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Scoliosis
A few years ago (the last time i was checked) i was diagnosed with 'minor' scoliosis because there's a slight curve in my back. the doctor checked me by looking at my back and noticing that the right shoulder blade is lower than the left. it's only minor and it never hurts unless im walking for hours or am standing and bending standing and bending for an hour while doing laundry. other than that it never hurts and it's never strained. the doctor had told me that in the future it MAY cause problems like being in pain but he said it's my choice whether or not i want to have my back fixed. id like to live my life without a metal rod in my back. has anyone gone thru anything similar and can give me advice? i mean he really didn't stress the whole surgery thing and said that i probably WON'T need it unless it causes me pain, which makes it my choice. can this lead to severe issues in the future? idk what to think at this point. im overweight too, 19f 220 lbs. would losing weight help my back at all? i plan on losing at least 40 lbs by summer.
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Hello there, I can help.
I'm 17, and at age 12 I was diagnosed with scoliosis. I had two fairly severe curves in my spine, but they said it was too late to fix them with a brace. Surgery is very, very rare. If you have a minor curve, you're doctor SHOULD NOT be recommending spine surgery. Millions of complications will follow.
Today, I have Spondyliosis as well as Scoliosis. My spine is cracked in 6 places, and I'm not longer allowed to exercise. My doctors STILL DON'T recommend surgery. I'm telling you this so you will understand that surgery isn't a quick fix. Having back surgery to fix back pain WILL create new back pain. Once the rod is in, it will never come out. If something goes wrong during surgery, you could become paralyzed and never walk again. Things are not automatically wonderful after back surgery, it can take years to fully recover.
I do highly, highly recommend you lose weight. I'm 135lbs, (5'4") and my doctor even recommends that I keep as little weight on my body as possible. Any excess weight just adds pressure to your spine, which in turn can worsen Scoliosis. So please, make the healthy choice.
To help ease back pain, strengthen your core! I thought this was a stupid idea when I first started my recovery from having a fractured spine, but I've found its the only thing that helps. (I take heavy narcotics, physical therapy, and massage therapy, none of which have benefited me as much as strengthening my core.) When you have a strong core, your spine is stabilized, which will only benefit you.
Hope this gives you some insight.
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I have scoliosis (moderate) and my cousin has severe scoliosis.
It sounds like you and I found out around the same time. I was sixteen and they told me it wont get worse because I've stopped growing. Ask your doctor if they project your curvature to get worse and make sure they monitor it over the next few years.
For me they said I'll have the same amount of back pain as anyone else (but I already experience more then the usual teenager) but I don't need surgery.
My cousin had to have a metal rod placed in her back because the curve was progressive and it would risk crushing her lungs/organs as she got older.
You can try reducing pain before thinking about surgery. I went to the chiropractor for a while and it helps some, but I feel it made it worse. I think it was my paticular chiropractor. If you can find a well recomended one then go for it. I also tried physical therapy a little bit, and it did help.
Losing weight will help ease your pain as well. Extra weight for your spine to support isn't going to help it.
Basically, try all that you can before resorting to surgery, because it's a serious thing that can have complications.
Best of luck to you,
-Abby
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