Big boots from now on, just been measured for insole to correct pelvic tilt, Orthotist mentioned I may have scoliosis.....

[poppy1]

Anyone got any info on this, should I speak to G.P?

[Extremelygrumpy]

No advice as such but lots of sympathy I am now reduced to wearing trainers as they are the only normal footwear I can wear with my moulded to measure insoles from orthotics. I do have a slight curve in spine but was told it is so slight I may have had it many many years.. Due to arthritis in left ankle my foot has turned over making my instep drop... I have found two nice pairs of inexpensive trainers from my local sports direct shop... Sorry for advertising but they do have nice trainers there that insoles that will fit inside and nobody can tell I have insoles in them. Hope that's some small comfort.

VG x

[poppy1 in reply to Extremelygrumpy]

Thanks for the advice and we all love a bit of advertising, I'm going to pick insole up on Thursday and hopefully won't be shouting "the bells, the bells", lol. I've suffered terrible back spasms and I'm hoping this wont make them worse, but prepared to try anything as fibro plus back pain is so unpredictable, driving me insane. Take care and thanks for the lovely advice justine xx

[Hidden in reply to Extremelygrumpy]

VG please don't worry, it's ok to mention shops and brand names in relation to Fibro, but no posting of links. That has to be done by private message in accordance with our Guidelines. Thank you for your message

[beth2]

hi poppy this means your spine has a curve in it I know this because I have had an op on my spine not everyone needs an op and please understand everyone is not the same there is a website for scoliosis hope this is some help for you take care love beth x

[ellabella]

Hi Poppy, I have Scoliosis but was not diagnosed till early this year after having an MRS scan. I have had years of trouble and have now been offered surgery but turned it down as they said it was very evasive and complicated at this stage but I have to make sure my bladder empties properly as the bone curvature rests on it somewhere along the line. I have had pain in my back since the age of 29 and am now 58. I had an op at 33 to release some discs, that worked for a while but now I use pain relief. No one has mentioned special shoes but I can only wear flats now. Some days are worse than others, but I am quite limited in how long I can sit or stand for. Other than that I think I look quite normal : ) xxxx

[poppy1 in reply to ellabella]

Oh it sounds like you've really been through it, I think we all end up with pain relief in the end. I think I would be worried about surgery too, the spine is so sensitive, don't want to end up worse. I'm saying this now but when it's in spasm I would do anything to get rid of the pain. I'm 45 and think mine was due to car accident and not helped by big babies, daughter 10lb 2oz, I'm only 5ft...lol. I worked at a play school but got to the stage where I couldn't manage the physical stuff. We've been living on one wage since, no help or benefits to date, back pain and fibro very isolating and would love a solution, but think we all feel like that, take care ellabella and hope your pain relief keeps you pain free, just going off to ring the bells lol justine xxx

[poppy1]

Aw thanks beth2' will google it, I seem to be very lopsided and when my back goes into spasm, I'm helpless, in fact childbirth less painful... I think I'll get my GP to refer me yet again, I always feel once the fibro diagnosis is made, it seems to shadow other illnesses but I didn't mention my back to the Orthotist, he seemed to think that a back problem maybe causing the tilt, oh and the knee op..lol. What a wreck, but according to Atos I'm the picture of health...jokes. Hope the op helped your back and fibro not too bad today, take care too love justine x

[beth2 in reply to poppy1]

HI poppy I have 2 rods in my back I still have pain they have said that the bottom of my back is crumbling and dont advise any more ops also severe wear and tear of the spine I know they cannot do anything for me but there are lots more people worst off than me sorry dont mean to sound as if I moaning you take care love beth x

[Hidden]

Poppy, I am so sorry you are suffering at present..

Orthotics are great because they are personally measured and designed for you to correct your balance and posture and also to relieve pressure. These will hopefully be a big help to you and also help to take the strain off your back and pelvis.

You sound like you have concerns, so I would definitely speak to your GP and ask for a referral because you aren't getting the treatment you need regarding your back pain, spasms etc. Your Orthotist shouldn't really have mentioned about Scoliosis as this is bound to worry you, they should have said have a word with your Doctor about your back, that would have been sufficient at this stage.

Scoliosis is commonly known as curvature of the spine, there is a national association for this -

sauk.org.uk/

Please let us know how you get along, and please be assured that we are here for you, we care about you and will do all we can to support you.

Take care, here's a hug for you (((hug))) xx

[poppy1]

Aw, thank you for such a lovely reply, I will have a look at the website link, can't believe the response after an hour. I will definitely take your advice once I've collected insole, I seem to be going round in circles at the moment as different departments at the hospital don't converse, everything is disjointed therefore you always seem to get so far, then back to the GP....a game of snakes and ladders. Oh well, another GP visit then, it's so doom and gloom and I'm not laughing as much as I used do, even in the face of disaster, I'd find a funny side; but this is wearing me out now, the final straw was when my mum bought me a present to cheer me up.....A Handy Helper Grabber and she giggled at me.....cheeky moo, take care and will keep you updated, hugs justine xxxx

[JSue]

i've got orthotics in every pair of shoes, boots, even sandals if they have backs on the them. yeah it's a pain, but i think of them in the positive -- makes me a teeny tiny bit taller

[poppy1]

I could do with a few inches taller, as my daughter is 5'9inches and I'm 5ft, every cloud has a silver lining or maybe every shoe has a built up lining lol, take care and glad to know I'm not the only one xxx

[JSue in reply to poppy1]

i found some great boots at TK Maxx a few weeks ago (furry ones) and put in my orthotics last night. Then I wore them out to dinner with straight jeans (haven't worn a pair of those since i was a skinny newlywed 20+ years ago!) and i think it made my legs look longer. Well i def had another two inches between the thick boots sole and my orthotics so -- YEA! btw i am 5 ft nuthin (or 4ft 11 if i'm telling the truth) xxx

[JSue]

just another thought -- it's a well known fact in the music industry (my late ex was a prof musician) that MANY famous guitarists and others who are not tall or even average height wear MULTIPLE LAYERS of leather insoles or specially made orthotics inside their Converse Trainers -- there is lots of room to hide inches of whatever is necessary because the top of the trainer comes up past the ankle. they come in canvas and leather styles. might be good to try? xxx

[poppy1]

Ha, ha JSue, you should have your own fibro fashion blog, I think it could take off...lol. My son was in a band before uni, carries his guitar everywhere, think I will invest in a pair of converse. I always feel like I'm going down in the lift, my kids are getting taller and taller and I'm shrinking, Prince was famous for his Cuban heels lol. Have a lovely day and I bet your jeans looked lovely xxxx

[fibro]

after many ops left me with a bout 2 inches short on one leg and developing a curvature of my spine, i tried having the insole raise, but hated it, in the end i had to have the soles built up on my shoes, i hated that too, but was more comfortable. They had to be sturdy shoes or trainers, but i have had my leg lengthened and theres less than 1/2 inch difference now, so i have left it. I hated it when people used to look at my shoes not me…. mind you I did have bright red kickers back then. i love the boots just not what they looked like on one sole. nowadays i can only wear backless shoes as i cant bear anything touching the back of my heels. i have asked doctors about this and all they say is they have never come across it before. I can just about manage trainers but not on a regular basis. I don't go out much so at home its jus bare feet otherwise i cant feel my footing, if that makes sense and end up tripping over things more. even in the winter i am in bare feet!!! xx

[poppy1]

Aw, I know exactly how you feel, have just picked up insole, feels really weird and unbalanced, been so used to being wonky it hurts. I'll give it a go and see, I'm the same, bare feet around the house, I've always found buying shoes an ordeal and one of my friends can't stand anything confining her feet, so I think maybe the fibro makes everything over sensitive. I'm making an appointment to see about my spine too, as the Orthotist said its one of the reasons for the pelvic tilt. Anyway won't bore you anymore with my aches and pains and hope you have a lovely weekend, justine xx