Scoliosis.....?

I have had scoliosis since I was 10. I think the curve was either 18 degrees or 8 degrees. I can't remember, but I know it was mild and the doctor said it was nothing to worry about, and that I should have my back checked every once and a while. I'm 15 now, and haven't had my back checked since then. I was just thinking about it this morning, and I asked one of my friend to look at it, ad tell me how bad it looks. She said she could see the curve a lot. If I go to the doctor, what do you think he would say? Do you think he will have to do anything? It hurts a little sometimes, but not badly. Thanks!

My curve is on the bottom.

It is very important to have the doctor check you out to be sure that the curve is not getting worse. I got Scoliosis when I was about 14 and it hurt a lot when it first happened and then after a few years it didn't hurt at all. When I turned about 33 I began getting a lot of back pain and my spine curved in many places. I have a different form of Scoliosis that is degenerative (gets worse over time) and now I can not bend over, take big steps, or lift hardly anything.

I think if I would have had medical treatment as a teen, I would probably not be experiencing all that I am now. So...better safe than sorry! Get your mom to make you an appointment.

got to the doctor, he will know what to do dont depend on your friends judgement their not experts. Your probably fine

I have about a 13 degree tilt - it was not worth correcting with a back brace. Take ballet lessons. Really. It really does help. It may correct things enough that you don't need a back brace.

Hey, i have scoliosis too. I wouldn't sweat it much if your back is not hurting more than usual . But, if you want to be on the safe side, get yourself checked out. It is likely that your spine has curved a little more since you are a growing girl. The worse thing that could possibly happen is that you have to go to physical therapy for a few months.

Please go to your doctor. He may want you to wear a brace, which isnt comfortable, but it could prevent the curve from getting any worse. I never got to wear a brace because my curve was in between my shoulder blades, but it got worse, and July of this year I ad to get spinal fusion surgery (they screw rods onto the curved area to keep it straight and allow the vertebrae to fuse together). If the brace doesnt help and it still gets worse, eventually surgery may be necessary, but its all worth it in the long run, because you will be straight and even, and your back pain will be gone.
Oh, and I am 16. If you have more questions email me or contact me on AIM. My contact info is on my profile.
Good luck!
Zach

It is important not to panic.
I am in my 60's and have had a very normal life, children, successful career and all.
It has never been a problem for me.
Almost any doc should be able to calm your fears.

Get a professional opinion and keep your friends as friends.

Since you are still growing it is likely the curve has grown also. It is worth getting checked to avoid future problems. A simple X-ray will be taken and this will be measured and compared against the curve 5 years ago. You are still at a good age where, if necessary, implantable rods can do a world of good.

My 22 year old daughter was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was 11 or 12. I had her spine checked about every 6 months until she was 17. This is what the specialist who she saw told me. When a kid who has scoliosis hits puberty, the curve in the spine gets worse. And it continues to get worse until about age 17 or 18. You really need to have you back checked by a specialist, especially if you're having pain! Please let your parents know your back hurts sometimes and that you want to go to the doctor. I suspect the doctor will tell you that the curve has gotten worse. Good luck sweetie.

First of all, do you have an S curve or an C curve? The S curve tends to balance itself out but the C curve is much more dangerous. My sister suffered with an C curve of 62 degrees until she had metal rods placed in her back during a 9 hour surgery back in the mid eighties. Nowaways the surgery is much less extensive and certainly more successful. Regardless, you should be checked out - especially if it causes you pain. You might have to wear a brace, you might have to have surgery or it might be mild enough to where nothing has to be done at all.

first things first- go to the doctor IMMEDIATELY.

im serious. i have scoliosis too, and i have been wearing a brace for about a year now. i've had scoliosis since i was about 8, and now im 15 too. we go to the doc to have him check it every few months. 2 years ago, though, i was supposed to go, but i missed it. in july, the last time we went, the curve was about 18 degrees. i missed the appointment, so we went back in february. they told me i needed a brace, becasue the curve had increased to 35 degrees! they said if i didnt wear the brace for about 20 hours a day, i would need to have surgery to correct it.

so to make a long story short, i think you need to go to the doc ASAP, because i don't want you to have the same deal as me. the brace doesn't limit you from doing the things you want to do, and its not really that uncomfortable. (its kinda hard to find good pants that stay up when you wear it though) =)
also it depends if the curve is at the top or bottom of your spine. but yeah, go to the doc, have him/her check it out, and best of luck! <33

If your curve is visible to a friend, it ought to be checked by a scoliosis specialist. (I would *never* see a family doc or even an orthopedic surgeon that is not a scoliosis specialist because they're just not trained to diagnose and treat scoliosis.) If you have pain from it, that's a reason to have it treated. You said you're fairly pain-free, but many people with scoliosis don't have pain and still need to monitor their curve.

There's no way to tell what a scoliosis specialist will say before you're examined. I might be able to take a guess if I knew your curve size, but there's no way to tell how your curve's doing by the description you gave.

it might be nothing to worry about- you might have been bending a weird direction, or your friend- who i am guessing doens't have much expierience- knows you have a curve and therefore could kind of see it even though it's mild.
then again, it might be worse and maybe need attention. just because you don't have pain and it was mild a long time ago does NOT mean that in doesn't need attention now. i know from expirience. you can't know until you have an orthopedic doctor check it out, so go ahead and go! :) good luck!