Painful scoliosis

[sdumpsinp]

Hi I realise there are other posts about this topic, I'm just hoping someones got some ideas that might help!

I've had scoliosis for about two years now. Its in the thoracic part of my spine, I have a hip higher than the other and a rib that sticks out considerably. I have a lot of pain around the curve and around the scapula, it feels like constant tight, knotty muscles.

My doctor referred me to a spinal specialist and I had all the scans but he said because he doesn't know why I have it, and my age (26) ther's not much anyone can do.

I saw a chiropracter for about a year, I don't think this worked for me and the pain didn't improve.

I haven't got a great deal of money to spend on something that doesn't really help.

What I'd like to know is are there any exercises I could do to help, any supplements I could take or anything at all I could do!?

I think it was brought on by stress combined with bad posture and my muscles all tightened up. If i (or a therapist) was able to relax these muscles would the scoliosis reduce?

Thanks for reading

 

[LOREEN]

Have you tried glucosamine? I'm taking it now [when I remember!] and it seems to have some positive effect.
I am having what I believe [after reading your post] similar problems with my neck.
I saw an osteopath who said i had "popped" my 3rd cervical vertebrae. I had some treatment from him and I admit to calling him a rude name when he realigned the vertebrae. It did ease a bit for a while but I am still experiencing the tightness you describe. He also treated me with acupuncture and electrical impulses to the muscles in the area.
I'm convinced that he would/could sort it, but as he is a friend I don't like to take advantage - because he refuses to charge.
I know that I should go back to my GP but it's having time!! I'm a sessional tutor and only get paid for the hours I work so I can't afford to have time off.

I was interested to read that your hips are uneven etc., because I have noticed [and Hal, my friend, also observed it] that my left shoulder is now higher than my right. I consciously try to push it down when I remember but, like you, I am convinced that the pain induced stress makes the body unconsciously adapt to a more "comfortable" position which, in actuality, results in bad posture.
I find Reiki and other relaxation techniques do help so I'd say give it a go. I was doing some yogapilates prior to going back to work in Sept., and that did definitely help improve the situation. Needless to say, now time is short the yogapilates have had to take a back seat!!


If you find any relief please let me know!!! And I will do the same.
Good luck
Glen

 

[Lapara99]

Hi I'm a Pilates Instructor and I have a protocol (set of exercises) for working with people with scoliosis. It works by putting people in better alignment and then getting them to strengthentheir weaker set of muscles, and relaxing and lengthening their tight muscles. Any well-qualified Pilatesteacher should be able to help someone with scoliosis.
Why is your hip higher than the other? Is it due to unequal leg length ?(would it be worth getting a shoe support?).
Is it due to compression at the hip joint? Perhaps you've been standing with your weight on one hip/leg?
Is it due to arotated pelvis? (should be fairly easily fixed by an osteopath/chiro - and again there are a set of exercises to re-organise the pelvis.)
Is your pelvis malformed? Very rarely, one side of the pelvis is bigger than the other.
It sounds as though this has come on fairly suddenly "brought on by stress" - and this is quite unusual. Do you carry a heavy bag on one shoulder? Do you sit in a twisted position?
I would definitely go with the Reiki suggestionas it sounds as though you've a bit of releasing to do.
Kind regards, hope you get something that helps you,
Sharon.

 

[Caliban]

Thanks so much for replies.

I don't have great posture i'm quite tall and when I was a teen I used to try and make myself look smaller. I know my hips are out of line because I'm learning massage therapies and my tutor told me one was higher than the other, I don't know why this is so. I do find myself sitting awkwardly though-curling my legs under me on the sofa etc. But now when I try to stand straight - my husband says I'm still not, so I've definatly got alignment issues.

I'm going to see a pilates instructor, try the reiki and glucosamine and I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks so much for ideas,it has really been getting me down, but feel more positive already!

 

[Pompal 09.]

That's great. I'll look forward to hearing how you get on.
Be careful how you sit - try to sit in good alignment, otherwise you are re-inforcing your mal-alignment.
Sharon

 

[RobertLO]

I have no real answers but would suggest two things about your back pain. Take on-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which are frequently helpful in patients with painful scoliosis. While there are several non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents on the market, other considerations including renal, hematologic and gastrointestinal side effects need to be considered before making a choice. Narcotic pain medications do not have a place in the chronic management of painful scoliosis. However, they can be used on selected occasions for periods not more than 72 hours during active exacerbation of the pain.

Second is surgical treatments. Operative treatment of adult scoliosis is generally considered more difficult than that of adolescent scoliosis because of the high complication rate and less predictable result. The differences are mostly due to the less predictable factors of osteopenia, disc degeneration and facet arthritis in the adult population. So I hope you get some help by my answer.

Edited to remove links

 

[mommy2b 7 days left :)]

Hi having gone away and done quite a bit more research on scoliosis have found some really interesting and positive articles and research papers on how to help. These are not just for scoliosis but all connective tissue disorders including TMJ etc.

They talk alot about the benefits of yoga andgo against popular belief by suggesting holding stretches more over tight muscles (rather than equally on each side.) They also recommend swimming but say that weightlifting should be avoided. They also say to look at the person's diet, especially copper and magnesium levels, andask for a nutrient test and bone scan from the GP (Scoliosis linked with osteoporosis-research papers that prove this on site below)Trigger point massage is also highlighted both from a practitioner and self-massage. The site recommends some books with I've ordered. One has a whole chapter on scoliosis, almost unheard of!I will let people here know how I get on. Not sure if I'm allowed towrite the name of the website, but if not I'm sorry. It is [link=http://www.ctds.info]www.ctds.info[/link] If not search for connective tissue disorders.

 

[Chet, the Angry Moldovan]

My daughter suffers from Scoliosis (she's 24) and has had it since about 18. We thought it was from carrying a heavy school bag as one hip looks higher than the other (as if she is standing in a relaxed position if you know what I mean). The doctor said he didn't think that the bag caused the problem and that it was"one of those things".

She does pilates and swims and finds both to be of help. Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done, unless it gets very bad and surgery is the only option -although that is the last drastic option.

Love

 

[Anareelaw]

Take a look at this.

[link=http://www.raindroptechnique.blogspot.com/]http://www.raindroptechnique.blogspot.com/[/link]

Wonder is Bowen would help - anybody???

 

[ChivaChiva]

If your doctor doesn't know what is the reason for your scoliosis then find another doctor. No scoliosis developes without a cause. If your doc don't know the cause he diagnoses it as idiopathic. But that is only his opinion. Some other doc might not be so poorly educated..

If your chiro doesn't know how to correct you thenfind another chiro, or perhaps an ostheopath. Many of chiros and others have poor skills on treating scoliosis. But good ones exist. Look for someone who understads where scoliosis comes from and knows how to correct the cause.

I had scoliosis since child. It was corrected last year whenI was over 30yrs old. It took a long time to find a specialist who understood where my scoliosis comes from and what was the causeof my unlevel pelvis and short left leg included many years of bad pains... I spent a lot of money to look for help.

 

[nvuhnaiy]

Hi there

Just wanted to say that I have a scoliosis that has been really helped by doing Tai Chi for over ten years and also more recently Pilates. I have been told that for the shape of my spine I should have a lot less flexibility etc and a lot more pain and that the fact that I am pretty normal to the outside world - is down to doing Tai Chi regularly for so long.

I also started Pilates a year ago and that has also really helped and complemented Tai Chi.

What I have also noticed that my back pain gets worse when I am angry - and that my own level of pain is very much a barometer of my emotional state of being. I worked with a great psychotherapist who helped me to see that my back pain is very linked to anger - anger that I suppressed during my childhood/teenage years and probably before.

Ingrid Bacci has written a great book called Effortless Pain Relief and you can also listen to hertalking about how she healed her own back painon MySpiritRadio - go to [link=http://www.myspiritradio.com]www.myspiritradio.com[/link] and visit the archive section and find Ingrid Bacci's name.

Good luck!

 

[TheArfen]

I've also got scoliosis, which was diagnosed when I was 26/27. I had a very good doctor who referred me for physiotherapy for pain management. Unfortunately I did not find the physiotherapist to be a very pleasant man which is another story, but he insisted I had whiplash and gave me exercises to do at home which did help (I haven't got whiplash lol). I would recommend going to another doctor and trying to get some help on the NHS, it'll be a wait, but better later than never!
It is a shame that there are all these therapies available (I have heard that the Alexander Technique is useful) but finances do not allow people in need of them to access them, I am in the same boat as you on that one!

 

[nghwjpti]

The Alexander Technique is ver helpful with scoliosis. There are many teachers in the UK. Depending on where you live I could recommend some to you or you can go to this web site and look for a teacher:
www.ati-net.com

all the best to you
jamee