Let’s talk about living with scoliosis.
As a community moderator of the Bones, Joints & Muscles and Spine Health groups, I’ve noticed several members talking about scoliosis, but those discussions were scattered throughout the community. I thought I would start this discussion to bring us all together in one place.
Get comfortable in your favorite spot, grab a beverage of your choice, and let’s chat. Why not start by introducing yourself?
Liked by Vickie, Kelly, Alumna Mentor, Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, jeriliz ... see all
@mamabear17, thank you for introducing yourself to the Scoliosis members, there are a lot of great members in this discussion and I am glad you here to meet them. I think you may also be interested in the following discussion as well as it is Connect members discussing RSD/CRPS, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/rsdcrps/.
I did find some additional information about the Schroth method being used in the U.S. here:
— https://www.hss.edu/conditions_schroth-method-treatment-for-scoliosis.asp
I had spinal fusion with the Harrington rod in 1974 when I was 14. Military doctors performed the 6 hr surgery at Walter Reed hospital. It was a very long year of recooperation for a developing teenager. I could not sit down for a year because my rod went so far down the bottom of my spine. I am now in my late 50s and I am forever grateful for what they did for me. Although in the 70s spinal fusion was so much more primative than it is today.. mine has been in me for 44 years now and my spine is fused into a solid bone. I have awesome posture and am very proud of my scar that is the entire length of my back. I call it my battle scar. The doctors that operated on me were my heros. I had a very badly s shaped spine and it is pretty much straight today. You learn to adapt to what you can or can’t do after this surgery and even though at 14 it was humiliating I am forever grateful to the doctors and my parents for making me have the surgery.
Liked by Justin McClanahan
There seem to be a few places around the country including that provided by the volunteer mentor. However, the orthopedist my son saw said there’s nothing he can do about his condition or to prevent it from getting worse. He’s only around 20 degrees as I mentioned but may still grow as he’s 15 years and 5 months old only. In any case, we’ll try Schroth this summer because I want a tool for him to manage this that he can use his whole life, if needed. https://schrothbestpractice.com/
Hello @shenriq – if you click the View & Reply in the email notification and scroll to the top of the discussion, then you can click the +Following link and you can select to unfollow the discussion. You can also click the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email notification you receive.
John
Liked by Justin McClanahan
I went to a neurosurgeon yesterday. He is the first doctor I’ve seen in the past years that ask to look at my back and within 5 minutes of meeting him. However he is the only neurosurgeon the other doctors I’ve seen were orthopedic surgeons. The other doctors only wanted to look at my MRI’s. My new doctor who had already looked at my images & then my back told me I have flatback syndrome. I have never had back surgery it just happened naturally. Having CT’s of neck & lumbar next week. Already know I need surgery but if it’s scoliosis flatback surgery I will need to go to Atlanta for the surgery. If it’s a bone turned up he said he could do that here at the local piedmont hospital but if I need rods he said they can’t do that kind of surgery locally. Any advise? I’m 52 female.
I would suggest seeing Neurosurgeon, Dr. Jeremy Lee Fogelson at the Mayo Clinic. He is honest and accurately diagnosed me with failed back surgery syndrome. I do not advise rods. My scoliosis rod surgery took 23 hours and I had several complications. I now have radiculopathy, a painful coccyx, my back hurts, my left foot is purple and cold, I have costochondritis, I have ischial tuberosity pain . . . It has been 8 years.
I have never had back surgery but still wound up with flat back syndrome. I’m sure it is from the scoliosis. From what I understand they will be taking a section of my spine out like a wedge to straighten up spine & the rods will help hold in place. I was thankful this doctor actually looked at my back. I have had 8 injections in 9 months & none have helped. Tired of being prodded with no result.
@parus
Again…the whole body is connected.