Originally posted by SUSANNA FREDERI
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Rehabilitation of adolescent patients with scoliosis—what do we know?
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Dr. Weiss is the best. Our daughter scoliosis improved 1/3
Our daughter had a severe scoliosis 46 Cobb at age 14, and we were told in the US that there is no alternative treatment for her spine at her age besides surgery. We found Dr Weiss, and took her immediately to Germany for a consultation on December of 2010. Dr. Weiss recommended a brace and psysical therapy. We spent 5 days at his clinic waiting for her brace. During that time, she had 2 sessions, 1 hour and 1/2 each psyhical therapy when she learned the Schroth method. Dr Weiss told us she has to wear her brace 23h a day, and she pretty much did. She also did physical therapy for a 1/2 hour almost every day. The brace was very comfortable. We bought her new tops and she covered it very well. Nobody knew that she was wearing a brace. She is also a ballerina. She continued dancing every day. That was the only time when she took her brace off. It wasn't easy, but she was motivated to get her back straight, avoid surgery and continue dancing. We went back to Germany for check-ups every six months. Now, after 1 year and 8 months her back improved 1/3, it looks straight and she doesn't need surgery. The overall experience was great. Everybody we met was so dedicated and professional. We could't be happier. Thank you, Dr Weiss.
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AMom,
It pops open immediately then and now. Do you want me to email you the link?
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It's still working for me. It's a big file, so it's possible that you're either not waiting long enough, or you don't have enough memory, to load.
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Originally posted by LindaRacine View Post
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Originally posted by mamamax View PostAll I can do for now is explore. And while I've been fortunate enough to have learned a little - adequate instruction is lacking. Ever so often I think of Katherina Schroth and of how she discovered so much on her own. Martha Hawes as well. And that ballet teacher you have told us about. Such people have learned things that not only stop this condition in its tracks but in some cases, reverse it. What do they all have in common? A keen sense of body awareness, and how to change it through movement (I think). So until I can go to Germany, or Wisconsin, or California, or New York City .... I guess I'm doing the only thing I can do which is to learn more about the condition in general, more about my own body specifically - theory, theory, theory - and then one day ... better understand what I will be taught. Apologies if I have been too vocal
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Thanks Ballet Mom - I don't think too much about it (now) ... for the most part I've just taken the condition in stride. I don't think that such a laze fare attitude would be so wise over the next few decades though.
As for the suggestion that I receive free services in exchange for advertising (basically) well, that ain't gonna happen! Actually if I could do what ever I wanted, I would not only learn it for myself but also become a physical therapist and learn how to teach it to others. You would probably find me in the free clinic offering services to those who couldn't afford it. Another life time perhaps.
All I can do for now is explore. And while I've been fortunate enough to have learned a little - adequate instruction is lacking. Ever so often I think of Katherina Schroth and of how she discovered so much on her own. Martha Hawes as well. And that ballet teacher you have told us about. Such people have learned things that not only stop this condition in its tracks but in some cases, reverse it. What do they all have in common? A keen sense of body awareness, and how to change it through movement (I think). So until I can go to Germany, or Wisconsin, or California, or New York City .... I guess I'm doing the only thing I can do which is to learn more about the condition in general, more about my own body specifically - theory, theory, theory - and then one day ... better understand what I will be taught. Apologies if I have been too vocal
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Hi mamamax,
I'm sorry to hear about the pain and progression. Maybe you could contact the Schroth people and they could train you in their methods...gratis? If you were happy and satisfied, you could end up being a good spokesperson for them. It would be very interesting to see if they were able to stop the progression.
I would be very interested in hearing all about it.
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Very definitely there has been progression over the years aged 11 to 60. I would say that for me, the progression has been slow with periods of intense pain perhaps corresponding to muscular breaking points, or in other words at such point that the muscles are screaming out – enough already! Those are the times I have been driven to consult with doctors and surgeons. In between such times I have been asymptomatic for the most part. Looking back, breaking points surface approximately every ten years. Surgery has been recommended more than once - having declined, physical therapy the next recommended option. Chiropractic adjustments having done more good than exercise not designed for my specific curvature pattern. It is only in the last 10 years or so that I've needed to keep prescription pain medication on hand for use as needed.
Given the significant (to me) success with bracing, it seems to me that other rehabilitation methods would be worth my time and effort to pursue. So the facts are, there is a natural history of progression. Can it be stopped, or reversed?
The curves are structural by surgical standards (bending xrays & Adams test) and yet, doing a certain Schroth exercise near straightens my spine. Schroth being a physical therapy designed for specific curvature patterns. But schroth isn't just about mechanical exercise - it also involves unique breathing patterns while exercising. The one that I learned results in a feeling of side shift to the right with a lowering of the right hip on inhale and movement against convexities on exhale which results in a lengthening of the spine and better alignment.
As I understand it, for adults, SSTR would incorporate exercise with movement adjustments in daily activities in order to reinforce new learning patterns opposite of what exists as a result of the condition. Bracing is also used for adolescents and sometimes for adults when pain is a main issue.
For example, with a left thoracolumbar curve, my tendency, at rest, is to lounge on (or lean into) my left side, and I sleep on my left as well. I recently learned that Schroth would recommend lounging to the right and also sleeping on the right (same side as the raised hip). While it wasn't comfortable to do at first, I have started sleeping on my right side and after a week of this can see and feel benefit from it. So if anyone asks me if I think that adult rehabilitation is worth pursuing - I'd say yes, given that it is specific to curvature pattern and daily activities, and I'd even say that bracing is not just of benefit to the young, from my experience :-)
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Have you been progressing much over your adult years mamamax? Or have you managed to stay stable over time?
Hope you don't mind my asking...you obviously don't have to answer if you don't want to.
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Originally posted by Ballet Mom View PostMamamax! Your picture of your back is amazing! No wonder you don't want surgery, I wouldn't either. There is hardly any deformity noticeable. My daughter looked more deformed at 35 degrees (at least through the shoulders...she doesn't have a lumbar curve)!
What were the size of your curve(s)? Or do you only have a lumbar curve? Amazing!
42 degrees Right Thoracic, 57 degrees Left thoracolumbar - Rotation 26 degrees. Immediate InBrace xray: 29 degrees thoracic/51 degrees thoracolumbar- Rotation 21 degrees. Bracing has resulted in small cobb angle improvement and improvement as well in balance, posture, and pain. I have noted small cosmetic improvement. The diminished pain of most value to me.
From the Schroth Point of view, I am a typical 4 curve left thoracolumbar (the marks on the image are relative to different Schroth breathing techniques and support required during exercise or when at rest, lying on my back.
Had it not been for the non surgical rehabilitation that I was able to receive, during a spell of great pain, I would have sought out surgery for relief. In fact I did consult with an SRS surgeon regarding that just prior to giving bracing a shot. Having come through that period, has given me cause to seek out other rehab methods and from what I am learning, SSTR may be able to provide me with even more benefit in the years ahead.
I hope to meet with a local PT department soon and explore the possibility of bringing SSTR to our area, not only for myself but for many others as well.
If I had relied solely and only upon the literature, or the standard medical recommendations - I would have, I'm sure, been to "scared" to try an alternative. Luckily, I do not scare too easy when it comes to this. Certainly there are cases that require surgery, without discussion - and then there are other cases like mine which will respond to other treatments. Like you say, much may be discovered in the near future. I am grateful to have been fortunate enough to be able to wait, and try rehabilitation until such time that surgery may be a safer option without future revision (should it be required in my case).
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Originally posted by hdugger View PostMy assumption is that he'll end up being operated on eventually, barring some miracle discovery. I've just seen too many single thoracic curves in young people go on to become painful double curves in older adults to think that he'll be able to avoid the operating table forever.
But, given his risk of PJK, I'm glad we're pushing that potential surgery out further. Of course, if his curve starts increasing, or he starts developing another curve, or he starts feeling pain, we'll rethink our plans.
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