Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

80 year old diagnosed with scoliosis

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • #16
    Originally posted by Richka View Post
    Доброе утро to you as well.
    How on earth did you know I performed prisyadki since age 14 and still at age 75?
    Da, I am Russian speaking, and spacibo bolshoe for this link to the Stroth method of treating scoliosis. I can't wait to start on it. More later.
    Richka
    It is an interest of mine :-) Will post a photo of my grandfather and his band later. And, there is after all - only one Richka!

    Comment


    • #17
      Originally posted by Richka View Post
      Агашкин roots in St. Petersburg! Great.
      I meant to say thanks for the video of Zhel. I am very familiar with this group and have written and have published article about them. I have downloaded the video of the scoliosis treatment and will watch it soon. I think it may be directed more to youngsters though.
      Thanks. Richka
      добро пожаловать!

      There is no age limit for Schroth (thankfully). Many find much relief with this and I hope you will also Richka. If you are in a lot of pain - the Spinecor brace may be something you will also want to investigate - no age limit on that either. I will be 60 this year and have two healthy curves, a junctional kyphosis measuring 60 degrees, and a lumbar lordosis measuring 60 degrees with multiple vertebral body compressions (наболевший вопрос). I've been wearing this brace since April and have been given a few Schroth exercises to do. The relief has been beyond all expectation from the start. I also had a cervical fusion over 40 years ago (unrelated to my scoliosis). My doctor is Marc Lamantia from NYC. Best to you dear Richka!

      Reference: http://www.scoliosisjournal.com/content/2/S1/S23


      Last edited by mamamax; 07-11-2009, 06:37 PM.

      Comment


      • #18
        Richka

        You sound to me very encouraging.It is especially painful today and can't help thinking it is getting worse by the day. I'm looking at the xray that was done about 3 or 4 months ago so I'm sure it's worse now. That was done because I thought I might have a kidney stone, but the xray should none, but radiologist pointed out the scoli. Otherwise wouldn't have known. I have appointment with an ortho in couple weeks. I deliberately did not want the one who did the cervical surgery last year because I think that may have started the chain reaction.
        I was wondering if my lifting weights every evening out in my garden may have caused this. Maybe the vertebrea can't take it though I've lifted girls overhead lots as a dancer but that's a thing of the distant past I guess.
        This is a wonderful forum and already I am learning so much! Thanks for responding and your kind Russian welcome. I don't have Russian fonts or keyboard like you must have. So I must transliterate.
        Spikonya Noch.
        Richka

        Originally posted by mamamax View Post
        добро пожаловать!

        There is no age limit for Schroth (thankfully). Many find much relief with this and I hope you will also Richka. If you are in a lot of pain - the Spinecor brace may be something you will also want to investigate - no age limit on that either. I will be 60 this year and have two healthy curves, a junctional kyphosis measuring 60 degrees, and a lumbar lordosis measuring 60 degrees with multiple vertebral body compressions (наболевший вопрос). I've been wearing this brace since April and have been given a few Schroth exercises to do. The relief has been beyond all expectation from the start. I also had a cervical fusion over 40 years ago (unrelated to my scoliosis). My doctor is Marc Lamantia from NYC. Best to you dear Richka!

        Reference: http://www.scoliosisjournal.com/content/2/S1/S23


        Comment


        • #19
          Originally posted by Richka View Post
          You sound to me very encouraging.It is especially painful today and can't help thinking it is getting worse by the day. I'm looking at the xray that was done about 3 or 4 months ago so I'm sure it's worse now. That was done because I thought I might have a kidney stone, but the xray should none, but radiologist pointed out the scoli. Otherwise wouldn't have known. I have appointment with an ortho in couple weeks. I deliberately did not want the one who did the cervical surgery last year because I think that may have started the chain reaction.
          I was wondering if my lifting weights every evening out in my garden may have caused this. Maybe the vertebrea can't take it though I've lifted girls overhead lots as a dancer but that's a thing of the distant past I guess.
          This is a wonderful forum and already I am learning so much! Thanks for responding and your kind Russian welcome. I don't have Russian fonts or keyboard like you must have. So I must transliterate.
          Spikonya Noch.
          Richka
          Richka ~ you are wise to seek further investigation into the causes of this sudden onset of scoliosis. There are many factors that could contribute to it and if you suspect that lifting weights may further worsen your condition - then maybe suspending this until you seek further orthopedic consultation would be a very good idea until you rule out the presence of compression fractures. Given also the pain factor involved right now - maybe call the ortho and see if they can get you in sooner than a few weeks?

          I know little about spinal cysts (as your recent cervical operation) but think ruling out that there may be more of them may be a good idea. There is also a form of scoliosis in the more well seasoned population called de Novo. I've included some web links below for you.

          Your Russian linguistic ability far outweighs mine - I wish i knew how to say ... wishing you safe journey & safe return :-)



          http://www.scoliosisassociates.com/s...-scoliosis-010

          http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art...?artid=2435032

          http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-ed...9/feb-20a.html

          Comment


          • #20
            Richka says ...



            The orthopedic specialist I went to yesterday was absolutely no help. Didn't learn a thing. Offered no treatment other than suggesting physical therapy sessions that never help, for me at least.
            I tried to relate the experience I had several days ago when I had severe pain in my left kidney. I was writhing in agony and called an ambulence to ER. That doctor had a CT scan and said it was no kidney stone, possibly the scoliosis. IS it possible that scoliosis can affect the kidney with this severe pain? At least he gave me morphine and pain pills, that made me constipated.
            The Urologist was also no help with the kidney story. He said it was muscular. Again the scoliosis!
            Does anyone have these experiences with specialists? It's like an assembly line. They can only spare so much time, do not LISTEN and constantly at their computers, as if the computer itself does the diagnosis. WOuld love to know if I am the ONLY ONE.
            Thanx
            Richka

            Comment


            • #21
              My mom, age 92 1/2, from whom I got my scoliosis, was born in St. Petersburg, Russia.
              Hers was invisible when I was a child. Now she is really twisted.
              Original scoliosis surgery 1956 T-4 to L-2 ~100 degree thoracic (triple)curves at age 14. NO hardware-lost correction.
              Anterior/posterior revision T-4 to Sacrum in 2002, age 60, by Dr. Boachie-Adjei @Hospital for Special Surgery, NY = 50% correction

              Comment


              • #22
                Richka

                Surgery is always a last ditch effort. Doctors will always try an easy way out like physical therapy first. Its the logical decision.

                Wow, you are lucky you didn't pass a stone! I passed an 7.5mm dia stone and the ureter has a 2mm internal diameter. That was extremely painful. Sometimes its hard to diagnose what is going on, and sometimes you have to do the "doctor tour" to really find out what is going on.

                No you are not the only one. Many of us have been there.

                Hope your pain subsides.
                Ed
                49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                My x-rays
                http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                Comment


                • #23
                  Originally posted by Karen Ocker View Post
                  My mom, age 92 1/2, from whom I got my scoliosis, was born in St. Petersburg, Russia.
                  Hers was invisible when I was a child. Now she is really twisted.
                  So sorry to hear about your Mom's scoli at age 92 and very twisted. Mine I believe is still in early stages, but the ortho doctor couldn't, or didn't know how, to decide what degrees of curve so I still don't know. I received no real diagnosis, only suggestion of physical therapy. This is the Orthopedic Institute of Tucson, Arizona. Tucson is supposed to be a pinnacle of medical research and treatments, but I sometimes wonder. Same with Urologist. When you call for help on the phone, they look at my age and think I'm just another befuddled old man and I have to assure them I am not at all like that. I'm sure your Mom isn't either. It's their pre-judgement.
                  I'll bet your Mom has many stories of St. Petersburg. It was still Leningrad when I was there. Russian speaking?
                  Richka

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Originally posted by mamamax View Post
                    Доброе утро Richka ~ Рад тебя видеть
                    In your search for relief - you may also wish to investigate the Schroth Method. Spinecor is also being used successfully on adults at this time. Some links below for you and feel free to PM me if you have any questions.


                    http://www.schroth-scoliosis-treatment.com/
                    http://www.schrothmethod.com/studies.html
                    http://www.scoliosisxpert.com/uk/pageuk.php
                    http://www.scoliosis3dc.com/http%3A_...liosis3DC.html
                    http://sdwpt.com/
                    Thanks for the links, Mamamax. I have been interested in doing all I can for my back before I consider surgery (and my Dr. will do it)-- I found a practitioner on the East Coast, in Massachusetts:
                    http://www.scoliosis3dc.com
                    --if you can open that. . I wrote him to get some more information.
                    Last edited by dailystrength; 07-23-2009, 07:54 PM.
                    34L at diagnosis; Boston Brace 1979
                    Current: 50L, 28T

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      kidneys

                      dear richka
                      hi..we've "spoken" before...
                      in reference to the kidney are pain...whenever i have epidurals, i feel the medicine is going straight into my kidneys, especially the left side, where my curve is the worst...had my last epidural wednesday (3rd in series of 3) & the medicine seems to be "kicking in" (helping) already, even tho it usually takes me many more days to feel better...

                      but the pain in the kidney thing was awful...the anesthesia/pain dr who did the tx said it may feel like the pain is there, but it was impossible for it to even get into my kidneys...however, i have spinal stenosis, & dr said due to that & the scoli, i have such a "narrow"passageway" there that i was feeling the medicine in other places & it also was muscle spasm stuff....dont know if any of that would apply to your situation..but i also have kidney area pain on days my left side curve is very painful...in my case, it is some kind of a soft tissue thing caused by the severe curve....

                      i hope you have some pain relief soon...hope you can try every kind of possible pain management tx before you try surgery....

                      best to you
                      jess

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Richka



                        Hi Guys,
                        My recent visit to the Tucson Orthopedic Institute seemed a total waste of time. I think the specialist must be comparitively new, an attractive lady of about 30 I would say. She was recommended by the surgeon I had last year, who removed a cyst on my cervical spine, which I still feel started this scoliosis thing. I explained that I was a former professional dancer and she looked at my gait, tested strength in my feet, legs, arms, etc. On the whole, a pleasant person, but after the xray I asked what stage did she think my scoli was in. She didn't know. What degree was the curve? She didn't know.
                        At home I saw on the Insitute website that I could leave a comment about my visit. Of course they only like praise but mine was, apologetically, negative. I didn't expect anyone to read these comments anyway, but, lo and behold, (to use a biblical phrase), she phoned me, and on a Sunday too.
                        She explained in detail her diagnosis. She included the xray, which I already had from the radiologist and you never get these unless you ask (I always ask), with a diagram showing degree of curve. Can anyone explain how these calculations are done? Mine has two crossing lines and at intersection shows 28 degrees. I never know if an xray view is from the front or from the back so I can't say which side the curve is on. It would be so helpful if someone could explain this.
                        I emailed back that this was exacly what I wanted; a FULL diagnosis and thanked her for being so responsive and for taking time out on Sunday to communicate. That's rare isn't it.
                        Anyway, we finished in a friendly mood (I'm very polite, I think) and I feel she is now is not only an ally but she pointed out with this experience she now has a better sense of her patient's needs.
                        Many people I know leave an exam bewildered and don't know how, or think they shouldn't, ask questions. I'm not like that and she told me how impressed she was and to even ask more questions. Her treatment is, as was to be expected, physical therapy. I was questioning this at first but decided I will follow through. McKenzie and/or Williams exercises; whichever method reduces radicular symptoms. Does anyone know what these are or have done them? Results?
                        So, my point is, always ask questions and demand answers. My unfortunate visit to the Urologist the day before is another story.
                        If you are still with me, Thanx for reading.
                        Richka

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          dear richka
                          i dont know the specifics about the measurements (am sure people on here do, like linda & others) but i do know you should see a SCOLIOSIS specialist, not just an orthopedic surgeon or orthopedist....i guess some specialize in other stuff..for example, i have an orthopedist who just does cancer who sees me for a benign tumor in left femur...all he does is cancer, so he refers patients to other orthopedic guys for scoli!!
                          i am so sorry you are having trouble finding the right doctor, cause once you do find the right one they understand cause that's all or most of what their patients have....
                          maybe you need to try a different place...did you do a search on the internet for SCOLI specialists in your area...will your insurance cover if you travel out of state?
                          i am worried that you will end up with a doctor who could do more harm than good, so please dont try any anything til you connect with the right people!

                          take care
                          jess

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Originally posted by jrnyc View Post
                            dear richka
                            hi..we've "spoken" before...
                            in reference to the kidney are pain...whenever i have epidurals, i feel the medicine is going straight into my kidneys, especially the left side, where my curve is the worst...had my last epidural wednesday (3rd in series of 3) & the medicine seems to be "kicking in" (helping) already, even tho it usually takes me many more days to feel better...

                            but the pain in the kidney thing was awful...the anesthesia/pain dr who did the tx said it may feel like the pain is there, but it was impossible for it to even get into my kidneys...however, i have spinal stenosis, & dr said due to that & the scoli, i have such a "narrow"passageway" there that i was feeling the medicine in other places & it also was muscle spasm stuff....dont know if any of that would apply to your situation..but i also have kidney area pain on days my left side curve is very painful...in my case, it is some kind of a soft tissue thing caused by the severe curve....

                            i hope you have some pain relief soon...hope you can try every kind of possible pain management tx before you try surgery....

                            best to you
                            jess
                            Hello Jess,
                            I can surely relate to your kidney pain. Mine was in the left flank as well. It was in waves of the most horrible pain and only after the morphine did it let up. My fear is that it may come back again.
                            I'm afraid I don't know what epidurals are but will look it up.
                            Is you spinal stenosis the same as scoli? I'm new to all this so a bit bewildered by it all. I found if I sit in the hot tub at my health club with my back to a jet stream my back feels a lot better. I think my curve is on the right side but still don't know if the xray was taken from front or back so the way I look at it, it is on the right side of spine. 28 degrees.
                            Cheers,
                            Richka

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Originally posted by Richka View Post

                              Hi Guys,
                              My recent visit to the Tucson Orthopedic Institute seemed a total waste of time. I think the specialist must be comparitively new, an attractive lady of about 30 I would say. She was recommended by the surgeon I had last year, who removed a cyst on my cervical spine, which I still feel started this scoliosis thing. I explained that I was a former professional dancer and she looked at my gait, tested strength in my feet, legs, arms, etc. On the whole, a pleasant person, but after the xray I asked what stage did she think my scoli was in. She didn't know. What degree was the curve? She didn't know.
                              At home I saw on the Insitute website that I could leave a comment about my visit. Of course they only like praise but mine was, apologetically, negative. I didn't expect anyone to read these comments anyway, but, lo and behold, (to use a biblical phrase), she phoned me, and on a Sunday too.
                              She explained in detail her diagnosis. She included the xray, which I already had from the radiologist and you never get these unless you ask (I always ask), with a diagram showing degree of curve. Can anyone explain how these calculations are done? Mine has two crossing lines and at intersection shows 28 degrees. I never know if an xray view is from the front or from the back so I can't say which side the curve is on. It would be so helpful if someone could explain this.
                              I emailed back that this was exacly what I wanted; a FULL diagnosis and thanked her for being so responsive and for taking time out on Sunday to communicate. That's rare isn't it.
                              Anyway, we finished in a friendly mood (I'm very polite, I think) and I feel she is now is not only an ally but she pointed out with this experience she now has a better sense of her patient's needs.
                              Many people I know leave an exam bewildered and don't know how, or think they shouldn't, ask questions. I'm not like that and she told me how impressed she was and to even ask more questions. Her treatment is, as was to be expected, physical therapy. I was questioning this at first but decided I will follow through. McKenzie and/or Williams exercises; whichever method reduces radicular symptoms. Does anyone know what these are or have done them? Results?
                              So, my point is, always ask questions and demand answers. My unfortunate visit to the Urologist the day before is another story.
                              If you are still with me, Thanx for reading.
                              Richka
                              Hi Richka...

                              Here is a link comparing the two exercise programs:

                              http://www.backtrainer.com/Williams-...Back-Pain.html

                              I'd be interested in Betty's take on whether these exercises are good for someone with scoliosis.

                              If your curve measurement is correct, than I suspect that the scoliosis itself is not the cause of your back pain. It would be good to figure out what the actual problem is.

                              In terms of measurement, it's rather difficult to describe how the Cobb angle is measured in a few short sentences, but I'll try. You need to find the least tilted vertebrae above and below the curve. The way I was taught to find it was to take a pencil and line it up with the top of the apex vertebrae. Now, move the pencil up toward the top of the xray, lining up the pencil with the top of each vertebrae along the way. If you have a typical right thoracic curve, the right side of the pencil will be lower than the left side of the pencil. When the right side of the pencil has to be raised, you've reached the vertebrae above the vertabrae to be used in the measurement. A line is drawn on the top of the last vertebrae before the tilt angle decreased. The bottom vertebrae is found in the same manner.

                              Here's an article that describes what I've just said, and gives you the details on calculating the Cobb angle:

                              http://www.aafp.org/afp/20020501/1817.html

                              Regards,
                              Linda
                              Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
                              ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
                              Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                dear richka
                                hi again..stenosis is narrowing...i have a narrowing of my spinal canal, which my doctors tell me causes MUCH pain...also have arthritis of spine caused partly by severe lyme disease...also herniated & degenerative discs...you get the picture...so i think linda is right (most often is) & you need to find out WHAT is the primary cause of your pain, tho i doubt scoliosis helps anything!! also, pain doctors are great, but they treat the symptoms of pain, regardless of where pain is & what is causing it...so it can be great relief, usually temporary...i'm not knocking it! temporary is sometimes all we need just to get out from under the pain long enuf to think straight! in my case, i'm using it to try to think straight about surgery, amongst other things!

                                best of luck
                                jess

                                Comment

                                Working...
                                X