I’m 16 years old and been having really bad back pain for about a few months now. I’m in special ed and have never been diagnosed with anything else besides elhers danlos syndrome or something, week muscle tone and just the basic symptoms of that. I have a learning disability, but anyway, about a year ago I saw an orthopedic about my back, they did exrays and it showed a slight curve but nothing huge, they call it kyphosis? or something. Well Starting a few months ago I got extremely bad pain and just hurts doing anything, walking a lot, bending, sitting in one position a long time, standing a long time. It’s torture..well I saw the orthopedic again, the curve has stayed the same not gotten worse, my growth plates they say are closed pretty much. If I were to grow more the curve could change but I’m not. They don’t wanna suggest surgery yet. They think trying everything else first is best. So Ive just recently started Physical therapy. My prob is my posture, I’ve sat so long curved over that my back is so tight and their having trouble loosing it… That’s why I’m getting this pain. I’ll constantly text my mom from school hurting, or end up in tears from pain. But they didn’t recommend pain med, that wont work, If something was inflamed then maybe that would work. But My mom gave me med, she’s a nurse, but that still didn’t help. The physical therapist is working with me and giving me these types of exercises to work on. 2 to 3 times per day. Hopefully it will help. But this pain is sucky.. They also suggested that I could possibly need a customized chair. What hurts miserably is when I’m in school. Each class 90 minutes, you sit. The chairs are horrible. Instead of focusing on work I’m thinking about how much I’m hurting. I wear this lumbar support brace at the moment, but it’s not helping much. It sorta Velcro’s around, not too great. But I was wondering what they mean by a customized chair.. to use at home and school…like wheel in it? or .. push.. don’t know if it’s portable… not sure what they meant by it. Not a wheelchair.. so I’m wondering what a customized chair is.. anyone know? and if pt doesn’t help withen 6 weeks or such we’ll get an Mri done and make sure there’s nothing more causing this pain. Surgery could be an option in the long run, but they wanna try everything before suggesting that.It would be great to hear some feedback on this. I’m having trouble with pain and it’s really bugging me. Thanks
#1 by RaceGirl on February 15, 2010 - 11:10 pm
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Well it does sound like things are rough at bthis time in your life. My name is Randi and im in california. Ive had the absolute pleasure of taking care 2 quadrapaligics on a full time basis and the response im about to provide you with is going to be based from my PERSONAL experiences with nthese two gentelmen both of whom had to have pretty much everything and all their equipment custom made to THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS With that being the general idea here. Ok you sit in a chair at each class for a certain amount of time right? If you notice and im sure you do that no two students are exactly the same in size or the way they sit or write or anthing(Unless of course they are TWINS lol) but the one thing that is the same is the desks and chairs right? They are made inb a standerized way to try to accomondate all the differant students and their sizes. However when there is a student that is UNABLE to use the standardized equipment then the necessary alterations must be made and ESPECIALLY when there is alot of pain involved to the point of being unable to even concentrate in class. So this is when your bodies own personal “DYNAMICS” will be recorded and used to calculate the necessary changes that a chair must go through to allow you to be able to sit either free of pain or at leasdt to the point where you are able to get the full benefit being ablew to learn in a public school enviroment. They may have to lenghten the back of the chair to allow for the lenght of your torso or provide some sort of a strap or siuch that will keep you upright while in the chair top minimize “Slouching” as you are relaxing you tend to slouch usually. The seat may need some sort of special pad or “Foam Wedge in it and teh need for foot rests may be involved There are so many differant ways to fit a chair as there are differances in peoples sizes. You will just have to bear with the process of pretty much trial and error because as i said before everyone is so diffderant especially in their needs. What you want to think about is your needs and write em down like if you notice your for instance rubs on the back brace you wear but dont explain this when they are calculating your specific needs than you may find that it wont bge suitable and need to have it re adjusted because even something as seemingly unimportant as your elbow rubbing alittle can actually throw your body WAY off trying to componsate to eliminate tne discomfort of the elbow so its is REALLY important to discuss your complaints COMPLETELY with the thjereapists and orthos so they can best determine where to start with your chair. I would like to express to you that a video taken of you in your school chair throughout the ENTIRE day would be the most beneficial tool you can provide the team of folks who will determmine and construct your chair for you. It is very differant in the way we sit in the beginning of our day from how nwe are in our last class right?
If its how it will look of course its going to look differant HOWEVER i would like to remind you that your very fortunate to be given the opportunity to even be in school and value your education and do well in school. I say this because it is your generation of youngsters that are my FUTURE meaning, your gen. will be who is responsible for me and my generation as we get olde and decrepit requiring social security and medical treatment. and it does worry me sometimes to look around and see what the youtrh of today have as avlues. So ypourt in my prayers and i hope you find the answer to your personal needs and reap the full benefit of an eduacation. One ore thing if your worried about how your peers are going to reacty to your being in a differant chair pardon my french but SCREW- EM cuz some day youll be their boss or their kids teacher or the one handing down sentence to them cuz they just brobbed a bank right? You understand me im sure and dont let anyone take your eduacation from you ok so get busy take notes and do what the dr.s and therapists ask you. if the want you to workout ten min a day make it 11 then 12 then 13 get it. God speed and good luck. youll be in mjy prayers promise.
#2 by tutock on February 16, 2010 - 3:41 am
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Sweety you have “scoliosis” which is a curvature of the spine. I know because I have it too. I was diagnosed when I was 6 and I’m 23 now. It is a very painful thing. A customized chair will be a chair that you only use when in class or having to sit for long periods of time. It will help to support your back and eliminate a lot of your pain and discomfort. I deal with more pain in my arms and my legs due to pinched nerves and no pain killer can help that. Though if there is some inflammation you need to speak with your doctor about it, he may recommend cortisonee shots in the muscles around your spine to help relieve the inflammation. I feel your pain, but keep on trying…