20 replies to this topic

[pistol_pete]

I'm a T4 complete for the last three years (as of this Thursday actually.)
a few weeks ago my wife noticed I was sitting a bit askew, my right hip is about two inches higher than the left.
I went to the doc and she sent me for an X-Ray and my lower spine is definitely curved.
I don't know if its my hip flexor muscles which are pulling me wonky or if it's the spine itself.
I've checked out my chair seating and everything seems to be straight and level.

Has this happened to anyone else? how did you fix it?
Is this why some people use standing frames and such?
Should I be doing my hip flexor stretches like the physios told me to?

That's enough questions.

Help.

[Smileyblue]

Hi there Pistol-Pete..

I'm T8 complete and my spine has done the "wonky" thing too.. I can't really answer your questions about why yours has done it, but I can tell you what my Neurosurgeon said about mine and hope it helps.. Basically he said that 1) because of the shoulder injury I was dropping my left shoulder and thus curving my spine, and 2) as there was no muscle control beneath my injury, the spine struggles to keep itself aligned, especially if there are contributing factors, like my shoulder, or bad posture, or any small imbalance..

I hope this helps.. ;-)

[Smileyblue]

Ps. I can't see how the hip flexors could affect the spine, but it is definitely a good idea to keep them stretched out.. Sleep on your stomach every so often, even just for an hour or two.. ;-)

[pistol_pete]

Thanks Smiley

That sounds like a reasonable cause. The lack of abdominal core strength could cause it.
Did your neurosurgeon give you any tips on remedying it.
I have a horrible feeling they are going to tell me my backrest is too low, that I need
to raise it for trunk support.

[Avocado Baby]

Smiley's explained it pretty well. Neuromuscular scoliosis...


I have to have a postural support to help support my spine. Your seating may be straight, but as your spine isn't, it may help to get your seat adjusted to accomodate your spine doing it's own thing.

Hope that helps!

[cathie]

exactly the reason I have to have a different back rest on my next chair - scoliosis. standard backrest just ain't hacking it for me anymore.

[brython2]

My hips have been askew for many years. I recently noticed on my Dr's notes the term Heterotopic ossification. I don't know much about it but I think this happens very early on after a spinal injury. And there is not a lot that can be done to stop it.

Quote

"Study on heterotopic ossification has suggested that it may be linked to injuries to the spinal cord, along with neurological conditions. It appears that mixed signals in the body stimulate normally dormant osteoprogenitor cells, causing them to start growing bone. When these cells are in the soft tissues of the body, it results in heterotopic ossification. The condition often appears in the form of periarticular ossification, especially around the site of hip injuries"

Here's the Wiki page My link

[nomis]

I'm T4 and many years in the chair and only recently began to show a lean to the right. For me the reason appears to be a longterm bias to do activities with my dominant right hand (heavy lifting, etc), the natural pull of gravity and slack posture. I've always kept fit and reasonably subtle so witm me it aint contractions.

After much trial I've improved the situation by placing a wedge under the cushion on the right side to even my sitting and replaced the backrest with a Varilite system which is superb, giving me more suport to sit straighter without falling over. I am now a more symetric happy chappy though the change in posture did mean a few weeks of aches as you'd expect.

My advice is to get your seating sorted out pronto.

[Soryfam]

I also have spinal cord injury-related scoliosid. In my cas I have metaland pins both above and below the part that is twisting. The doctor told me to expect it to happen, and sure enough, here it is, just like clockwork. I'm doing physical therapy to strengthen my back, and I've received a couple of cortisone epidurals. Today I will have a myleogram CT to see exactly what's going on (I can't have MRIs). At some point they will want to put metal along the whole length of my spine so one part isn't more flexible than the others. We'll see what this test today shows.

Sandy

[wheelzoffortune]

Yup, scoliosis. Join the club. ;-)

[megatrig]

After being fit and healthy for 23 years this has crept up on me too!

A number of causes.

Muscle spasm.
Because I had a baclofen pump digging into my left rib cage I spent 18 months leaning to my left.

This has given me a 14% curvature to my spine!!

I used to sit perfectly.

Now I sit really badly throwing my hip up. My ribs down onto my pelvis which really hurts. Shoulders out. I can't push as I fall to one side. Constant nagging pain!!

I go to see my spinal consultant tomorrow for advice. So more anon I guess!!

The senior physio at Stoke doesn't think I can correct it with stretching!!

So it may mean fusing my spine!!

Must admit to being very very worryed!!!

Was looking at the site to see if this had happened to anyone before.

Ok .. bit ashamed of the photos as I hate my awful posture but here goes!!!

Attached Thumbnails

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[pistol_pete]

Seems like its a fairly common problem then.
Super dooper!!!
Another 'ic' to ad to my retinue.

I'm now an Alcoholic scoliotic spastic paraplegic. Sounds like i've got the friggin hiccups.

I might try Nomis's wedge solution. I did shove a folded up towel under the left side of my cushion and that seemed to straighten things up a bit. But I did feel it in my right side flexors after a day. must of been working.

Thankyou all my bent buddies for the replies.

[qbounce]

I've heard of this problem and just last month changed my chair from a sling back to a Jay2 lumbar support back. Hopefully it helps in the long run.

[pistol_pete]

Yup. I went back to the doctor and I've got mild Scoliosis.

I think I'll be trying a new chair back, the J2 lumbar support as mentioned by Qbounce.

The doc also told me to 'lean to the left' if I can. While I'm not about to become a card carrying pinko commy bastard just yet, that's what I'll try to be doing.
Perhaps I'll start with joining my relevant workers union for now and see how that goes.

Though I fail to see how voting for Labour is going to help my munted posture,....stoopid bloody doctors. hmmmph!!!!

[plank]

pistol_pete, on 14 April 2011 - 07:34 AM, said:

Yup. I went back to the doctor and I've got mild Scoliosis.

I think I'll be trying a new chair back, the J2 lumbar support as mentioned by Qbounce.

The doc also told me to 'lean to the left' if I can. While I'm not about to become a card carrying pinko commy bastard just yet, that's what I'll try to be doing.
Perhaps I'll start with joining my relevant workers union for now and see how that goes.

Though I fail to see how voting for Labour is going to help my munted posture,....stoopid bloody doctors. hmmmph!!!!

That's funny!! Not the scoliosis - the leaning to the left. Thanks for the chuckle.

[jenny407]

plank, on 15 April 2011 - 01:25 PM, said:

pistol_pete, on 14 April 2011 - 07:34 AM, said:

Yup. I went back to the doctor and I've got mild Scoliosis.

I think I'll be trying a new chair back, the J2 lumbar support as mentioned by Qbounce.

The doc also told me to 'lean to the left' if I can. While I'm not about to become a card carrying pinko commy bastard just yet, that's what I'll try to be doing.
Perhaps I'll start with joining my relevant workers union for now and see how that goes.

Though I fail to see how voting for Labour is going to help my munted posture,....stoopid bloody doctors. hmmmph!!!!

That's funny!! Not the scoliosis - the leaning to the left. Thanks for the chuckle.

Pete, I thought the same. God, what a sense of humour you have! Thanks so much.


As for scoliosis: Well, I just know that as AB, you work on the muscles (I do have very mild scoliosis), mainly with yoga. So -- won't help you much, I guess? And I do know from my late mother-in-law that one should try not to let it get worse if it can be prevented - or not much worse. She was advised a kind of corset many moons ago .... no idea if that is still any option. Probably not, I could imagine. Well, her main problem (she had very bad scoliosis because of unequal length of legs from birth) in the long run, a long life, was loss of function in the legs due to pressure on nerves. I guess the inner organs can get pressured, too. Slight scoliosis seems to be common (in SCI and in AB) and not so worrying. Trying to correct posture and stretching as advised above is certainly a good idea. Swimming for those who can perhaps.

[mellowgator]

megatrig, on 11 April 2011 - 06:22 PM, said:

After being fit and healthy for 23 years this has crept up on me too!

A number of causes.

Muscle spasm.
Because I had a baclofen pump digging into my left rib cage I spent 18 months leaning to my left.

This has given me a 14% curvature to my spine!!

I used to sit perfectly.

Now I sit really badly throwing my hip up. My ribs down onto my pelvis which really hurts. Shoulders out. I can't push as I fall to one side. Constant nagging pain!!

I go to see my spinal consultant tomorrow for advice. So more anon I guess!!

The senior physio at Stoke doesn't think I can correct it with stretching!!

So it may mean fusing my spine!!

Must admit to being very very worryed!!!

Was looking at the site to see if this had happened to anyone before.

Ok .. bit ashamed of the photos as I hate my awful posture but here goes!!!

you look great! i hope you can get this sorted without surgery. i know you work hard to keep in shape and it shows.


mellowgator

[Tetracyclone]

Megatrip,
I have a similar problem. You look kind of cute, but nudity always makes a guy more attractive...

[pinkcloud]

Yeap I lean to the side too. I am told this is because we tend to lean towards the side that takes away pressure on the side of the we get less pain in. spine. Now both of me sides are going, I thought i could sit straighter. Nope.

I cant twist or bend the t-spine and so although stiff i kind of tilt.

Stafford upon avon hey? Ever been to Dr okojie at leamington spa rehab? Whow. If not I recommend you too. What a star he is. Hes the warwickshire warrior against pain I say. I bet he can help you, he does me

[Hapahowlee]

My hubby has a slight case too and it's the major source of his back pain.

His got worse when he lost a lot of weight a few years back, which we are working to get back on. It's been a slow, long process, but we're headed in the right direction.

Before my husband lost so much weight his glutes were pretty uniformed and looked almost the same as when he was AB at least from a picture I saw

The weight loss caused his left glute to be considerably smaller than the right and he sat this way for a long time until he got his new Quickie GP and we asked for a build-up on the left in the Jay2 cushion he uses. Another cause is the muscles on his right side are stronger and tend to pull him towards the right.

Stretches are always good to do. Something else my husband does when he goes to sleep on his left side, I help him place one of those long round pillows (approx. 8" diameter) under his side right where his spine is curving. It hurts at first, but when we do it consistently, I see a good change in the curve.

Besides getting a brace or surgery, which my hubby won't do, I can't think of anything else.

Hope you can correct your curve without the discomfort.

[Beautiful]

I have had two spinal fusions done. The first time I broke the rods. Last back surgery was April '09. I posted a picture around that time in the members only forum.

I have a lean to the left. Scoliosis sucks, but 15 years of sitting down, what can ya do?