Hi everyone!
My name is Michelle, I'm 37 years old, and I was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 21. However, I knew I had scoliosis when I was 9 years old, thanks to Judy Blume's book 'Deenie'. As I read the book, my heart sank because I realized that my body looked the same as Deenies' did. Even so, I grew up in a very religious home, and my dad didn't believe in doctors. So my condition was ignored my entire childhood, even though many of my Aunts and Uncles tried to change my dad's mind. I went on with life, and didn't think about it again until I was 21.
age 21 (diagnosis) 2001 - 28 degrees lumbar, and 32 thoracic.
age 30 (recheck) 2010 - 40*lumbar, 51*main thoracic, and 33* upper thoracic.
My diagnosis and recheck were done by 2 different doctors, because I lived in different states. The doc from my original diagnosis said I was borderline for needing surgery, and that if my curves progressed at all, then I'd need surgery down the road. The other specialist I saw in 2010, said he didn't recommend surgery at all, even though my curves had progressed. He recommended PT, which I ended up not doing because my insurance wasn't great, and I couldn't afford out of pocket costs. This is currently the last recheck I've had.
Fast forward to the present: The past month, just shortly after Christmas, I've been having constant nerve pain, and tingling in my back and neck. Add that to the moderate pain I've always had from my scoliosis, and I'd say this is the worst pain I've felt. My husband has taken over household chores, and cooking because I can't do those right now.
So I've scheduled an appointment with Washington University in St Louis MO. (We live in southern IL, just 30 mins away.) At first, the receptionist was going to schedule me with a surgical consult with Dr Buchowski. I was like, no, no.....I don't want to waste his time, at least right now. I just need a recheck of my curvature, and want to see if PT is the way to go first. So I was transferred to the Orthopedic Physiatry dept. They'll do X-rays and whatever other tests are needed, and then see if PT is an option. If I do PT, and it doesn't help any of my symptoms, then they will have me do a surgical consult. I have great insurance now, so I'm looking forward to trying PT. Only downfall is my appointment isn't until April. Sigh! That's a long wait.
Sorry for the long post! I look forward to getting to know all of you.
Michelle
My name is Michelle, I'm 37 years old, and I was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 21. However, I knew I had scoliosis when I was 9 years old, thanks to Judy Blume's book 'Deenie'. As I read the book, my heart sank because I realized that my body looked the same as Deenies' did. Even so, I grew up in a very religious home, and my dad didn't believe in doctors. So my condition was ignored my entire childhood, even though many of my Aunts and Uncles tried to change my dad's mind. I went on with life, and didn't think about it again until I was 21.
age 21 (diagnosis) 2001 - 28 degrees lumbar, and 32 thoracic.
age 30 (recheck) 2010 - 40*lumbar, 51*main thoracic, and 33* upper thoracic.
My diagnosis and recheck were done by 2 different doctors, because I lived in different states. The doc from my original diagnosis said I was borderline for needing surgery, and that if my curves progressed at all, then I'd need surgery down the road. The other specialist I saw in 2010, said he didn't recommend surgery at all, even though my curves had progressed. He recommended PT, which I ended up not doing because my insurance wasn't great, and I couldn't afford out of pocket costs. This is currently the last recheck I've had.
Fast forward to the present: The past month, just shortly after Christmas, I've been having constant nerve pain, and tingling in my back and neck. Add that to the moderate pain I've always had from my scoliosis, and I'd say this is the worst pain I've felt. My husband has taken over household chores, and cooking because I can't do those right now.
So I've scheduled an appointment with Washington University in St Louis MO. (We live in southern IL, just 30 mins away.) At first, the receptionist was going to schedule me with a surgical consult with Dr Buchowski. I was like, no, no.....I don't want to waste his time, at least right now. I just need a recheck of my curvature, and want to see if PT is the way to go first. So I was transferred to the Orthopedic Physiatry dept. They'll do X-rays and whatever other tests are needed, and then see if PT is an option. If I do PT, and it doesn't help any of my symptoms, then they will have me do a surgical consult. I have great insurance now, so I'm looking forward to trying PT. Only downfall is my appointment isn't until April. Sigh! That's a long wait.
Sorry for the long post! I look forward to getting to know all of you.
Michelle
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