New diagnosis of scoliosis in a college student...anyone else experienced this?

[Anonymous]

My niece has been experiencing pelvic and hip pain recently. Her doctor recommended an xray and it showed mild scoliosis!

We are all shocked because her pediatrician screened her for scoliosis routinely as a child. She never showed any of the classic symptoms (one shoulder higher than the other, hips misaligned, etc) She was even screened at school and no signs of scoliosis were identified. She's very active: running, biking, yoga.

Her doctor has recommended a referral to an orthopedic doctor and we are just wondering what to expect from this appointment and what the next steps might be.
Please share any experiences!

[Anonymous]

Similar situation, HS age child. orthopedic doctor will do X-ray to assess spine.

In our case, the diagnosis was NOT scoliosis but something else called congenital high-riding scapula (aka sprengel's deformity). It is very mild, and thus was not noticed as a child. If you look at my DC w/o clothes, you can see one shoulder slightly higher than the other and the development of the muscles around the neck is slightly different. Also DC doesn't stand up super straight. The higher shoulder throws the hips slightly off. Some hip and back pain as a result.

Ortho explained that it happens in embryonic development that the cells for the shoulder blades, which start out near the neck in the embryo, do not migrate down evenly into proper position. No correction needed unless the improper development was severe and limits functioning, in which case it would have been obvious at a much earlier age.

Does not progress, unlike scoliosis, which can worsen as the child grows.

[Anonymous]

She can probably stop the curvature and possibly reverse it through physical therapy.

Don't assume your niece's drs dropped the ball - it can come along VERY fast during growth spurts.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies. My sister feels terrible, like she should have noticed something was wrong before this.

Are there scoliosis specialists, or would a general ortho work ok?

What about a chiropractor?

[Anonymous]

no to the chiropractor! see an orthopedist. I felt bad too, but at this age you rarely see them unclothed or in the shower so how could one notice ? Just be sure to follow up with doc. Scoliosis usually worsens with growth, so if it's mild at the older age, I would not worry too much, but def follow up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:no to the chiropractor! see an orthopedist. I felt bad too, but at this age you rarely see them unclothed or in the shower so how could one notice ? Just be sure to follow up with doc. Scoliosis usually worsens with growth, so if it's mild at the older age, I would not worry too much, but def follow up!

Thank-you. I'll try and get some recommendations from her doctor for an orthopedist who specializes in this. I love the orthopod who treated my shoulder injury, but I guess we need one who is a spinal specialist.

[Anonymous]

My scoliosis was stopped and corrected with a physical therapist and chiropractor. I had to stop doing gymnastics. Any good chiro will take X-rays.

[Anonymous]

I had a corrective body and neck brace for years due to Scoliosis and had to wear a mouthguard all the time due to pressure from the chin pad! Agony, the brace was hot and painful and the mouthguard tasted disgusting and stank! Horrible condition and you have my sympathy!!!