Scoliosis

[MindlessWork]

I was just diagnosed today with moderate scoliosis as well as early arthritic degeneration in my lower back when I went in for a physical. Even though I feel no pain or discomfort at this time but that could be coming down the pike in the next few years and I am open to suggestions for alternate training methods to reduce the risk of further issues as well as correcting the scoliosis.

Currently I plan to ditch squats permanently to reduce back pressure and what good alternatives to that?

Anyone ever have scoliosis and what sort of corrective exercises? Just looking for some insight.

As a side note, I was referred to a physical therapist as well.

 

[T&H]

I was just diagnosed today with moderate scoliosis as well as early arthritic degeneration in my lower back when I went in for a physical. Even though I feel no pain or discomfort at this time but that could be coming down the pike in the next few years and I am open to suggestions for alternate training methods to reduce the risk of further issues as well as correcting the scoliosis.

Currently I plan to ditch squats permanently to reduce back pressure and what good alternatives to that?

Anyone ever have scoliosis and what sort of corrective exercises? Just looking for some insight.

As a side note, I was referred to a physical therapist as well.

Hate to hear this. I would really get the opinion of the physical therapist on how to proceed with exercises to help. I will say strengthening your lower back and core is extremely important with lumber issues.

See if others provide advice, but post what your therapist says.

 

[Gbro]

I agree with tired. I would find a good pt and go from there.

 

[MindlessWork]

Hate to hear this. I would really get the opinion of the physical therapist on how to proceed with exercises to help. I will say strengthening your lower back and core is extremely important with lumber issues.

See if others provide advice, but post what your therapist says.

Thanks for your feedback and yes will share some info I get from the physical therapist once I get my first session. I am sure there's people who are in the same boat as me on here who can share their insights.

Yeah I agree this situation is shitty for me but good to find out now before I do have major issues down the pike that could shut things down for me as far as training goes.

 

[T&H]

Thanks for your feedback and yes will share some info I get from the physical therapist once I get my first session. I am sure there's people who are in the same boat as me on here who can share their insights.

Yeah I agree this situation is shitty for me but good to find out now before I do have major issues down the pike that could shut things down for me as far as training goes.

Best thing is you have no symptoms. As long as you don't do exercises to worsen either, you'll be fine for a while. As you already know, be very careful with lumber back problems. I went through a brutal year long sciatica battle from lumber discs that took some back safe core strengthening to help resolve.

 

[MindlessWork]

Best thing is you have no symptoms. As long as you don't do exercises to worsen either, you'll be fine for a while. As you already know, be very careful with lumber back problems. I went through a brutal year long sciatica battle from lumber discs that took some back safe core strengthening to help resolve.

Ouch that's no fun and I will do my best to avoid that scenario myself. Most likely I am going to do mainly the exercises my PT recommends and other core strengthening exercises as well. Right now I do realize I have to back off things that put my back at risk. Certainly I am not getting any younger...

 

[Switcher]

I was just diagnosed today with moderate scoliosis as well as early arthritic degeneration in my lower back when I went in for a physical. Even though I feel no pain or discomfort at this time but that could be coming down the pike in the next few years and I am open to suggestions for alternate training methods to reduce the risk of further issues as well as correcting the scoliosis.

Currently I plan to ditch squats permanently to reduce back pressure and what good alternatives to that?

Anyone ever have scoliosis and what sort of corrective exercises? Just looking for some insight.

As a side note, I was referred to a physical therapist as well.

Good luck to you and if you ever want to converse, send me a message. I 'broke my back' as we call it, in the Navy, at sea.

I do a lot of machine training and no, zero, lower back pressure. It isn't all that intuitive but I can now do exercises for most of the muscles less the traps and lower back. With the amount of machines now available, depending on the facilities around you, it is pretty doable.

 

[Girpy]

I workout with a guy who has scoliosis and in general his biggest help is regular adjustments and stretching to keep himself from creating any worse imbalances and of course keeping away from anything that loads weight directly down the spine such as squats. However we do fairly heavy hip thrusts from time to time and that doesn't cause him any issues while still allowing him to load a decent amount of weight on his legs/glutes

 

[Demondosage]

Yoga classes

 

[Old]

I was just diagnosed today with moderate scoliosis as well as early arthritic degeneration in my lower back when I went in for a physical. Even though I feel no pain or discomfort at this time but that could be coming down the pike in the next few years and I am open to suggestions for alternate training methods to reduce the risk of further issues as well as correcting the scoliosis.

Currently I plan to ditch squats permanently to reduce back pressure and what good alternatives to that?

Anyone ever have scoliosis and what sort of corrective exercises? Just looking for some insight.

As a side note, I was referred to a physical therapist as well.

What's your age?
What is extent of arthritic degeneration and why?
Did you have an MRI? If so get the pictures. Arthritis on the vertebrae usually show as 'sharper' extension around the disk. When mild, it isn't a problem.

Arthritis is from an inflammatory response. Exercise doesn't cause it. Diet and genetics are factors.

I have a mild scoliosis, upper back, and ruptured disk (lowest one) that causes sciatica. Also osteoporosis and early 'age related' arthritic degeneration. Doctors strongly advised against squats and deadlifts ... just walk a lot. However, squats and deadlifts are the only things that builds lower back for me and relieve sciatica. So chiro and physical therapist say since it is working, then do it. Am 58, 6'1" and not particularly strong but squat over 300 lbs and deadlift close to 400. As long as I exercise, no sciatic pain. Scoliosis hasn't got worse either.

You can find plenty of YouTube stuff about bodybuilders with disk problems and the exercises they do. Some are the opposite of what is recommended, but counterintuatively work. The 'Scooby' guy on YouTube has scoliosis pronounced enough to see. He discusses it and what he does and avoids.

Since you've been working out for years without knowing you had a problem, it would seem that the exercises aren't hurting you. It is entirely possible that your exercises are why you don't feel any problem. You'll just have to make that judgement. But in the end strong muscles support joints (including back). If you don't keep these strong, then problems will manifest themselves eventually.

Gook luck

 

[Pineapples4Puss]

Had a disc removed in my lower back when I was 17. Don’t really touch deadlifts what so ever. Haven’t squatted in a minute but slowly bringing those back into the game but I’m also 22.

Lunges are my #1 leg builder.

 

[Pineapples4Puss]

What's your age?
What is extent of arthritic degeneration and why?

Arthritis is from an inflammatory response. Exercise doesn't cause it.

I have a mild scoliosis, upper back, and ruptured disk (lowest one) that causes sciatica. Also osteoporosis and early 'age related' arthritic degeneration. Doctors strongly advised against squats and deadlifts ... just walk a lot. However, squats and deadlifts are the only things that builds lower back for me and relieve sciatica. So chiro and physical therapist say since it is working, then do it. Am 58, 6'1" and not particularly strong but squat over 300 lbs and deadlift close to 400. As long as I exercise, no sciatic pain. Scoliosis hasn't got worse either.

You can find plenty of YouTube stuff about bodybuilders with disk problems and the exercises they do. Some are the opposite of what is recommended, but counterintuatively work. The 'Scooby' guy on YouTube has scoliosis pronounced enough to see. He discusses it and what he does and avoids.

Since you've been working out for years without knowing you had a problem, it would seem that the exercises aren't hurting you. It is entirely possible that your exercises are why you don't feel any problem. You'll just have to make that judgement. But in the end strong muscles support joints (including back). If you don't keep these strong, then problems will manifest themselves eventually.

Gook luck

I had a disc removed for this exact reason my sciatica.

It’s crazy you say that when you stop lifting is when it hurts. And this is me. When I don’t lift my left leg flares up pretty bad with pain and stiffness. The harder I push myself the better my lower back feels.

I think traditional medicine doesn’t want the body to grow and adapt just heal and maintain which is just brain dead imo. They need to realize we are not normal people or bodies function different from the YEARS AND YEARS of hard training. We know our bodies way better than most of the population and all you gotta do is listen to it.

 

[Old]

I had a disc removed for this exact reason my sciatica.

It’s crazy you say that when you stop lifting is when it hurts. And this is me. When I don’t lift my left leg flares up pretty bad with pain and stiffness. The harder I push myself the better my lower back feels.

I think traditional medicine doesn’t want the body to grow and adapt just heal and maintain which is just brain dead imo. They need to realize we are not normal people or bodies function different from the YEARS AND YEARS of hard training. We know our bodies way better than most of the population and all you gotta do is listen to it.

It becomes "no gain, then pain", lol

Haven't removed what remains of mine (been 20 years now). But am waiting for the two vertebrae to fuse. On the MRI kind of looks like a scallop shell where the bones are trying to reach each other. In the meantime see a chiro every month or so ... if/when it fuses, want it to fuse straight so as not to put undo stress on the disks above (sort of like a zipper).
Have your vertebrae fused that you know?

 

[Pineapples4Puss]

It becomes "no gain, then pain", lol

Haven't removed what remains of mine (been 20 years now). But am waiting for the two vertebrae to fuse. On the MRI kind of looks like a scallop shell where the bones are trying to reach each other. In the meantime see a chiro every month or so ... if/when it fuses, want it to fuse straight so as not to put undo stress on the disks above (sort of like a zipper).
Have your vertebrae fused that you know?

Nope they have not fused.

My mri was pretty terrible when I had it done. Like very blatant where my disc was herniated. They removed only part of it which technically I shouldn’t have any more issues with but I expect them. I haven’t gotten it checked since I was 18-19.

I was extremely close of getting a fusion but fought like hell for them to get bent. I know one day i may need to fuse my discs. But hopefully that can be put off for many years

 

[MindlessWork]

What's your age?
What is extent of arthritic degeneration and why?
Did you have an MRI? If so get the pictures. Arthritis on the vertebrae usually show as 'sharper' extension around the disk. When mild, it isn't a problem.

Arthritis is from an inflammatory response. Exercise doesn't cause it. Diet and genetics are factors.

I have a mild scoliosis, upper back, and ruptured disk (lowest one) that causes sciatica. Also osteoporosis and early 'age related' arthritic degeneration. Doctors strongly advised against squats and deadlifts ... just walk a lot. However, squats and deadlifts are the only things that builds lower back for me and relieve sciatica. So chiro and physical therapist say since it is working, then do it. Am 58, 6'1" and not particularly strong but squat over 300 lbs and deadlift close to 400. As long as I exercise, no sciatic pain. Scoliosis hasn't got worse either.

You can find plenty of YouTube stuff about bodybuilders with disk problems and the exercises they do. Some are the opposite of what is recommended, but counterintuatively work. The 'Scooby' guy on YouTube has scoliosis pronounced enough to see. He discusses it and what he does and avoids.

Since you've been working out for years without knowing you had a problem, it would seem that the exercises aren't hurting you. It is entirely possible that your exercises are why you don't feel any problem. You'll just have to make that judgement. But in the end strong muscles support joints (including back). If you don't keep these strong, then problems will manifest themselves eventually.

Gook luck

Thanks for your feedback.

I am about to turn 56 and the doctor observed my back and posture and had ordered digital x-rays same day and I had those done. Doctor told me that I have mild arthritic degeneration in my lower back as well as scoliosis that's moderate. Bone density test came back as very good. Hip joints are also in great shape. Arthritis was present in my shoulders as well. If I can get copies of my x-rays in my hospital's online patient portal (and edit out personal information) I may post them here.

Never realized I had scoliosis and hopefully it's correctable through specialized exercise to to straighten the spine (mine is in like an s shape). Going to meet with a PT within the next weeks.

For time being I will back off squats and do alternative exercises for lower back that reduce the pressure on the back.

 

[MindlessWork]

I may consider putting up a log at some point.

 

[Worf]

@MindlessWork do you wear a belt for lower body training?

 

[MindlessWork]

@MindlessWork do you wear a belt for lower body training?

Yes for heavy sets I do.

 

[Venom82]

I got scoliosis chiropractor found it when they took xrays. If you face me my back has a slight curve. Sometimes i get pain but still do squats and everything

 

[MindlessWork]

I got scoliosis chiropractor found it when they took xrays. If you face me my back has a slight curve. Sometimes i get pain but still do squats and everything

Thanks for your feedback. I sometimes also get back pain too.