Scoliosis

[Firway]

My DD (17) has been for an xray of her spine today. While she was in the room she heard two members of staff discussing her spine. We found out that she was being tested for scoliosis (curved spine) and they said that she does have a problem but not enough to have to have rods inserted to straighten it. They could not discuss it with us - we were not meant to have overheard - and now we have to wait three weeks to speak to our GP about the results. My DD has only been getting a stiff back ab her spine is not noticeably curved - we were not expecting this outcome. Does anyone else know of older children who have developed this? My DD has stopped growing and spent 6 years at gymnastics without any problems. We are SO worried about her.

Anyone can get this, it's just a curvature of the spine and can be painful, as well as can cause other problems. They measure the curvature and, depending on it's severity, can operate to try to straighten it up.
It's very unprofessional of the staff to be discussing this within your ear shot, please bear in mind they may have been discussing another patient perhapse? There's a bit of treatment that can help, physio or a brace. Your daughter will need regular x-rays/scans to measure any change in the curvature. You shouldn't normally have to wait three weeks, the x-rays/scans are looked at by a radiologist who sends a report to GP's in about 12 days, it's best to call your surgery to see if the results are there after 12 days, then make an appointment if they are. Your daughter will probably be referred to a consultant in the hospital who will over see her care, try not to worry, I know it sounds scary but alot of people have a curvature and don't notice. Everyone's different, some people only every have a slight curve so it's a wait and see game at the moment for you.

Thank you for that. Yes, I agree the staff have been unprofessional. The hospital is a small cottage hospital, there was only my daughter there having an x-ray so I know they were discussing her. DD is very active, attends four dance classes a week (it was her dance teacher who spotted the small wiggle in her spine - we couldn't see it), - dreading it if she has to wear a brace and limit her activities as being active is part of who she is. Called the surgery and our GP is not available until 21st March and my DD refuses to see the only other GP as he is very curt and abrupt. Hopefully her condition will not deteriorate over the next couple of weeks.

Scoliosis is a slow changing condition, they do often do nothing except for monitoring if the curvature is very slight, it all depends on how many degrees the curve is (for very mild curvatures they do nothing, for severe they operate). I know that pilates can help so it's worth looking into this. I can probably get hold of some information about this for you. It's positive that your daughter isn't growing now as this can make the curvature worse.

I would contact the hospital and complain that the staff were overheard, it must have been distressing for you, especially as you have to wait for a GP appointment. I wouldn't like to overhear that my child had a medical problem then have to wait three weeks until someone could explain it to me, it would be torture. It was really unprofessional and shouldn't have happened.

Re Pilates - my DD does one class a week of this and it is good to hear that this will help. She has good posture and is very fit but is now worried about her future - it will be a long three weeks.
Thanks a lot for your advice.

Try not to worry too much. As others have said a lot depends on the extent of the curve. I had a curve and through pilates am now straight again, so it is possible and to be honest wasn't that hard to correct. Here's hoping she's like me.

I was diagnosed with mild scoliosis in my late teens following a snowboarding accident that did some soft tissue damage. I didn't need any treatment for the scoliosis and had physio for the soft tissue injury. I have had fewer and fewer problems as I've got older.

A friend the same age had slightly worse scoliosis and was given a brace to wear. She hated it, rarely wore it and doesn't have any problems - that was now 15 years ago.

Both of us were fit and active teenagers. Try not to worry. Your daughters wait to see a doctor will not make her condition worse.

I too was diagnosed with mild scoliosis in my late teens. I was having pain when trampolining and had an x-ray to find out why. Other than giving up trampolining it has had virtually no impact on my life. I get back ache now and again - but probably no more than any other mum lugging kids, stuff around.

I was told to avoid sports that impacted your back like trampolining, horse riding etc and to try and do stuff that strengthened core muscles like pilates, yoga etc.

The only time it has ever been a medical issue was when I had DD1 and the hospital wanted to double check which vertebrae were fused in case I had an epidural. I did have an epidural and there were no issues with it. They did not even bother asking for subsequent dc's!

Thank you for mentioning trampolining - DD did this as part of her GCSE PE exam and we have one in the garden. Also, the comment about snowboarding rung another bell - DD was in Utah last year and had a bad fall whilst snowboarding - broke her rib but didn't complain of back ache at the time.

All your comments have calmed me down a bit now, so thank you for that. Maybe her future is not as worrying as I first thought.

Hi

My daughter who is seventeen in a few weeks had an xray two weeks ago as she has been experiencing back pain for a few months, she too has been diagnosed with a scoliosis which we were totally unaware of! She is being referred to a specialist, and the GP thought physio and exercises will probably be suggested as her scoliosis is slight.

Sue

Thank you Sue for getting in touch. Our poor girls - as if being 17 isn't hard enough as it is. Is your daughter a sporty type too? Hopefully my daughter will also just need physio as having a back brace would be so restrictive for her.

I had scoliosis diagnosed about 12 years ago (aged 34/35), having been x-rayed as a result of long-term back pain since having my DCs.

My curve isn't considered significant, and I've been told that lots of people have it without being aware, and it has no more impact on their lives than, say, one ear being larger than the other.

In my case, I'm sure my pain was exacerbated by the fact that I wasn't fit and sporty - was one of those skinny but slightly awkward kids who never got picked for teams so flounced away from sport in adulthood.

I think the fact that your DD is fit and active will be very much to her advantage, and, as someone has said, make sure to get advice on things she should avoid.

To briefly hijack: Belle, I'd be interested in your pilates informatiion as I struggle to find exercise that really helps and teachers I can trust. Would you mind if I CAT ed you?

Thank you ourlady - yes, we will be sure to ask our GP which sports she can still do that won't cause any further damage. Loved the comment about it having no more impact on lives than having one ear larger than the other! LOL.. Cheered me up quite a bit, thanks.

I'm more then happy to help LadyOfPerpetualSupper. My lovely neighbour is high up in the Pilates society and trains instructors so she'll know someone in your area.

OurLady, word of warning, but if you can afford it do a few one to one sessions first. Makes a massive difference imo.

My mum has this and they only diagnosed her last year - at 73! Apparently she will have had it from childhood. She has never noticed it, nor have any of her family or friends and it doesn't seem to have affected her life.

Thanks Smee - yes I intend to do just that as I think pilates can be a case of the Emperor's New Clothes in the wrong hands.

I have this and it is painful but I'm not sure how much of that is because I have naturally overtight ligaments so I get sore & stiff muscles. I wake every day with a sore back and my parents used to tell me it was all in my imagination. Now I'm old it has stopped me going on roller coasters and bumper cars etc because it hurts but it didn't stop my in my youth.

I was diagnosed about 6 months ago now.
It doesn't stop me doing much. I have slightly more pain and stiffness than usual but thats about it.

As my GP explained it.. they only really resort to back braces and surgery if the curve is severe (over a certain number of degrees) or the spine is twisting and compressing the lungs.

I'm finding I'm in a bit more pain but that just may be my whole body screaming STOP at me for the sudden increase in exrcise due to the addition of the pooch!

Hello I have scoliosis too. Im being operated on this year because my curve has progressed from 57 degrees when diagnosed at 13 to now being 100 degrees and unfortunately will only get worse. I get lots of pain but even though my curve is rather severe I still do everything anyone else can. Managed to give birth naturally to 2 children which the doctors were worried I couldnt do!
If your daughter does have scoliosis she is doing all the right things already. She should keep it up. As my consultant always says, my (or your daughters) back isnt any weaker than an ordinary straight back its just a different shape.

Friends dd had surgery on hers, hers were so severe that they thought she had a condition meaning that her heart was on the wrong side of her body but no that was just how badly curved her spine was , she was in pain breathing and stuff but she had the kind of rapid onset scolliosis so she hit puberty and it went from straight to like that in about a year!

Have you heard of Scoliosis SOS. a physio place that provides treatment for scoliosis

anon, Ive heard of that place, very expensive, but apparantly good results. I looked into it but didnt fancy the being away from home for 4 weeks!

Hi Firway. Your DD sounds just like mine - 17, and with 'mild to moderate' scoliosis at 40 degrees. it's not deemed bad enough for surgery, but DD rather wishes it was slightly worse so the surgeon would just get her straight. I wonder what degree of curvature your DD has? We return to the consultant early next year to see if anything as changed, and I am curious about other peoples' experiences. It's all a bit horrid for my darling girl.

My son had scoliosis surgery when he was 18. He has recovered well. They usually keep on taking X-rays to measure if the curvature changes.
The surgeon told us no form of exercise, Chiro or osteopath can 'fix' it as the problem is structural. I'd be wary of anyone claiming to fix scoliosis by exercise or any other form.