From:      bounce-scoliosis
To:        scoliosis-digest@ai.mit.edu
Subject:   scoliosis V1 #330
Reply-To:  
Errors-To: bounce-scoliosis
Precedence: bulk


scoliosis                Tuesday, 31 December 1996     Volume 01 : Number 330


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From: Debra Lewis <deblewis@cyberstate.infi.net>
Date: Sun, 29 Dec 1996 18:30:59 -0500
Subject: Re: Alternative Therapies

Karen Kording wrote:
> 
> I am a 54-year old female who has double scoliosis in the spine.  One of the
> curvatures has gone from 17 to 28 in the past 5 years.  I am told I also
> have severe degenerative disk disease and osteoarthritis in my shoulders.
> Is it recommended that an adult with this type of curvature be put into some
> sort of brace.  I am currently seeing a rheumatologist who has given me a
> lift for one shoe, NSAIDs, and exercises to strengthen the lower abdominal
> muscles and upper shoulder muscles.
> 
> Prior to being referred to the rheumatologist by my primary care physician,
> I saw an orthopedic surgeon.  Basically what I was told was to come back
> yearly for X-rays and if the pain became too bad, they *could* put rods in
> my back.
> 
> Any comments?
> Karen Kording

Dear Karen: This a personal reply to you. I got your note on the
newsgroup, and could not help myself to contact you, because your story
sounds so familiar to mine! I had scoliosis for years, It was first
detected at age 14, and several different family doctors saw it, and
said that there might be some exercises that I could do that might help
if I ever began having pain from it, but none of them ever told my
parents to take me to any kind of specialist. My dad did insist that I
try a chiropractor at age 17, and I went once and he "cracked" my neck
and frightened me so that I refused to go back! Besides he told me that
he could striaghten my spine, and I knew even at age 17 that he was not
telling me the truth. Never had any problems other than minor back
aches, and had 2 pregnancies with normal deliveries, worked as a nurse
for years too. Suddenly one day, I got out of bed with a severe pain
that was in my gallbladder area, that radiated around and all the way
through to my back. Finally, after 3 months, this was diagnosed to be
nothing but the scoliosis that had worsened and the verterbra had
compressed on each other, impinging on nerves, causing the pain. I
undersent a spinal fusion, done anteriorally, from T10-L4. I have a rod
and screws alongside the spine. A rib was taken out and ground up and
placed between the vertebrae in place of the discs that were removed.
This also helped with realignment of my rib cage. You know how your rib
cage is out of line! I had two curves, a thoracic one, which was 50
degrees, and the lumbar one which was 58 degrees. Only the lumbar one
was operated on. It was reduced to 35 degrees. They said that if they
had straighten it more, I would walk all bent sideways. They opted not
to operate on the thoracic one at this time. IT would have to be done
through the back, not the front, like the one I had. I would do it all
over again. My original pain was gone after the surgery. I have an 18
inch incicison, but who cares, it worked! Unfortunately, I developed
reflex synpathetic dystrophy after this surgery, which was not the fault
of the surgeon, just my body's reaction to the trauma to the surgery,
which is brutal, to say the least, but you are asleep, and they take
really good care of you! This disorder has ruined my life, in severe
pain all over constantly, but I have accepted it, and am trying to help
others with it, through a support group, and through others I have met
on the internet. It really is not something that is associated with back
surgery. Just one of those things that can happen from any type of
injury or surgery. Let me hear more from you. By the way, I was 39 when
I had the surgery, and was told that if had been 10 years older, they
would have probably not done it. Hope you do not encounter this problem. 
I was first told by the ortho surgeon, the same as you, to come back
yearly for follow-up X-rays to see if it worsened! Then physical therapy
was ordered, and I did it, but it made matters worse! If you are sure
that you want the surgery, do not let them kee putting you off, you are
not getting any younger. I was also told that I had degenerative discs
and arthritis in my spine to equal that of a 65 year old woman! So I
have heard all that too. I was even sent for epidural injections and rib
blocks before they finnally decided to do the surgery. None of those
other things helped at all! There are plenty of excellent spinal
surgeons out there. I live in South Carolina, and had mine done in
Columbia, SC, I have a friend my same age that went to Minnesota to have
hers done, hers was in the cervical spine  (neck)area. She did not get
RSD, but I think I got a better outcome from the spinal standpoint that
she did! She even had a neurosurgeon to do hers, I had an orthopedic
surgeon that specialized in spine surgery. Hope this helps, write back
if you'd like, I'd love to keep up with you. Debbie, from SC. -- 
MZ

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From: scoliosishelp@webtv.net (Robert Mawhiney)
Date: Sun, 29 Dec 1996 23:06:04 -0600
Subject: Re: Alternative Therapies

Karen Kording;

Saw your note of to-day and thought I might give you some  points to
consider.
At 54 yrs of age your spine is not progressing at any great rate
since a rapid progression can be up to  three degrees a month. As we
mature the changes in the spine slow primarily due to the disc
degeneration that is a part of maturity along with a touch of
osteoarthritis which is evident in any mature adult with a scoliosis.
The first practical spinal brace for scoliosis was developed by
Blount M.D.  of MIlwaukee and was to prevent progression in the younger
spinal cases.  The  meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic
Physicians in Las  Vegas in 1987 indicated that the long term studies
had shown no real consistancy and the use of braces in an adult suspect.
They also reported in  the Jouernal of the American Medical  Association
for 1987 that surgery for scoliosis in  people over fifty was
contraindicated.
The heel lift in your shoe may be the best help. The leg length
should be measured   from a standing x-ray to be of the most value. If
the measurement was made in the supine position it is not taking into
consideration any pelvic distortion. Look at your self in the mirror and
see if one hip is more lateral than the other. If so there is a pelvic
involvement.
One exercise that has been of great benefit has been one where a
person hangs by their hands, with their feet off the floor, for up to
two minutes. This stretches the spine and increases the mobility of the
spine. If it causes any discomfort then discontinue since the spine has
lost much of it's flexability. The good side there is that that would
indicate it will not increase so surgery would not be neccessary.
     
R.B. Mawhiney, D.C.

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End of scoliosis V1 #330
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