Risks of cancer from multiple x-rays

Some evidence suggests a slightly higher risk for breast cancer and leukemia in patients who had multiple x-rays. Risks are highest in patients who had the largest radiation exposure, such as those who had been surgically treated.

Patients who simply received x-rays for untreated idiopathic scoliosis, or scoliosis caused by uneven length of the legs or hip abnormalities have a very low risk for future complications.

Looking sexy

Scoliosis just makes us a little curvier

Problems in adult-onset or untreated childhood scoliosis

Pain in adult-onset or untreated childhood scoliosis often develops because of posture problems that cause uneven stresses on the back, hips, shoulders, necks, and legs.

Many individuals with untreated scoliosis will develop spondylosis, an arthritic condition in the spine. The joints become inflamed, the cartilage that cushions the disks may thin, and bone spurs may develop. If the disk degenerates or the curvature progresses to the point that the spinal vertebrae begin pressing on the nerves, pain can be very severe and may require surgery. Even surgically treated patients are at risk for spondylosis if inflammation occurs in vertebrae.

Spine problems in previously treated scoliosis patients

After 20 years or more, scoliosis patients who were previously treated with surgery experience small but significant physical impairments (mainly mild back problems), compared to their peers without scoliosis. More people with a history of scoliosis report having to take days off from work, compared to people who never had the condition. In general, however, most patients experienced a similar quality of life to peers who never had the condition.

The following are some possible causes of later back problems in people with a history of treated scoliosis:

1. Spinal fusion disease.
Patients who are surgically treated with fusion techniques lose flexibility and may experience weakness in back muscles due to injuries during surgery.

2. Disk degeneration.
With disk degeneration, the disks between the vertebrae may become weakened and rupture. In some patients, particularly those treated with the first generation of the Harrington rods, years after the original surgeries the weight of the instrumentation can cause disk and joint degeneration severe enough to require surgery. Treatment may involve removal of the old rods and extension of the fusion into the lower back. Still, most patients do not experience significant back pain from these problems.

3. Height loss.
Fusion of the spine may inhibit growth somewhat. However, much of the growth takes place in long bones, which are not affected.

4. Lumbar flatback.
This condition is most often the result of a scoliosis surgical procedure called the Harrington technique, which eliminated lordosis (the inward curve in the lower back). Adult patients with flatback syndrome tend to stoop forward. They may experience fatigue and back and even neck pain.

5. Rotational trunk shift (uneven shoulders and hips).
Evidence suggests that previous treatment with braces may also cause mild back pain and more days off, but problems appear to be less than with surgery. In one study, dysfunction was comparable to people without a history of scoliosis.

Respiratory impairment

Patients with severe deformities, particularly those with underlying neuromuscular disorder, may develop what is called restrictive thoracic disease. This term refers to problems in breathing and, at times, trouble obtaining enough oxygen due to a smaller chest cavity. The smaller chest cavity results from the deformity or surgery. The restricted chest cavity is also less able to expand when breathing

Normal bone vs. osteoporosis bone

Scoliosis effects on the bone

Scoliosis is associated with osteopenia, a condition characterized by loss of bone mass. Many adolescent girls who have scoliosis also have osteopenia. Some experts recommend measuring bone mineral density when a patient is diagnosed with scoliosis. The amount of bone loss may help predict how severely the spine will curve. Preventing and treating osteopenia may help limit further curve progression.

If not treated, osteopenia can later develop into osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a more serious loss of bone density that is common among postmenopausal women. Adolescents who have scoliosis are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis later in life.

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by progressive loss of bone density, thinning of bone tissue, and increased vulnerability to fracture. Osteoporosis may result from disease, dietary or hormonal deficiency, or advanced age. Regular exercise and vitamins and mineral supplements can reduce and even reverse loss of bone density.

Take vitamins such as calcium everyday to ensure proper bone development, also take vitamin D. Weight bearing exercises and flexibility are also essential. Finding an exercise program that you can enjoy is very important. It isn't necessary to buy expensive equipment or sign up for a gym to get the excercise needed, if you are able to afford it its fine. You can walk, jog, run, dance, walking up and down the stairs, yoga and pilates are also helpful.

Top 5 tips for a healthier spine

Millions of people are affected by back pain everyday. And beyond living with pain itself, this condition diminishes your quality of life. Work will be missed, social activities will be difficult, it will be entirely harder to be mobile. A healthy spine is essential to our overall health. Here is a few tips on how to keep your spine healthy.

1. Always Keep moving.
Keeping up with regular physical activity is an important way to stay healthy. There are 3 types of exercises that can be included into your exercise routine:

A. Range of motion exercises- such as stretching and bending. Do these every day to keep joints flexible and to relieve stiffness.

B. Strengthening exercises- such as with weights or machines. Make sure to get instruction for the proper use of exercise equipment to avoid injury. Do these every day to increase muscle strength. Strong muscles help support and protect the spine.

C. Aerobic exercises- such as walking, jogging, biking, tennis, and swimming. You could even take an hour out of the day to play your favorite song and just dance around the room. Do these 2 to 3 times a week.

2. Loose weight.
The more u weigh the greater the stress is on your spine. If you are overweight loosing a couple pounds can keep your spine healthy. With loosing the weight you can maintain a healthier lifestyle and it could also make u feel better about yourself.

3. Sleep well.
It's very important to get plenty of rest. But what we rest on is also important. A mattress that does not offer enough support for your spine can lead to muscle fatigue and a poor night's sleep. A good mattress allows you to rest in a neutral position; muscles are relaxed and sleep is more refreshing. If you are having trouble sleeping or find that you wake in the morning more tired than when you went to bed, take a good look at where and how you sleep.

4. Having good posture.
Good posture keeps your body in balance and helps avoid excessive stress on your spine. Here's what good posture looks like when standing:
A. Feet slightly apart
B. Knees straight
C. Chin slightly tucked in
D. Shoulders back and down

5. See your doctor regularly for check-ups.
If you have neck pain or back pain, be sure to get it checked out. Left untreated, some spine conditions can continue to get worse and may have serious health consequences.

A teenage girl with a 180 degree curve

http://m.parentdish.co.uk/teen/riding-high-the-teenager-with-worst-case-of-spine-curvature-docs-ever-seen-cured/?fb_ref=homepage&fb_source=home_oneline

A smile is the most beautiful curve on a woman's body

A scoliosis masterpiece

God calls us His masterpiece in Ephesians 2:10. Think about that for a moment. You are God's best creation. You are by design an incredible work of God's hand. Let that encourage you today.

I know its hard for some people with scoliosis to feel like their a masterpiece but God does things in his own way and he creates no defects. I believe that I have scoliosis to help encourage and inspire other people with scoliosis to love the body they have. Whether you had surgery or not, I know for a long time when I was much younger I hated having scoliosis.

All I thought about was the stuff I couldn't and wouldn't wear because I looked like I was leaning on one side. I hated the pain more than anything, the brace, the thought of having surgery with the possibility of being paralyzed because of how complicated my spine was. But over the years, I really don't even know what it is but I've grown to accept my curve and love it. I may sometimes still feel funny wearing certain things but that's the love-hate relationship I've learned to deal with.

I believe that I am a masterpiece God made me the way I am. If I am a masterpiece in his eye I should be a masterpiece in my own eyes.

Happy valentine's day scolio's

I've got your back

Lmao

Scoliosis superhero

I have scoliosis and I'm proud...wasn't before but I'm embracing

scoliosis swag

Common questions about the complications of scoliosis surgery

As with any operation, there are potential risks associated with spinal fusion. Most problems occur as a result of not having a solid fusion, which may result in implant failure (broken rod) and a need for more surgery. It is important to discuss all of these risks with your surgeon before your procedure.

Infection
Antibiotics are regularly given to the patient before, during, and often after surgery to lessen the risk of infections.

Bleeding
A certain amount of bleeding is expected, but this is not typically significant. A portion of the blood lost during surgery may be saved and given back to the patient. This is known as cell saver. It is not unusual for a patient having spine surgery to require a blood transfusion even if a cell saver is used.

Pain at graft site
A small percentage of patients will experience persistent pain at the bone graft site.

Pseudarthrosis
Older teenagers and adults who smoke are more likely to develop a pseudarthrosis. This is a condition where there is not enough bone formation. If this occurs, a second surgery may be needed in order to obtain a solid fusion.

Nerve damage
It is possible that the nerves or blood vessels may be injured during these operations. These complications are very rare.

Blood clots
Another uncommon complication is the formation of blood clots in the legs. These pose significant danger if they break off and travel to the lungs.

Lung complications
Problems with lung function following surgery are rare, especially for healthy teenagers.

A whale with scoliosis

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/11/scoliosis-not-collision-likely-left-whale-bent-expert-says/

First gene linked to scoliosis identified

Physicians have recognized scoliosis, since the time of Hippocrates, but its causes have remained a mystery until now. For the first time, researchers have discovered a gene that underlies the condition, which affects about 3 percent of all children.

"Hopefully, we can now begin to understand the steps by which the gene affects spinal development," says Anne Bowcock, Ph.D., professor of genetics, of medicine and of pediatrics. "If we understand the genetic basis of the condition, we can theoretically predict who is going to develop scoliosis and develop treatments to intervene before the deformity sets in. It may take many years to accomplish these goals, but I think it will eventually happen."

The researchers have traced a defect in CHD7 to idiopathic scoliosis, the form of the condition for which there is no apparent cause. It is the most common type of scoliosis, occurs in otherwise healthy children and is typically detected during the growth spurt that accompanies adolescence.
Although scientists have known for years that scoliosis runs in families, its pattern of inheritance has remained unclear. That's because the condition is likely caused by several different genes that work in concert with one another and the environment, to cause scoliosis. Bowcock predicts that scientists will soon find other genes involved in the disease.

The CHD7 gene is thought to play a critical role in many basic functions in the cell. The researchers zeroed in on the gene after finding that it is missing or profoundly disrupted in a rare syndrome called CHARGE. Babies born with the syndrome often die in infancy. Those that survive have heart defects, mental retardation, genital and urinary problems, ear abnormalities and deafness, among other problems. They also develop late-onset scoliosis. "This led us to consider that milder variations of CHD7 may be involved in other types of scoliosis," Bowcock said.
The researchers, led by Carol Wise, Ph.D., at Scottish Rite Hospital, collected data on 52 families with a history of scoliosis in at least two members, the one who sought treatment and another from earlier generation. The patients had an average spinal curvature of 40 degrees and did not have any illnesses, such as Marfan syndrome or cerebral palsy, which can also involve scoliosis. The researchers performed genome-wide scans that spelled out the 6 billion letters of genetic code in the affected family members and analyzed the data.

They found that patients with scoliosis very often had a defect in the gene's non-coding region, meaning that the error did not disrupt production of the CHD7 protein. The researchers speculate that this particular mutation alters the binding of a molecule that controls whether the gene is turned on. In this case, they think the gene is turned off more often than it should be, which reduces the amount of CHD7 protein produced.

"The change in the amount of the protein produced is subtle, which correlates with the onset of scoliosis, which typically happens very gradually," explains Michael Lovett, Ph.D., professor of genetics and pediatrics. "This particular defect was so highly associated with scoliosis that it is either the real McCoy or is very closely linked to the defect that causes the condition."
The researchers will continue to look for genetic variations involved in scoliosis by studying additional families with the condition.

Good posture and bad posture

How Poor Posture Happens
Poor posture is easy, whereas adapting habits of good posture often requires conscious effort. Most people do not think about their posture until someone brings it to their attention. The benefits of good posture far outweigh poor posture.

You could say that poor posture habits have followed trends in society. Children carry heavy  backpacks, adults lug briefcases and bags to work, and many people spend hours hunched over a computer screen at  work or at home.

Poor posture is not only a bad habit, but it can lead to back pain and neck pain.

Change takes willpower. However, the rewards of good posture are well worth the effort. You will feel great, and you will look taller and appear more confident!

What Does Good Posture Look Like?
The body is straight, but not robotic. Good posture looks something like this: The ears, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles align in a straight line. If you hung an imaginary plumb line from the earlobe, the line would hang straight through the middle of the anklebone.

Good posture means there is musculoskeletal balance. This balance helps to protect the joints in the spine from excessive stress. Good posture also guards against injury and possible deformity, and it can even help prevent back pain and neck pain.

Symptoms of scoliosis

Some of the symptoms of scoliosis are back pain, hip pain, leg pain, trouble maintaining posture and in severe cases difficult breathing.


I personally suffered from all of the above. I use to have chronic back pain, I would cry for hours and wish that something heavy would fall on my back jus to stop the pain. But it was so bad that the doctors had to prescribe me medicine for the pain. Now, is still have back, leg, and hip pain. The breathing has been an issue with me also because sometimes I feel like I'm not getting enough oxygen.

Do you suffer from any of these?

yea scoliosis

yeaaaa scoliosis

Hemivertebra produce a growth imbalance in the spine and, therefore, result in the spine growing crooked. This is the type of scoliosis i have, its in the lumbar....It sucks but i'm learning to live with it and love it.

Neuromuscular scoliosis

Neuromuscular implies there is some type of problem with the muscles that support the spine. At times, the body does not have the strength to support the spine, and gravity causes the spine to curve. Other times, the body pulls unevenly on different sides of the spine. Children with neuromuscular scoliosis usually have problems with other muscle groups, and may struggle or be unable to walk. The most common cause is cerebral palsy - a syndrome caused by a brain injury within the first two years of life. Children often cannot walk and have developmental delays. Some forms are very mild, while others involve all of the extremities.

Scoliosis occurs in approximately 50% of children with cerebral palsy. Other causes are injuries or syndromes that affect the spinal cord. Spina bifida (a failure of the bony portions of the spine to form properly around the nerves) may cause no abnormalities, or paralysis in the legs. The higher the lesion, the more likely scoliosis will occur. Similarly, gun shot wounds or severe injuries to the spine during growth may cause paralysis and scoliosis.

Degenerative scoliosis

Scoliosis can also develop later in life, as joints in the spine degenerate and create a bend in the back. This condition is sometimes called adult scoliosis. Degenerative scoliosis is a medical condition where a right-left curvature of the spine develops, due to degeneration of the disc. This misalignment of the spine can cause back and/or leg pain, due to muscle fatigue and nerve impingement. Patients suffering from scoliosis often undergo back surgery to restore proper alignment and disc height. During the procedure, the surgeon removes most of the disc between the two or more vertebrae that are to be stabilized and implants a spacer to restore correct spinal alignment. The surgeon also implants bone-forming cells that bridge the space between the vertebrae and allow the bone to grow together. Increased stability and restoration of alignment often result in significant pain relief.

Idiopathic scoliosis

By far the most common form of scoliosis is idiopathic (“idiopathic” refers to a disease or condition of unknown origin) scoliosis, which most often develops in adolescents and typically progresses during the adolescent growth spurt. Because it most often occurs during adolescence, this condition is sometimes called adolescent scoliosis. There is no known cause of idiopathic scoliosis  although it does tend to occur in families. The risk of curvature progression is increased during puberty, when the growth rate of the body is the fastest. Scoliosis with significant curvature of the spine is much more prevalent in girls than in boys, and girls are eight times more likely to need treatment for scoliosis, because they tend to have curves that are much more likely to progress.

This is a 6 year old boy with a hemivertebrae at L4 treated by excision. The associated curvature corrected from 37° to 0. The boy had no restrictions after 6 months.

Congenital scoliosis

Congenital scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that results from anomalies or abnormally developed vertebrae, the building blocks of the spinal column.  These anomalies occur in utero at 4-6 weeks of gestation.  Specific abnormalities include hemivertebra, which is a wedge-shaped or half vertebra, unsegmented bar, which is a failure of the normal separation of the individual building blocks of the spine, and mixed abnormalities.  The number of abnormal vertebra, their location, and the growth potential around these abnormal vertebrae, is what determines how severe congenital curvature will become.  For very mild single vertebra anomalies, a deformity may not be readily apparent and may be picked up incidentally on a chest x-ray or other study done for another purpose.  In patients in whom multiple anomalies are noted, the trunk may be severely shortened and severe spinal deformity may be noted. In these cases, the curvature will often progress, resulting in severe lung disease and/or neurological deficits if left untreated.

Patients with congenital scoliosis also have a high incidence of abnormalities in other organ systems.  For example, there is a 10% incidence of cardiac abnormalities, a 25% incidence of genito-urinary abnormalities, and up to a 40% incidence of intraspinal anomalies.  Therefore, the patients are carefully worked up and even patients, who are seemingly otherwise normal, are sent for testing prior to surgery. Tests performed include an echocardiogram, renal (kidney) ultrasound, and screening MRI of the entire spine.  Intraspinal anomalies that can occur include lipomas or fatty benign tumors of the spinal canal, scar tissue within the spinal canal, bony or cartilaginous spicules within the spinal canal, (diastematomyelia) and various other problems.  These may require separate treatment from the spinal curvature itself.

The treatment for congenital scoliosis is aggressive in that if progression is noted, even for relatively small curves, surgery is indicated.  This turns out to be the most conservative approach in that early surgery often allows the patient to avoid much more extensive surgery later.  It is not uncommon for patients of one to one and a half years of age to undergo surgery that is relatively limited in nature.  Nonoperative treatment consists of observation at 4 to 6-month intervals and if progression is noted, surgery is indicated.  Bracing may be used in only a small percentage of patients in whom compensatory curvatures adjacent to congenital anomalies may be treated to prevent them from worsening.

Thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO) & Milwaukee brace

In children their bones are still growing and they might have moderate scoliosis, the doctor may recommend a brace. Wearing a brace won't cure scoliosis, or reverse the curve, but it usually prevents further progression of the curve. Most braces are worn day and night. A brace's effectiveness increases with the number of hours a day it's worn. Children who wear braces can usually participate in most activities and have few restrictions. If necessary, kids can take off the brace to participate in sports or other physical activities.

Braces are discontinued after the bones stop growing. This typically occurs:

1. About two years after girls begin to menstruate
2. When boys need to shave daily


Braces are of two main types:
1. Underarm or low-profile brace. This type of brace is made of modern plastic materials and is contoured to conform to the body. Also called a thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO), this close-fitting brace is almost invisible under the clothes, as it fits under the arms and around the rib cage, lower back and hips. Underarm braces are not helpful for curves in the upper spine.

2. Milwaukee brace. This full-torso brace has a neck ring with rests for the chin and for the back of the head. The brace has a flat bar in the front and two flat bars in the back. Because they are more cumbersome, Milwaukee braces usually are used only in situations where an underarm brace won't help.

i wish they had thought about making the spinecor brace look like this back in 2000, i had to deal with that hard boston brace tlsoa