Scoliosis help, advice, photos & news.

This is a blog about scoliosis. This blog's purpose is to help and hear about others who have scoliosis so you don't feel alone in what you're going through. Please send us a message if you need advice, help or if you just want to talk. We can reply privitely if you would prefer, just say so. If you could submit you photos, stories or experiences to the blog, that'd be great! Also, we post scoliosis news, photos and facts on here (basically just anything to do with scoliosis!).

[curvatureofthespine]

Another really good option for scoliosis treatment before surgery is the Spinecore Brace. It's a brace that is fit perfectly to you with velcro attachments that are used to shift your body in the opposite direction of the curve(s). They are VERY comfortable and you can bend with it on in any direction. Plus it's not really noticeable under clothing. They also have therapy available if your curve is very large. It helped me a lot so PLEASE check it out before considering surgery. Hope it helps!(:

[curvatureofthespine]

My name is Bridget Dean and I would like to share a brand new book that is a must-have for all scoliosis patients. Renowned chiropractor Dr. Kevin Lau has released “The Complete Scoliosis Surgery Handbook for Patients,” a book that will guide readers in making educated decisions about their spinal health.

Readers of your blog will be benefit greatly from the information offered including learning the truth behind many myths that exist when it comes to scoliosis surgery.  They will also understand the different types of surgeries of offered, how to afford it, recommended surgeons, the necessary questions to ask and real-life success stories.  Dr. Lau would like to provide your readers with expert advice and tips including:

Why surgery may not be right for all patients

All the treatment options available following a diagnosis

What factors may determine the final cost of surgery

How vitamin deficiencies and hormone levels play a role in the progression of scoliosis

Possible complications with surgery and how to evaluate those risks

Dr. Kevin Lau is a member of the Chiropractic Association of Australia as well as of the International Society on Scoliosis Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT), the leading international society on conservative treatment of spinal deformities and the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) the largest professional association in the United States. He is also the founder of Health In Your Hands, a series of tools for Scoliosis prevention and treatment.

He was the first in Singapore to provide a non-surgical treatment for scoliosis in Singapore 2005 first by studying the Schroth Method of Exercises and then working in a clinic which implemented Clear Institute Methods. During this time he has been devoted to developing, practicing, and teaching others about non-surgical solutions for scoliosis. He has completed 3 theses on "Scoliosis and Exercise", "Scoliosis and Nutrition" and "The role of calcium and vitamin D in the prevention of low bone density and Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) in prepubertal women." With his research into spinal conditions he is the published author of Your Plan for Natural Scoliosis Prevention and Treatment which has been translated to Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, French and German. Dr. Lau combines a university education and a lifetime of practicing natural and preventive medicine to provide a unique approach to health care which encompasses body, mind, and spirit. You can learn more about Dr. Lau at http://www.hiyh.info/lang_en/about-dr-kevin.php.

Some possible ideas include having Dr. Lau answer questions from blog reader, an in-depth look at information shared in the book and having Dr. Lau serve as a guest blogger. With his strong social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, YouTube and LinkedIn, we would heavily promote any interaction that you have with him.

 I have attached a press release for additional information. Thank you for your consideration. Please contact me at [email protected]  if you would like us to send you a review copy of “The Complete Scoliosis Surgery Handbook for Patients.” 

Best,

Bridget Dean

[email protected]

[curvatureofthespine]

Was not diagnosed until I was in my 20's. 35 now and no surgeries but pain I getting worse now. Am I to old for surgery at this age?

of course not!! have your doctor refer you to a specialist, depending on your degree a specialist may recommend surgery or maybe just a brace! they will also help you with pain management which is an important factor in managing scoliosis, because it's quite likely that your pain won't go away unfortunately. 

[curvatureofthespine]

What are some thing people do that might worsen their scoliosis??

My brother is a physiotherapist and he always tells me off for having bad posture! Having good posture is really important for scoliosis, try yoga to strengthen your spine! I think just generally not being healthy makes it worse, just make sure you get plenty of exercise and all the vitamins you need daily and everything!

-Jasmin

[curvatureofthespine]

It causes so much pain I don't know what to do, I have therapy Monday and I go to the orthopedic soon by the way I'm the one with 18% scoliosis

aww it's okay i understand!! i will tell you some of my pain management tips / things i've done to help manage the pain

IF you can get it i'd strongly recommend going to the osteopath and getting professionally massaged. i started going to the osteo when i was first diagnosed with scoliosis at about 25 degrees and i went for a few years and it helped a lot, probably more than a chiropractor. although she cracked my back a bit but she mostly massaged the muscles and made them relax. it's only a temporary fix but if you have decent health care and can go once a week it makes you feel a lot better!!

a wheat bag, mine is constantly by my side because i have arthritis too so i almost always need it. wheat bags are relatively cheap and a really good way of managing back pain when you are trying to sleep

take long baths when you feel sore and try and let your muscles relax and then do some upper body exercises when you get out of the bath (another good reason to go to an osteopath! they will teach you some that are really helpful!)

my doctors always tell me to go swimming but im afraid of public pools so i can't vouch for the affectiveness of swimming pools.

i very very rarely take painkillers but ibuprofen is a good one to take, you can get it over the counter and it can help with inflammation of sore muscles

other than that i'd really just tell you that i swear it gets better! not so much that the pain gets better but you will get better at managing the pain, people with scoliosis are some of the strongest people ever.

[curvatureofthespine]

I got diagnosed with scoliosis Tuesday and they called and told me today that I have 18% scoliosis and that's all they said is that bad?

I wouldn't say that that is too bad. My degree is nearer 30 and I don't have any treatment. As long as it doesn't cause you any pain I wouldn't worry about it too much, and if it does, see your doctor and discuss how they can help with that :)

[curvatureofthespine]

This isn't really a question, more of a comment. I have scoliosis as well. My numbers are 30° at the top curve and 50° at the bottom. I am currently wearing a brace, but am preparing for surgery, THAT I WANT! People say I should avoid it, clearly I don't listen to them!

i think it's really great that you're positive and stuff but honestly, be careful with the surgery! i had a bad experience, mine was four years ago and i still feel as much, if not more pain than i did pre-op but now i'm less mobile and less flexible. the only difference is i guess now it won't kill me.

for some people quality of life greatly improves after spinal fusion and for some people it doesn't! make sure you regularly check with your doctor to make sure everything is well and make sure that you're exercising and keeping your back muscles strong!

have the doctors said you will have to have surgery or is it just a possibility if your spine curves any more?

[curvatureofthespine]

Hey! About the weight questions. I DEFINITELY lost weight after my surgery. Obviously due to the pain meds and their effect on appetite but also because when your back is straightened, your weight places itself more naturally. I'm 9000x more confident. It's a shitty procedure but DEFINITELY worth it. Feel free to message me any questions! Love all of my crooked sisters and brothers :)

[curvatureofthespine]

I'm getting my surgery in a few months and I just wanted to know somethings. My friend joked that i might look a bit skinnier because my back would be straighter and less hunched. Is that true? Also that I might be taller?

you will definitely be taller! i was 10cm taller actually and you'll have perfect posture and people will think you look really confident all the time because you wont slouch :3 (not sure if it's a positive or a negative haha)

im not really sure what your body looks like but you may look a bit slimmer? before i had my surgery i had one hip that stuck out really far and the other was in line with my ribs so i felt like i didn't have a very nice looking figure

but after my operation when i first was able to walk again, i got out of bed and went to the toilet and there was a mirror and i realised that my hips were perfectly in line for the first time ever and i had nice hips AND I STARTED CRYING because i was so happy

but it's not going to cut kilos off of your weight i mean it's just going to make you look more in line and straight,

also please be prepared for the fact that your hunch will probably still stay there for a while after your surgery, your spine is straight but the muscle builds up around where your spine was and it takes a while for it to go down!

[curvatureofthespine]

Hey! I was diagnosed when I was 12-I'm 16 now. It was at 36 degrees & the secondary curve 29 degrees. I was put into a brace. Over the years my spine worsened to about 45 and once a surgeon came in to talk to me. It stayed at 45 though, thank god. I just stopped wearing the brace 6 months ago. At my last appointment, it was 49 (which they said was normal after stopping the brace). But if it gets any worse, I'll have to get surgery... I'm so scared :/ How are people so positive about it? ♥

hello! 

being scared is really normal i promise! i remember when the doctors told me i'd have to have an operation on my spine i spent the entire day in bed crying. i picked myself up for a little while but it can be really hard, i still get sad about my back regularly don't worry!

[curvatureofthespine]

Hey... My friend has scoliosis, and she is really scared of getting the operation done to fix her spine.. would you reckonmind it.. is it scary..? will she end up in a wheelchair! WILL SHE DIE?!!?!? I think I'm more worried then her... thanks.. xx

haha she won't die don't worry! 

she may be *in a wheelchair* for a while, not permanently but just to helpher get around at home for a little while, it's very tiring.

it can be kind of scary, the best thing you can do for her as a friend is visit her a lot and just support her and encourage her because there are definitely times where she will be really sad for no reason and you and anyone else around her will have to do your best to cheer her up!

[glitter--dick]

June is almost over and I’ve not done anything for Scoliosis Awareness Month yet. So, here are my X-Rays and my (brief) scoliosis story.

Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature in the spine. 

When I was 11 years old my mum noticed that I was sitting strangely and had a large hump on one side of my back. My whole family and I rushed to A&E in the middle of the night fearing the worst. After hours, observations, and x-rays, I was diagnosed with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis - a 50° curve in my spine. By the time I found out about my scoliosis the curve was too severe for physiotherapy, bracing, and other forms of treatment to be effective and surgery was the only option. The curve was progressing fast and was crushing my lungs and organs and eventually it would kill me. 

On the 13th February 2008 (10 months after my diagnosis) I underwent spinal fusion surgery at the Evelina Children’s Hospital in London to correct the now 70° scoliosis curve.

The curve is now approximately 35° and I have 2 titanium rods, 17 screws and a cross-connector attached to my spine. Four years post-op and I still struggle with chronic pain most of the time. 

The earlier scoliosis is caught, the less likely it is that you will need treatment or the more effective treatment will be, so I would urge anyone to take a quick look at yourself in the mirror or ask someone to check your back. 

[springrituals-deactivated201511]

this is my every day

[backtothefuchur-blog]

Check it out. I just remember that I got a photo of it from the doctor. This was straight after surgery I’m pretty sure. A few screws are missing because some of my vertebrae were too small so they uses hooks and tape on a few instead. Looks pretty good I think, they got over 60 degrees of correction so it was pretty much a complete correction (which is really rare). 

[misbehavedxo]

For the anon. Before the surgery, and after. I’m completely straight now! Yayayay. Scoliosis sucks, but im now scoliosis freeeeeeeee! xo

[centralia]

Before and After

[drowning-in-drunk-sincerity]

I LOVE THIS ANGLE FOR THE XRAY. like with the screws and everything. omg.

5 years post op