Hello

[Robbie]

Hi,

My name is Robbie, and I'm eighteen. I was diagnosed with scoliosis back in March. My mum noticed that my right shoulder blade sticks out, and she took me to our GP who referred us to a scoliosis specialist in Oxford, England. He took some x-rays and got back to us a couple of weeks later and said that I had a forty degree curve (that's all I was told, my parents probably know more) and wants me to go back in December for more x-rays to see if it has gotten any worse.

I've been thinking that I want surgery to try and correct the curve because it really bothers me. I hate the thought that my spine is like that. I know that it can never be cured, but I'd like to try and do something about it. Because we didn't find out about it until I was eighteen, I guess I'm not exactly a candidate for a brace because I've pretty much stopped growing. Is surgery often carried out for forty degree curves?

I recently got a typing job with a publishing company, and all of the time sitting at the computer typing has really made my back hurt. It takes me forever to get in a comfortable position to sleep at night, and even just standing up or walking around for a while makes my back ache a bit.

Robbie.

[macky]

Hi Robbie and welcome. Because I had my surgery done so many years ago I cant help much with your questions. I know you will get a lot of help as the people on this forum are very caring. One thing I can do is identify with the pain you are in especially typing. Try putting a pillow between your legs at night ,that may help you sleep a little better. Also there are different thoughts on this but I have always found that heat has helped me.

I like your attitude and just want to wish you all the best.

Macky

[Robbie]

Thanks for the reply.

My dad sometimes uses heat pads for when his back aches. He doesn't have scoliosis. I might give them a try.

Robbie.

[Jen-jen]

Heya Robbie, I'm 16yrs old and my curves roughly 35 degrees and I'm having surgery in the UK cos thats where I am. My specialist told me that it isn't usually common practice to operate on curves under 50 degrees but he's doing mine because I can't stand feeling like this!! I know what you mean about it hurting when you sit for long times - it gets on my nerves sooooo much! You're definitely past bracing accordin to my surgeon so if you feel that surgery is best then you go for it; but if I were you I'd definitely read up on the operation!! I went for a chat with my specialist a month ago about what they actually do during the op, and well, lets just say it opened my eyes!! Hope everythin goes well for you, whateva u decide.

Jen x x

[Robbie]

I've been doing a lot of reading about the surgery, and I know that it's a huge operation, but it hasn't changed my mind a single bit about wanting to have it done. I'm going to speak to my parents about it and see if they can speak to my doctor (I'm in the USA at the moment, I have dual-nationality) about it for me. Like I said in my first post, I'm due for more x-rays in December, but I want to have the surgery done regardless of whether it's really needed or not. I stand the thought of having to live my entire life like this. It'll drive me nuts!

Good luck with your surgery! I hope it goes well for you. Where in England are you having it? How come you had to wait so long to have it?

[ScoliGal]

my doctor did my surgery at exactly 40 degrees so it really depends on the doctor.. see my signature

[Jen-jen]

I'm in the NE of England in Scarborough but I'm having the op done in Leeds as that is where the specialists are. I've had to wait so long because basically our medical system is rubbish and we are really under-staffed. My op was due to go ahead in July this year but then there weren't enough theatre slots and anaesthetists around. They wanted me to hae it done in late August but I started college a week after that and I really didn't wanna have that messed up - college is scary enough even when you haven't just had a major operation!! So, now I'm settled into college I'm gonna have it done in the summer hols next year. Good you've read up on it and good, you're talking to you're parents. You're a lot more prepared than i was!! Loadsa people tried to put me off this op because they said it "wouldn't affect me seriously". But it has, I don't wanna live like this!!! So, I'll be havin it done next year. Another whole year of waitin... might just turn me into a perfect basketcase!! lol. Are you going to uni or anything?? Any hobbies?

x x

[Robbie]

I'm planning to start college here in the USA next year. I had started Sixth Form in England, but I didn't really like it.

I thought I read in another post of yours that you were going private - I thought private healthcare in England was better than the NHS! If I do go ahead with the surgery, I'll be going private with BUPA, I think.

[Jen-jen]

Really? What didn't you like at 6th form?? What sorta career are you headin for?? I'm doing biology, chemistry, maths and spanish and I think its pretty awesoem at the mo. And I'm also learning Italian and I'm trying out for the badminton team and doin my regular dancin. V busy lady!!! lol.
Yeah, I am going private and that is better than our normal NHS but it still doesn't quite cover everything. I got priority for X-rays, tests, appointments etc so the time-scale was pretty good but for some strange reason - BUPA can't help with the operation itself. MY doc and his crew oly do NHS operations so I've gotta wait my turn with the rest of them which I don't really mind because it would be unfair for me to jump the queue wouldnt it? I'd definitely go BUPA if you can because it speeds up the process A LOT! And it makes life nicer, the staff at the hospital were runnin a coupla mins late and they APOLOGISED for the 2 min delay. I couldn't believe it!!

x x

[Robbie]

I haven't a clue what kind of career I want to follow, lol. I was studying English, ICT, Business, Leisure & Tourism, and Law at Sixth Form. I didn't like the atmosphere - it felt too much like being at school. Probably because it was the same school I had gone to for five years! I'm thinking of either studying Business at college here, or just doing a general Associate degree for two years and then transfer to another college to complete a Bachelor degree. That way I'll have completed all the basic courses and I'll be able to focus on the business courses.

That's strange that they don't do the operation on BUPA. I was under the impression that when you went private, EVERYTHING was private. That's how it's always worked with my dad's BUPA insurance. I went private with BUPA when I was having some trouble with depression and they were going to cover the costs of me going to a hospital for three weeks, though I didn't go in the end.

When I had my X-rays done, it took over a month for my doctor to get back to me. My doctor is based at a children's hospital, and the X-ray facilities there weren't suitable for taking my X-rays, so I had to go to another hospital (only about five minute away) to have the X-rays done there, and they obviously forgot about giving them to the doctor! It took a few phonecalls from us and the doctor for them to finally send them to him.

I don't see how it'd be unfair for you to jump the queue - you are technically paying for it.

[Jen-jen]

You took 5 A-levels?! no wonder you felt like you were back in school!! I only do 4 so I have quite a lot of free time - for instance, right now it is 11am on a monday mornin and im at home talkin to you! im free from 10 til 2 so it dont really feel like school to me!!
I've got no idea what I'm gonna do either but it's probably gonna be maths/science related. If I get AAB in my A-levels I can qualify for £6000 in bursaries to pay for me to do a science-related degree at uni (!!!) so thats probably what im doin. lol.
I thought it was weird too... my parents weren't expectin the op to not be covered either! It took a month for your doc to get back to you?! That is pretty long!
Oh god, i hated my X-rays!! I was taken to the paediatric section cos all the others were busy so I had to stand in my lovely sexy hospital gown in a room decorated with cheesy flowers and smiley butterflies and things. Not that im complainin. lol. When i had my X-rays, they had to bend me sideways around a block to see how much flex my spine had. Did you have anythin like that?? Cos that was pretty weird, and if i hadnt been so flexible (cos im a dancer) it would probably have hurt too!!
I know im technically payin for it, but id still feel bad cos my curve isnt life-threatenin or anythin. im ok to wait my turn for a bit... as long as it doesnt take too long!! lol

x x

[Robbie]

It was the hospital's fault. They didn't get the X-rays back to him until we bugged them about it. When I had them done, I just had to take off my trousers and stand there in my underpants and top. My doctor had already had me do all the bending stuff like twenty minutes earlier (I had the X-rays done on the same day I first saw him). How far can you bend over? I can only bend over half-way. No touching my toes for me! lol.

[Jen-jen]

ah rite. i'm pretty flexible - I can touch my toes easy. There used to be a warm up exercise where you stand on a bench high up and see how far down you could reach... i could reach about 30cm past my toes!!! I do splits, walk overs, can bring my feet up to touch my head... the usual. lol. I can't believe I'm gonna be even MORE flexible afta this op. I'll be like an elastic band! A 6ft 2 elastic band!!! lmao.

x x

[Robbie]

I thought I read somewhere that the surgery can take away some flexibility in your back, but I'm not sure on that. It was on a website about the surgery.

I'm a midget, lol. I think I'm like 5ft 6in or something close to that. I have a friend who's like 5ft 2in! She got me to hug her once and I had to practically kneel down. That was before I found out I had scoliosis - maybe that's why I give such crappy hugs. lol.

[Jen-jen]

surgery takes away ur flexibility?! neva heard that 1! Oh wel, maybe im special so i get 2 b xtra-flexible. lol.
5ft 6 aint midget!!! im just from a long line of rather tall people! my m8s 5ft 2 as well n weneva we got out we luk like laurel n hardy cos ders such a height difference! lol. 5ft 6 people dnt give crappy hugs, besides, a hug is a hug. u can neva have 2 many hugs!! lol. Just make a joke of it n say u need a yellow pages. lol
im off out 2 college party 2nite in my heels so im gonna b 6ft 2... its a trial run 2 c what its gonna b like bein 6ft 2. Wer all gonna b like zombies 2moro at college - it dnt finish til 3! n i gotta b up for da bus at 8.30. How wil i survive? lol. nah, iv got stamina!!!

x x