Scoliosis- What do you know

Forum guidelines BT super discount
Other Resources My Cup of Joe » Scoliosis- What do you know Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, the bear, DerekL, alicefoeller Reply
2012-07-07 4:08 PM

New user
595
500252525
Connecticut Shore
Subject: Scoliosis- What do you know

A girl I know has just been diagnosed with a 40 degree mid back curve.  It's curved like a "C".  This person will be going to the Ortho soon.

 

I have been reading on the web about it.  Lots of general stuff.

 

What I can determine is that there are two main types that a kid this age (13) can get.  One might be sourced to an injury, trauma, or major illness.  The other is the idopathic, which has no know reason for occurring.  The type of Scoliosis has not been determined.

If it's the sort that is caused by trauma (super heavy back pack) can that be rectified with a brace only and PT?

If it's idopathic, can it be corrected without surgery?

Do they ever use the milwakee brace any more?

Got any good links for more in depth reading?

 

 

2012-07-07 9:38 PM
in reply to: #4299227

User image

Champion
7036
5000200025
Sarasota, FL
Subject: RE: Scoliosis- What do you know

My best friend in high school, a nationally-ranked gymnast, was diagnosed with scholiosis when he was 16.  He underwent extensive corrective spinal surgery, which put hm in a full body cast for almost a year.  Ultimately the surgery was unsucessful, and his condition eventually developed into Syringomyelia.

Physically, his life has been a living hell, living in constant pain for the past 40 years.  Over that time he has primarily been sustained by his Christian faith and the promise that he will get a new pain-free body once he reaches Heaven.

My only words of advice would be to seek out the very best medical treatment available for your friend. 

I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers.

Mark

 

 

 

2012-07-08 5:47 AM
in reply to: #4299227

User image

Master
2356
20001001001002525
Fenton, MI
Subject: RE: Scoliosis- What do you know
Mine was not nearly as severe, but was corrected permanently with therapy. This was when I was about 10-12 yo. I had two curves, left and right with shape sort of like a simplified dollar sign. I did my own pt at home, following my drs routine. I knew a girl a couple years older that had a worse case. She did a similar pt routine, but she slept in a large clamshell brace every night for years. I think that she fully corrected it too. Luckily, no further problems have come up. Good luck!
2012-07-10 4:34 PM
in reply to: #4299227

New user
32
25
Pensacola, FL
Subject: RE: Scoliosis- What do you know
I had a curvature that was caused by a difference in leg lengths that I compensated for by tilting the pelvis. Mine was corrected by lengthening my leg with an Ilizarov procedure, which was done at Shriners Hospital in Tampa when I was 15.
2012-07-10 8:09 PM
in reply to: #4299227


6

Subject: RE: Scoliosis- What do you know

 

I was diagnosed with scoliosis at 6, S curve.  I'm 37 now.  I think my parents and I made all the right choices for my individual situation.  Here's what we did...

Initially, Dr's watched it for a few years.  Curvature was slight and only increasing marginally.  They recommended competitive swimming as a good way to strengthen the muscles stop the curvature.  I stated swimming and became heavily involved with it.  It worked great. 

I stopped swimming around 12 and my curvature stayed stable till around 14.  At late 14 / early 15 my curvature started to grow and they wanted to put me in a brace.  I am not a band-aid person and there was no way I was going to wear a brace to high-school.  The only other option was surgery, so I opted for that.

I had the surgery at late 15, Harrington rods, and I have never regretted it for a minute. 

I'm a bit asymmetric and have a couple big scars, rods and bone graph,  but I could be worse by far.  It's never stopped me from doing anything I want to do, nor has it been an impediment.

So, based on this here is what I would do.

Go see a couple scoliosis specialists and make sure you are getting similar stories.  See what they recommend to slow or stop the curvature naturally and do it.  Track curvature for a little while.  If that doesn't work and it starts going south, get the surgery asap and be done with it. 

 

Chris S

 



Edited by pcs74 2012-07-10 8:11 PM
New Thread
Other Resources My Cup of Joe » Scoliosis- What do you know Rss Feed