I had a physical therapy appointment today; it was the first time I’ve ever seen a physical therapist. When I stood up in the office, the PT said almost immediately, “You have scoliosis.” I knew I “had” scoliosis, in seventh grade. But I didn’t realize I still have it. Am I doomed (more than I would be already, as a short, slim woman with osteopenia) to lose height and perhaps have worse effects in my older age? Thank you in advance for any comments.
PT here. The fact that you didn’t realize you still have it means it is relatively mild. The fact that it developed when you were young (as opposed to as an adult and because of bone degeneration) is in your favor. I would not assume it would contribute to losing height more than you might otherwise.
I also have scoliosis . I have dealt with some back and hip issues and also limitations to some workouts that have caused problems for me. I haven’t lost any height , but I do wish I had the ability to so some activities without being in significant pain
My mother - age 80 - has the adult onset version. She has been becoming increasingly bent over since age 70 - but refused to do anything about it because her doctor told her that her bone density tests were normal. It was obvious something was wrong - but denial is a strong force. She has shrunk from about 5’1" to about 4’8". She is incredibly hunched over. We did finally get her to agree to see an orthopedic specialist last year - he diagnosed the scoliosis - and said there was nothing much to be done at this point. She has some difficulty walking and standing for longer periods of time. I see a walker in her near future as she is so bent over.
So - just monitor it closely. I have no idea what she would look like if she had been willing to acknowledge and deal with the issue years ago.
It was discovered I had a 30 degree curve in my upper spine at 26 yrs old (on X-Ray it looks somewhat like an open letter C). At the time, the doctor said it probably wouldn’t progress any farther, but that we should just keep an eye on it (this was a Navy Internal Medicine doc, btw, not an orthopedist) As far as I know, it’s not gotten worse, but the strain it has put on the muscles in my back, especially the rhomboid muscles on the right side, eventually made it impossible for me to sleep in any position except flat on my back. As a long time side sleeper, this is a situation I sorely resent. I can’t stand on my feet for more than about thirty minutes without loud protestations from my back muscles either, especially those in my lower back. This has been the case since my teen years, but I don’t know if it has anything to do with the scoliosis. I’ve lost a little more than a half inch in height since my mid twenties, but I heard everyone shrinks as they age. Unlike my younger sister, though, I’ve never had issues with bone density, so I’m hoping the scoliosis won’t present me with further problems.
Many people I know have mild scoliosis, including me, D and neighbors. It seems more common in thin women, or maybe I mainly know thin women. So far, it hasn’t been an issue for any of us. I took D to Easter Seals to double-check and they said things are fine.
My 29 yr. old D has a very similar spinal curvature in almost the exact same location as mine, but it appears to be causing her a lot more pain. She’s currently in physical therapy for a condition that seems linked to her scoliosis. When we were growing up, there wasn’t very much public awareness of the importance of early scoliosis screening, especially in young girls, but by the time my D was in grade school, they were conducting fairly regular in-school screenings for signs of its early development. I know my D was screened by not only the school, but by her pediatrician as well. Yet, it still managed to sneak up on her. I’m assuming hers is of the adult onset variety. D is 5’3" and has a fairly small bone structure, like most of the women in her father’s family. My sister was diagnosed with osteopenia a few years ago, and has a much smaller bone structure than mine, but she doesn’t have scoliosis. I wonder how hereditary scoliosis is…
I had scoliosis that wasnt discovered until I was 39 years old. During an exam for my daughters, a PA asked me to bend and immediately made an appointment for me. It was severe, a double curve (one at 60 degrees, other was aorund 40) with rotation. I had begun to have leg involvement and other problems. I truly was clueless, had back problems all my life, but assumed other reasons. They predicted it began in childhood and continued to progress. In fact in the year they observed it , continued to progress. So at 40 years old and losing use of my legs, had serious spinal surgery to correct the condition. Rods, screws and a nifty little cement, now corrected to around 12 degrees. No fun, very painful, long recovery but I’m past it. Surgery has been successful. I do have osteopenia and some arthritis (age and aftermath of the surgery) but getting about great. So yea, I know about scoliosis in adults…
I had no idea it was so common. A physical therapist for my athletic team noticed I had scoliosis when I was in college, but I never did anything about it. But then last year when I was preparing for a big solo bike trip, I went in for some preventative physical therapy and the therapist said, yeah, you’ve got scoliosis, so do I, here are some exercises to straighten you out.
The trip went well, but I should really go back to the therapist and get some more maintenance exercises. I’m regressing. I probably got the scoliosis from my mother, who is now very twisted.
I’m now referring to myself as “crooked”; seems appropriate for a lawyer.
My daughter had infantile scoliosis, which I diagnosed myself when she was 2.5 years old. She was one of the fortunate 50% which clear up on their own.
I have scoliosis since childhood. I now have degenerative disk disease within the curve. Not fun.
I went for a bone density test and the tech asked why I was there. Told her my daughter now looks me in the eye.
rosered- I go as “twisted sister”