Scoliosis - Introduce yourself and meet others

i'm 60 years old and about 4 years ago i was diagnosed with scoliosis. i started taking a protein/collagen chew daily since diagnosed i don't suffer with the pain as much

***NOTE FROM THE COMMUNITY DIRECTOR***

May 2017

Investigation revealed that @cintam has a commercial affiliation with the product she claims to be using for various pain, neurological and muscoskeletal issues. Furthermore the product has not been FDA approved. Posting solicitations or advertisements of any kind violates Mayo Clinic Connect’s Terms of Use https://connect.mayoclinic.org/terms-of-use/.

For this reason, this user has been removed for the community.

Colleen Young

Community Director, Mayo Clinic Connect

I would love to know the specifics about the chewable protein/collagen that you are taking! What brand? Where do you purchase it?

My name is Lori. I had surgery (fused) when I was 4 or 6. I am very lucky my back does not bother me at all. I am currently 54 years old.

Glad to hear this @llarosa! (My daughter is 14 and had her fusion two years ago.)

Scott 56 year old male have had life long symptoms from scoliosis. I was aware of the condition at age 17, after years of back pain.

@sutherlin, I haven't had fusion surgery, but my brother had the L4-L5 fusion last year. He had about 3 weeks of pain from the surgery, but now, 1 year later, he's much better than he was before the surgery. It took probably 6 months for him to make progress and now I think he's doing too much. He still has pain, but not as much. His surgeon said he would have pain and that's not why he was getting the surgery. The goal of the surgery was to keep him from needing a wheelchair, not pain relief.

Burt davis. Diagnosed with scoliosis and osteoarthritis about 10 years ago. Progressing and now have no ability to stand for more than 15 minutes.My curve is approaching 55 degrees. Severe radicular pain and weakness in my right leg. Preparing for laminotomy on two levels of my lumbar spine this June at Mayo. Hoping for increased mobility not pain relief. I was walking 18 hole golf courses 2 times each week ten years ago. Now on a good day i can walk about 100 yards.

I had hyperparathyroidism because of a tumor on my parathyroid gland. The head and neck surgeon at University of Arkansas School of Mediciene removed it. They use a radioactive deal to know exactly where the tumor is located and a PTH level run in surgery to know for sure they removed it. Several, but not most, medical centers have this capibilty. Removing the tumor will stop the calcium from being leeched from your bones.

I'm a new member so can't post links. But please search 'Huber machine physio' in google to see what I'm talking about

I was diagnosed when I was 11 and wore a brace 22 hours a day for 2.5 years. I think at the time there wasn't much/enough knowledge on the after effects of being braced. Though my curvature was better when I came out of it, I had so many issues with pain, trapped nerves, muscle imbalance, strength and breathing. I couldn't stand or sit for any longer than 10 minutes. I tried so many different Physio's and doctors and nothing helped until I found my Physio who I still see today 10 years later. She used a combination of deep tissue reesss and the huber machine shown in the link above. It absolutely changed my life. I am 90% pain free and compete at an elite level in athletics now which o couldn't have even fathomed beforehand. I recommend it to anyone who has scoliosis or any back issues really that will listen!

@jeriliz, I too was told about 15 years ago that I have scoliosis. I remember having to wear leg braces with big oxfords when I was young. They were probably to correct something to do with the scoliosis, no one ever told me why. Only recently has it become a problem as my back is giving up to degenerative disk disease and all the other problems that happen to lumbar disks. I had a laminectomy in December, 2016, and was on 3 different prescriptions for pain and muscle spasms. I have stopped taking 2 of the drugs and now only take Tramadol primarily for my arthritis. I decided feeling the pain was preferable to feeling drugged and goofy. Good luck with your scoliosis.