Hello Everyone - Sorry for this long thread!
I am from England UK, and I was diagnosed with Scoliosis when I was about 13. However, I was never told what it was until about 4 years ago. The Doctor I was seeing when I was 13 decided that my condition was not that bad and I should continue my life as normal. So I no longer went to see a Doctor and as far as I knew I just had a 'slight’ curve in my spine' that had no name!!!
So I went through my teen years playing rugby, football (soccer to some) and was involved in motor sport (having a few serious accidents). I was bullied a lot at school as I didn’t stand up straight, even teachers made a lot of negative comments to me (this was over 10 years ago and bullying was just accepted then). I went to University when I was 21 and I decided I wanted to find out more about my back 'problem'. So I went to my local GP and told him I wanted to know what my problem was, and if anything could be done (this is 7 years ago now). The GP said "Nothing can be done, it's just something you have to live with, but I can give you the name of a good chiropractor to help the pain". I went to see the chiropractor who cracked and snapped my back, which didn't really do anything for me. I went several times, and the last time I went (4 years ago) a new person was there, he was the one who said "So does your scoliosis stop you from doing anything"?.......... WHAT.... it has a name!? This was the first I had heard about scoliosis.
The final visit to the chiropractor was painful; he stopped me walking for 4 days! So I didn't go back. I then went to another GP (I had moved house at this time) and said I wanted to see a Scoliosis specialist, again the GP was unhelpful telling me there was no such thing. So I went onto the internet and found the scoliosis association in the UK, a quick phone call and I had the names of a couple of Consultants. I also had a hernia operation around this time, and I asked the surgeon if he knew of any scoliosis specialists (he himself was a top surgeon in his area). He gave me the same names as the scoliosis association, so I knew they were the ones to get in touch with.
At this time I was experiencing a lot of pain, the pain I get is on the right side of my back, sometimes below my shoulder blade, and sometimes onto of my shoulder (I think it's called the trapezius muscle). I decided to stat swimming, which I love and does help the pain ALOT! But I am now swimming over 1500m everyday to deal with the pain.
So back to my GP again, and I requested to be referred to the specialist. But before this I had to go to physio so a physiotherapist could refer me! So I went to the physio and eventually got referred. 4 months later I got the appointment through (with Mr. O'donoughue), I went along had a x-ray, and the didn't get the see the main man as it was 5pm and his home time!! So I saw the registrar doctor who was not helpful, didn't listen, told me to get on with my life, nothing could be done, and I should exercise more (you could tell he didn't listen to what i had said).
Eventually he said I could go for a scan that would give a more detailed look at my spine. So that’s what I did.
When I booked the follow up appointment for the results of the scan I asked that I did not see that doctor, but the main specialist whose clinic it was. As you may be expecting, this did not happen. I got the same person who told me again nothing could be done. This time I must say he was a lot more helpful. He said I am too old for surgery (was 27 at the time), the pain I must deal with, and the curve was not that bad. He did measure the curve but I can't remember that he said it was! He also told me what type of scoliosis it is, can’t remember that either . He said it was not the common one, and that it was in me from birth! He sent me to a physio, again! To help me strengthen the core muscles!!
So what has happened since then, well....... nothing! I am still very unhappy in life; I spend 4 years at university to be design engineer to now find that sitting in a chair is painful!! In fact sitting, standing, and lying, almost everything causing discomfort.
If I could turn back time and change things I would like to have been told at an early age what the problem was, and be given the option for myself as to what to do. I would have definitely taken any surgery had I known what it was I had, and how unhappy it would make me. I don't feel confident, I know I look different, I have a constant awareness of the scoliosis by the pain/discomfort I have in my shoulder/back. And I really really hate the fact that one muscle (right trapezius) is so much bigger than the left. All these factors add up and make me an unhappy person. I have a great girlfriend, good job, a loving family. The only person that really knows how much this effects me is my girlfriend. When I try to mention this to my parents, they just tell me that they can't tell I have scoliosis, and that’s not the point. It's how you feel in yourself!
Sorry to go on so much, a lot of it you will probably be bored with, but it has helped me to get some of the frustration out! Oh if I could get my hands on the Doctor I saw when I was 13!
A few questions!
Like I said I am 28, and one of my problems with scoliosis is the muscle difference on my trapezius from the right side to the left. Does anyone know if implants can be use to compensate?
Also, does anyone know who the best specialist is in the UK for Scoliosis, it can be a private doctor as i don't mind spending money if it will help me!
Does anyone know of someone who has had a scoliosis operation as an adult?
I am from England UK, and I was diagnosed with Scoliosis when I was about 13. However, I was never told what it was until about 4 years ago. The Doctor I was seeing when I was 13 decided that my condition was not that bad and I should continue my life as normal. So I no longer went to see a Doctor and as far as I knew I just had a 'slight’ curve in my spine' that had no name!!!
So I went through my teen years playing rugby, football (soccer to some) and was involved in motor sport (having a few serious accidents). I was bullied a lot at school as I didn’t stand up straight, even teachers made a lot of negative comments to me (this was over 10 years ago and bullying was just accepted then). I went to University when I was 21 and I decided I wanted to find out more about my back 'problem'. So I went to my local GP and told him I wanted to know what my problem was, and if anything could be done (this is 7 years ago now). The GP said "Nothing can be done, it's just something you have to live with, but I can give you the name of a good chiropractor to help the pain". I went to see the chiropractor who cracked and snapped my back, which didn't really do anything for me. I went several times, and the last time I went (4 years ago) a new person was there, he was the one who said "So does your scoliosis stop you from doing anything"?.......... WHAT.... it has a name!? This was the first I had heard about scoliosis.
The final visit to the chiropractor was painful; he stopped me walking for 4 days! So I didn't go back. I then went to another GP (I had moved house at this time) and said I wanted to see a Scoliosis specialist, again the GP was unhelpful telling me there was no such thing. So I went onto the internet and found the scoliosis association in the UK, a quick phone call and I had the names of a couple of Consultants. I also had a hernia operation around this time, and I asked the surgeon if he knew of any scoliosis specialists (he himself was a top surgeon in his area). He gave me the same names as the scoliosis association, so I knew they were the ones to get in touch with.
At this time I was experiencing a lot of pain, the pain I get is on the right side of my back, sometimes below my shoulder blade, and sometimes onto of my shoulder (I think it's called the trapezius muscle). I decided to stat swimming, which I love and does help the pain ALOT! But I am now swimming over 1500m everyday to deal with the pain.
So back to my GP again, and I requested to be referred to the specialist. But before this I had to go to physio so a physiotherapist could refer me! So I went to the physio and eventually got referred. 4 months later I got the appointment through (with Mr. O'donoughue), I went along had a x-ray, and the didn't get the see the main man as it was 5pm and his home time!! So I saw the registrar doctor who was not helpful, didn't listen, told me to get on with my life, nothing could be done, and I should exercise more (you could tell he didn't listen to what i had said).
Eventually he said I could go for a scan that would give a more detailed look at my spine. So that’s what I did.
When I booked the follow up appointment for the results of the scan I asked that I did not see that doctor, but the main specialist whose clinic it was. As you may be expecting, this did not happen. I got the same person who told me again nothing could be done. This time I must say he was a lot more helpful. He said I am too old for surgery (was 27 at the time), the pain I must deal with, and the curve was not that bad. He did measure the curve but I can't remember that he said it was! He also told me what type of scoliosis it is, can’t remember that either . He said it was not the common one, and that it was in me from birth! He sent me to a physio, again! To help me strengthen the core muscles!!
So what has happened since then, well....... nothing! I am still very unhappy in life; I spend 4 years at university to be design engineer to now find that sitting in a chair is painful!! In fact sitting, standing, and lying, almost everything causing discomfort.
If I could turn back time and change things I would like to have been told at an early age what the problem was, and be given the option for myself as to what to do. I would have definitely taken any surgery had I known what it was I had, and how unhappy it would make me. I don't feel confident, I know I look different, I have a constant awareness of the scoliosis by the pain/discomfort I have in my shoulder/back. And I really really hate the fact that one muscle (right trapezius) is so much bigger than the left. All these factors add up and make me an unhappy person. I have a great girlfriend, good job, a loving family. The only person that really knows how much this effects me is my girlfriend. When I try to mention this to my parents, they just tell me that they can't tell I have scoliosis, and that’s not the point. It's how you feel in yourself!
Sorry to go on so much, a lot of it you will probably be bored with, but it has helped me to get some of the frustration out! Oh if I could get my hands on the Doctor I saw when I was 13!
A few questions!
Like I said I am 28, and one of my problems with scoliosis is the muscle difference on my trapezius from the right side to the left. Does anyone know if implants can be use to compensate?
Also, does anyone know who the best specialist is in the UK for Scoliosis, it can be a private doctor as i don't mind spending money if it will help me!
Does anyone know of someone who has had a scoliosis operation as an adult?
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