Scoliosis caused by Lipoma on Spine?

[Morganalefaye]

Some years ago I had a minor fall, not even a fall really. The back of an office chair gave way and I fell almost horizontally, then pulled myself back up. That night I found a small round lump a couple of inches away from my spine in the large muscle in my mid-back. I thought it was probably a lipoma, GP agreed and said, ‘jusy leave it alone’. So I did.

A few months later I noticed the muscle in my back where the lipoma was sited was getting smaller compared to the other side, which appeared to be developing. Doctor said, ‘If we remove it you will have a scar. Leave it alone’. So I did.

A year later I began to have severe back ache, and I noticed my spine next to the lipoma was beginning to curve noticeably, and because the large muscle down my back had vitually disappeared the lipoma was now sitting next to, or on, my spine. On xray and MRI, I’d developed scoliosis. One young consultant said he believed all of my problems were stemming from the muscle disparity with the right side muscle having virtually wasted away, and the left side very overdeveloped. He was overruled by a senior consultant. Some years of pain, disablement and major operations followed.

A new GP now says he can’t see or find the lipoma, but on MRI scan I now appear to have haemangiomas around about the spot of the (non-existstant, and unimportant anyway), lipoma. Otherwise my bloods are all mid-range, verging on excellent really. I have no inflammatory markers present. I do have osteoporosis but no spontaneous spinal fractures have been mentioned, and my Calcium and Vitamin D levels are mid-range - normal.

I doubt anyone will know the answer to my problem, and on-going pain, which is, quite feasibly something else altogether, but I’m glad I wrote it anyway because it’s clarified my own thoughts on the subject, so thanks to anyone who’s read this far.

[Mijmijkey74]

I don't know the answer to your problem/problems actually it seems unfortunately, but as you can probably tell, I did read all your post and do wish I could give you the/those answer/answers you seek. Do you belive it is the chair incident that caused/started it all off? Or did you have underlying health issues (even if mild) prior to that? And which may have caused flare up from that inccident.

[Morganalefaye in reply to Mijmijkey74]

That’s very kind of you. Yes, I cast my problem/s into the ether hoping someone else on this particular site has experienced what I’m experiencing. A fact finding mission? I know from other ‘research’ that spinal lipomas can attach themselves and wrap themselves around the spine. I’d just like to pick the brains of someone it’s happened to.

I had Crohn’s Disease very badly some years ago, (bowel resection Mk1), then quite a few relatively healthy years. Then in the late 1990’s I had this ‘fall’, and soon after began to suffer from various inflammatory autoimmune illnesses, including another severe flare of Crohn’s, (bowel resection Mk2). Recently (provisionally) diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis and CPDD. (They don’t seem all that sure!) Other than that my bloods are pretty good, and my inflammatory markers very low. I am in fact disgustingly healthy. I’m pretty sure, (as is my gastroenterologist), that any remaining bowel problems are being caused by strictures as a result of my two resections. I have a suspicion that a lot of my ongoing problems are the result of my body being so misaligned originally due to the curvature of the spine, then because with a double hip replacement for ‘wear and tear’ osteoarthritis, because one leg is shorter than the other.

I don’t enjoy being even mildly incapacitated. I fully expect that when I die, my nearest and dearest will write in the paper, “after a long illness, during which she never stopped complaining”! Maybe what I really need is a good masseuse. Having tried about fifty, with little success,, I’m not holding my breath. 🙄😊