Aren’t there alternatives. I reckon that there are, such as yoga/pilates, chiropractic, osteopathy, inversion etc…but surgeons need their pay and will tell you they dont work. Also, how much height could I be losing at this magnitude. 1/2 inch, 1 inch, 2 inches?
Is Surgery For Scoliosis A Necessity For Curves Over 45 Degrees?
Is Surgery For Scoliosis A Necessity For Curves Over 45 Degrees?
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Well let me place it this way. I practiced broad scope chiropractic for 25 years. For curves over 45 degrees you are not going to fix the problem or make a significant change using manipulation, hanging, streaching, bracing ect… You may with a multifactorial approach decrease the progression possiby and lessen pain. I have foungd the best therapy is a combination of proper spinal manipulation and most importantly hanging from a chin up bar many times during the day. But the bottom line is with curves as you discribe demonstrable change on radiographs would be very very minimal if it happens at all. Some curves do need surgery as they can inhibit organ function and cause much pain and suffering. But conservative therapy is not going to alter extreme curves to any real degree. There is much question as to whether it will alter even lesser curves much.
If you’re talking about structural scoliosis, then your spine has grown in a curved shape. By adjusting the soft tissues, as chiropractors do, you’ve had your bones shifted around for a small time, but the bones will soon return to their curved shape. You’ve (rather, the chiropractor) has done nothing to change the root cause of the problem – that the spine is growing curved.
Yoga, pilates, and swimming are all fantastic exercises and will help strengthen your core muscles. They will often reduce pain from scoliosis. They won’t, but, permanently reduce your curve. Even if the curve gets smaller, soon after you quit exercising, the curve will return to its curved shape. Exercising doesn’t change the shape of the vertebrae.
So, its not that surgeons need their pay. Surgeons (meaning scoliosis specialists) are telling you the way it is. You may not like the facts, but that doesn’t change them.
In fact, the surgeons that I’ve seen have been conservative. They tried non-surgical treatments first and if the non-invasive treatments have not worked, used surgery as a last resort.
Nobody’s forcing you to have surgery. You’ll find, though, that your back will probably be in pain for the rest of your life. In fact, since your curve is greater than 30 degrees, your curve will probably increase even after your growth has finished.
To determine how much height you’ve lost, pick a spot at the top of your spine and another at the bottom and measure the distance. Then run a string along the spine between those same two points. The difference between the string length and the original measurement is the amount of height lost.
In 1984, I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 12 during one of those junior high screenings. I was very frightened at first, but got in with a excellent group of doctors at Shriner’s Hospital and they place me so at ease. I wore a Wilmington brace from under my arms to just over my hips for 10 mo., then had surgery shortly before I turned 14 (1985). My curve was getting too severe. My top curve was fused using stainless Steel Harrington rods and bone chips from my hip. I had to go back into a brace about a year after my surgery for 10 mos. because my bottom curve was not completely stabilized.
My bottom curve aches now and then, I’m supposed to take 1-2 Alleve at bed time, but us nurses are dreadful patients, so I don’t do it regularly.
The braces…oh, how figure flattering they are, not! You’ll have to adjust your size. Some braces are larger than others, some more visible than others. Being where mine was, axilla to hips, it wasn’t very visible. I wore loose tops in the warm weather, and sweat shirts and sweaters in the cool. Pants and shorts had to go up a size or you can uses one of those expand a waist button extender things. The first few nights, it’s hard too fall asleep in a brace. But some days if I’m feeling a small achy, I miss it. You could be bone idle and let the brace do the support work your muscles usually do.
Physicians DO NOT want to do surgery. They only want to do it if the conservative treatments do not work. If you need surgery, you and your folks will have to make an informed choice about surgery. If your curve is severe and you are not corrected it can affect your ability to breath.
Someone with more recent experience might be better to question about the physical therapy. I never did PT when I was wearing the braces. The only PT I did after surgery was minimal, basically just making sure you were able to walk steady…but this was 1985 when they used to keep you on bed rest for a week and then place you in a body cast…we don’t do that any more.
I’m as normally functioning as anyone (are any of us really “normal”?). I never got off schedule with school. Graduated college at 20 and have been an OR nurse for 16 years, one of the most physically demanding areas of nursing (lots of lifting and lots of standing in one place for long periods). I’ve had 2 children without difficulty (didn’t even use an epidural). I like to travel (I don’t set off metal detectors), yoga (though the fusion prevents some positions), and SCUBA dive. I can pretty much do anything I want…but don’t tell my husband I use the scoliosis to get out of vacuuming
Are you being treated at a Shriner’s Hospital/Clinic? Absolutely the best place for scoliosis patients under 21! If you are, question the docs/nurses if they can arrange for you to visit/talk with other patients or people who will be involved in your care. Other places may do this too, but I reckon Shriner’s goes above and beyond for their kids.
I had a 45 degree curve before but after doing raindrop therapy, quantum touch, not eating wheat. rye, or barley and taking all my vitamins I’ve been getting MUCH better! I have 5 alternatives than sugery (witch my doctor says i NEED to get) besides the onse you named.
1.) Quantum touch. witch is kinda spiritual so if your not that spiritual then it’s not for you!
2.) Raindrop therapy!! It has been clinicly proven to work! My brother too has scoliosis too and has terrible pain and after two sessions he has been able to sleep during the night!!http://www.raindroptherapy.net/Essential…
3.) A flexible brace witch is new and can be used for even older people! http://www.scoliosisspecialists.com/
4.) Not eating wheat, rye, barley!! There is a theory that scoliosis only happens when you dont have enough nutrition, Our family has a history of celiac sprue and that maybe a reason for scoliosis because you dont get enough nutrients that your bones need. Those 3 foods are deadly to your health if you are allergic! Now some people who have it don’t have any signs of it and just kinda feel terrible and other people may even die from this! It’s that serious! I would go get yourself checked out to see if you have it! Do you have a rash on your back or arms? Maybe even down your legs or anywhere? Then you most likely do have it! http://www.google.com/search?complete=1&…
5.) suppliments! Since your body can’t take the nutrients it needs if you have celiac sprue you needs to get those from suppliments! so take those suppliments! Better safe then sorry, right?
Anyway Surgery is not the way to go and there are so many complications that can happen during the surgery so don’t let those doctors place a steel rod up your back! Just go the natural way!
Excellent luck!