How much does scoliosis effect your life? (for sufferers that have more then a 50 degree curve)?

Question

How much does scoliosis effect your life? (for sufferers that have more then a 50 degree curve)?

Answer 1

I don't know how to answer this question either but it doesn't really effect your life. The only thing that you realize is that you start humping over and your shoulders are uneven.

Answer 2

For me, I started getting tired playing volleyball.  One of the ladies noticed that I was tired.  This was weird because I *never* got tired when playing.  I also couldn't jump, carry my kids on my shoulder, run, drive the car, etc. without a great deal of pain.  This generally took about three days to work itself out.  My wife started planning trips based on what I was able to handle (Does the trip involve walking?  If so, could I handle walking for that amount of time?  Etc.)

After surgery, I was hitting my head on the car when getting in.  I've also had to change where I lounge when watching TV.  I used to like laying on the floor.  Now, the floor is very uncomfortable.  There are other examples if you want them.

A summary of my history: At the time of my first fusion, my upper curve was at 60 degrees and my lower curve was at around 48 degrees. I was "well compensated" which means that I was doing okay, cosmetically. I wasn't always at 60 degrees. After I was out of my brace, my curve increased slowly. I started experiencing a great deal of pain and a low quality of life. I was fused from T4 to L4, developed degenerated discs from L4 to S1, and because I had a non-fusion at L3, I had a second surgery to fuse me from L3 to S1.

During fusion, if your spine is fused and too much lordosis (the natural sway that your spine has above your rear) is removed, you can develop flatback. Flatback can be quite painful and debilitating. The solution to this is "re-alignment" surgery, where your spine undergoes more correction in the sagital plane. (Lots of big words, sorry, but that's what it is.) Flatback is commonly seen in patients where Harrington rods are used. It is seen less often when Luque rods are used. (I have Luque rods.)

In addition to flatback, I have hardware that has loose screws, a non-fusion at the L5 level, and some left SI joint pain.

All together, this is a pretty big pain issue. I'll probably be on pain meds for the rest of my life. Surgery may correct some of the pain, but probably not all of it.

Now, any patient that has modern hardware will most likely not get flatback or any of the other three problems that I have. When I advise someone, I usually don't mention my problems.

I'm very thankful for my two spine fusions and would have them again if I had to do it over again.