Scheuermann's Disease

My 17 year old daughter had severe stomach pain and was tested for all kinds of stomach problems. She does have food sensitivities and acid reflux that she has been under treatment for for 9 years, but this was different. Everytime she used her upper body her stomach pain crippled her. She is an athlete and plays many sports, but she would actually throw up from the the pain in swimming. This past summer her back started bothering her so I took her to the chiropracter and she found something very wrong and sent her for more tests and Scheuermann's was diagnosed. She noticed 18 months ago she was shrinking, just after the onset of the stomach pain (solar plexis area). Her back pain is minimal, but it causes severe pain in the stomach area and no doctor even wants to hear this. THey just have her a round of steriods and then are starting her on Celebrex for inflamation. She exercises everyday, but has had to change what she does and even swimming is painful. Because hers came about after she was done growing (she stopped at 14) they don't know what is going to happen. She does not looked curved, but does have bulging discs, decreased space between vertebratae and bones spurs from T-6 to T-10. They did put her on Flexeril in the beginning, but it only succeeded in numbing the rest of her brain and body and the back pain persisted. Needless to say, she didn't take that any longer. If anyone else has had this occur after they were done growing, please let me know if this gets worse and how much does it affect your daily life. Has anyone had stomach pain that was worse than the back pain. THank you and I will keep all of you in my prayers.

I am 44 years old, and was diagnosed with Scheurmann's Disease when I was 14 years old. It is quite visible in the lower back area, even if I stand up "straight". I wore an upper body plaster cast for 4 months, followed by a plastic brace for a few months. I wanted to share with you that the disease is a condition you can learn to live with. I clearly feel pain anytime I perform an activity outside typical routine. Yet I jog almost every day, careful to stretch extensively before and after. I have had 2 children, and did not encounter more pain than usual during my pregnancies. The best relief has always come from massages, and I seldom take pain relief medicine. For medical insurance purposes, my physician prescribed massage therapy, which I strongly recommend at least once a week. This disease, which I have now had for 30 years, has not prevented me from leading a normal and active life. As with anything else, know your limits... and if practical, seek massage therapy. Regards.

Hi
My son (soon to be 17) was diagnosed with Sheuermans late in November 2008 after being told he didn't have anything to be concerned about it wasn't serious. We had a second opinion and was told surgery would be something we should consider. It wasn't until February 2009 that we visited the surgeon again and after being re-xrayed our son will be having surgery in May 2009. His first presented with a curve of 80% he deteriorated to 93% in 3 months. It is a bit urgent now as he is still growing and it getting worse with growth. He has some pain but not to bad or he copes with it. He will have 2 surgeries with bone grafts and rods, there will be a long recovery period and bracing to deal with. we don't have a choice if he doesn't have the surgery he will have serious health issues. I don't think my son really know's what is ahead of him with the surgeries and the recovery. It is going to be very hard.

to adowling:

I'll hold your son in my prayers. Take hope. I had the anterior/posterior spinal fusion for Scheuermann's Kyphosis about 5 years ago. Before the surgery I had a 92 degree curve and was in a constant state of pain and fatigue which affected me emotionally and physically, and the curve was continuing to get worse after 2+ years of bracing. I'm sure you understand from your own experience.

After the surgery I had a 58 degree curve, my stamina increased exponentially, the pain was gone and my life had completely changed. Everyone is different and the surgery was certainly a hard process to go through. It took its toll on me and my family in every way possible.

However, on the other side it all has been worth it. I cannot overstate the positive change it made for me and my family. I am physically and mentally a different person than I was 5 years ago, happier and so much healthier. Your son has a long road ahead of him but there should be so much good at the other end!

Good luck and best wishes to you and your son!

ekaterina6
Thank you so much for your response. I have been hoping to hear from someone who has gone through this process. I feel very much encouraged from your words. Thank you so much

I wish you well and much happiness and good health.

I noticed that my sons back looked strange several years ago. He complained of some pain but that was it. Last year I also noticed that his chest bones poked out on one side. The doctors said he was just bird chested & his back was due to bad posture. He now has more pain & will not swim with out a shirt. He can stand and set straight if he tries, but as soon as he is not thinking about it-it bows way out. I have never seen a back bend were his bends. My sister was just diagnosed with shermans and her doctor said that it could be inhereted throught a family member. It that true? Does anyone else have Shermans and the chest problem also. It seem that they would go hand & hand. We live in Louisiana - does anyone know of a doctor in this area that won't keep blowing us off.

Hi Guest

My son also has the chest problem. It looks like a fist shape in the middle of his chest. I urge you to continue to push for your son to get to a specialist. I am in Tasmania Australia and wouldn't have a clue about doctors in America. Just keep trying for your son's sake the pain won't decrease, it will get worse and he will be restricked with things he can do. My son is struggling to stand for any length of time, he does not sit on a couch or lounge chair it is more comfortable for him to lay down. He can't drive properly, he doesn't eat much cause his stomach is small and can't take large amounts of food. He it having trouble holding down his after school job. If we don't get him the surgery he needs he will get far worse. I wish you luck and your son well. Keep looking for a doctor.

adowling

Hi all
I have read the posts with sadness - how much pain you guys going through for the most of your lives. My brother has been diagnosed with scheuerman's disease couple of years back (he is 21 now). Noone seems to have known what does that mean (we are polish). My mother sort of played it down (no resources). I have send him money (I live in England since 2003) for physio but I am a student so he had to stop the theraphy. He said he had learnt how to live with it and avoid too much pain.
Since last year I have expierienced sever pain in my back I couldnt get up from the bed. I went to the GP and had physio and they didnt find anything.
Then for about 3 months now, I have a shoulder, chest pain I cant even turn myself in bed, breathe, sneeze etc. I went to another doctor, who reffered me to another physio and he noted a rigid and knypnotic thoracid spine. I am now referred to take thoracid pain x-rays with lateral view to rule-out scheuerman's disease. However, he said thet he is almost certain. In addition he doesnt know yet that it runs in my family. So I almost certainly got it. I am 28 yo now. How strange is this that I didnt suffer from it before, but now after long time since I stopped growing?
thank you

Hi I am Victoria I am 16 years old an have been living with a 65 degree kyphosis for three years. It is one of the worst and best things that ever happened to me . If you or a loved one has been diagnosed i will tell you now it is going to suck! I can no longer attend school and all my friends have "dumped" me since i can not go and do like they can. There are some days where i can not even get out of bed. I have extreme pain in every part of my body . I once had dreams of going to an Ivy league college, now i doubt that will happen . Not because I am not intelligent , but becasue i am in so much pain all of the time. Don't get me wrong this is not a death sentence , but it is close. I was once a normal teenage girl active , popular, like most though i could not see past friday night and what party i was going to next. This changed all of that and has forced me to grow up pretty darn fast. There is alot more i could say about living with this disorder but I don't want to scare anyone.

Hi , my name is kaylin im 13 and i was diaganosed with this about 2 months ago . My curve is 90 degrees. Im seriously thinking about having the surgery. Ive pretty much decided to do it its just a matter of the surgeons schedule.i live in oklahoma but i was lucky enough to get into texas scottish rites hospital for children . I was hoping you could tell me some of the benefits of having the surgery . Ive been told i will be in the hospital for 1 week and be home from school for 4 to 6 weeks and in some sort of brace for at least 4 months.I realize this sounds crazy but i really love my horses and they said i cant ride for 1 year , that was almost the deal breaker ,Lol . But any information you could share about the surgery and recovery would be greatly appreciated
THANKS ,Kaylin