Scoliosis: Life, Support & Friends

Had terrible pains when I woke up yestreday morning, I was unable to straighten myself without terrible pains lower middle back so I stayed in bed all day, took some ibuprofen 400mg and a heat pad on my back and then later when I felt up to it I had a bath, even wiping my bottom proved difficult. I awoke this morning and felt somewhat better but still walking bent over, unable to straighten myself, so long as I walk very gingerly I am OK, any sharp movements cause havoc!

I was bought a new walking stick by my friend Daisy and it is much better, it is a telescopic one so it is also easier when I am out in my wheelchair it doesn't poke out and stab people in the leg I can fold it away for convenience. My pain in the right leg is still there and I am convinced it is Sciatica as this seems to be common in people with Scoliosis, so perhaps this has finally caught up with me? I have been doing some gentle exercises in the pool and this seems to help the sharp lightning like pain, although this does depend on how I am sitting. My lower back is still the same as was............painful and seems to feel tired a lot, almost as if my body is saying to me "please don't walk, stand or sit anymore". It is a Sunday today and we would usually go for a walk, however, I wouldn't get very far without needing to take medication or a very large drink so now I do not even attempt to go walking, if we want to walk I go in my wheelchair, this way I can b...

We have had a busy Summer and I now have possession of my own wheelchair, although it took some time to get used to the idea that I was using a wheelchair but now I am more settled with the idea and it helps me a great deal. Going out and sitting in various pubs or clubs started to become a problem last year, so much so that it was not worth going out, the chairs are not comfortable for me so I tend to suffer, having my own chair with me means I can relax while I am out and enjoy myself. The last month or so has been more or less up and down, however, I always force myself to get out of bed and get on with the day, this sometimes can be a bit much though. The pain has been there everyday now for a very long time, bending down is such an effort and a strain, I generally bend down holding onto something with one of my legs in the air behind me. This year's pain has been worse as I have not even managed to do much exercise because the pain has placed a burden on that area, although I ...

So far this year I have had many ups and downs and it is only May! I remember a time when I would go a few months before any major pain or discomfort inside. I noticed last week my shoulder muscles were very strained and became painful, I thought perhaps this was due to me using a walking stick which had put pressure on my upper back muscles. I am now a week later and no change except it is now a dull ache and I notice my rod a lot more than I ever did. I never had problems in the upper back before or surrounding the rod area. After close inspection on the scar my husband says it looks as if the skin has moved slightly as the scar used to be a straight line up the spine whereas the top of the scar is now bearing to the left slightly. For a few weeks now I have complained of heart palpitations (feels like a butterfly is flapping its wings over my heart) when I get into bed at night, my ribs have moved (we think) and my hips do not feel as aligned as they did a few months back and I have...

I went for a smear test with my local doctor and explained the problem to him that we had in Seville, he said he had done a lot of his training with a Orthopaedic surgeon so he knew about Harrington Rods and Scoliosis so this was of great benefit to me. He gave me an inspection and all seemed fine, my ovaries looked healthy and their were no cysts, he did say however that my vagina was small and very tight because the muscles were tense, he wondered if that could be the cause of the pain because of the muscles. He has instructed me to get a blood test on the 24th May to see if I am Ovulating, if I am not he feels this could be the root of the pain because that would be swollen.

I went to Seville this weekend to do some sightseeing, we went on the train and that journey was fine, I was comfortable enough and not suffering any pains. I had my walking stick with me which is great for support. That evening my husband and I attempted to have sex and I say attempted because I struggled to perform and it was painful once inside, so painful that I couldn't stand it and we gave up, I have had this before and it was picked up on a smear years back in the UK, the woman said that my vagina had moved round and it was difficult for her to get a swab.

I have been having yet more problems today with my right hand side hip and what I assume is the muscle having a spasm or some kind of cramp. When sitting I cannot lean my head onto my chest without a pain coming from that side of my body, the pain shoots straight up that side of me into my head which makes me pull my head back up. Driving has become more difficult than I ever expected, although I do drive an automatic car which is slightly easier but if I need to look behind me or turn around with my upper torso it becomes difficult for me. I have spent most of this week in bed again (seem to be there a lot these days), continually making sure that I try and get up every hour and attempt to stretch and even do Yoga, however, the pain when trying to get out of bed is awful, I find myself holding my back as I attempt to get up but on my way to standing it almost cripples me to stand and then I cannot get comfortable anywhere then without pain. I never used to get up every single day and ...