I have a Schumerman's curve around 75 degrees and am planning on finding a surgeon as my pain is unresponsive to conservative treatments.

However, I can't seem to find any straight answers on how much your curve can be corrected. Do they make it so your spine is corrected further than you can straighten your spine while lying on a flat surface, or do they only go as far as you can naturally straighten your spine?

Obviously, the ideal is to straighten beyond 45 degrees to get in the normal range; but it seems that surgery results are mixed.

M23

Do you think this could be treatable with PT? Could it be Scheuermann’s disease?

I have the propensity to write WAY to much (due to my AuDHD) so I will try to make this brief and try not to go into other parts of my life too much, though unfortunately with the way my brain works, its hard not to realise that all the issues in my life are deeply connected... I guess I'm in a bit of a rut in my life despite my mental health being great.

Unfortunately, all this below is just the 'short version', so if anyone reads it all, thank you I love you for that!!

So basically I'm 22 and I have kyphosis/SD (really not sure which and don't have my x-rays to hand, only the doctor has them, but probably SD as my mum has it) at about 70 degrees or so I think. I don't have much pain at all, mainly just uncomfortability unless I need to carry stuff and/or walk quickly... or sit on most chairs... but I suppose that's because I thankfully don't do very much or have to do much physically (due to my still-undiagnosed exhaustion issues). Due to my quite serious mental health issues in my earlier life I unfortunately was not able to wear a brace properly in my younger years which is why it's gotten to this point. Reading through this subreddit, the fact I wasn't able to prevent the severity of this when I had the chance to really upsets me deeply. But life is life and I'm learning to accept that these things can't be changed!

My main concerns with my back are 1. How it looks physically, I feel that it is affecting my confidence and attractiveness which are both already pretty/very low. 2. The amount of pain I might start having in my later life if I ever have to push myself to do more stuff, or when I'm old etc.

I have thankfully been to see doctors and surgeons all through my teenage years, and they initially would always say my back had 'good correction' but that is undoubtedly very far from the situation now; things aren't moving easily anymore. I've been 'offered' surgery by a very good, empathetic and well-regarded/well-recommended surgeon, mainly to fix the cosmetic issues. I had decided 4-6 months ago that I was going to go through with it despite the potential risks, but after first reading this subreddit a month or two ago, I have completely decided against it. In my mind, the status quo is better than the potential (no matter how 'good' the surgeon is right?) of spending the next few years (or longer) having constant surgeries and being in agony. That absolutely isn't a possibilty for me, because with my mental health history (which is currently far than it's ever been, yay!), being in that sort of agony for an extended time could end very very very badly, if you catch the euphemism here.

From reading the subreddit about what's helped people, plus my confidence issues (I have zero muscle, extremely skinny etc.), I am thinking that starting doing some exercise would improve my life. But as somebody who has basically never exercised, due to not having the mental capacity to, I have ZERO clue where to even start. Everything I've read on recent posts here of people saying helpful gym routines are way too intimidating to me at this point.

Would you guys recommend that I start by 1. doing like very small amounts of stuff in the gym, 2. doing stuff with like very small weights stuff at home or 3. seeing a pysiotherapist (though I don't expect they will help much with muscle? idk)

Had and still kinda have pretty bad Scheuermann's kyphosis(much better now after working out and some pt). If you’re insecure or looking to try to fix your curve, please reach out to a doctor to start pt or get a workout routine. I’m lucky and was able to start all of this at a young age.

Hi, I'm an 18 year old male that has been diagnosed with a hyperkyphosis since the age of 14. Im from the UK and it was recommended to me to carry on with PT. I was told my curvature would not increase from 45° when I was 14 as "i had nearly stopped growing", however now at 18 my kyphosis has increased to 85°. I have spoken with a consultant and am now considering surgery, he informed me he would be able to get my kyphosis to 60° post-op. To me this doesn't seem like a drastic change as especially he mentioned my mobility will drastically decrease, he stated i would not be able to flex or twist my spine at all. Which to me didn't seem right as surely you will be able to twist some parts rather with your hips and not your back? however he also mentioned typically people who want the surgery for cosmetic purposes are happier post-op compared to those with pain related issues. However I'd say I'm both affected by not only the cosmetic look but by the pain too, I struggle only working 3hrs a day with a lot of back pain and having to lie down the rest of the day, or for example when going out I will have to take multiple breaks as I get short of breath and feel dizzy after walking for long periods of time. I was wondering if anyone from the UK has underwent the surgery and what it was like post-op and if 85° - 60° is even worth the risks involved.

I also wanted to ask what are the permanent restrictions after surgery as I still want to be mobile as I'm older and partake in activated and sports. For example:

Would i ever be able to train combat sports, such as kickboxing or jiu jitsu? as jiu-jitsu requires flexibility, would it simply be a case of trying it out post surgery?

Would i ever be able to do other activities that may have an effect on my back such as skiing, bungee jumps, tandem skydives.

Any response would be greatly appreciated, as I'm really unsure what to do, and as an 18 year old who already isnt confident, it really has an effect on my mental health but also stops me from going enjoying things due to the pain.

Hey everyone, I just found this subreddit and need help.

I didn't know much about my kyphosis other than my mom telling me she has it, too. She told me that there is no treatment other than plastic surgery. However, the back pain has become unbearable at work, and I don't know what to do. Is there really nothing I can do? They don't seem to take me seriously when I mention my back hurts and just say I'm too young to be feeling pain.

Just seeing how many of us also have winged scapula and/or rib flare. Apparently a lot of SDers have comparatively large or abnormally shaped ribcages due to growth adjustments our bodies make during teenage growth periods to allow for breathing with our stooped postures.

For me, my scapulae have slid forward and sit much wider than normal, causing pain in the traps and spinal accessory nerve-related cervicogenic headaches. I've fortunately found a solution in exercising my lower traps and serratus muscles, but if I start skipping those exercises the pain comes back (doing scapula retractions as I write this haha).

I also have bilateral rib flare—where the bottom of my ribs poke out and create a barrel chest appearance. This issue is mostly cosmetic.

Anyway these issues don't bother me a whole lot, but I'm curious if others in the community share these issues.

Hope you're well!

I broke my t12 vertebra in 2022. No surgery. Do you think this is a kyphosis or hyperlordosis? Or does it not look that bad? Thanks in advance!

I have some questions about spinal fusion surgery, and I’d really appreciate input from anyone who has experience with it or knowledge on the topic.

- After the procedure, am I able to return to activities like strength training, calisthenics, squats, and stretching that involve heavy bending of the back? Can I move and train as I did before the surgery?

- Is there an age limit or range after which spinal fusion is no longer recommended?

- Are the rods used in the surgery permanent, or are they removed after the spine has healed?

- If you’re in the UK, do you know of any reputable places or specialists that perform this procedure?

Thanks in advance for any advice or insights you can share.

Click on image to view the whole image. Your responses will not be taken as medical advise and you are released from any liability from incorrect guesses.

hey guys! here’s an update. before the appointment i did x-rays to make sure nothing is out of place. i saw my doctor and told him i considered having surgery again. he told me that it wasn’t necessary to do surgery again. i told him all my pain problem with my rib hump and he said it was due to the severity curve of my spine. i was disappointed because i had high expectations and started bawling afterwards. the next appointment isn’t till a few years. i felt a bit concerned about that because i thought the younger the better. now i’m stuck with this body for life :( i’ve been thinking of telling my mom to see another doctor to get a second opinion but i’m scared. my mental health have been slowly declining after that appointment and now i’m even more insecure. i even try to hide myself from my own family.

https://www.reddit.com/r/kyphosis/s/pZkv6GLU39

26m just got my X-ray this morning and waiting on the doctor to call. It doesn’t look good but I’m a mechanic not a doctor 🤣

Can’t afford a PT right now, insurance won’t cover one. Can someone recommend a kyphosis friendly strength training and mobility routine?

i suffer from the big 3: scoliosis, caiphosis, and lordosis. Mainly caiphosis. I do all the exercises my physio recommends, but I also feel like I could be doing more. I keep seeing these posture correctors you can buy on amazon, and was wondering about if they actually help strengthen back muscles to atleast SOMEWHAT help with my curved back? https://www.amazon.ca/Latest-Model-Posture-Corrector-Women/dp/B07VST9VYH?crid=30Z0PX4KICMVX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.rfhx_YWr6gyrGdtKfjvn5aIRiGk4P5Pl-YfNYn-yd34rmUdhMTV5p9we3y7VMtZxWLLDu4--6HdTDsz2eoVXUc80Do6nwBUdDt39lTL0VPmwNcGhSKa4BIsikiWDPX0-ViGR2wyngFIymI4WBx4CKg99-zYavkIMTUrEkooYrCWWm6NTvxyFtIIScp_RhzCumCnUbT34TxqUYc9Pcw-GLfosPO36X_7RKZ7nvguKDUPWJVdFYxBiXkZnCuLUIhhRR-a45qBfFLVHPYvgEb69XcyQlT0zcQ3ajjTidr2Mv4pjerUunv2NbnVKGmHKqbUPAMrexdxbgqAgAj3CUVCClRsu83KjTS4Ge04KieH6bsADYmNe_XMhgUr0eDQMGzelUPy8AFkh8fhcC6V9O25yn2Bt2t4W7KT2_u2vvyQz18mw4FJBkmIG7j3sa57P-bwU.WEP_yW8gsmYboAn0KGdQgXPLn13jH1--qRNQcETPu1E&dib_tag=se&keywords=posture+corrector&qid=1737001268&sprefix=posture+corrector%2Caps%2C184&sr=8-5

If anybody could share what do you do for your kyphosis in the gym to work on that curvature and stuff then please feel free to, I am honestly curious to find out since I have been going to the gym for some time now to improve my posture and I also have slight issues with anterior pelvic tilt so I'm working on that too.

Diagnosed with kyphosis after rupturing T1 and T2. The C’s had been previously ruptured long ago. But curious as my left side is much higher than the right. By laying flat I can sometimes pop high ribs back in place. Anyone else.

So, I have SD at 95º and I am 16M (17 in Feb) and have some questions that my hospital even can't agree on so here I am. (I am in the UK). I am expecting surgery soon, no expected date due to some ingrown toenails and an allergy to local anaesthetic. I am also 118kg and 8kg overweight where the anaesthetists will put me to sleep (cuz risks). I'm having spinal fusion

So what is the surgery like (like first 10 minutes after waking up) what will I expect?

I was told to expect 1 week in hospital, how fast would this week go and how intense would it be? (like lots of physio, exercises, learning, that sort of stuff)

Are there any things that I really should avoid after surgery?

Is there anything I should ask my hospital/surgeon that could make my life easier?

Is there anything that I should take to hospital that I don't realise that I may need (the hospital I am having the surgery at is about 2h away from home)?

How soon should I start to go to the gym? Is gym beneficial?

How soon am I likely to be able to take a flight independently? (to see family)

Is there any adaptations that I should make for my home in order to make life easier?

What can I and can't I do after having spinal fusion?

I’m (57f) looking into exercises to help my kyphosis. I’ve never been formally diagnosed, but doctors have told me they feel I have it. I do not want to go the surgery route due to my age so I want to try the most optimal exercises I can. I’ve seen several responses in this sub regarding Functional Patterns. I already exercise daily and I know what I’m doing is good for my health, but necessarily for my back. Has anyone used their 10 week program that could share their experience?

I posted a four months ago about my broken pedicle screws and displaced rods, and some kind people were concerned for me. I had a lot of pain after the breakage, which steadily grew to be unbearable until I was hospitalized and treated for what turned out to be an infection caused by the hardware failure. After the infection was treated, I did not have any more pain.

I finally got to meet with an ortho yesterday, and I have good news! Since nothing has moved and my kyphosis has not progressed, and I do not have any pain, I do not have to have another surgery! That’s right, as uncomfortable as it may look, they can just leave the broken hardware as it is. It does stick out visibly under my skin, but it does not hurt or impede my activities (which even include a fair amount of manual labor and an advanced yoga practice).

I’m very happy with this result. I will have everything checked again in five months, and if it does get worse or cause problems I will have the option to have all or some of the problem removed. The hospital that installed the hardware has promised (in writing) to do this for free.

One interesting thing I learned is that I actually have THREE broken screws. This is not new, but was not visible on the previous x-ray because of the alignment (doc was able to confirm it with the old CT imagery). In the image in this post you can see a little shadow in the middle of the screw that is second from the bottom.

On top of this great news, yesterday I also bought a new (to me) car! I am feeling amazing!

My surgery was performed in 2012, and it absolutely saved my life. Despite this complication, I don’t regret it one bit. For anyone considering surgery, I am happy to answer any questions.