Scoliosis - Introduce yourself and meet others

I am new to the discussion group. Looking for ways to lessen the pain without pain meds. Any suggestions?
@lollypop

@lollypop If someone knows of a way I would like to know as well...popping pills is not a direction I want to go. Several negative experiences w/ meds. I do know my spine is way out of alignment and this has my pelvis twisted.

Welcome to the group.

I have scoliosis but not diagnosed until in 60s. Now I am 80. I have had cervical operation with spacers in my neck. I was falling and my hands were numb. The operation solved those problems but I am in constant pain. My surgeon moved so I have not had an update. I hear a ping in my ear on rising in the morning. My scoliosis was caused by incompetent doctor at birth. Have gone through life uneven. I too avoid prescription drugs. I rely on nsaids most of the time. Exercise does help. Open for suggestions. God bless.

@jo54 Seems my scoliosis was caused by a broken femur when I was 20-now 65. Yes, exercise does help. I have folks I know and they are mostly those in their late 70's into their 80's. I have far more in common w/ these folks than ones closer in age.

Would that I had suggestions. I recently joined too.

Thank you for this community. I did not know I had scoliosis till a year ago, I am 64. Although in having tests at that time, I contacted my former physician's office & requested old x-rays. They showed that I had it in 1987, but was not told about it nor treated. I have always had back pain & issues since in my teen years. I also have osteoarthritis and have basically been putting up with the pain, but now I am trying to take better care of myself both physically & emotionally that I'm not liking the pain now and not tolerating it very well. I know that moving more will help me keep from getting so stiff and sore.

Just found this today. Thank you! No idea when I developed scoliosis but was only diagnosed at 70. My first cousin had the same experience. Am now wearing a lift in my right shoe for it. I also have spinal stenosis and sciatica with constant pain going down my right leg. Two shots in my back at a pain clinic only stopped the pain briefly. Physical therapy also failed. Just had an MRI. Do I have any alternative except for surgery? LOM

@leslie324. What is the alternative? I absolutely wish I had an answer. Wouldn't surgery in one's 70's be too hard on the body? I walk but my hips start hurting. I excercize until the pain is too much then I excercize for one more minute hoping my muscles get stronger. I get frustrated, however, I try to balance my time by lying flat once or twice a day. When I started this I found I liked laying down because I had less pain. But then I realized I wasn't living life. Oh my, it is hard to live with pain yet work on finding some sort of balance. May I suggest we communicate more often - we just might find some answers.

I had surgery at 78. It's a personal decision based on health and stamina. I do agree that you try everything before you make that decision and exercise and rest are the best answer for now.

The general 'shrinkage and decline' that hits us at the 70 mark makes everything difficult. Then any other medical problems we have, add to the not so good list. I do feel that when resting its important to try and gently straighten the body as much as possible. Keep up a good balance of exercises so that the muscles are not adding to the pull of the curve. and accept and rest. Saying that when its impossible to lift one leg in front cos of the pain. Life gets grouchy
Keep up your calcium and Vit D3 intake to keep those bones as 'fresh' as possible [young they wont be] Work on losing that excess weight if its there [so easy to say but so hard to do]
And as others have said, surgery to be the last option.

Thank you so much! Grouchy is the right word for it! I do have to slouch less as you recommend and be more faithful doing my physical therapy exercises. I have been trying to lose weight but seem to always lose the same 5 lbs. Even giving up sugar has not helped. I know I could do better if I could walk more than 900 steps/day. It's nice to know other folks also deal with pain on a daily basis. Leslie324