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Scoliosis and riding - Chronicle Forums
My 12 year old daughter has just been diagnosed with scoliosis.
Does anyone have any experience with riding with scoliosis or riding after having back surgery to correct scoliosis.
Her curves are quite significant at 57 degrees thoracic and 53 degrees lumbar.
Basically a big "S" in her back.
Her doctor has strongly suggested we consider surgery to correct the curves since they will most likely get worse as she has a lot of growing to do.
They would put rods and screws in her back to straighten it as much as possible.
He (doctor) is not a horse person so is not able to really answer any questions about riding you just sit there right??
Yeah.
Any experience out there?
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I have the "S" scoliosis and at times it hurts.
I work big time to keep my ab/stomach muscles strong otherwise I would have no trunk support of my back.
Before getting my midsection in shape my back would just fold at jumps, at the sit trot.
I am in pretty good shape now.
A barn friend of mine had the surgery, she had the same "S", after the healing from the surgery she rode for the next 4 years and then she could not any longer, she literally just could not ride any longer.
It was sad... she is only 24 years old.
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I have a friend who has it to the point of an actual hump - she rides hard every day.
She is well in to her 40's her girls have it to & they ride!
There is another girl in our 4H club one heck of a rider with severe curvature.
My advice is to get more advice.
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I also have the "S" curve which I didn't know about until I went to a chiropracter for constant back pain about 12 years ago.
I ride pretty much every day and have my 2 horses and 16 others at home, so there is always heavy work to be done.
I am relatively pain free tho I know I have straightness issues, however my chiro and strong core muscles keep me functioning.
I have no opinion to offer on the surgery but I am 53 and so far so good.
This doesn't stop me from doing anything but I do require more maintenance to stay "sound".
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Thank you for the replies so far.
DD is not competetively riding at this point, more just hacking around for fun.
Ozone, sorry about your friend that can no longer ride.
I am sure it is devastating.
Woodland, we are keeping our options open at this time....looking for insight wherever I can.
I joined an online scoliosis group too, but there again, haven't found any riders yet.
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Risky-sounds like you keep yourself in excellent shape which I am sure is great therapy.
Since DD is only 12 and has a lot of growing to do, her curves will get worse.
The doctor has told me he has patients that have returned to high level volleyball competition so that is encouraging.
I have high hopes that if we do go ahead with surgery....being that she is young and healthy, she will be able to return to riding.
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If you search the forums (if you haven't already) there have been some excellent threads on scoliosis in the not too distant past.
And a few board members who have it and ride very competitively.
Good luck to your DD.
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I have ridden with scoliosis since being a teen.
I have to say that after two fractures of my back (most likely tied to the fact my back is weakened), and the fact my horse is retired, my masseuse has said my back has never been better since I quit riding.
I think it hampered me in riding dressage, as my body turned to the right easily--I was stiff and gave mixed messages to my horse thru my bending and weight on my seatbone.
I'm sad to say that I think my back is much better since I quit riding--and I think a weakened back is far more susceptible to injury in a fall.
Jmho
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I have the "S" curve in my spine.
It wasn't discovered until I was 19 and went to a chiro after a car accident so I don't know when or how or how long I had it, but it did explain why my instructor yelled at me for years to "Sit up straight!"
In 40 years, the only problem I've had is my shoulder straps always fall off my left shoulder.
I had my old saddle restuffed twice as I sit more on my left seat bone.
I never let it be an excuse for not riding correctly and spent many hours riding without stirrups to learn to sit as evenly as I could.
I still have one stirrup a half hole shorter than the other.
Regular chiro work and being aware of the problem is paramount.
Good luck, tell your daughter, there's lots of "crooked" people out there that ride just fine!
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I'd get a second opinion.
According to Dr. Zorba that means going at least 100 miles from home.
I'd also look at a university level facility or other higher level hospital.
Tell them about all the activities the girl likes and see what they have to say.
Good luck to you all.
G.
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Thanks everyone! Your posts are giving me much insight.
I searched and read the other threads on this subject as well.
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I had scoliosis and had to wear a brace for 3 years, beginning at age 13.
I rode throughout the "ordeal" with no real issues.
Is a brace an option, or is the scoliosis too severe?
The brace was tough (painful, embarrassing, etc.
At that age) but it did the trick.
Good luck.
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Kim, she is a 57 degree thoracic and 53 lumbar S curve.
Doc took us out in the hall after discussing her xrays, as not to scare her too much.
He said she is too far gone for bracing, although he could still do it if we decided to.
Bracing has not been shown to fix scoliosis and it is debatable if it would stop any further progression.
Did your brace do any good?
What were your curve(s)?
Have the progressed?
I have to do a little more research, but our hospital is affiliated with Children's Hospital of Milwaukee, we also have the UW Hospital in Madison that is not too far away.
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Kmp- FWIW, I'm working on a case study right now doing massage therapy on a young girl, about the same age as your daughter, who also has scoliosis.
When I was looking at previous research before starting the study I found some promising articles (journal articles) relating to scoliosis and massage and chiropractic.
I am by no means an expert on scoliosis, and with your daughter's angle being so severe, surgery might be her only option, but with her young age, it might be worth trying a combination of massage and chiropractic to see if it helps to 1 relieve the pain, and 2 lesson the curve.
In one particular article on a case study with chiropractic work, the young girl's cobb angle was reduced by 16 degrees over a period of 18 months.
That would still put your daughter at around 40 degrees which could mean she still needs the surgery, but if the doctor feels waiting a couple of months won't hurt, it might be worth looking into.
PM me if you would like any of the articles I've found, and good luck.
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I have scoliosis, which as far as I can tell resulted from an injury at age 10.
Not as severe as your daughter's.
I manage it by keeping my core and back muscles strong (I take Pilates classes) and taking care of myself through regular chiropractic work.
Honestly, the scoliosis is the least of my back problems.
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I have a curve much, much than that, even after surgery and I have rods, screws and plates implanted.
I still ride, but have been advised not to.
Im too stubborn ( or maybe just too stupid) to give it up.
Yeah, I hurt, but oh well.
Im in my mid 50's and was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 10.
My adivise is to see a university level surgeon and have the surgery.
If I'd had mine at a younger age, I'd be in much better shape now, and probably actually be "allowed" to ride.
There's so much more I could say, feel free to PM me if you want.
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My sister has a significant S curve.
She spent several years in a brace and was heavily monitored to see if she would need surgury.
I believe it was discovered when she was about 11 years old and the brace did prevent further curvature.
She found the brace to be quite uncomfortable and although she liked horses, she found riding to be too painful.
Ballet lessons, on the other hand, did her a world of good, since they build a very strong core and emphasize straightness and evenness of the pelvis.
She was even able to dance with the brace on.
She eventually branched out into other forms of dance once the brace came off and she is now a dance instructor.
Edited to add: you should get a second opinion.
The doctor thought my sister would need surgury at first, but she didn't.
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I also have scoliosis, but not as severe as your daughter.
Yes, it hurts to ride (but some days, it hurts to sit).
However, as my back and core have gotten stronger, through a series of exercises given to me by my doctor and through riding itself, it hurts much less, and less often.
It also helps that my bouncy-gaited horse is on pasture rest, and I've been riding much smoother ponies
I've never considered surgery or any treatment other than PT, and though some days are worse than others, as I've grown stronger, riding is much more manageable, and starting to become pain-free.
Hope this helps you
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I don't post here very often, but I wanted to share my scoliosis story with you.
I was 16 when I had the spinal fusion surgery for my S curve.
My original doctors had made me try to wear that awful brace for 2 years but it was so restrictive and made me feel like I was suffocating so I didn't wear it as much as I was supposed to.
The doctor who did my surgery however said that the braces really don't work very well (the chiropractor I use now says the same).
I had the surgery because they said the curves would worsen as I got older.
I wasn't really in a lot of pain before my surgery but would be uncomfortable sometimes - I don't think I would even have known I was crooked if the doctor hadn't told me!
Since the surgery I pretty much have had some sort of pain in my back every day.
I was a runner, not a rider at the time, but I was back to my regular level of exercise within 6 months.
Fifteen years later I ride 3-5 times a week and see my chiropractor regularly.
While my curves have been managed by the rods and screws in my back I wish I was more flexible.
I try not to let my back be an excuse for poor riding position, and like the other posters have mentioned keeping my stomach muscles in shape is what really helps my back as far as riding goes.
Some days I feel like I am 90 years old, and then I wonder what I will feel like if I actually make it to 90 years old!
The chiropractors that I have been to over the years think that the surgery does more harm than good, but I won't ever know how bad my curves would have gotten without it...
I wish you luck in the decision about what to do for your daugher - it must be extremely difficult as it will affect her for the rest of her life.
There's also nothing wrong with getting second and third opinions - you want to be able to trust & feel comfortable with her doctors.
I'm sure your daughter will be able to continue riding whether or not she has the surgery - and if she does she'll probably be back to riding months before the doctors want her to because that's what riders do, right?!
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