I have scoliosis and I have been told nothing can be done to correct it due to my age

[Gemma_raine]

I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 17 and was told due to my age they couldn't do anything to correct it but I am in constant pain with it any advice would be greatly appreciated

[Hidden]

Hi I have scoliosis too, I also have endometriosis, but I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 12.

You can do things to correct it, or more so manage it, scoliosis doesn't go away ever unless if you have surgical intervention. But you can manage it with Physiotherapy.

The thing is with scoliosis it might develop during puberty b/c a person doesn't have a lot of muscle (in my case I have low muscle tone) so there isn't really anything to support your back so it's straight. Physiotherapy helps to build these muscles.

One thing I need to mention though, is no heavy exercises, while I was lifting weights my curve increased, I'm now like you 17 and when I stopped working out (due to endo) I didn't have as much of a curve.

Here's a few exercises:

Bird dog, 1 arm stretched in front, opposite leg stretched back, bring to centre and breathe out.

Side plank (start with your knees on the ground then full leg once your strong enough)

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m.youtube.com/watch?v=H7ZC9...(Not working as expected?)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Cxm...(Not working as expected?)

What side is your curve on & what degree?

[Starfish123]

Why couldn't they operate at 17? A friends son had the op last year at 17 and another friends daughter is still waiting and she's 16.

[Hidden in reply to Starfish123]

It depends on the curvature of the spine since activities are limited after operation it's only when the spine is at a moderate (over 30) or severe curve when the doctors will consider surgery.

Unless if the individual has tried interventions such as the brace (if they haven't reached bone maturity), or Physiotherapy (to support the spine by working on the correct muscles) they won't consider surgery for minor curves in teens.

After that they will consider it and only if the patient feels that their curve is effecting them, either from appearance or from pain levels.

It may also be doen if the spine is compressing organs, some girls are known not to menstruate till after surgery.

Scoliosis surgery is called 'spinal fusion' it's done by screwing a metal rod into the spine to straighten it which means the individual will have less flexibly in their core and will be unable to move like they used to, they will have to give up dance and most sports. Plus ontop of all of that, the surgery cannot be undone.

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There's a difference between being diagnosed with scoliosis and seeing a speacilist for it.

Scoliosis shows up on X-ray, MRI and even ultrasound not to mention that it's noticiable to the eye to some of us patients. Doctors can tell if a person has scoliosis just by the person bending over.

A patient won't be refered to a specialist till they have a mild curve (past 20). At 1st I had an 18 degree (12) and then it went to 27 (13/14).

An example of it showing is when I lie down my left rib cage goes up and at school I was bullied about wearing a bathing suit by a girl who said "Whoa you stick out on this side" when I stretched.

[Starfish123 in reply to Hidden]

My friends son who did have the op had more than 30 degrees one way and more than 30 degrees back again.

[Hidden in reply to Starfish123]

Yes that's what I was saying any degree that's 30 and up surgery will be done, but anything under they'll try alternate treatment first.