I was right!

[athene]

I went to the physiatrist (sp) the other day. He was very nice and confirmed a lot of things that I'd already figured out and gave me some good information.

First, he said that scoliosis can in fact get worse as you get older. He said that while it is a slower progression, it can happen. He recommends that I get x-rays every 5 years or so. He mentioned that pregnancy can really increase a curve. Something I wasn't sure about, but was curious.

He went on to say that not only is my spine curved, but also twisted slightly and because of this i'm actually shifted to the right (hence making my "curve and dent" even more pronounced).

He also mentioned that while a back brace (what I had) pretty much just keeps you from getting worse, often with surgery your curve can come back. The surgery just helps it be not as bad...maybe this is why some with old surgery have back pains.

He said that my back pains were in my Quadratus lumborum muscle. This is the muscle that runs from the bottom of the ribs to the top of the hips. The reason it hurts is that during the course of the day I compress and stretch it and thus it spasms. He wants me to get an X-ray (since mine were lost due to the post-Katrina flooding of New Orleans) and see a massage therapist who can work on that muscle (since it's really really deep and can best be massaged while one is lying on one's side - I tried to find a good picture of the position for this, but couldn't) and do exercises at home (but he didn't give me the exercises to do).

I'm glad I finally went.

x-posted to athene and gotscoliosis

Comments

[kiten.livejournal.com]

I will show you stretches to target your QL. I highly recommend you start doing Yoga and Pilates too. Strengthening your core can only help. Be careful of twisting motions that you have to apply pressure during. *hugs* I'm done with school in two weeks. When that happens and I can breathe you are the first one on my massage list baby.

[athene.livejournal.com]

hurray! i was hoping you'd say that!

i'll bake for you for more massages :)

[raven-lenore.livejournal.com]

oooh i need to go do that. even though my back is not as bad as yours, i am dying here!!!!
i went to the doctor when is was particularly bad, and she gave me vicadin, which no longer helps.

ug i hate back problems.

also- yay for moving to austin!!! let me know what i can help you out with. mooo!!!

[athene.livejournal.com]

well, we'll explore options together when i move down there :)

OMG! I need so much help figuring out WHERE to live (espcially on a grad school budget). Give me a call or gmail me, please please please (my contact info on on my birthdate in my archives).

[dunkelza.livejournal.com]

Yuck.

Well, on a brighter note, someone told me that corsets work as back braces.

Yuck.

*Hugs*

[athene.livejournal.com]

Corsets are only good if you have a STRAIGHT spine to begin with. After a little while corsets really hurt because they try to straighten a crooked back and it pulls all my bones and muscels and insides. Also, as one hip is higher than the other, they don't tend to sit right, unless they have side lacing that i can unlace on one side.

[dunkelza.livejournal.com]

Eek. :P

I wonder if they've done any experiments with VAX-D on scoliosis.

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/107/108654.htm

[parathalyn.livejournal.com]

I have a similar muscle thing going on with my rhomboid on one side & the trapezius on the other. Diagram here. I have a whole bunch of stuff on back stretching exercises. I'll see if I can find a few & scan them for you.

[parathalyn.livejournal.com]

I scanned & PDF'ed one of the booklets I have, but I'm having trouble with geocities not uploading it, so I can link to it. Can you think of another way I could get the file to you?