How one Small thing can change your life - Aka How I learned to love my Walking Stick - General

OP, I was also born with a shorter leg. Only, like, an eighth of an inch though, so it hardly affected my spine. Sucks to hear what it did to you.

I had very acute scoliosis, about 1-3 degrees, but it corrected itself and my doctor says that I'm fine now.

You are tougher than Adeptus Astartes

Get a Fedora to go with your cane.

Is there like any timeframe given on how soon you die due to this?

[QUOTE=nikomo;30553573]Is there like any timeframe given on how soon you die due to this?[/QUOTE] sixteen years ago

smoke weed = no pain

I almost have scoliosis, my spine is just under borderline.

My friend/roommate also has scoliosis. However, he's still a very active person. He runs 5k's and half-marathons and does bike races all the time. If the pain is really like what you say, then I'm pretty impressed by him.

How is the surgery so risky for this, you must be exaggerating! My sister has exactly what you have. She is 14 years old and is having surgery because her spine has not a 14 degree curve like yours, but a [I]42 degree curve.[/I] She will be having rods inserted into her back to straighten it out and the surgery is semi risky, but nowhere near as risky as you put it. The only downside, the doctor said, is that she won't be able to bend over to touch her toes, she won't be able to rotate her back, only her neck, and other disabilities. It is, however, better than having a painful crooked back. The best part is, too, that I get to give my blood in case something goes wrong in the surgery! My and my sister are directly compatible for blood, the only two people in our family that are, the only problem is that she is anemic and they find it much better to get healthy blood for the procedure (like mine) instead of her own unhealthy blood. [editline]19th June 2011[/editline] Also, that picture you put in the OP does you no justice and is probably a form of "false advertising" for lack of better words, since the curve in the OP is a HELL of a lot more than 14 degrees. [editline]19th June 2011[/editline] In fact, most people have a curvature in their spine anywhere from 1-8 degrees naturally, and it's only considered scoliosis when it's above 8 degrees, and yours is only 6 degrees over the "scoliosis limit". There are people like my sister who have it much, much worse than you.

Tristian, OP used to be a mod He's a fairly respected user of facepunch and I really doubt he's lying he also made it clear that the picture wasn't him

I never said he was lying and I know he was a mod, I've been here since 05 and him since 04. [editline]19th June 2011[/editline] In fact, I didn't realize he wasn't a mod until I read your post [editline]19th June 2011[/editline] I was just pointing out that it is weird that my sister has a 42 degree curve and she was given the option of a very successful procedure that isn't very risky, and Rayven says that the procedure he was offered resulted in 75% deaths. :raise:

I also have scoliosis, I had to wear a large plastic brace like this for nearly two years while growing, to limit the curve. [IMG]http://www.orthoticsprostheticsne.com/home/images/stories/soft-boston-scoliosis-brace.jpg[/IMG] Because I wore that, I guess it's not as painful now as it could have been. But the brace was hell to wear at the time. When it was hot I would sweat and just bake in it, and have itches I couldn't scratch. I don't get too much pain now, it mostly hurts when I'm tired. Sometimes it can be quite bad when I'm trying to get to sleep, every position I try and lie in being very uncomfortable. Funnily enough I found cannabis to help with the pain quite considerably. After a few tokes I get uncontrollable twitches in my back and I can feel everything losening and relaxing, it can be a welcome relief.

That sucks bro, i think my brother has something like this. He uses a sort of special sole for his shoes to correct it though, and he seems fine. I really don't know.

I have this too, but my legs are the same length and, my spine has returned over time from 10 degrees bowed left to about 2 or 4 degrees

[QUOTE=Sir Tristan;30557905]I never said he was lying and I know he was a mod, I've been here since 05 and him since 04. [editline]19th June 2011[/editline] In fact, I didn't realize he wasn't a mod until I read your post [editline]19th June 2011[/editline] I was just pointing out that it is weird that my sister has a 42 degree curve and she was given the option of a very successful procedure that isn't very risky, and Rayven says that the procedure he was offered resulted in 75% deaths. :raise:[/QUOTE] he didn't say that it resulted in 75% of deaths, just that the doctor said it has a 75% chance of death in his case there are many factors involved in surgery and what worked for your sister and many others may not work for everyone

why dont you just wear a shoe that has a TWO cm extra thick sole, that why it will compensate

I have scoliosis from weak lower back muscles, the left lower side of my back is really muscular while the right side is pathetically weak. I'm doing pilates to fix it though, and it's working pretty well.

[QUOTE=Sir Tristan;30557686]How is the surgery so risky for this, you must be exaggerating! My sister has exactly what you have. She is 14 years old and is having surgery because her spine has not a 14 degree curve like yours, but a [I]42 degree curve.[/I] She will be having rods inserted into her back to straighten it out and the surgery is semi risky, but nowhere near as risky as you put it. The only downside, the doctor said, is that she won't be able to bend over to touch her toes, she won't be able to rotate her back, only her neck, and other disabilities. It is, however, better than having a painful crooked back. The best part is, too, that I get to give my blood in case something goes wrong in the surgery! My and my sister are directly compatible for blood, the only two people in our family that are, the only problem is that she is anemic and they find it much better to get healthy blood for the procedure (like mine) instead of her own unhealthy blood. [editline]19th June 2011[/editline] Also, that picture you put in the OP does you no justice and is probably a form of "false advertising" for lack of better words, since the curve in the OP is a HELL of a lot more than 14 degrees. [editline]19th June 2011[/editline] In fact, most people have a curvature in their spine anywhere from 1-8 degrees naturally, and it's only considered scoliosis when it's above 8 degrees, and yours is only 6 degrees over the "scoliosis limit". There are people like my sister who have it much, much worse than you.[/QUOTE] I agree. I have scoliosis myself with 21 degree curve, I have no back pain at all except when doing something physical work that requires you to bend your back a whole lot. The doctor said that you have to have a curve with about 30+ degrees to get surgery, anything less than that is not fixable and you have to live with it. You also have to use a brace until you stop growing. OP, are you sure the back pain is from the scoliosis itself and not something else? It really seems strange that it would cause that amount of pain with such a small curve. [QUOTE=Pilk;30579961]I have scoliosis from weak lower back muscles, the left lower side of my back is really muscular while the right side is pathetically weak. I'm doing pilates to fix it though, and it's working pretty well.[/QUOTE] That is actually a common symptom of scoliosis, it doesn't cause it. In fact, no one knows what exactly causes scoliosis as of now.

Sorry about not responding, my PC died last Thursday and had to wait to get a new one built. Thanks for all the comments, especially the positive ones (and negative ones too, it always helps to be challenged) I'll try to respond to as many of the posts as I can, but with 3 pages of posts, I won't be able to respond to every one. [QUOTE=ManningQB18;30494768]You say you will eventually die from this. What's the timescale on that? 5 years from now? 10? 20? Indefinite? Do you take any medication for the pain? If you were to be paralyzed, from what point down would it be? Neck? Abdomen?[/QUOTE] The timescale is, unknown, it could be 10 years, it could be 15, the only guarantee is, I won't reach old age. I've tried medication, but frankly, the amount needed to take away most, not all of the pain, is enough to practically turn me into a vegetable. As to being paralysed, it really depends where my spine goes, either bottom of ribs or top of sternum is where it will most likely go. [QUOTE=FalseLogic;30494803]The doctor told me I had scoliosis like... 6 years ago. But he said it wasn't a big deal. Now I want to go get it checked out again. Makes it worse that lately my back has been feeling awful.[/QUOTE] I'd advise anyone who is suffering from any kind of back pain to get it looked at and try preventative measures, trust me, the saving of effort of not doing something, is not worth the reduction in quality of life. [QUOTE=hehe;30494967]I tell you what impresses me? You're ability to just keep going with life, it's like those guys in wheelchairs who play basketball. You're determination and willingness to take the chance for surgery is inspiring.[/QUOTE] Going and fighting my back and pain, as if it were a living entity, is pretty much all I have left in that regards. [QUOTE=PunchedInFac;30495617]I need to make me some terminator armor. What's your measurements Rayven? Someone hand me some Ultrasmurf Geneseed. But you should really get some weed. It's been shown to at least mitigate chronic pain caused by scoliosis, arthritis and others without the side effects that usually come (physical addictions and such) with opioids.[/QUOTE] They put me on Morphine for a time, to see if that'd help, I got to what they said was the safe limit, and still needed more. [QUOTE=GÃ©za!;30500349]Constant pain? Walking stick? The solution is easier than you think: Become doctor House.[/QUOTE] It's kind of hard to reach House levels of wit and cynicism when your mind is all over the place. [QUOTE=RR_Raptor65;30501269]I know EXACTLY how you feel, being in pain all the time. I can't remember the last time I went more than a day without being in pain. I have a Subluxation though, not Scoliosis. Basically my vertebrae shift out of alignment and the nerves in my back get pinched by my own spine and become inflamed. To those who have trouble imagining what this stuff really feels like, hit your funny bone on something hard and then imagine that pain being there all the time and there's nothing you can do to stop it. Painkillers only last so long, and the number of doses needed to have an effect eventually becomes deadly and you can't take them anymore.[/QUOTE] That's about the closest anyone who hasn't experienced it can imagine it as, albeit it's an understatement. [QUOTE=meppers;30501969]hugging him probably causes more pain :smith:[/QUOTE] Being awake causes more pain, but you sort of get used to it, and there's some things worth the pain. [QUOTE=eXiv2;30502059]Let's calculate what a trip would cost and all chip in. [editline]16th June 2011[/editline] Also, RayvenQ, you are a awesome person and somebody who I look up to. Never give up.[/QUOTE] So, if this all goes horribly wrong, everyone who chips in will get arrested for paying to kill me, just kidding. [QUOTE=Carne;30502437]I have something similiar. Instead of curving sideways, my spine curves inwards, so if I stand up against a wall I can easily fit my entire hand between my back and the wall. This might also create problems for me when I get older, and I heard the average age of dying is 30, due do the ribs pressing against the heart, eventually making it stop pumping. Unless I get surgery, but it hasn't caused me any problems yet.[/QUOTE] I'll repeat, GET IT LOOKED AT. [QUOTE=Dysgalt;30506755]Nah we all just hunch over the computer all day long, that is what causes it I guess. In serious note, I guess having a degree of paralysis from pain, spending time on the computer is a suitable escape,allows you to remain confined yet open and free in computer world if you think about it.[/QUOTE] The internet is a fantastic tool for those that have limited mobility, and can't really get out much, contact with people, even those on the internet that you really don't know, can really make a difference in happiness. [QUOTE=DTkach;30510139]That sucks bro. See you all the time in the 40k threads and had no idea you had this shit going on. And I can't help but have sympathy pains (IE random bone aches) when I read shit like this.[/QUOTE] I generally don't go about telling people about it, but as I said before, I had my reasons, namely that person in the other thread, and hopefully getting them to at least see what can be done. [QUOTE=FreakySoup;30511765]Shit, man. Shit. You can barely walk, and [I]you[/i] hold the door for other people? God damn. You are a fucking incredible person.[/QUOTE] I don't see it as incredible, it's something everyone should do, no matter age, gender, race or class. I even, if I'm in the street and there's limited access, stop and let other people through first, whether they are old, disabled, or not. [QUOTE=AaronM202;30511814]That sucks man, i feel sorry for you... Hey, maybe im just insanely stupid, but what if you wore a shoe that was 1 cm higher than the longer foots-shoe? [editline]17th June 2011[/editline] Or would that make it worse? [editline]17th June 2011[/editline] You know what, nevermind, this post is stupid.[/QUOTE] Not stupid whatsoever, I actually have inserts, but as another poster pointed out, too much damage and would probably take 25 years to fix, and strangely, it'd make the pain worse as it forces my back into a position it isn't used to. [QUOTE=TicTac;30512101]I am now paranoid to pop my back.[/QUOTE] I crack my back all the time, little slice of heaven that is, not much relief, but it feels good, kinda like when you take a piss with a full bladder. [QUOTE=NO ONE;30522918]So how does this affect your movement? Are you not very flexible due to it or is it because of too much pain? Does this, pain aside, stop you from doing active things like running or something because it's made your body fragile? Also, how does scoliosis kill you? You should trick out your cane to make the most of it. Get it gold plated or encrusted with diamonds.[/QUOTE] I pretty much have to stop every few minutes, to gte my breath back and crest over the pain, I'm not flexible at all. Yes, I pretty much can't run, hell, not even to save my life, and you wouldn't believe how difficult it makes your love life. It will kill me, because of the spinal cord rubbing against the vertabrae (think a rope being run along a rough sruface) either the pressure from the two conflicting points will make it snap, or it will get frayed along the edges and then go. [QUOTE=AutoTurret;30536026]You are one unlucky son of a bitch, but you should be a motivational speaker or something. Maybe you could talk to all of those suicidal gay kids that think life is tough because of their sexuality.[/QUOTE] Life being tough, is very subjective, as bad as I have it, I know people out there have it worse than me. Frankly, saying something like that is very ignorant. Your life, and how it is, is very important to you, just because someone has it worse, doesn't mean your life is any better for you. [QUOTE=Sir Tristan;30557905]I never said he was lying and I know he was a mod, I've been here since 05 and him since 04. [editline]19th June 2011[/editline] In fact, I didn't realize he wasn't a mod until I read your post [editline]19th June 2011[/editline] I was just pointing out that it is weird that my sister has a 42 degree curve and she was given the option of a very successful procedure that isn't very risky, and Rayven says that the procedure he was offered resulted in 75% deaths. :raise:[/QUOTE] I'm glad your sister has a good chance of getting better, the differences are age and probably method. I'm only going off what the neurosurgeons that I am able to see, have said, and I trust their opinion, as they have learned their skill over many years, it may just be that you have a better or different quality to your neurosurgeons than over here. black_tech, I've effectively had ti for 25 years, 12 actively, albeit ever so slowly creeping up, theres knock on effects that give more pain. By the time I found out I had it, and it being like it is, it was too late, my body had stopped growing and became less forgiving to changes to it, even surgical. One last word, as I have said repeatedly, if you have even any sort of back pain at all, don't blow it off, get it looked at. I'll answer any more questions people may ask.

You're a true gentleman in this day and age. I salute you.

Is it possible to give yourself this problem by sitting down for too long/sitting in a bad position?

Not really, although sitting in a bad position/for too long will end up possibly giving you back pains and stuff. Sitting in a chair shouldn't give you any problems at all, as long as your posture int he chair is correct.

Aaah, I think I might have fucked my back up :v:

I probably sound like a broken record, but go see a doctor, back issues are not something to be taken lightly.

What does it take to be such an awesome gentleman?

Manners, humbleness, patience and chivalry, seriously though, it's not a hard thing to be a gentleman, if you approach a door and someone else does and you get there slightly before them, it takes practically no effort and very little time to just hold the door and let them go through same as if they're just behind you and wanting to use the same door, same with anything really, letting people go before you and such, and it shouln't matter on age, gender, race, anything, it's simply polite and good to be considerate of other people. [QUOTE=FinalHunter;30710527]I'd kill myself if I was in constant pain. I honestly can say with certainty that I couldn't handle it.[/QUOTE] I probably would have, if it had jumped on me all at once like a bear, but, for me, it kinda crept up on me, so it is a lot of pain, and constant, but it's just about bearable, mostly, thoughthere are days where I can do nothing but lie in bed.

[QUOTE=Haxxer;30493256]A girl I know has this condition and damn, I had no idea it was this bad.[/QUOTE] my mate (girl) had it a while back and had an operation on it [img]http://i1.bebo.com/043a/5/large/2008/05/06/19/717804790a7663603006l.jpg[/img]

Another fun fact about me, my immune system is super strong, possibly to do with the fact that i never take any medication unless strictly neccesary, though I did get hit hard with Swine Flu back when that was about, and damn that sucked majorly, two weeks, mostly bedridden and only being able to move at glacier speed while my joints burned.

I am so sorry to hear about this. You are such an inspiration and I respect you! :smile: