'Deformed' Ribcage

[Mom of Renner]

I took my 13 year old son to the doc yesterday because I noticed a "lump/bump" on his chest. After x-rays, it was determined that he has scoliosis. We are being refered to a specialist. I hung up before I realized that I shouldhave asked some questions, the first being the degree of the curve. Now that I have read until I'm seeing spots, I'm thinking that if it was severe enough to casue the ribs to become deformed, that surely its more than 45 degrees and he is going to need surgery. How accurate is this thinking?

[Pooka1]

I took my 13 year old son to the doc yesterday because I noticed a "lump/bump" on his chest. After x-rays, it was determined that he has scoliosis. We are being referred to a specialist. I hung up before I realized that I should have asked some questions, the first being the degree of the curve. Now that I have read until I'm seeing spots, I'm thinking that if it was severe enough to cause the ribs to become deformed, that surely its more than 45 degrees and he is going to need surgery. How accurate is this thinking?

Hi. Sorry to hear about the diagnosis.

I don't have any definitive answer but can answer w.r.t. my two girls.

My one daughter was quite rotated with significant shoulder blade profusion well below 45* whereas my other daughter made it up to 40* with no significant rotation.

I don't know the general case... I'm dealing with an n=2 which is really meaningless in the grand scheme. Maybe others have some more insight.

Good luck.

[Christl]

The first thing I noticed about my daughter was the rib rotation and her first diagnosis was about 41 degrees. But from what i can remember, it's the curve plus the rotation that are used to figure the degree. So his numbers could be about the same, they could end up higher, they could end up lower.

[Cloudy]

hey i have a 55* curve and my rib is sortof rotated... meaning it could crush my lungs..but im still pretty far from that. luckly. but i dont think you need to get the surgery, unless it is affecting his breathing of somthing of that sort. and is the spine rotating, or his ribs rotation or both?

[cyndawn]

There are so many non-surgical options these days. Wait to hear what the specialist says... ask questions... in fact take a written list of questions with you. I can not look at my x-rays and think of anything I wanted to say. I was born with a missing rib and a couple of ribs fused... before my scoliosis showed up.

I would like to encourage you not to let your imagination run wild. You need information. Read, ask alot of questions, and get a second opinion from a doctor in a different office.

Cynthia

[Link_pad]

Me

My ribcage isn't twisting on itself but odly one side of my chest is larger that the other making my chest uneven.

Its horrible having it, as im constantly feeling freaked out plus pain from gym.

Im trying now for Nuss Surgery off NHS but thats not easy ...

[jillw]

My daughter's curve is only 20 degrees, but you can definitely see some real rotation. Every curve is different. Your son's curve might be smaller than you fear. I hope you are able to get some more specifics soon. Good luck.