Scoliosis

[MyLittlePony25]

I was diagnosed with scoliosis 21 years ago as a teen, it runs in my family and my mum has degenerative discs in her spine. I was told mine was mild and to just have physio.
for the past 12 years I have gone back and forth to the doctors because of shoulder pain and pain in my spine and just given codeine, naproxen and co-codamol.
the past 3 years it has gotten worse and finally a Doctor referred me to orthopaedics in March, I am finally being seen in November.
intermittently over the past couple of years I’ve had pain in my thoracic spine, right inbetween my shoulder blades which is sharp and painful but usually eases, but today, it’s absolute agony and not easing. I have work later and can’t call in sick because there is no one to cover as everyone is either ill/working their other job/coming back from a conference. I can’t take co-codamol as it will make me nauseous on top of the pain. At the moment I’ve wedged cushions inbetween my shoulder blades and propped myself up which has eased it, but I still need to get dressed and walk to work.
even more annoyingly, soon I have to do restraint training for a new job and now I’m worried my back isn’t going to take it.
Anyone got any tips on helping to ease the pain? Can’t afford a chiro and it’s not really recommended with scoliosis in case it makes things worse.

 

[coconochanel]

I'd probably go back to the doctors if the pain wasn't easing. I also wouldnt recommend you do a job that requires restraint training if you have a bad back.

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

In terms of the Restraint Training is there a way they can adapt the course for you?

 

[MyLittlePony25]

Thank you for your replies.
Luckily, my back is much better now, 5 days later and I had my OH assessment on Friday. He was happy for me to work but that actually adjustments to be made in training and that if I have to restrain, once others come, they take over.
He was more worried about my epilepsy but is going to make recommendations for that.

Hopefully we will have a plan after my orthopaedics appointment. I understand people saying not to go for a job where restraint is needed but it’s a career I’ve dreamed of doing and I hope to make a positive impact. My old career wrecked my mental health and physical health and I’m not one to be an office 9-5 job either. I know the risks but hopefully I won’t have to use restraint too often!

 

[TwooTwooTwitTwitTwoo]

Thank you for your replies.
Luckily, my back is much better now, 5 days later and I had my OH assessment on Friday. He was happy for me to work but that actually adjustments to be made in training and that if I have to restrain, once others come, they take over.
He was more worried about my epilepsy but is going to make recommendations for that.

Hopefully we will have a plan after my orthopaedics appointment. I understand people saying not to go for a job where restraint is needed but it’s a career I’ve dreamed of doing and I hope to make a positive impact. My old career wrecked my mental health and physical health and I’m not one to be an office 9-5 job either. I know the risks but hopefully I won’t have to use restraint too often!

I'm glad they've managed to sort something out for you. Good Luck with your career.

 

[sistersofpercy]

Random thought, are you hypermobile?
It goes hand in hand with scoliosis and I've found as I'm getting older it's getting more painful. What you're describing can also be the pain felt with Hypermobility. It's often missed. I was diagnosed with Scoliosis at school, but the hyper mobility wasn't mentioned until I was in my thirties.

 

[wilbz90]

I have kypho scoliosis and have been through all the pain meds you listed too. Mines generally nerve pain now due to cervical spondylosis, however I did try a sports massage once which was PAINFUL but it released some tension in my muscles and eased the daily pain for a while

 

[MyLittlePony25]

@sistI don’t think I’m hypermobile - definitely not like my brother who used to sleep with his legs behind his head as a child

@wilbz90 ive not heard of that before but I will look it up! My mum also suffers a lot with nerve pain so I do feel for you! I hate people touching me so have not tried a sports massage, I’ve heard good things about them - especially as I love the gym and being active (when I’m not crippled!) but I don’t think I can get through it, i just hate people touching me that way I’m glad it helped. Maybe I need therapy so I can get a sports massage?

But my back and shoulders have been better this week so it stays this way for a bit!

 

[ThisIsMyGuiltyPleasure]

I've just come across this thread and am wondering if anyone here has had surgery because of scoliosis?
I did 40+ years ago but now that I'm middle aged the pain is getting worse. I found a FB group about it but no one seems to have had the same surgery that I did. I know I should probably go to the GP but I really hate going to the doctor's and after all these years I'm not sure what else can be done.
---

I was diagnosed with scoliosis 21 years ago as a teen, it runs in my family and my mum has degenerative discs in her spine. I was told mine was mild and to just have physio.
for the past 12 years I have gone back and forth to the doctors because of shoulder pain and pain in my spine and just given codeine, naproxen and co-codamol.
the past 3 years it has gotten worse and finally a Doctor referred me to orthopaedics in March, I am finally being seen in November.
intermittently over the past couple of years I’ve had pain in my thoracic spine, right inbetween my shoulder blades which is sharp and painful but usually eases, but today, it’s absolute agony and not easing. I have work later and can’t call in sick because there is no one to cover as everyone is either ill/working their other job/coming back from a conference. I can’t take co-codamol as it will make me nauseous on top of the pain. At the moment I’ve wedged cushions inbetween my shoulder blades and propped myself up which has eased it, but I still need to get dressed and walk to work.
even more annoyingly, soon I have to do restraint training for a new job and now I’m worried my back isn’t going to take it.
Anyone got any tips on helping to ease the pain? Can’t afford a chiro and it’s not really recommended with scoliosis in case it makes things worse.

How are you doing?

 

[MyLittlePony25]

I've just come across this thread and am wondering if anyone here has had surgery because of scoliosis?
I did 40+ years ago but now that I'm middle aged the pain is getting worse. I found a FB group about it but no one seems to have had the same surgery that I did. I know I should probably go to the GP but I really hate going to the doctor's and after all these years I'm not sure what else can be done.
---

How are you doing?

Hey, I’m sorry to hear you are struggling! My mum had surgery almost 20 years ago to bolt her lower spine as it was degenerating and it is now degenerating above it. I would really go back to your GP, you need recent imaging to see what’s going on.

I’m ok, currently going through physio as I have degenerative changes and bursitis in my shoulder, however I think that there is more going on in my neck and upper back and have so far been fobbed off. I’m going to complete the physio and then get a review and see what’s going to happen next.

 

[ThisIsMyGuiltyPleasure]

Hey, I’m sorry to hear you are struggling! My mum had surgery almost 20 years ago to bolt her lower spine as it was degenerating and it is now degenerating above it. I would really go back to your GP, you need recent imaging to see what’s going on.

I’m ok, currently going through physio as I have degenerative changes and bursitis in my shoulder, however I think that there is more going on in my neck and upper back and have so far been fobbed off. I’m going to complete the physio and then get a review and see what’s going to happen next.

Have you actually had any x-rays to see.what state your spine is in? I've had lots of physio over the years but sometimes you need to see what's actually going on in there to determine the best treatment.

 

[MyLittlePony25]

Have you actually had any x-rays to see.what state your spine is in? I've had lots of physio over the years but sometimes you need to see what's actually going on in there to determine the best treatment.

Not my spine, which is what I’ve been saying to them and they just said ‘let’s do physio first and see how you get on’. Was also told I’m ‘too young for steroid injections’ in my shoulder I’m 35… so I’m being a good girl and doing the physio and everything they tell me to do and then I can let rip…

 

[coconochanel]

I've just come across this thread and am wondering if anyone here has had surgery because of scoliosis?
I did 40+ years ago but now that I'm middle aged the pain is getting worse. I found a FB group about it but no one seems to have had the same surgery that I did. I know I should probably go to the GP but I really hate going to the doctor's and after all these years I'm not sure what else can be done.
---

How are you doing?

I would deffo go to the doctors they might give you an x-ray and see what's happening, what kind of surgery did you have?

 

[ThisIsMyGuiltyPleasure]

Not my spine, which is what I’ve been saying to them and they just said ‘let’s do physio first and see how you get on’. Was also told I’m ‘too young for steroid injections’ in my shoulder I’m 35… so I’m being a good girl and doing the physio and everything they tell me to do and then I can let rip…

Oh I think that's a shame, physio needs to know what they're dealing with and if your spine is curved no amount of exercise will change that!
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I would deffo go to the doctors they might give you an x-ray and see what's happening, what kind of surgery did you have?

I know I should go but I keep putting it off, my GP surgery isn't that good and I had a terrible experience last time I was in.
I had spinal fusion, a part of my hip bone was removed and fused onto the top of my spine. The theory was that it would stop the curve getting any worse, it didn't straighten my spine in any way. I have a feeling now though that it's that hip giving me bother and I'm definitely more wonky than I used to be. I was a quite young child when I had it done, my parents are no longer with me to ask about it and I don't have access to my records from back then.
I will have to be brave and go to the doctors.

 

[uberoblique]

Random thought, are you hypermobile?
It goes hand in hand with scoliosis and I've found as I'm getting older it's getting more painful. What you're describing can also be the pain felt with Hypermobility. It's often missed. I was diagnosed with Scoliosis at school, but the hyper mobility wasn't mentioned until I was in my thirties.

I’m hyper mobile and have an S bend scoliosis that has caused various issues (mostly facet joint syndrome) and left me on crutches in pregnancy. Like you no one mentioned it til I was in my 30s!

You wouldn’t look at me and think hyper mobile, I’ve never been able to do the splits even as a kid. I’m usually one of the least flexible people in a yoga class.

You have to be careful with exercise but it is also my best remedy to stay pain free. If you’re hyper mobile you carry tension in your muscles to stabilise your joints. It’s expensive but my weekly PT with a very experienced trainer has kept me pain free for nearly a year.