Yes! I posted here a few weeks ago about my horrible back pain and I found out I have scoliosis in the lumbar region and that's why it keeps happening.

I have to build up my core muscles to protect my spine more, and he said I'll have to do my physical therapy exercises for the rest of my life. He also warned there's an increased likelihood of arthritis later on.

He told me if it gets worse they can do shots or something where they burn some very specific nerves that takes the pain away for a year or two. I went to a pain management and rehabilitation doctor.

I have what I call "minor" scoliosis. Not diagnosed until I was in my 50's. I've always had problems keeping my bra straps from sliding off my left shoulder. I would adjust them, but I think I would not be in a relaxed position when I did so and then when I relaxed, there they'd go again. I thought it was odd, but never made the connection. One day about 10 years ago, the gals at work were talking about girl stuff. I mentioned my minor dilemma and the others all seemed to understand it, because they said they had noticed that my left shoulder was lower than my right. How had I never noticed it? And then I saw a doctor and found out why. I do have back pain, but I think it's more likely just old age, LOL.

I have scoliosis too. It's in my mid back and it's quite obvious that my right shoulder is higher than my left one. Because of that, I have a "funny" walk that I can't change.

I'm sorry for you and others who have to deal with this, it sounds unfortunate and awful. I didn't pop out of the womb as a perfect snowflake either - I have other things to deal with. Best wishes.

When you are very young ...usually young middle school age, I think...they pop

you into a brace. But, that would be while you are still growing and would help the scoliosis from getting worse. I know that wouldn't work when you

are fully grown..but wonder if there is some kind of brace that would help

alleviate the awful pain you are feeling now? Did anyone's Dr., mention this?

https://scoliosisspecialists.com/bracing-for-adults/

(just googled and found this) Don't know anything other than the articles. (S0

please don't bombard me and tell me I don't know what I am talking about)

I am sorry you are dealing with this...

About the shoulder thing I wonder if for some the shoulder that is down is the dominant arm. My straps slide off on my right shoulder but that is because most of my life I have used a keyboard of one type or another. Back in the day the typing teacher addressed this. We were told to keep our shoulders level or eventually the muscles would weaken causing one of the shoulders to be lower than the other. I did it for years but now when I type the right shoulder lowers. All that said I have my annual checkup in a couple of weeks and will ask about this.

In my case the lower shoulder is the one I carry my shoulder sling purse on (it just doesn't feel right on my dominant shoulder) and I thought maybe the purse was causing it to some extent. I have pared down what I think I NEED to carry for that reason.

I am so sorry, Susan. Please see an orthopedist, a good one. I feel sure that there must be something that will help. It's amazing what can be done these days.

I have scoliosis, too. Mine is the classic "Dowager's hump" on my back - causes jackets and coats to "ride-up" in back so they must be altered.

When I was a child, there were no checks for it and no braces. A woman at my pulmonary rehab had hers become so severe that it affected her lungs and digestive tract (when one is bent over, everything becomes all "squished" together).

That scared me so I went to see a local world-famous back surgeon. He told me what surgery would be like - first one gets cut on one side, is bedfast on the opposite side for several weeks for the surgery to heal, and then is flipped over the the final surgery is completed on the other side. Altogether, at least 3-4 months in a hospital or rehab facility.

Well, that didn't sound very practical or appealing! So I went to a neurosurgeon and he said that surgery should only be done on the young with VERY severe scoliosis. But he did prescribe a course of physical therapy (paid for by insurance) that would help me strengthen my "core" and the muscles in my back and improve my posture. It doesn't "cure" the malformation" but it prevents the other problems walking and sitting all bent-over will cause. I went and I continue to exercise 3 times weekly (at my own expense). I can't do quite what I once did due to age/progressive worsening of my pulmonary function, but I'm not all bent-over and that's a very good thing.

It's highly inheritable and fortunately neither of my children and none of my grandchildren have inherited it.

My doctor told me it's actually very common and a lot of people don't know they have mild scoliosis. I thought my physical therapist would react when I told her my diagnosis but she just told me it's super common. I just didn't know till I was 35, and I've had back x-rays before and no one mentioned it.

One of my legs feels shorter than the other on the side where my spine curves in. My right heel doesn't quite hit the floor when I stand up straight. I find myself walking a bit crooked to compensate and that can't be good for my joints. I'll have to talk to the Dr about it.

My son-in-law has scoliosis at the top of his spine. When we met him he was in a great deal of pain all the time. So we as a family researched it and found a physiotherapist who dealt with only scoliosis patients. DSIL went there for a year. He still continues to do the exercises which has worked very well. It has cut his pain down by about 80%.

He is not one who pops pain pills so he just lived with a pain. Unbelievable.

I guess it never entered my head that it was hereditary. DSIL has three brothers and none of them got it

Alisande, my DD tried the treatment linked by Uptown Gal. She tried it for several months, but found the garb too uncomfortable to wear. And this is someone who managed to wear a hard back brace for 2 years, as an adolescent. Her curvatures are approx. 37 degree upper curve and 35 degree lower curve.

DD started suffering from chronic back pain again, after having her first child. She decided to seek treatment that might help, since a hard back brace was no longer an option, as an adult. DD is in her young 30's and quite slim, but felt like this elasticized band/shorts contraption, was cutting off circulation to her legs, and fit very awkwardly at the groin area.

You must go back to the doctor often, to have the elastic bands cut shorter (as they stretch out with use) and possibly reconfigured, depending on how your muscles have 'realigned' during the treatment. DD actually found this treatment to cause more pain, (than her childhood hard brace had caused) due to the separate bands having to be pulled extremely tight, to try and force one's core muscles into the appropriate position to support the spine properly.

Perhaps it will work for you, as there are testimonials from other adults who seem really happy with this treatment. But that was DD's experience.

Thanks, everyone, for sharing your experiences and thoughts. When I looked at Uptown Girl's link I thought, I bet that's what my scoliosis looked like when I was in my 20's. So mild compared to my spine today. I imagine a tight brace at this point would be like medieval torture. The exercises prescribed by the second bunch of physical therapists were somewhat similar, and produced a new pain that turned out to be permanent.

Medical care options around here are somewhat limited, but we have an orthopedic group. From the hand surgeries I've had, I know it specializes in long waits in the waiting room, but I'll give it a shot. Thanks again!