.what else.

You mean there's more?

Unfortunately, yes, there is. A lot more. I'll only name a few.

Breathing. I've mentioned before, that scoliosis can effect your breathing.

Neck. Your neck may get thrown off and be sore.

Legs. Lengths of each of your legs may be different.

Hips. Could be off vertically. Could also rotate off horizontally. That can be slightly painful.

Shoulders. Will most likely be different heights.

Ribs. Squished together more. Or more spread apart. Depends of direction of curvatures. May develop "rib humps".

Posture. Could possibly develop kyphosis. A front to back deformity of the spine. (scoliosis is side to side.)

.Physical Therapy.

Its an option. it really is. Don't believe doctors when they tell you that its not. It is, and it really can work! I do know this one from personal experience.

I have been doing physical therapy since the end of my 7th grade year. (I am now in the middle of my 10th). I have found that it really helps. If I actually do it.

The first few weeks of my intense therapy sessions, the curves in my spine decreased by almost 15 degrees. If I would have stayed for another two weeks, just think about how much better my spine could have gotten!! It could have been almost back to zero degrees!!

It got worse after i went home for a while, because I wasn't the most compliant with doing the exercised that he assigned me to do. i know that if I would have, my spine would have been at least at the same curvature when i went back. The next time, I did just a week of intensive therapy, after that week, I was a lot more compliant with my exercises, and I kept my curvature the same, I think I may have even decreased it a little. It continued like this for a while.

Lately, I haven't been doing my therapy. I can really tell a difference. My scoliosis is getting worse, and I am a lot more sore these days. I advise, that you keep up on your therapies, then you will feel so much better, and be able to get over your scoliosis faster, and more comfortably.

.Surgery.

Surgery, is not something that I have a personal experience with. I do have my own opinions on it though.

I do not believe that surgery is the best or only option at all times. At times, it is the best option. Some peoples scoliosis can progress to the point that it is hard for them to breath, because the spine will start to push against the ribs and lungs. Or, it can progress to the point that they are in major pain constantly, that no amount of pain killers can help to lessen. When your scoliosis gets to that point, then I would say that surgery is probably the BEST option.

When I hear people say that surgery is the ONLY option, that really makes me upset. Its not. There is always physical therapy. (Also bracing..not what I would EVER suggest though.) There are many different types of physical therapies, that I will talk about in a different post. 

From what I have heard, and learned from reading, and listening to my own doctors talk, surgery can sometimes cause more pain to a person, than a severe case of scoliosis can. I know of a patient that my doctor is doing some rehab with right now, has curvatures that are over 100 degrees, and she still has normal respiratory numbers, and is only a little sore. But, there are also some people that have cases of scoliosis that are only in the 30's or 40's but they have very low respiratory numbers. Every ones case is different, just like every one body is too.

If you think about how a scoliosis surgery works, having two metal rods, a bunch of screws, and possibly other medal and plastic objects put all up your back, and having to have a large incision from the top of your back to the very bottom, you would probably grimace in pain. I know I do.

But, if a person is already in A LOT of pain, then a surgery may be what the best thing to do is.

.pain?.

I find that heat helps, I've heard ice is good too. Taking a hot shower or bath always seems to make the pain or tightness lessen.(:

.Brace.

There are 6 different types of scoliosis braces. They all have a different purpose. But they also all help to prevent the progression of scoliosis.

The three most commonly used types of braces are, the Boston Brace (Thoraco-Lumbo-Sacral-Orthosis "TLSO"), the Charleston Bending Brace, and the Milwaukee Brace.

The Milwaukee Brace (pictured below), is commonly used for high thoracic (mid-back) curves. It extends from the neck to the pelvis and consists of a specially contoured plastic pelvic girdle and a neck ring connected by metal bars in the front and the back of the brace. The metal bars help extend the length of the torso and the neck ring keeps the head centered over the pelvis. Pressure pads, strategically placed according to the patient's curve pattern, are attached to the metal bars with straps.

The Milwaukee Brace was the first modern brace designed for the treatment of scoliosis. Developed by Drs. Walter Blount and Albert Schmidt of the Medical College of Wisconsin and Milwaukee's Children's Hospital in 1945, its design has been tweaked through the years until reaching its current design around 1975. Today, the brace is used less frequently now that more form-fitting plastic braces have been developed; however, it's still prescribed for some types of curves that are located very high in the spine.

There are a variety of TLSO braces, but the one most commonly used to treat scoliosis is the "Boston Brace."(pictured below) TLSO braces are often called "low-profile" or "underarm" braces. They are not as large or bulky as the Milwaukee Brace (see below), and their plastic components are custom-molded to fit the patient's body.

The Boston Brace extends from below the breast to the beginning of the pelvic area in the front and from below the shoulder blades to the tail bone in the back. This type of brace works by applying three-point pressure to the curve to prevent its progression. It forces the lumbar area to flex, which pushes in the abdomen and flattens the posterior lumbar curve. Strategically placed pads place pressure on the curve, and "relief voids" are located opposite the areas of pressure.

Developed in the early 1970s by Dr. John Hall and Mr. William Miller of The Boston Children's Hospital, the Boston Brace is typically prescribed for curves in the lumbar (low-back) or thoraco-lumbar (mid- to low-back) sections of the spine.

Another bracing option is the Charleston Bending Brace. (pictured below) Developed in 1979 by Dr. Frederick Reed and Ralph Hooper, the Charleston Bending Brace is worn only at night, which is why it's also known as a "part-time" brace

The Charleston Bending Brace is molded to conform to the patient's body while he or she is bent towards the convexity—or outward bulge—of the curve, the concept behind this design being that it "over-corrects" the curve during the eight hours the brace is worn.

The Charleston brace is typically recommended for spinal curves of 20-35 degrees, with the apex of the curve below the level of the shoulder blade.

I wore the Boston Brace, when I had a scoliosis brace. (Pictures in THIS post)

Sleeping in the brace was really uuncomfertable. My mom ended up going to buy me some foam wedges to sleep on, because it was hard to breath while laying flat. Those helped SOOOOO much.

When I went to school when I had my brace on, I tried to have a good attitude, and laugh about the jokes that some people made, and also tried to joke about it myself. It wasn't easy. I went home from school a lot and cried. After a while though, I learned it wasnt quite so bad. I learned that I could still have fun, and do things with my friends. I also learned how to make jokes about, or freak people out with my brace.

When kids were being rude to me and making fun of me, not just because of my brace, usually it wasn't because of that. I would tell them to punch me in the stomach. They would hesitate, but I would swear it wouldn't hurt, because I literally had rock hard abs. After a few minutes of talking people into punch me in the stomach, they would. After I would show them my brace, and they'd freak out, and I'd have to explain to them what it was.

Another time I was sitting in my Utah history class, and I leaned forward just a little, which made my brace pop out a little in the back. The boy sitting behind me started to FREAK out! I just started laughing really hard, (probably making people think I was actually crying.) I told him, and the rest of the class what it was, but my teacher still got mad and sent the kid to the office. After class I had to tell the teacher that it was okay, and that I wasn't offended, that I thought it was really funny. (Part of my not being offended could have been that I had the BIGGEST crush on this kid...haha)

Anyways, after a while I learned that the brace wasn't that bad. (And that I could get a lot of boys to talk to me...) Even though I only wore my brace for a few weeks, if you are having to wear one for a longer period of time, YOU CAN DO IT!!

.Finding Out.

Finding out you have scoliosis can be hard. Trust me, I know.

Sometimes its a bigger deal than other times. Some people find out when they only have a slight case of it. Others find out when their scoliosis has gotten to the point that it is pretty bad.

When I first found out, my scoliosis wasn't to bad, I was told that it would probably get worse, but to not worry. At first, I didn't worry, but then I did. especially after I was told that I was almost to the point of needing to have surgery. hat scared the crap out of me.

Its okay to be scared though. Its not a bad thing. If your not scared of things, then you cant be confident in things either. Just like how there has to be dark to be light.

Things that helped me when I was feeling especially scared, and even now, that my scoliosis is the worst its ever been, is friends, family, and prayer. Im always talking to my friends about my back, occasionally I cry. Its okay!! Crying is not a bad thing! Just be sure your not doing it all the time!!

Remember that when you first find out, you are still just as capable to do everything that you were before, and later on in life you are too! Sometimes the doctors will suggest that you don't do a few certain things, but its alright, there is still sooooo much that you can do!!

Another thing that helps me when Im upset, but don feel like talking to anyone about it, is journaling, or writing a letter to someone, but to never send it. It just lets you get everything out... Its really nice sometimes.

Remember to just enjoy life!! Life is one the most amazing things ever!! You are here to have fun!! So enjoy it!! Even with any trials you are going through!!

.In Pictures.

{Pictures are in a random order.}

These are some of my x-rays. The one in the left is one of the ones I had taken before I had started my week long intensive therapy. The one on the right is from after. If you look closely, you can see that there is actually a very big change.

This is an x-ray of my neck. It was at 43 degrees when this was taken. That is only 2 degrees from the "normal" It should be angled back at a 45 degree angle.

This is one of the many weight systems that I have had to use. It helps to trick my spine into wanting to be straighter again.

This is a scoliosis traction chair. I got to sit in it for up to 45 minutes up to 4 times a day during intensive weeks. It helped to pull my spine back in place too.

This is another one of the machines that I had to lay on. I did it 15 minutes at a time, up to 6 times a day. You lay one the table, get strapped in, then they turn it on, it makes your legs go up and down.

This is a picture of the x-ray that the brace doctors drew markings and notes all over.

This is me getting the mold for my brace made.

X-ray of my neck. In this picture it was at about 15 degrees, not good.

More brace molding...

More..

Getting ready to get the mold.

This is the ADORABLE (not) outfit they gave me to wear while I was getting the mold for my brace.

The back of the mold is DONE!!!

Top Curve

My neck was almost perfectly straight at one point!! So not good!!

More Traction Chair. This one is at my house though. I still have it.

Another weight system

Bottom Curve

.My Story.

Okay, I have to do this blog for my English project, but I also decided to just do it for my own sake, and for others who have scoliosis to read and feel that they aren't alone.

For the first post, I will just tell my story of my life with scoliosis, then in each future post, I will talk about something that has to do with scoliosis. I will be trying to put a lot of personal experiences and pictures into this, so people will really be able to connect their experiences to mine.


Everything started when I was in the sixth grade. I was 11 years old. I went to the Doctor for my 11 year old check up, just like every other 11 year old has to. i went thinking all would be perfectly fine and that I wouldn't have anything to worry about. I was half right. The doctor did all of the things that she would normally do. Then, she had me do something I had never had to do at the doctors office before. She asked me to bend forward and touch my toes. While I was bent over and touching my toes, she got out what is called a Scoliometer.

A Scoliometer is used by running it down your back, centered over the spine. It has a small level in it that tells a doctor whether or not your spine is straight.

The doctor then told me that my spine was not straight. She had my mom come over and look at it. You could see, if you looked closely that my spine had a slight curve in it.

After that, I went into the x-ray room. The doctor quickly took and x ray and went to develop it. After she developed the x-ray she measure the degree of the curves in my spine. She found that I had two curves in my spine. They made my spine look like a backwards "S". The degree of the top curve was, 12, and the degree of my bottom curve was 16.

The doctor gave my mom the number to the orthopedic office at Primary Children's Hospital. The next day, my mom called and talked to one of the nurses. She told the nurse what my doctor had said about my spine, and the nurse said that it wasn't to bad, so to not worry about it, and also that they would check my spine again in my 7th grade P.E. class. After that, we never really thought about it again.

In 7th grade, the scoliosis screenings were getting closer. My P.E. teacher sent home a note and permission slip about it. I gave them to my mom and she read the note, and signed the slip. She also made note on the permission slip that we were already aware that I had scoliosis.

On the day of the screening, the school nurses came in, and explained what they were going to do. We were all asked to take off our P.E. shirts, and just be in a tank top and bra. I went in feeling very confident, and I told the nurse that I had been screened for scoliosis before, and knew that I had a slight case of it. She said okay, and checked me anyways. After she told me to tell my mom that she would be getting a letter in the mail in the next few days.

When my mom got the letter, at first she wasn't very worried about it. But after a few days, she decided to call the Orthopedic office again. She called, and they told her that it would probably be smart to make an appointment just to check and be sure. So, she did. About 3 weeks later, I was to go to Primary Children's to see a a specialist.

When I went to the doctor I was a little bit nervous. I wasn't sure what they would do if the curves in my spine had increased. I sat in the waiting room until a nurse came and called me back to a room. She then did what all nurses do when you go to the doctor. Weight, height, blood pressure, and temperature. After that, a doctor came in. She had me get into just my tank top, so that she would be able to see my spine more easily. She looked at it for a minute, then said that she wanted to take some x-rays.

After she took x-rays, she measured the degrees. She came back into the room that my parents and I were waiting in. She told us that my top curve had progressed to 29 degrees, and the bottom to 31. In less than 10 months, the curves had doubled in degree.

She told us that after a persons spine gets to 25 degrees, they need to get you a scoliosis brace. Se showed and explained to us what it was, and what it would do. We asked what other options there were than to wear the brace, and she said that it was either the brace or get surgery when the curves in my spine developed to 40 degrees, which would probably come faster than we would think. it would come faster, because of the age and rate that I was growing at.

A brace, is to hopefully prevent to curves in the spine from progressing and getting worse. Most people that wear a scoliosis brace still end up having to have surgery later in life.

The doctor then gave us the number to call the place that makes scoliosis braces. We called the next day, and got an appointment for the next week.

We went to the "brace place" (that's what I liked to call it.) The doctor came out to the waiting room and started talking to me, and getting to know me. She was extremely nice. She took me back to a room, and asked me to change into what looked like giant socks with the toe cut off. I put on four of those, and she came back in with about 4 or 5 other doctors. They had taken a copy of my x-rays form the Primary Children's doctor and made lots of marks and notes on it that I couldn't understand.

They asked me to lay on a table that had a bunch of little holes on it all over. It looked a little like a peg board. I layed on it, and they started to push my body around, by shoving pegs into the holes in the table after the pushed my body to the position they wanted it in. It wasn't comfortable at all, and I almost cried a few times. After they had my body all positioned how they wanted, they took the stuff that they use to make a cast for a broken bone, and started to plaster it all over my back. That felt REALLY good. It was really warm and wet! After they finished, and it dried, they cut one of the sock dress things off of me, which also made the mold fall off too. Then, they did the same thing, but on top of my stomach instead. They cut me out of another sock dress, and took off the mold for my stomach. Then they gave me a wash rag to wipe any "glue" off of me that they had splashed onto me.

After I cleaned up a little, I was able to change back into my normal clothes. The doctor came back in and told me to come back in 3 weeks to get my brace, and to be sure that it fit right.

After 3 weeks, I went back to the doctor. She had told me to wear a short sleeved under shirt, and to bring a shirt to put on top of my brace. I decided to just wear a sweat suit, so it would be easier to take on and off if I needed to. That, was a good idea. She put my brace on me, and then made a few minor adjustments to it, taught my parents how to put it on me, and sent us off.

After putting my brace on with even just sweats, my parents and I realized that most of my normal clothes would no longer fit me, because the brace made me have very defined hips. So, my parents took me to the mall and we went shopping for a few hours, by the time we were done shopping all I wanted to do was take my brace off. The doctor had told me that, that would happen. She said that at first, it would wear me out to wear the brace. Oh my was she right. For the next few days, I worked up to being able to wear my brace all night and for at least 6 hours a day. Luckly it was spring break, so I wasn't having to wear it at school for the first little while.

After a few days of having my brace, we realized that when I had my brace on, which was for around 16-20 hours a day, I didn't ever feel like eating, and I got tired very easily because it made it so that I had to have really good posture, and i was very itchy because I couldn't scratch, and I had stuff right up against my body all day long.

I told my mom that I wanted to wear my brace at school, so that I was able to come home and take it off for a few hours to go and do some activities, stretch a little, and just relax.

So, when school started back up after the spring break, she put together a meeting with the administration all of my teachers. She explained to them that sometimes I got really tired or sore sitting in a chair all day, because it would make my stomach be squished, more than it was when I was walking or standing. She told them that I would need to be aloud to leave class at any time for that reason. Most all of my teachers told me that I could just flash them a little sign or something then just leave, or just stand up and leave. I was very glad that they were all so understanding. After my mom explained that, she talked to the administration about me needing to take my brace off during lunch so that I could have a break, and also so that I would actually eat enough lunch. They were also very understanding, and said that they would have a place in the nurses room to keep my brace during lunch time.

I went to school, and did really well, I was mostly able to sit through my classes. No one really noticed that I had a brace, unless I had told then, or they bumped into my back or stomach. The next day though, I had P.E., luckily I had my cousin in my class with me. I had called her over the night before, to teacher how to help me take my brace off and on. Before P.E. started everyday, she would go into my teachers office, and help me to take my brace off. We, were allowed to be up to 5 minutes tardy without being marked tardy. That was a really nice thing. We were also excused about 5 minutes early, so that we had enough time to change, and get my brace back on before the bell rang.

My cousin was really nice about being willing to help me whenever I needed it. so were my friends, and the office ladies and other teachers and administration. My cousin like to brag about how I was her "Barbie' cousin, because I had a rock hard stomach. Some of my friends would even tell people I had rock hard abs, so they would come and punch me in the stomach. It would hurt their hand way more than it hurt me, if it even hurt me at all.

After wearing the brace for a few weeks, I started getting sores on my back, hips and stomach, from all the sweating and having the brace rub against my body all the time. It hurt to wear my brace, so I had to cut back on how long I wore it for everyday.

My mom started to do some research online about how to make me feel more comfortable while wearing my brace. While she was research she found a website called clear-institute.org.

The CLEAR website was about a type of chiropractic that focused mainly on scoliosis, and a few other major back problems that most doctors would only fix with a brace or even surgery for some cases. It focused on having chiropractic work and physical therapy to help the decrease the curves in the spine. (The brace, would only prevent the curves from getting worse.) We liked this idea a lot more, and thought that it would probably be a lot more comfortable for me, than the brace was.

we started looking into where to go for this therapy. The main doctor for this, was located in Minnesota. We were ready to just pack up and go all of the way out to Minnesota for therapy. But when my mom told the doctor that we lived all the way in Utah, He told her that one of the other doctors that practiced the same thing was located in Fort Collins, Colorado. Then he gave her the number to call the other doctor.

We called him, and he said that he could fit me into his schedule in 3 weeks, so we got ready, and my parents and I drove out for a quick two day stay, to go see if we like how this chiropractor did things. we got there, and he took TONS of x-rays. Then he measured them all, and showed us what he was seeing, and what he would do to help with the problem. He had me try a couple of the machines that he had in his office, and set me up with a weighting system to help counter balance my spine and pull it straighter.

Two months later I went out for a two week intensive therapy. It was at least 7-8 hours a day of very hard and tiring therapy. i would go in at about 8 in the morning, and leave between 12:00 and 1:00 and then go back to do more therapy until around 5 or 6 at night, depending on how busy the office was that day.

Every night, I was to tired to go do anything, I usually ended up just laying around in the hotel room with a migraine -headache. It wasn't the funnest thing ever. And I really missed my friends. It was summer, and I was missing out on a lot of things that my friends were doing.

I went home after the two weeks, and then a month later went back for one more week of intensive therapy. It wasn't so hard and was a lot less of a stress in my body this time then it had been the time before.

I have been back to to Colorado for intensive therapies about 7 or 8 more times since then. It has helped my scoliosis decrease a lot, and has also helped other medical problems that were caused by my scoliosis.