Do I have scoliosis?!!

[Golightlygoodnight]

Twelve years ago I had a massage and the masseuse said quietly, under her breath something like ‘ah, bit of scoliosis there’. Think I piped up with a ‘eh? Nope!’ And that was that.
I’ve never had a backache or anything of that nature and I look perfectly normal from the front. Mind you, obvs can’t see my own back.

Fast forward to 2024 and I’ve just taken a picture in the mirror of the marks left by a shakti mat (ignore those!). WTF is this curve in my back? It’s not just these two photos, I’m now 100% sure that when I bend even slightly forward, my back looks even worse than this.

Do I have some form/degree of scoliosis? Is it even possible to get to 40 with it and have no symptoms (other than the visuals)???

Grateful for any opinions!!!

That must have been a shock for you. Having said that, I’m not seeing an obvious curve to one side - can you draw an arrow on the image where you think there is a curve?

I’ve had scoliosis picked up from a chest x-Ray. I remember when I had physio years before they remarked that one shoulder seemed higher than the other. Which now makes sense. I have occasional back ache but no more than most.

Stand straight and see if one of your shoulders is higher than the other.

I have scoliosis, I would say yes you do.

I went to the GP thinking I had some sort of tumor (could feel a 'lump when I lay on my back).

Was referred for an xray and was told very quickly I had scoliosis - just physio as a treatment and a stern warning not to sleep on my front. Now I know I have it I'm not as hard on myself when I can't do e.g. certain yoga poses. I can also see I'm very wonky when running on a treadmill in front of the big mirrors at the gym.

Or your hips. My shoulders are level but my scoliosis tilts my pelvis so one hip higher than the other. It is easier to see from the back and sometimes help if you're sitting on a firm seat so might need to ask someone to help.

Have you other problems / pains in your back?

I've had temporary scoliosis before due to other changes in the structure of my spine, which resolved once the spine was back in better alignment.

Same, my shoulders are mostly fine but my right hip is waaaaay out.

It does cause some 'slippage' for strappy tops on my left shoulder as a result but if I stand straight its my hips not my shoulders that are out. My right leg sort of turns in.

You definitely have a spine curvature OP. Best to discuss with your GP.

I've been told by masseurs too. I haven't noticed any impact on my life. If you're concerned then see doctor but I wouldn't be alarmed if it isn't causing you any issues.

It may be that your exercise schedule and lifestyle have kept you well despite the spine issues.

Had you carried excess weight, had a physically demanding job or allowed yourself to be unfit it might have caused issues.

Do you swim, out of interest?

DH only discovered he had scoliosis in his 40’s when he saw a physio for back pain. It doesn’t cause him any problems.

Yes looks like scoliosis. I dd's was diagnosed at 24. Doesn't cause her any problems though so perfectly possible to get yo your 40s without knowing. I notice my dd's because a dress zip wasn't sitting correctly

I got massive symptoms at 38 and had multiple surgeries. Curvature caused uneven wear on my discs. Pain and walking problems ever since. However there is a massive difference in the degree and type of curve and I have two, side to side and outward. My daughter has a small curve that. has never caused problems. Walk definitely investigate looking at your photo.
Good luck, hope you don’t get problems.

I have it mildly. Was picked up on x-ray aged 23. Nothing was really done about it.

Mine got picked up in my 40s. Had no idea. If I wore shorts one leg would always be higher up the thigh than the other. No pain etc. I have had no treatment. It causes no issues. It is just how I am.

I have scoliosis and just wondering why not to sleep on front. It's funny you say that because I always sleep on my front and I s night time when my back aches.

I have scoliosis, no real symptoms. My doctor described mine as if my spine was the jar and my shoulders the lid, the lid has been slightly unscrewed!

You can only see one side of my collarbones, and the zip on my jeans are skewiff

Did your symptoms just start at 38? I e had scoliosis for years but just recently at aged 42 having real pain/ache in my back

It forces a straight back position (bad apparently) and a neck twist (also very bad) at the same time.

My very laid back physio visibly winced when I demonstrated my sleeping position. I've also been told not to sit on the sofa with my legs curled up to one side.

Another slightly bent woman here 😄 A doctor (?) or maybe health visitor picked it up while I was at primary school, told me to take care of my posture. Now I'm decrepit, I get unexpected backaches sometimes and have more difficulty keeping bag straps on my shoulder - the only real-world effect it's had is that I've converted all my bags to cross-body!

Issues after every pregnancy chiropractor sorted. Had an MRI for stomach issues and the consultant showed me the scoliosis. I am now having spinal issues. Consultant confirmed the scoliosis had caused bulging vertabrae in lower back, sciatica, nerve damage. I'm having lots of physio now. But I got to my sixties before it all really kicked off.

@Iudncuewbccgrcb

I always sit On the sofa with my legs up like you describe too, no wonder I have terrible back ache. I'll try sleeping differently tonight. Thanks

Your thoracic spine appears to curves/bend a bit outward to the left from what I can see in the photo on the right. Go get a referral to orthopaedics from your GP and have an x ray done.

So have I all my life and sleep on my stomach. To be fair I didn't know that I had scoliosis

https://www.scoliosisptjax.com/sleeping-positions/#:~:text=To%20begin%20with%2C%20we%20will,twisting%20component%20of%20the%20spine.