scoliosis and pregnancy ?

anne.josh · April 2010

i was just wonder if any of the ladies on this board have scoliosis? i have it, and as a result have uneven hips (my left is slightly higher than my right) and my spine is slightly rotated toward the base. sounds weird i know but honestly can't tell by looking at me, but it has given me a lot of back problems and pinched nerves prior to pregnancy. and now that i have a pretty significant bump i've noticed a lot of sciatic pain again. my dr said because of the previous back issues and the condition of my back that i will be more susceptible and was wondering if any one else was in a similar situation and what they were, or planning on doing to help?

Violet_McPurpleson · April 2010

I have scoliosis. My curve is pretty bad, but I've chosen not to have surgery so far. I've had some increase in back pain, but it's manageable.

I'm going to get a maternity belt when I start showing a bit more, it's supposed to help provide support.

dixee.deluxe · April 2010

Sciatica sucks! So do pinched nerves elsewhere. I say this as I currently have a heating pad on my neck/shoulder because of a herniated disc I have in my cervical spine. Doc says there's nothing they can do about it except Tylenol and heat. I can use IcyHot and Tiger Balm patches too, but heat is preferred. Bleh! Hope you get through it!

I have heard that scoliosis can affect your ability to have an epidural, though.

anne.josh · April 2010

Last appt i asked about the whole epidural scoliosis thing and my dr said we won't know anything until the day comes. I can go ahead and see an anesthesiologist to see what my chances are but he said its going to depend on the person doing it that day. I also asked about having uneven hips and having a "regular" delivery and got the same answer so i guess our delivery day will be full of surprises

thanks for the advice girls, so far everything is manageable just looking for suggests.

LCB34 · April 2010

Violet_McPurpleson:

I have scoliosis. My curve is pretty bad, but I've chosen not to have surgery so far. I've had some increase in back pain, but it's manageable.

I am the same way.

I have an S curve with my lower curve being my "major" curve. So, my Peri is predicting I will have substantial lower back pain once I put on more weight - I am only up 7 pounds now.

Violet_McPurpleson · April 2010

LCB34:
Violet_McPurpleson:

I have scoliosis. My curve is pretty bad, but I've chosen not to have surgery so far. I've had some increase in back pain, but it's manageable.

I am the same way.

I have an S curve with my lower curve being my "major" curve. So, my Peri is predicting I will have substantial lower back pain once I put on more weight - I am only up 7 pounds now.

I have an S curve too, but my major curve is in the middle of my back. I'm up 10lbs so far and I really haven't had too much pain, but I'm definitely noticing it getting worse.

jps85 · April 2010

I have scoliosis....2 different curves. With first pregnancy I had sciatic nerve pain and this time too. Other than that I had the uncomfortable back pain sitting...which I assumed was just pregnancy related. Don't really think I had too many complications due to scoliosis. What I'm worried about is epidural with scoliosis. Did it the first time without one...but I am considering one this time but scared about it!

JJ1973 · April 2010

I have scoliosis - it was never identified until I reached my 30's and saw a PT for treatment of running issues I was having...since being pregnant (I'm at 24 weeks now...so probably the past month) I've had some pretty bad hip pain and occasional/much more rare sciatic nerve pain (when it happens, it is debilitating). At my last OB appointment, I was referred for another PT evaluation. I haven't made my appointment yet, but plan to do so soon before everything gets too crazy. I'm also worried about my low bone density issue in the context of pregnancy.

BGRichard · April 2010

i know it totally sucks!! I have been going to a chiropractor twice aweek because i couldnt stand and was almost passing out from the pain ....

T&J'SMAMA · April 2010

I have it, but mine isn't too bad. I was able to get an epi with DS. Also, I had bad back pain my whole pg, and my sciatic pain has already began again. It was manageable for me with heat and Tylenol!

Kfran84 · April 2010

Ah! Lurker here, but I have the same kind of scoliosis as you, OP, with the twist at the tailbone (at least how I read it, right?) and have been told the same about difficulty with epidurals. I didn't even think about the damn pinched nerves... which I have problems with anyway! Gah! I am not excited about that at all.

Gummybear · April 2010

I have scoliosis too, but my curve is near the top of my spine. I had no issues with the epi.

BrittH05 · April 2010

I have a sever curvature in my lower back. I am use to the pain but i would say stay at a constant 3-5 in my back while pregnant but back surgery is so risky that unless I can't walk I refuse. It did cause me more pain during my last labor, and my Dr said it more then likely will do this go round as well. I am not doing much for the pain because other then a hot tub or motrin nothing helps. Hope you get comfy though!

MandaBeth582 · April 2010

I was born with a serious S curve, and it's actually become worse the older I got. I really don't want to go through the surgery to correct it - that seems just too extreme. My doctor said it could affect an epidural, but it also might be ok. She warned me about severe back pain further in the pregnancy. OB just suggested to get a maternity belt which I might have to soon.. at 15 wks, I'm already carrying pretty heavily up front!

shibby00 · April 2010

I have it, but my curve is up at the top of my spine, and is not severe. I have had daily back pain and sciatic pain since around 14 weeks, now I'm making that connection!!

mante · April 2010

Sorry to respond to this so late and post bump, but as one of the few responders whose gone through this already, let me add my two cents.

I have a severe S curve affecting both cervical and lumbar vertebrae.

I started getting pretty bad pain on prolonged sitting at around 24 weeks or so. Prolonged standing was clean out. What helped was putting a pillow behind my back when sitting to create a convex curve - it took a lot of the pressure off. In the evenings the heating pad became a trusty friend. The best thing all around, though, was avoiding being in the same position for too long - move around as much as you can.

When delivery came around I did have some issues with the epidural, but not related to the scoliosis.

The weird upshot for me is that the pregnancy very slightly corrected my curvature and I'm now just a hair taller than I was before DS was born.

Anyway, hope this helps/give you some hope.

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