Had no idea my body was so deformed! ☹️ Scolosis

[Namechangenoidea]

Ive recently lost weight and its come to my attention I have scolosis. Im 32, when I was 22 I had a chest xray as I had a long term cough and the doctors mentioned that by the way your spine is a little twisted but I thought no more of it. Ive just lost two stone and I am looking at my body more I suppose and I am actually shocked at how my back looks. My rib Cage is sticking out and I have a hump. It never used to Look like this! Seems to be rapidly progressing. Ive never been diagnosed with anything. I dont know anything about scolosis but is this a mild form or more severe?

@Ferny123 Cam you tell me more about this lady please? My 14 Yr old is not long dx'd with angles of 14 and 22 degrees. The surgeon has recommended exercise - plates, yoga, swimming. Do you mind me asking what sort of improvements your daughters have seen and over how long a period? Thanks.

I had awful pain post pregnancy chiropractor sorted it out. In my fifties pain came back walking, endured it for another decade. Had an MRI for something else. The consultant showed me the picture and asked why scoliosis wasn't on my notes. I was so shocked my spine is like an upside down question mark. It explains all the pain in my lumber region and down my legs why sometimes my back seizes up when I get up in the morning. Awkward if you're desperate for the loo. The shooting pain putting my right foot down is excruciating. BUT I've had it for forty years.

Swimming helps. I've had 5 operations since March Which means no bending down heavy lifting, swimming so back is wrecked again. The chiropractor had me dancing by last Xmas pain free. I'm going back next week.

Sounds like your daughter just falls below NHS bracing threshold of 25°. Our youngest did too but as she had an older 13 yr old sister diagnosed at same time she was also referred. Youngest DD had single right thoracic of 24 with scoliometer reading of 12°. Now measures 13 thoracic and 5ish rib humps. As DD was 9 months before she started her period at risser 0 she had extremely high chance of progression so we had to act fast! Completed full schroth program. Debs is an experienced schroth practitioner who works independently at reasonable costs. Wish we knew her sooner! If you want to contact me privately please feel free X x

Sorry @AnotherMNposter forgot to say this has been since diagnoses in Sept 2021. I know exactly how helpless you feel as I was in exact same position. I knew a wait and see approach was no good but initial NHS consultant who we saw hardly knew about scoliosis. Best advice I can give it to get your daughter active - at least 3 cardio (out of breath) sessions per week. Very difficult I know with girls at this age but this is a non negotiable. Good luck x x

I have one which showed up in a chest X-ray. I remember the gym teacher standing behind me pulling my shoulders back telling me to stand up straight (in front of everyone). When I did attempt to stand up straight I would get a nagging pain mid upper back - very tiring. There can be a curve forward and back as well as to the side hence the hunched posture.
I'm 70 now, do yoga and regular exercise to help it, don't think I've lost any height.
I wonder if yours is worse due to pregnancy , the extra weight,and it will improve with exercise.

@Ferny123, thank you. Wow, big improvement for your daughter and in such a short timeframe. DD has one shoulder blade which protrudes and I worry she will become self-conscious about that as she gets older. Is there any chance the Schroth programme might correct this a bit? She started per periods around 10 months before experiencing any back pain so the consultant hopes there won’t be any great progression. She’s doing reformer pilates weekly but sounds as if that isn’t enough - there is a plan to add swimming in but we just haven’t managed to get round to it yet. Need to re-think the exercise!

Thanks. So pleased here! Our other daughter had shoulder discrepancy too but conscious posture was very good for her. Alongside an active lifestyle I really feel these children need to be doing scoliotic specific exercises. Feel like we ve crashed this thread so apologies to original poster. I'll pm you as so much to say regarding physio, scoliometer readings, Cobb angles etc etc etc!!

Do you have any side/leg pain OP? My scoliosis has never been formally pointed out for treatment but has shown up on chest xrays. I live with moderately severe left-side pain because of it. I can't sit without leaning to one buttock to accomodate the pain. I've been like this all my life. I think the answer is lifelong exercise to open out the bad side.

Db (50+) was diagnosed about 5 years ago with a mild scoliosis. We knew one leg was shorter than the other but put it down 8 weeks in plaster with a broken leg aged 4.

He has spent years looking after his back but a change of physio meant X-rays were taken and there it was. His physio/medical records after 30 years of back pain need to be weighed rather than measured.

However, when he is home, he swears by Pilates religiously every week (he is fly in fly out for work) and has taken up golf recently for additional walking. He has a very nice sofa but with normally watch tv lying flat in the ground.