Back problems

[Rayne]

Does scoliosis have anything to do with lupus?? I didn't have this until after the lupus flared up.

[Lily]

Hi Rayne,

I take it they have done an x-ray to determine the scoliosis? Do you have prior x-rays' demonstrating no scoliosis? I dont think they ever x-rayed my lower back until I was being investigated for Lupus and it was an accidental discovery in me but they said I've probably had it for a long long time just that it had never been discovered before.

As far as I know it's got nothing to do with Lupus. There are several threads we've had in the past on this as a few of us here have a scoliosis.

love
Lily

[here]

I have had scoliosis since I was a child. I even had to wear a brace for it from sixth to eigth grade. I always thought it was an independant disease. However, I did have a specialist once tell me that certain disease can sometimes be associated with scoliosis. Lupus was not one of them mentioned.

Scoliosis can also exist on its own independantly. It is more important to monitor I have been told when you are younger until you body stops growing. If I remember correctly after 30 or 36 degrees in the curvature, they consider a brace until you stop growing. If the curve become over 60 degrees, sugerical options are sometimes consider to straighten the spine.

The only other times you have to worry about the curve is when you are pregnant (for 2 reasons - 1. the added wght places more pressure on your spine; and 2 if you have an epideral) and when you gain wght. Last, as you age, the curve can place stress on various joints I have been told. Therefore, you may need to exercise or consider rehab to help deal with this. However, that is only if your curvature is effecting your alignment as a whole.

If your curvature is due to one leg being shorter than the other, they can consider lifts in your shoes.

The only other times curvatures become a problem is if they are near vital organs and can place pressure on them. My curve is a lower "J" curve (ironic-uh?) and does not near anything vital thank gosh.

If I remember correctly, scoliosis is not that uncommon. Scoliosis simply means that there is a curve in a spine. So unless it is severe, really nothing to concern yourself with.

I hope this helps... this is just what I have been told by various specialists/doctors over the years. I am not a doctor.

Take care,

Jamie

[Rayne]

Thank you both of you. Before this point in my life I didn't have scoliosis so that's why I wondered if Lupus could have brought it on.

Yes they did do several x-rays because I was having such severe back pain (I still am) that's how they discovered I had scoliosis. I am currently in physical therapy but it's not helping at all.

I feel out of options and I hate it!

[Lily]

((((((((Rayne)))))))

I guess what I was trying to say before was that I had it but didnt know I had it because I have no previous lower spine x-rays for them to detect it. Mine is quite mild and is an C curve lower spine. I wonder if some kind of back brace is out of the question for you now? I hope they are at least trying to treat your pain adequately - maybe a pain specialist visit would be a good idea if you havent already?

Sending hugs,

love
Lily

[raggedyann1]

Rayne,

I would definitely pursue a pain doctor. The good pain doctors do so much more than just prescribe medication. There are spinal blocks or something ( i have never had them my pain is not in my back) also the lidoderm patches are non-narcotic and supposed to be very good. There are probably many more possibilities that I know nothing about.

Take care,
Karen

[flowergarden]

Rayne, my daughter had scoliosis and had to have rods put in her back.

I was told by one PCP that she rarely sees backs in girls that are really straight. Most have some small amount of scoliosis, even if it's not really noticeable.

My daughter's PCP noticed it when she was in 7th grade, I believe. She was followed for several years as it continued to get worse. After they determined that she had quit growing and she continued to get worse it began to be more serious. She had an "S" curve, with the top one at 51 degrees and the bottom at 36 degrees. Never once did she have any pain.

The causes of scoliosis are still unknown. I have heard of no known link to lupus.

When you look back in old pictures, can you tell if your shoulders were uneven? Were your shoulder blades or hips uneven? Did dresses hang unevenly? That would be one way to tell if you had it earlier.

Scoliosis is not dangerous until it gets to such a degree that it can or possibly could later cause damage to organs, or sometimes in pregnancy. Unless your doc is concerned, I wouldn't see any need to be.

I would lay odds that your pain is not involved with the scoliosis. I'm not a doctor though. I agree with the others that a visit to a pain specialist would be reasonable.

Good luck. Please keep us informed. :luck: :flowers: