Scoliosis - Introduce yourself and meet others

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Reid and diagnosed with sclerosing mesenteritis about a month ago just trying find out anything about it and support. Thxs so much

Hi, Cathy! You may need to search for my earlier post, but I have had amazing results from Rolfing -- look it up on the internet and find a certified Rolfer in your area -- it is worth every penny for the sessions that are massage/pressure point/stretching procedures. I was almost unable to walk and used an electric scooter -- now I am able to walk a short distance and it has actually made a good difference on my MRI!!! WOW!! PLEASE try it!!! Vickie

I am very happy to see this topic. I have found my way to scoliosis in a different way, perhaps. I did have a "sway" lower back since childhood. I had an acute, multiple trauma accident in 2009. I was 48 at the time and due to determination and a lot of hard work, I did learn to walk again and recovered for the most part. I have hardware throughout my body and a total shoulder replacement. I was fortunate to be under the care of a most skilled trauma surgeon. As a result of the multiple fractures in my pelvis and the separation of my sacrum from my pelvis the scoliosis in my lower back is pronounced. A PT explained it to me. It is not a twisting and curving but rather a straight curve. I hope that makes sense. My sleep is always interrupted after a few hours with extreme discomfort. I am on pain management medications along with past cortisone injections, massage and PT. Those are for the various other issues besides this topic. I am not sure what else to do to make things easier for myself. I did buy a new bed. I needed one as the last one was way past it's useful life. I am not sure it is right. It's firm and I do think mostly it is just living with my body the way it is now. In other words, I am not sure any mattress would be "perfect." I did a lot of research and speaking to people to help me make a decision. I've only been sleeping on it for a week. I am trying to keep myself active and strengthen my muscles in my body. I always wonder what others do to help.

Not sure if you have tried it but I have a very small cushion to support my lower back, I got the idea after using those lumbar supports for the car and my desk chair, It was actually a roll cushion that I just took out of its over case, and so about 8 x 15 inches. When I have surgery so on a very hard bed I get them to put a folded towel in that area. so its supporting the Sacro Ileac area, then my back muscles are not having to work all night long. Hope you adjust to your new mattress

Thanks so much for the suggestion. I will certainly try the small cushion. I appreciate it!

Hi MollyB, Happy BIrthday on 5/5 I think you said. And to answer your question, no I do not feel any different after the surgery, probably because I had no symptoms before surgery! @gailfaith

I just had a L4-L5 fusion and two spacers last week as I have degenerative disc disease. In your recovery from your surgery did you have horrible hip pain when walking? I know the L4 nerve is responsible for the pain I was having in that area before the surgery but it is so intense now. Does it go away? How long did it take before you saw relief

I am GailB, and i only learned a few years ago that i have scoliosis that seems to affect my right side and the thorasic section of my back. I also have a compression fracture in my neck, C7, degenerative disc disease, ankolosing spondylosis, herniated L4, and I had laminectomy surgery on my L5-S1 in December 2016 to correct the bone impinging on my spinal cord. My lumbar issues are much better now.

I didn't know that scoliosis was really a problem until a short time ago. My masseuse showed me that my right leg is shorter than the left and that my entire body on the right sticks up farther on the right when I'm lying on my back. Im sure this is the reason I had to wear leg braces when I was a kid. I hated them as they were a sign of polio back then. Im 68 years old. Of course no one told what they were for.

I'm happy for any information you are willing to share about ways to ease the chronic pain without prescription drugs as I have just gotten myself off 2 meds.

Hi, Gailb! My story is almost identical to yours except for the braces/polio as a child. Instead, I had to wear special shoes because my gait was "off-kilter"! As an adult, at the age of 30, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I have now, at the age of 57, been diagnosed with adult-onset scoliosis. I had compression fracture at C-6; I have had a herniated L4 with a laminectomy and discectomy at L4-L5 in 2005. I have stenosis as well and a LOT of spinal and hip pain, I have two artificial knees and my gait continues to be "off-kilter".....I often need to use an electric scooter since I am unable to walk distances any more. I had been going for weekly massages and they did help. However, I have been getting Rolfing treatments and they have given me the most success with both pain management and mobility issues. I HIGHLY suggest that you look this technique up and find a certified Rolfer in your area. There are ten sessions to a treatment plan and I pay $125 per session....it is a commitment, but I also drive four hours round trip each week to see my Rolfer who is fantastic! For awhile, I had a similar treatment called Structural Body Integration which is a branch of Rolfing, but the Rolfing has given me much more relief. I cannot express how much this has helped me! People are even noticing that I am standing straighter and walking farther! Best wishes!!!!!
VickieKay