Should I Have Scoliosis Surgery?
i was diagnosed with scoliosis when i was 10. I went wore the milwaukee brace and have been through physical therapy before. I am 20 years old and my upper left side of my back, on the inside the shoulder causes me a lot of pain. My curve is 45-48 degrees, and my doctors are 50/50 on whether i should have surgery or not. Any suggestions?
chi-baby on Sun, 20th Dec 2009 9:06 am
People that suggest seeing a chiropractor don’t have an idea of what we go through. I also wore a Milwaukee brace for several years.
There a couple of ways of thinking about this problem. The first is that your body will tell you when its time for surgery. My doctor was fond of saying that if your quality of life was low, that was a reason for getting the surgery. This was more or less what I used to decide. I couldn’t play volleyball (my favorite activity at the time), run, jump, jump rope, carry my kids on my shoulders, play with them, etc, etc. This was in addition to the pain. In fact, once the pain started, I knew it wasn’t going to go away at that was the point that I decided.
I have also helped another lady create a table to help her decide. Basically, she listed various indicators (pain, lung capacity, unable to do activities, quality of life, etc.), she tried to put a numeric value (from 1 to 10) on where she was currently, and listed a value of where at least one of those things would have to be for her to be comfortable getting surgery.) So if you’re someone that likes to quantify things before deciding, the table may be a good start.
Chiropractors, message therapists, acupuncturists, etc., can’t fix idiopathic scoliosis. These people adjust the soft, connective tissues and that may (or may not, you can’t tell ahead of time) make you feel better, but remember, idiopathic scoliosis is not a connective tissue disease. Your spine is growing curved.
Scott B on Sun, 20th Dec 2009 9:41 am
I see a drop table chiropractor who also teaches me muscle exercises to help straighten my back. So far, he has make the most improvement in my condition. Finding him came pretty late in life, around 25 years old, and so I shouldn’t have been able to make this kind of progress, but his methods just work.
He treats many people who had the surgery, but because the underlying cause wasn’t treated by doing it, the curve eventually put enough pressure on the titanium plates to beak them. Now these people have to deal with having gone through all that pain for nothing, and the chiropractor has to work around these broken metal plates in their back.
I would say, don’t bother with the surgery, just keep looking for a chiropractor that really wants to see you get better.
Dio on Sun, 20th Dec 2009 9:55 am
I have scoliosis also but I dont have it so bad that i have to do anything about it..it causes pain but its not excruiciating.
There is only one solution to your problem and that is surgery. If it hurts you bad enough that it effects your daily life then you should definantly get the surgery. On the other hand, if you don’t, then your pain will not change and may even get worse. Its your choice to decide if you want to live with the pain, or expierence the cons of surgery.
As far as chiropractors go, i went to one for about a year or so, and i tryed 3 different ones and none of them helped. Going to a chiropractor may releive the pain temporarily but once you stop seeing them its going to all come back since it doesnt actually make your scoliosis better.
Personally, i think that the surgery is the way to go.
Roslin on Sun, 20th Dec 2009 10:48 am
Have you seen a chiropractor? If you have not I would go see one before you consider the surgery. I am not sure if they’d be able to fix the scoliosis but they should be able to relieve the pain.
Aggie on Sun, 20th Dec 2009 11:04 am
Have you considered Chiropractic care? I have scoliosis (I didn’t wear a brace but my sister did). It helps me.