View Full Version : my damn back
My damn upper back just keeps getting worse (as does everything else, but this is a back post.) It keeps feeling tighter and tighter, with the bones feeling as if they stick out further through the skin. I think there's some relation with the way I sit due to the scoliosis - besides the torque of my right side, and the lateral bend, I'm always bending forward just below my rib cage, and that's very uncomfortable. The chest strap doesn't prevent the bending, and I haven't found a brace that does. Massage doesn't help. Any ideas what I can do? This back needs help, and the orthopod says no.
BTW, my Orioles still suck.
Chicago
04-12-2007, 09:53 PM
Would a modified chair that was like a trolly or cart be possible - leaning forward and to the left on a flat angled surface. Maybe it would streatch back and reverse the scoliosis a little.
KiranA
04-12-2007, 10:03 PM
I've opted for surgery because my back pain was pretty much running my life, but you may want to consider some options like:
1. Pilates: A friend of mine somehow managed to reverse her scoliosis by taking these classes. They help build stronger core muscles, which is usually the cause of scoliosis (weak muscles). Keep in mind her curve was not that severe. I'm not sure where yours is at, but no pilates or yoga could save me.
2. Seating Adjustments: Go to a seating clinic at your local rehab centre. They may be able to put wedges and even side supports to help you compensate for the way you are currently sitting.
3. Physio: If you can access a physio familiar with scoliosis, they can often either work with you on specifically strengthening the weaker side of your back, and give you methods of relieving pain through stretches
If I think of anything else, I'll let you know. Good luck!
We've tried seating adjustments, and corsets, and hard braces. No luck.
I haven't found a PT knowledgeable about scoliosis, but the ones I have seen weren't able to help because the pain and scapula popping prevented me from exercising (I was willing, and did try, but that skin-ripping sensation when I move, coupled with the bone on bone rubbing, made it intolerable. I'm still looking for a way.)
adi chicago
04-14-2007, 07:25 PM
sorry to hear alan ,pain and spasms are my worse enemy from my neck down all over my body.maybe a good pain medical center will help us one day.
good luck and never give up.
teena
04-15-2007, 02:11 AM
BTW, my Orioles still suck.
I had to chuckle when I saw this one-liner. You will never lose your sense of humor, and that's something you need....:D
Go, Orioles!!! Beat somebody!!! :D
Take care, Alan! And as my friend at work says about things that just get on her nerves..."Press on, anyway!"
Teena
It's simply getting too difficult to sit, and to move. I don't have that much movement -- I want to be able to use what I have. Sitting lopsided, with the back troubles, prevent that.
BTW, my new TDX3 chair isn't helping. I don't like where the headrest is (too far forward), and we haven't figured out a way to fix that. A different frame and headrest, perhaps.
painlessjoe
05-12-2007, 08:49 PM
You should see an Osteopath for help as you may have some dislocated and / or pinched nerves and they need to be reset.
Good Luck
LaMemChose
05-12-2007, 10:20 PM
You should see an Osteopath for help as you may have some dislocated and / or pinched nerves and they need to be reset.
Good Luck
Joe, do you get the full meaning of "We're spinal cord injured"??? :zombie:
darkeyed_daisy
05-12-2007, 10:30 PM
You should see an Osteopath for help as you may have some dislocated and / or pinched nerves and they need to be reset.
Good Luck
I dont know if alan has rods or not but fusions are pretty hard to reset without surgery. I would even be afraid to let someone "reset" what isnt fused...LOL I am pretty sure all of us here have pinched and dislocated nerves.... Sorry joe...
Feel better Alan.... and may the orioles win a game soon:innocent: :angel:
painlessjoe
05-12-2007, 10:58 PM
Joe, do you get the full meaning of "We're spinal cord injured"??? :zombie:
Have a nice day to you too.
metronycguy
05-13-2007, 01:19 AM
i dont think painless Joe understands what we are all doing here
I don't have rods. I think I could use them.
And the Orioles still suck. :(
cara_m
05-16-2007, 09:16 PM
Alan, I don't know if you use a power chair but if you do, have you considered a tilt in place. Some days when I'm really hurting or exhausted the tilt comes in handy. It's a struggle to get in and out of bed some days so I go up against a wall tilt my chair back and put a pillow up against the wall with my head resting on it. It's not quite as comfy as lying down but it does help somewhat. Also consider a J-back. I tend too sit more on my left hip and the j-back does help some. I don't think you can use a j back on a manual chair since I don't think it would be able to fold.
teena
05-16-2007, 11:15 PM
I don't have rods. I think I could use them.
And the Orioles still suck. :(
Gentle hugs, Alan!!!
And I repeat...GO ORIOLES!!! BEAT SOMEBODY!!! :D
Take care!
Teena
Cara,
I have tilt on my chair, but it's as uncomfortable tilting back as sitting up. There is no comfortable position. Maybe if I had one or both shoulder blades removed, I could move without them rubbing. Probably wouldn't work. :(
Teena,
the Orioles won a game last night, but they still suck.
dejerine
05-20-2007, 05:44 AM
Alan, this is probably not findable, but a chair, with a ring with a channel welded to the back, through which threaded rods are welded to the chair back, with hand tightenable knobs, should allow you to rotate. Think of a circle within a circle and in the gap three rods come off the chair back. A knob threads onto the rods. You could rotate such a chair translationally. The inner circle could join the outer circle at three strongpoints, but this would still allow 60 degress of rotation. maybe gravity would then put traction in the direction you desire. Good quality Steelcraft office chairs have a kind of amazingly good foam that supports flesh really well. I have seen a frame for old folks where two legs can pivot apart, which have wheels on the floor, shaped like a chicken bone, ie. the breast bone. These two pieces of channel can be the floor support. Then a heavy pipe could come up straight from the floor and the two circles could be welded to it. A steelcraft chair could be connected to the circles by a threaded rod which fits through a gap. Does any of this make sense. I saw something similar so that the chicken bone was parallel to the floor., and actually wondered if I could ship it to you, but it weighed a lot. It had everthing but the ability to rotate translationally, ie left and right. Guys who weld steel building are very creative. If you could find one, ask him if he could design a chair support which would hold your chair and also allow it to rotate. Okay, I know this another of my bad ideas. I just hate to see you suffer. In yachting they have what is known as a gimbal so a kerosene light can rotate as the boat tilts. If you could get hold of a heavyweight gimbal with screws to fix the gimbal at an angle, you should be able to fix a chair at any angle. Really dumb, but hey, desperate times, right?