I am wondering if there was anyone with experiences concerning 20+ years after rods, persistant pain, and what seems to be shrinking. I had my rods put in at the age of 7, but it probably would have been earlier had it not been for the need to treat my congenital heart defect first. I had another at the age of 9, where, to my understanding, they took a rib and fused it in front of my spine because it began to curve a different way once the rods were in. I am unsure of the exact degree of my curve, specifics about my fusion sites, and such, and I have had a very hard time finding anyone who had these things done at this early of an age. I am now 29 and a mother of two, did not experience any difficulties with labor due to the soliosis, but I often, often am in pain. I have had herniated discs and was recently told I probably have degenerative disc disease, but my doctor really did very little, spent at most twenty minutes with me, and said try some PT. I have, and I do these as often as possible, but I still have pretty constant pain. All I am told is basically 'you're going to have pain. you need to deal with it'. It is getting harder and harder to deal with and my husband has noticed more and more the effect it has on my gait, the way I wear through shoes, and I have even lost height. Sorry for all of the background, but some questions I have are:
1) Is shrinking so soon normal with scoliosis? I know it will happen with aging, but I'm already short and uneven a lot and don't need help.
2) Does anyone know if orthotics or any specific types of shoes really help? I have found I tend to walk with my right foot pointing out, and the wear on my shoes, especially the outside of my right heel, is horrendous.
3) Is it likely or even possible to be more prone to develop arthritis when you have scoliosis? The longer I go, the more it seems as though this may be an issue because of the fatigue/pain that I feel in my hips and entire back. I pop in places I have never popped in because of the rods.
Thank you!
1) Is shrinking so soon normal with scoliosis? I know it will happen with aging, but I'm already short and uneven a lot and don't need help.
2) Does anyone know if orthotics or any specific types of shoes really help? I have found I tend to walk with my right foot pointing out, and the wear on my shoes, especially the outside of my right heel, is horrendous.
3) Is it likely or even possible to be more prone to develop arthritis when you have scoliosis? The longer I go, the more it seems as though this may be an issue because of the fatigue/pain that I feel in my hips and entire back. I pop in places I have never popped in because of the rods.
Thank you!
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