and guitar, and the extended hours of playing made the pain worse (especially for stuff like recording studios,practicing for the American Idol band, radio shows, etc where we would play like 5,6,7 hours a day). In addition, sitting for a while would make me stiff and in mild pain. I prefer to read on my belly, hate loose shirts, and hate doing sit-ups! lol. Cosmetically, unless I have my shirt off, its very hard to notice...
I have been working out for a few years which really helped my back muscles strengthen (plus I look a lot better!! mmmm). But I have had a few questions.
How many of you are in daily pain? I was braced in high school and it hasnt gotten any worse (my curve actually improved a few degrees). The pain is nothing terrible, but it is annoying, really. It is like a dull ache, I have described it to my mom/girlfriend as a 'rocks in my spine' feeling.
Aside from this I am very healthy. I don't smoke or do drugs, and I only drink occassionally. I was 210lbs when I was 5' 4" in jr high, and now I am 5'9" and about 165lbs. I'd like to hear if anyone else has this and what they have done for the pain? A few things that definetly make it worse are caffiene, stress, bad weather (the pressure changes the pain, I can assure you), and prolonged periods of sitting/standing. I used to work in a warehouse, lifting 6 hours a day. It killed my back, but in reality, it was helping it by strengthening it. My doctor as told me over and over that the best thing i can do is to kick my butt in the gym, i.e., pump iron to help my back. So far, I have been on with this. Of course, occassionally it still bugs me. Thats life. id love to hear what you guys do for the pain!
This has never really affected me socially. I can see how it could, but I was never self-concious enough (everyone is self-conscious, but you cant let it ruin ur life) to worry about it. I always had really good friends, great family, great girlfriends, and just generally an awesome time when I was younger. AI always try to be positive about everything, even if they're overall not very fun. I am in mild pain often, yes. But hey, if I hold my back straight up to be best of my ability, girls say it makes my butt look great. So, hey, I like that!!
But in reality, its the PAIN that get's to me. Id gladly look a bit worse in exchange for no pain!!
Anyway,I cant complain too much or ill get my wish! Surgery scares the HELL out of me, and I would only get it if I was literally unable to move or the pain was ruining my life. ..so i am meeting with my doctor soon to discuss the future options.. My doctor is very 'oldschool' and I really respect his mentality tword the whole thing. He comes from the school of 'surgery is a very VERY last resort'. my doctor has said surgery may not help the pain. in fact it can make pain worse. It can cause stiffness. It can really degrade the quality of a patients life if it does not work out. So, unless i am like unable to function, I am NOT going to recommend myself for surgery. I can handle mild pain. I could not handle chronic pain. My doctor is also highly against 'new' surgeries until they have proven to be of long-term value. "Ask me in 10 years if i recommend it" he always says. Maybe some people would think he's a bit arrogant. I think he just takes calculated risks very seriously, and doesn't go cutting people open if they don't need it. He recalls back in the 70s/80s where people were corrected, and now have to have massive revision surgery due to the fusions. FWIW, my doctor actually has kyphosis himself, and has been in practice for nearly 35 years. I trust him...but having said this, surgery is always an options....though it is not recommended, i have not ruled it out....anyone been through similar? thanks!
I have been working out for a few years which really helped my back muscles strengthen (plus I look a lot better!! mmmm). But I have had a few questions.
How many of you are in daily pain? I was braced in high school and it hasnt gotten any worse (my curve actually improved a few degrees). The pain is nothing terrible, but it is annoying, really. It is like a dull ache, I have described it to my mom/girlfriend as a 'rocks in my spine' feeling.
Aside from this I am very healthy. I don't smoke or do drugs, and I only drink occassionally. I was 210lbs when I was 5' 4" in jr high, and now I am 5'9" and about 165lbs. I'd like to hear if anyone else has this and what they have done for the pain? A few things that definetly make it worse are caffiene, stress, bad weather (the pressure changes the pain, I can assure you), and prolonged periods of sitting/standing. I used to work in a warehouse, lifting 6 hours a day. It killed my back, but in reality, it was helping it by strengthening it. My doctor as told me over and over that the best thing i can do is to kick my butt in the gym, i.e., pump iron to help my back. So far, I have been on with this. Of course, occassionally it still bugs me. Thats life. id love to hear what you guys do for the pain!
This has never really affected me socially. I can see how it could, but I was never self-concious enough (everyone is self-conscious, but you cant let it ruin ur life) to worry about it. I always had really good friends, great family, great girlfriends, and just generally an awesome time when I was younger. AI always try to be positive about everything, even if they're overall not very fun. I am in mild pain often, yes. But hey, if I hold my back straight up to be best of my ability, girls say it makes my butt look great. So, hey, I like that!!
But in reality, its the PAIN that get's to me. Id gladly look a bit worse in exchange for no pain!!
Anyway,I cant complain too much or ill get my wish! Surgery scares the HELL out of me, and I would only get it if I was literally unable to move or the pain was ruining my life. ..so i am meeting with my doctor soon to discuss the future options.. My doctor is very 'oldschool' and I really respect his mentality tword the whole thing. He comes from the school of 'surgery is a very VERY last resort'. my doctor has said surgery may not help the pain. in fact it can make pain worse. It can cause stiffness. It can really degrade the quality of a patients life if it does not work out. So, unless i am like unable to function, I am NOT going to recommend myself for surgery. I can handle mild pain. I could not handle chronic pain. My doctor is also highly against 'new' surgeries until they have proven to be of long-term value. "Ask me in 10 years if i recommend it" he always says. Maybe some people would think he's a bit arrogant. I think he just takes calculated risks very seriously, and doesn't go cutting people open if they don't need it. He recalls back in the 70s/80s where people were corrected, and now have to have massive revision surgery due to the fusions. FWIW, my doctor actually has kyphosis himself, and has been in practice for nearly 35 years. I trust him...but having said this, surgery is always an options....though it is not recommended, i have not ruled it out....anyone been through similar? thanks!
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