Scoliosis Deserves Special Consideration

Thank you for discussing scoliosis. I wore a Milwaukee Brace for 3.5 yrs  during my teen years. It was miserable then and I was told after I quit growing I would be fine. Well, that couldn't have been further from the truth. With each pregnancy (3) my curvature got a little worse &  now I am 42 yrs. old and deal with chronic upper back, shoulder, neck, low back, hip and left leg pain everyday of my life. I almost wish they had put rods in when I was younger. Now, when people ask me why I have pain they look confused when I say it all started with scoliosis. Their usual response is, "it's that a kid's disease" or "does that still bother you?"  I try to explain to them that is a lifelong disease that I will be battling until I die probably. I recently finished another round of PT and the therapist stated that there wasn't much she could do for me since I was so malaligned. I have accepted this disease and will deal with one day at a time, but I get very annoyed with the eye-rolling, the lack of empathy and the down-right rude comments from people in my life. Believe me, if I could have one wish it would be to have a normal spine, but since I can't I would appreciate some level of understanding from friends, family, co-workers and my own healthcare professionals.

You didnot mention that curvature of the spine can be caused by polio.  I learned far to late, that if I had continued with Therapy after I was diagnosed with post-polio syndrome (PPS), I probably would not have an S shaped spine,w which occured after my PPS.  I hope this knowledge helps someone.