Diagnosed w/ scoliosis?!
Question: Diagnosed w/ scoliosis!?
A few days ago, our middle school had a health screening, and now i have to "retest" on scoliosis!. I don't know if it is bad, since the looked at my back for like 2 minutes, but how can i prevent it from getting worse or something!?!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
The other replies were really good!. They showed that scoliosis isn't life-ending!.
You can't prevent your curve from getting worse!. If your spine is growing curved, then that's the way its going to grow (unless you have functional scoliosis - keep reading and I'll tell you what that is)!.
Since the school is making you retest, I'd bet that you're borderline!. You aren't definitely curve-free and you don't obviously have scoliosis either!. I take that as, at worst, you having a mild-to-moderate curve!. This isn't a bad situation!.
You didn't mention your age but you did say middle school!. You probably haven't had your growth spurt yet!. When you're growing the most is when your curve is most likely to increase so if you have a curve, its really important to have it checked every once in awhile!.
Its also impossible to tell how fast a curve will increase or even *if* it will increase!. This is another reason for having it checked!. "Once in awhile" probably means every six months to a year but your doctor will say when you need to see him again!.
I've posted the following a few times for other people with questions!. I hope I'll answer the things that have you concerned!.
Scoliosis comes mainly in two flavors - functional (the curve is caused by another issue (uneven leg length for example) and structural!. There are two main kinds of structural scoliosis - congenital (present at birth) and idiopathic (unknown cause)!. It is important for you to know what kind you have!.
If you have functional scoliosis, a chiropractor may be able to help!. Shoe lifts may help with uneven legs, but there can be many causes of functional scoliosis!. I don't have much experience with functional scoliosis!.
If you have structural scoliosis, there's not a lot you can do!. The main treatments depend on how bad the curve is and how much more growth you have to go!. Its not possible to predict how much or how fast a curve may increase!.
You need to see a scoliosis specialist if you're not doing that already!. A doctor that is not trained as a scoliosis specialist doesn't have the expertise to treat it!.
Any curve under 10 degrees is considered normal and probably isn't monitored!.
Curves from 10-25 degrees are mild but should be monitored, especially if you're still growing!.
Curves from 25-40 degrees are moderate with bracing possible!. You will need monitoring, especially if you're still growing!.
Surgery may be recommended if your curve doesn't respond to bracing!. Bracing will do no good if you're through growing!. The purpose of a brace isn't to make your curve better, but rather to keep the curve from becoming worse!.
Curves greater than 45 degrees is major!. Surgery may be recommended!. This depends on many things, but whether you're done growing, whether your curve is increasing, whether your heart and lungs are in danger of being squeezed by your curve, whether you're in pain, quality of life, etc!.
If your curve is over 30 degrees, there is a good chance that it will increase even when you're through growing!. (Mine did!.)
Unfortunately, nothing can *fix* idiopathic scoliosis!. Surgery can keep the curve from getting worse, and in most cases, will reduce the curve but most likely your spine won't be straight (unless you are very flexible in the area to be fused, then you might be lucky)!.
Chiropractors, message therapists, acupuncturists, etc!., can't fix idiopathic scoliosis!. These people adjust the soft, connective tissues and that may (or may not, you can't tell ahead of time) make you feel better, but remember, idiopathic scoliosis is not a connective tissue disease!. Your spine is growing curved!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
You can't prevent your curve from getting worse!. If your spine is growing curved, then that's the way its going to grow (unless you have functional scoliosis - keep reading and I'll tell you what that is)!.
Since the school is making you retest, I'd bet that you're borderline!. You aren't definitely curve-free and you don't obviously have scoliosis either!. I take that as, at worst, you having a mild-to-moderate curve!. This isn't a bad situation!.
You didn't mention your age but you did say middle school!. You probably haven't had your growth spurt yet!. When you're growing the most is when your curve is most likely to increase so if you have a curve, its really important to have it checked every once in awhile!.
Its also impossible to tell how fast a curve will increase or even *if* it will increase!. This is another reason for having it checked!. "Once in awhile" probably means every six months to a year but your doctor will say when you need to see him again!.
I've posted the following a few times for other people with questions!. I hope I'll answer the things that have you concerned!.
Scoliosis comes mainly in two flavors - functional (the curve is caused by another issue (uneven leg length for example) and structural!. There are two main kinds of structural scoliosis - congenital (present at birth) and idiopathic (unknown cause)!. It is important for you to know what kind you have!.
If you have functional scoliosis, a chiropractor may be able to help!. Shoe lifts may help with uneven legs, but there can be many causes of functional scoliosis!. I don't have much experience with functional scoliosis!.
If you have structural scoliosis, there's not a lot you can do!. The main treatments depend on how bad the curve is and how much more growth you have to go!. Its not possible to predict how much or how fast a curve may increase!.
You need to see a scoliosis specialist if you're not doing that already!. A doctor that is not trained as a scoliosis specialist doesn't have the expertise to treat it!.
Any curve under 10 degrees is considered normal and probably isn't monitored!.
Curves from 10-25 degrees are mild but should be monitored, especially if you're still growing!.
Curves from 25-40 degrees are moderate with bracing possible!. You will need monitoring, especially if you're still growing!.
Surgery may be recommended if your curve doesn't respond to bracing!. Bracing will do no good if you're through growing!. The purpose of a brace isn't to make your curve better, but rather to keep the curve from becoming worse!.
Curves greater than 45 degrees is major!. Surgery may be recommended!. This depends on many things, but whether you're done growing, whether your curve is increasing, whether your heart and lungs are in danger of being squeezed by your curve, whether you're in pain, quality of life, etc!.
If your curve is over 30 degrees, there is a good chance that it will increase even when you're through growing!. (Mine did!.)
Unfortunately, nothing can *fix* idiopathic scoliosis!. Surgery can keep the curve from getting worse, and in most cases, will reduce the curve but most likely your spine won't be straight (unless you are very flexible in the area to be fused, then you might be lucky)!.
Chiropractors, message therapists, acupuncturists, etc!., can't fix idiopathic scoliosis!. These people adjust the soft, connective tissues and that may (or may not, you can't tell ahead of time) make you feel better, but remember, idiopathic scoliosis is not a connective tissue disease!. Your spine is growing curved!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
First of all, wait until the "retest" is completed!. Then they will either contact your parents or tell you how "bad" it is (meaning, how far your backbone curves are out of "the typical range")!.
You can't do anything between now and then to straighten the curvature by yourself!. A lot of times, if the curvature is mild, the doctors don't do anything but see the patient as they grow evaluate the curve as you get older (to make sure it isn't getting really worse)!.
Other cases may require surgery, but that is unusual!.
For example, my sister was born with mild scoliosis and has never had surgery!. She is now 41 years old!. I also have scoliosis due to slight differences in my leg lengths as I was growing up!. I started seeing a Chiropractor in my mid-thirties!. It doesn't really bother me or interfere with my life!.
Don't get all worked up!. Wait and see!. I'm sure if it turns out to be something that can be corrected without invasive surgery, the doctor will do everything possible to correct it!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
You can't do anything between now and then to straighten the curvature by yourself!. A lot of times, if the curvature is mild, the doctors don't do anything but see the patient as they grow evaluate the curve as you get older (to make sure it isn't getting really worse)!.
Other cases may require surgery, but that is unusual!.
For example, my sister was born with mild scoliosis and has never had surgery!. She is now 41 years old!. I also have scoliosis due to slight differences in my leg lengths as I was growing up!. I started seeing a Chiropractor in my mid-thirties!. It doesn't really bother me or interfere with my life!.
Don't get all worked up!. Wait and see!. I'm sure if it turns out to be something that can be corrected without invasive surgery, the doctor will do everything possible to correct it!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
Don't panic! Plenty of us have scoliosis and have wonderfully normal lives :)
People that do the test at schools are great, but only a well trained doctor or chiropractor can make the final decision on whether or not you have it - my school nurses missed my scoliosis for all 12 years of school (and I have a leg shorter than the other! ) :p Autum was right, the doctor will tell you how they're going to treat it, like with a brace or surgery!.!.!.!. (I can tell you though, surgery is generally the last option, they don't just operate on your back )
Just relax if you can!. Like I said, they totally missed mine for years, and I'm still fine :) So's my dad (he also has scoliosis)!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
People that do the test at schools are great, but only a well trained doctor or chiropractor can make the final decision on whether or not you have it - my school nurses missed my scoliosis for all 12 years of school (and I have a leg shorter than the other! ) :p Autum was right, the doctor will tell you how they're going to treat it, like with a brace or surgery!.!.!.!. (I can tell you though, surgery is generally the last option, they don't just operate on your back )
Just relax if you can!. Like I said, they totally missed mine for years, and I'm still fine :) So's my dad (he also has scoliosis)!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
I agree with Autumn!. Don't jump to any conclusions!. Most forms of Scoliosis require no treatment even after a physician is contacted!. And almost all do not require surgery!. All of doctors have you do weight training and stretches to strengethen the weak side in addition to wearing a brace!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
go to the Dr!. and they will tell u if u need a brace or just exercises!. I have to but i am old so just do sit ups and push ups good luckWww@Answer-Health@Com