Potential Mild Scoliosis

[ShastaBeast]

Having physio, again, for chronic back pain. Disc herniatation in my lower back following pregnancy and eventually surgery a few years back. History of back pain from mid teens and signs I’m hyper-mobile. My hips are wonky and I get pain in my upper back too. The physio asked about scoliosis and it makes sense.

How is scoliosis diagnosed, what type of specialist would I ask to see? It’s likely mild so more about making sure it doesn’t get worse.

I have mild scoliosis. I do yoga. It does help.

I have a mild scoliosis, diagnosed when I was a child. I saw an orthopaedic specialist, and was monitored I think yearly, via xray and examination, until I'd finished growing.

I was told that a mild scoliosis in an adult is unlikely to get worse. Mine hasn't changed (I'm now 37).

You say you're hypermobile too - hypermobility and scoliosis can be signs of genetic connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome or Ehlers Danlos, you might want to check that out to see if you have other features. Scoliosis and hypermobility are both quite common though, so it's probably nothing like that!

Pilates

Nobody is perfectly straight
I say this as someone with scoliosis who has had years and years of back pain.
It's normal and ordinary to have a curved back.
You can balance your muscles through Pilates.

I've been doing it 10 weeks and it's changed my world. As someone who has seen more then ten pain specialists, pain team, pain clinic. Had various nerve blocks.

I've had Botox in my back. All of it.

Pilates and regular as in once a week chiro have meant I'm largely medication and pain free now.

It's crap I know.
Trust me when I say to try Pilates and a chiro.
You need to go to someone for one on one classes with a reformer xxx

My question is more about how to get a diagnosis than how to treat. I don’t think it needs more than physical therapy but I suspect it’s got worse because I didn’t realise. It could be degenerative rather than adolescent, or both. I’ve been in severe pain for seven years. I read Sarah Key’s book way back and recall this being a progression after a untreated herniation.

My physio offers reformer Pilates so I’ll go with their advice, at the moment it’s a no. I’m a regular gym goer which helps a lot, and was running over summer until the physio ordered me to stop. A lot of Pilates seems to be lying on your back and that’s too painful on the sacrum and aggravates it longer term. This issue started after my first birth (back to back labour).

I’ve a few issues which seem connected to hypermobility. However there’s no test or treatment aside from what I’m already doing so it seems pointless to explore that, until they discover the genes to test.

See your GP and ask if they'll refer you to the hospital's orthopaedic department for evaluation.

Yes, as Utini said go to your Dr and ask for a referral. They will start off by giving you an Xray and then go from there after they have determine if you have it and the degree of the curve.

I have scoliosis (diagnosed officially after my first child). GP referral, x-ray, consultant - followed by it will be a constant stage of managing the pain when it flares up/preventative options.

I do yoga every morning to stretch out.

I would say that after four pregnancies and age (36!) my back does feel worse than it did say 5 years ago, but I manage full time work and crazy household!

My mild scoliosis was diagnosed by MRI. Shoulder and back strengthening exercises help (I find lifting weights better than Pilates). I have joint hypermobility syndrome.

I have a GP appointment booked so will see. The physio confirmed the curve and rotation - my right hip is higher and tilts forward compared to the left. But she’s optimistic it can be changed because of the hypermobility. I’ll mention the other symptoms to the GP, they are generally low level and it’s hard to know if they are normal - eg does everyone get dizzy when they stand up fairly often? I’ve passed out a couple of times and come close several more because of it. DH also has signs of it so I can’t ask him.