I am 39, I was told that I had scoliosis in high school. However I had the first showings of it at a younger age I believe. I was taken in by my mom after not being able to get rid of a headache for months. When I finally went in, the x rays showed an S shape curvature. With 3/4 inch off at the hips and 1/2 off at the base of the skull going the opposite direction. They also found I had no natural curvature of the neck.

I went for treatments for about 6 months or so. The headaches went away but my hip began to hurt. I haven't been back to a doctor about my back since. But it is still very much a factor I live with. If I stand for to long it will hurt and my hips often cause me pain. Or my legs to go to sleep. My neck is always fairly touchy and I have an area in my middle back that has very little sensation.

All in all it sounds much worse than it is most days but when it acts up, I am down for the count.

I wore a brace for awhile. I hated it, it was embarrassing to have to wear it to school.

I completely understand your point here. I was mortified when I first started wearing mine, and the teasing never stopped. I was lucky enough to only have to wear a half brace and not the type that goes up under your chin, and was able to mostly hide it with clothing, so most people never even knew I had it. But my "friends" would tease me. I was so obsessive about what I would wear to hide it :-(

My brace only came up to my chest. I hid it with my clothes too, but you could still tell that I had one on. Now i"m just self conscious of how uneven my body is. You know, uneven shoulders, should blades, hips. My fat rolls don't match...ughh! That's why i gotta just get rid of them!

Now i"m just self conscious of how uneven my body is. You know, uneven shoulders, should blades, hips.

Me too- I'm getting married in October and had my first fitting for my wedding dress last week. The way my dress hits me, I look so uneven in it. Thank goodness for the fabulous seamstress at the salon who knew exactly what to do to "even my dress out".

Hi, I just was lucky enough to get scoliosis in the ripe age of my 50's. I do not think I had it before. No one ever said I did. I have a messed up spine from neck to lower back and this is the cause for me. I am so glad to find this group here. My body is like "shoved" to the left. I can not stand straight up with both feet together. Here now I feel you all will understand when i say these things. Good luck to us all.

Now i"m just self conscious of how uneven my body is. You know, uneven shoulders, should blades, hips.

Me too- I'm getting married in October and had my first fitting for my wedding dress last week. The way my dress hits me, I look so uneven in it. Thank goodness for the fabulous seamstress at the salon who knew exactly what to do to "even my dress out".

Oh, that's awesome that the seamstress knew just how to fix it! Congrats on your wedding too!

I've always wanted what I can never have now....a sexy, feminine back. Now it's just uneven and scarred.

I'll have to try ice. I've always used heating pads. It seems to help me a little, but it never lasts. I've never gone to my doctor about my back pain. I've thought about it, just never took that step. I don't really want to go on any medication if I don't have to so I'm trying to lose weight to see if that helps.

I've always wanted what I can never have now....a sexy, feminine back. Now it's just uneven and scarred.

I'll have to try ice. I've always used heating pads. It seems to help me a little, but it never lasts. I've never gone to my doctor about my back pain. I've thought about it, just never took that step. I don't really want to go on any medication if I don't have to so I'm trying to lose weight to see if that helps.

This is me at "goal weight"

I hate this picture, it sent me into a 3 day slump. If, at 135 and 23%BF, I still have a "roll" on my crooked side, how will I ever be happy? I'm hoping to cut to even lower body fat now to see if it goes away, but I have a sneaky suspicion that I will always have a roll of skin somewhere and never really be happy with my "naked" body (I am pretty good at dressing to hide the crooked).

As for going to the doctor, I have had multiple doctors tell me things such as (1) Most people with scoliosis don't even have pain (yeah, right) (2) There is nothing to do but lose weight (done that, it helps, but still have pain). I usually cry at least once at a visit with an ortho because it seems like they just don't get it--the pain, the discomfort, the body image issues. Maybe it's because they have all been men?

Oh mavd, I can so relate to you. That is just how my body is crooked, crooked. I see it, I tell my husband look at this, he does not see it, says it is just me because I know I am crooked. I have shown my ortho and he said he does see it. I had a cute, clingy black dress for our cruise and you could see it in the dress! It is frustrating to say the least. I am still quite heavy, but I tell you. I had curves when I was younger and I am getting those curves back, on ONE side! Let's hope they come up with something that can straighten us out. Good luck to you and I think you look AMAZING from the back, even with the bit of crookedness. Good job on reaching your goal weight.

Hi all, just found this group. I am 38 y.o., diagnosed at age 15. Scoliosis runs in my family - both paternal grandparents, dad, brother, and sister...but thank goodness it skipped my daughter so far. I have an S curve that is about 40 and 45 degrees and they predict it is progressing at 1-2 degrees per year and will continue to do so no matter what. That is freaking frustrating.

I used to be a dancer & still teach and occasionally take class. Pilates helps me A LOT - I have found an instructor who gives me a discount because "girlfriend, you need it" as she says. Other than that, I do yoga, walk (running is too painful), do an occasional boot camp, bike, hike and kayak. Even still, I'm in pain every day. I have many prescribed drugs that I try not to touch, like I have to be physically incapable of walking before I do. I have a lot of years to manage my pain & I'd like to not kill my liver.

and, UGH, I totally relate to the roll - HATE. IT. I'm only 6 lbs. from my goal weight and I don't think that damn roll is going anywhere.

mswinter, my ballet teacher has become a very close friend of mine in real life and she admitted that not catching my scoliosis is a huge regret for her and made her more aware. I keep a close eye on my own students. Scoliosis or not, all dancers find ways to compensate/hide their imbalances! I also have a huge "hourglass" on one side and hardly any hip on the other, which is a sign I look for in my students.

I sometimes wonder what it's like to not feel the way I do, if my "pain" is just discomfort and how it compares to other people. I've become used to it too. All you can do is work with what you have, right? It can always be worse. I am grateful that I can still be as active as I am.

Your post really reminds me of myself. Your description of the hourglass waist on one side while straight waist on the other is so me. I hate it. I have lost 4 inches in height and feel like I have been squished down to one side and totally lost that side of my waist. And "quasimodo", you bet. Until I had my surgery my rib hump was so bad that clothes would actually be too short on that side. When I would look at myself in the mirror clothes would look great from the front, then I would turn sideways and want to cry because everything was so distorted. Even since my surgery, which has straightened me out considerably, I still am self conscious about how things look. I am down to 118 pounds and I still can't wear fitted tops. I live with layers (jackets, cardigans, vests) so I can hide all my twists. Ugh! But talking with everyone here makes me feel better. I know I am not alone, and I am lucky that I can be as active as I am. Thanks girls!

Whoa! I'm actually inspired by the success stories i've been reading on this website (i just joined today) .. So here's my case.. I never really took backache seriously till last year, when i could barely move because of the pain.. Before that i'd assume it's probably due to lifting weight, shifting furniture, having been overworked or stressed out or just about any other reason except for a physical condition.. I was pretty active that way.. Last year the pain started and only became worse, turned out i had 3 slipped discs, L3-s1, spinal stenosis and mild scoliosis.. physiotherapy didn't help and eventually in January, i had to go for surgery.. that took care of the slipped discs, but the scoliosis is still there. According to my doctor, mild scoliosis doesn't really need surgery. i just need to lose weight in order to lower any risks associated. Problem is the only exercises allowed are walking (slow) and swimming. I'm a teacher and have joined back at work after an 8 month leave. Swimming has helped strengthen my back and stamina however, my schedule has been so busy ever since i joined back at work that i've had to skip swimming- for about a month now.. Intend to join back on Tuesday. For sure!

One more thing i'd like to share - i was a vegetarian since childhood. And post surgery, my doctor has put me off of most veggies since some of them (mostly greens) contribute to increased levels of uric acid.. So far i'm experimenting with food options which would be suitable for me to lose weight and gain health .. Really need my blood test reports to come out normal.

Hi, may I ask what they did in the surgery for the slipped discs? I have a subluxation, so the discs are rubbing over one another. They wanted to do an Xstop years ago, but it was so new, I said no thanks. Now I am reconsidering. Just wanted to know what you might of had done. Thanks. Glad you got relief.

Hi Missklara. Thanks for sharing your students. One of my ballet students has the same condition, but no scoliosis as far as I can tell. It's nice that you have such a great attitude about it.

this message board is ridiculously quiet, I wish it was more active.

Hey Everyone,

I'm brand new to this group. And was excited to see there was a scoliosis forum already started. I am 23 years old CW: 124 and height 5"3. I was diagnosed when I was 14 with scoliosis,I forgo-ed the surgery when I was younger in order to see of the curve would stabilize or not (under chiropractors recommendation). Sadly, the opposite occurred, after years of yoga exercises, and non-surgical treatments (Lancaster spinal health clinic) I am on the list for the surgery (Canadian health care). I met with the doctor on Dec12, 2012 and am tentatively booked for next Oct 2013. They will be inserting two metal rods on both sides of my spine in order to correct the curvature of 70 degrees. I have a C shaped scoliosis which is largely focused in the thoracic lumbar regions (L4 - T10).
So that is the fun diagnosis, personally, it has greatly affected my quality of life. Most days end with a handful of painkillers and heating pads. Exercise is tough, I feel great while exercising but post workout the muscles which are not normally used Squawk! loudly. But I still aim for the best food/ exercise routine I can. I feel that it is specially important for patients with spinal disorders to ensure that their health is maintained, even though our bodies often rebel against us.

This may sound vain, but I am young still, and yes there are many days where my scoliosis does not physically hinder me. But I find some-days the hardest thing is looking in the mirror and remembering to love yourself no matter what. When I was pursuing non-surgical treatments in the US a few doctors commented that the correlation between scoliosis and self cutting, self hatred, suicide rates are significantly higher then in the "normal" population. I was blessed with a family which was able to maintain my "self love" and confidence, despite obvious deformities. However, my heart goes out to those who may have not had the same support, especially during those tough adolescent years.

I hope you all have great success with your futures

Megan