Scoliosis: Life, Support & Friends

So I had my half-yearly back check up at the hospital on Tuesday the 24th. Here's a quick report: X-RAYS Bone development: My hand was x-rayed. It revealed that I only had a small amount of growth left. Yay!:D SPINAL: My current curves are both 18 - 19 degrees, same as last time. They aren't progressing. ORTHOPEDIC: My doctor looked at the wounds on my back and saw the x-rays. He concluded that I only needed to wear my brace 18 hours a day from now on! He told me that 6 hours wouldn't make much of a difference, seeing as I only have a small amount of growth left and the brace wouldn't be able to fix a huge amount. ORTHOTIC: My orthotist looked at the scars and told me to wear my brace looser. He put padding in the lower side as well. He advised me to wear my brace to school, as it involves sitting down, which is the worst of the three postures. He said the best time not to wear it is when I'm asleep. Best news: the orthotist said next time I come in March, I probab...

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), today announced the launch of the TSRH ® 3Dx ™ Spinal System. Designed with procedural efficiency in mind, the TSRH 3Dx Spinal System offers two screws designed to address multiple pathologies. The Multi Planar Adjusting (MPA ® ) Screw option provides surgeons a variable angle posted screw for targeted, controlled correction maneuvers. The OSTEOGRIP ® Screw enhances bone fixation by incorporating a dual-lead thread pattern that reduces toggle at the bone-screw interface. Building on more than 20 years of clinical success, this next generation pedicle screw system includes competitive differentiating technology for addressing multiple spinal pathologies, from degenerative disc disease to spinal deformity. The system also offers CHROMALOY™ rods and a minimally invasive capability. “The TSRH 3Dx Spinal System allows me to better match solutions to specific patient needs,” said Dr. Brett Scott. “It gives me confidence by marrying new technologies with a long cl...

Which came first, the muscle spasm or the pain? Every muscle in your body is attached to a bone, but just like the chicken and the egg, a muscle spasm can cause pain and pain can cause a muscle spasm! Often, when we experience pain a muscle spasm pulls nearby joints out of place, causing a condition known as joint sublaxation . Similarly, if a joint is sublaxated, nearby muscles may spasm in response. Does it matter which happened first? Usually, by the time pain has caused you to look for help from the doctor or therapist the cycle of pain and spasm has already begun. Pain causes spasm which pulls joints out of alignment, which more spasm and more pain! Ultimately, the body accommodates to this cycle and the muscles stay tightened in the contracted state. After two days of spasm, the muscles will adapt to their new unnatural painful state and resist relaxation. The pain may even subside a bit during this adaptation, but now the body is adjusting to the muscles and the joints that are ...

OK, so I am seeing a lot of blog posts coming out saying things like "have Scoliosis, come visit our Chiropractor", since when did the Chiros become professionals in twisted spines? For starters they are not medical doctors so I advise that you see a proper Scoliosis specialist before you see a Chiropractor! When I had my surgery in 1989 with a Harrington rod from T4 to L1 I was told in under no circumstances should I see a Chiro, Dr Jackson told me this from Southampton General Hospital, over the last 5 years that I have been running groups and chatting on various other groups, the general consensus across the board is do not see a Chiropractor, some groups do not even allow you to talk about them! I do have a slightly different view to most I have to say, I do allow people to talk about their treatments because I am all for sharing and if a patient had good results then share them, we are all individuals at the end of the day and we react to different treatments, however, t...