It can be absolutely crushing when your health prevents you from doing the things you love. Here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic, we frequently treat people who have found themselves in that demoralising position, and we’ve met a number of people whose passion is bowls (also known as lawn bowls).
Bowls is a very social sport, and when the symptoms of scoliosis – primarily back pain – threaten to stop you playing, it’s easy to feel like you’re losing friends as well as your favourite pastime.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are the stories of two people who came to the Scoliosis SOS Clinic and, with the help of our ScolioGold treatment programme, overcame their pain to get back on the green.
Dora Howard
from Barnet, North London
“When playing bowls, you often get slightly sore on one side, but the pain I was experiencing was entirely different – and much more painful – than anything I’d experienced before. I genuinely thought I was going to have to give up my bowls, and for me that would have been devastating. So I am delighted with the outcome of my treatment.”
Read Dora’s Story >>
Gloria Templeton
from Coventry, West Midlands
“Living life as ‘Gloria with scoliosis’ has not been easy, and I was devastated when I had to give up playing bowls. But the Scoliosis SOS consultants have been great – I have been able to start playing again, and have made a great new group of friends from the clinic.”
Read Gloria’s Story >>
If your scoliosis is threatening to keep you from doing what you love, Scoliosis SOS may be able to help you. Call our clinic on 0207 488 4428 or use the links below to find out more.
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Idiopathic scoliosis tends to start developing between the ages of 10 and 15 – in other words, around puberty. Unfortunately, this is also when most young girls start menstruating.
As many women will tell you, this stage of your life can make you feel insecure and confused even without the added complication of a curved spine. If you’re developing idiopathic scoliosis at the same time, it can make those negative feelings even more intense.
Will scoliosis affect my periods?
There has been very little formal scientific research into how or why scoliosis affects menstruation, although we do have plenty of anecdotal accounts from girls with scoliosis who claim to have experienced irregular periods.
That being said, there is some research to suggest that girls with idiopathic scoliosis may (on average) start having periods slightly later than girls without scoliosis.
The female body can be confusing at the best of times, and the experience of one girl with scoliosis might be completely different from the next. If you do feel that your period is irregular, speak to your GP to see what they can do to help you.
Does scoliosis increase period pain?
It has been suggested that scoliosis can amplify the amount of period pain one experiences. Brooklyn Abortion Clinic lists scoliosis among a number of skeletal conditions that may increase feelings of period pain.
It’s not especially clear why this should be the case, but it may have something do with the amount of pressure placed the spine as your uterus contracts and swells during menstruation. This, along with hormonal changes, is what causes back pain even for girls with healthy spines when they’re menstruating, so it stands to reason that it could be even worse for girls who already experience back pain as a result of scoliosis.
Do you feel like scoliosis is interfering with your life, causing you pain and making you feel insecure? If so, the Scoliosis SOS Clinic may be able to help.
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These days, the global calendar is seemingly overflowing with dates dedicated to matters of social and cultural importance.
Naturally, with so many commemorative days over-saturating the diary, not all of the recent additions have been ground-breaking (we’re looking at you, Ice Cream Sandwich Day).
That being said, there are still plenty of worthy dates that have become welcome additions to the calendar, and Sisters’ Day is the perfect example of just that.
What is Sisters’ Day?
Celebrated on the first Sunday of August (that’s Sunday 4 August in 2019), Sisters’ Day is dedicated to female siblings, allowing girls and women of all ages to celebrate the unbreakable bond they share together.
At Scoliosis SOS, we have seen first-hand the importance of sisterhood and the support that sisters so often provide for one another. It’s especially inspiring when two sisters are living with scoliosis and helping each other to thrive in spite of it.
Here are a few examples of scoliosis sisters who came together in their quest to overcome their curved spines and made it through the hardship together.
Rachel & Rebekah
Rachel and Rebekah Manning from Bradley Stoke weren’t diagnosed with scoliosis until Rachel went to university to study physiotherapy. Once she began to learn about the body, she quickly realised what was happening to her own spine.
From there, Rachel was able to help diagnose her younger sister’s condition as well as her own. After numerous X-ray scans and endless doctor’s appointments, the outlook wasn’t good for either of the Manning siblings.
But then their father discovered Scoliosis SOS. Faced with the possibility of surgery, the family explored the non-surgical treatment options available at our clinic and opted to give us a shot.
Thanks to our ScolioGold treatment programme, Rebekah has managed to stabilise her curve, while Rachel has grown 1.5cm in height and is virtually pain-free.
Read Rachel & Rebekah’s Story >
Lydia & Louise
Lydia and Louise Marshall from Bibury were diagnosed with scoliosis at the ages of 22 and 17 respectively. Both were told that they needed surgery for their curved spines.
But a visit to the Scoliosis SOS Clinic changed all that. With the help of a 4-week ScolioGold treatment course, Louise was able to stabilise her curve, eliminating the need for spinal fusion surgery. She is now able to play sports and enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
The incredible results soon led Louise’s sister Lydia to enrol on her own treatment course, and she too managed to rid herself of the debilitating back pain her scoliosis was causing. Her spinal rotation has improved so much that her lung capacity has almost doubled as a result!
Read Lydia & Louise’s Story >
Nadia & Zaria
Nadia and Zaria Chowdhury from Old Market were diagnosed relatively late, with Nadia discovering her scoliosis at 25 and Zaria at 17. Worse still, the news came during important times in their education, coinciding with the start of Zaria’s university journey and right in the middle of Nadia’s studies.
Though they tried non-surgical alternatives – visiting chiropractors, physiotherapists and osteopathy specialists – the girls found none of these methods provided long-term relief for their suffering.
With the prospect of corrective surgery looming, the girls turned to Scoliosis SOS for help. By combining a variety of therapeutic techniques and treatments, we were able to help the siblings improve their posture. By the time they had completed the course at our London clinic, the angle of Zaria’s hip and spine had noticeably improved, and Nadia even became taller as a result.
Read Nadia & Zaria’s Story >
If you’d like to come to the Scoliosis SOS Clinic for treatment, please give us a call on 0207 488 4428 or use the links below to contact us.
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We recently posted the following question on our Instagram, Twitter and Facebook pages:
Have you ever had any problems at work because of your scoliosis?
Here are some of the replies we received from our followers:
“Yes. I work as a vet nurse, so holding / carrying large dogs and being on my feet all day are very painful. I’ve had to reduce to part-time hours as I cannot cope with full-time due to constant muscular pain.”
– Amy, via Facebook
“I’m always in pain and feeling uncomfortable, and people think I’m faking it which is upsetting.”
– Florentina, via Instagram
“It makes things very difficult, I can’t sit or stand for too long.”
– Em, via Facebook
“I can’t do long surgeries”
– Dr Eric, via Instagram
“Yup, had to move desks as the desk was a wave shape and my rib cage kept catching on the desk because the wave didn’t fit with my curve!”
– Debbie, via Twitter
“My supervisors threatened to fire me because I wasn’t lifting heavy bins, etc.”
– Hiba, via Instagram
“I’ve been turned down for many jobs due to scoliosis.”
– Tanya, via Facebook
As you can see, many people with scoliosis have encountered challenges in their professional lives as a result of the condition and its symptoms.
But this doesn’t mean that scoliosis has to stand in the way of your career ambitions.
Could ScolioGold treatment help you to achieve your career goals?
Here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic, we’ve helped thousands of scoliosis patients to manage their condition and continue following their dreams. Here are just a few examples…
Anna Russell, Solicitor
“By the end of my time [at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic] I could already feel the benefits. My posture is much better, my shoulders more level, and my spine looks straighter. Even my back doesn’t ache.”
Read Anna’s Story >>
Edie Kirkwood, Nurse
“I have now gone back to work, as a result of the treatment, which for me is such a relief. I am one of the few people who generally love their job, and the thought of being unable to continue my passion was very distressing. My life is now back to normal.”
Read Edie’s Story >>
Carol Davies, Farmer
“I suffered for a long time and now I’m standing up straight, which I certainly wasn’t before…we’re now planting broadleaf trees for conservation, hoping to help with the carbon footprint of the world.”
Read Carol’s Story >>
Craig Piepru, Tattoo Artist
“I was suffering on a daily basis, sometimes to the point where I just had to stop working. The pain really was draining the life out of me.”
Read Craig’s Story >>
Dame Anne Evans, Opera Singer
“I had been suffering from excruciating back problems for some time and had been advised that the only answer was surgery. My condition was aggravated by the physical activity that was an integral part of my career as an opera singer. I cannot explain how grateful I am to Scoliosis SOS. I was given a programme tailored to my particular needs…if I get a twinge of pain, instead of popping anti-inflammatory pills, I just go to the bars for a few exercises and it goes away.”
Read Dame Anne’s Story >>
Josie Stone, Vet
“I am ecstatic to have found these exercises. No words can describe the relief I felt when my pain started to disappear. I have always wanted to work with animals, and the idea of having to put off my dreams and go through major surgery was terrifying. I feel so lucky to have found an answer to my problems.”
Read Josie’s Story >>
And if all of those stories haven’t convinced you, consider this one final response we received to the question we posted on social media: Have you ever had any problems at work because of your scoliosis?
“All the time! Although much less after working with you legends.”
– Faye via Instagram
Use the links below to find out more about the Scoliosis SOS Clinic and how we can help you to overcome the problems some face while working with scoliosis.
About Our Treatment Method Book an Initial Consultation
Further reading: Coping with Scoliosis When You Work at a Desk
The phrase osteogenesis imperfecta may look like a mouthful, but there’s a chance you may be familiar with this condition under a different name.
Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is commonly known as brittle bone disease: a genetic condition that prevents adequate production of collagen, resulting in under-developed bones that are naturally more susceptible to fractures.
According to the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation, osteoporosis is an almost universal consequence of this (learn about osteoporosis here). Sadly, it’s not the only possible consequence that people with OI sometimes have to deal with.
The relationship between osteogenesis imperfecta and scoliosis
While the likelihood of being diagnosed with both osteogenesis imperfecta and scoliosis is extremely rare (0.1 in a million), it’s far from an impossibility. In fact, many within the medical community theorise that there is a relationship between the two conditions.
It’s believed by some medical professionals that OI can actively contribute to the development of scoliosis. As such, the chances of developing scoliosis are, in theory, likely to increase marginally if you already have OI.
Scientific studies on OI and scoliosis
Findings presented by James J. McCarthy at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ 74th Annual Meeting in 2007 appeared to confirm this theory. The study focused on childhood OI in particular, and was carried out retroactively.
Of the 288 osteogenesis imperfecta patients studied, 83 were later diagnosed with scoliosis. This represented a 28.8% incidence of scoliosis in existing OI sufferers. What’s more, those who underwent corrective surgery for their scoliosis had a high rate of complication.
Meanwhile, a further study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in 2017 noted that, while scoliosis is rarely discovered in OI patients under six years old, it can progress rapidly thereafter.
The journal went on to note that the most common type of scoliosis curve found in OI sufferers was a single thoracic curve (present in 97% of scoliosis patients with type I OI). Meanwhile, 58% of scoliosis patients with type III OI had curves in the thoracic region.
Treating scoliosis patients with osteogenesis imperfecta
Due to the fragility of OI patients’ bones, scoliosis treatment can be tricky. Manoeuvrability may be limited, and stress placed on the bones could prove to be dangerous.
What’s more, younger patients may also exhibit confidence issues and lack of trust in treatment providers, particularly if they have suffered multiple bone fractures in the past.
Here at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic, our aim is to provide safe and effective non-surgical treatment for people with scoliosis. For those who also suffer from osteogenesis imperfecta, our ScolioGold programme is a fantastic way of treating the symptoms of scoliosis without aggravating the symptoms of OI.
From muscular imbalance and trunk rotation to breathing and posture improvement, our specialist treatment courses (led by trained professionals) can be truly life-changing for those who have both OI and scoliosis. The treatment can even be modified to involve fun, interactive exercises for younger patients.
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