Scoliosis Surgery: Think carefully

I always wanted to do something with my scoliosis. But don’t know what actions can be taken except going for surgery. How much does it is cost? I have surveyed and it is cost around $100,000. That’s huge amount of money, I don’t think I can pay it.

Before you decide on surgery, it is advisable to consider all information you get carefully, evaluate them, search for any others alternatives and pick the best decision you can. It is not a joke; it is something related to your life. Therefore, you need to be as caution as possible.

I have been told by a lady that she was regretted to undergo operation to replace her hip with metal which advise by a medical doctor. Now she suffered more pain after the surgery compare previously . She really can feel it when raining days come. She told me that the doctor is unethical; they will push patients for operation although it is not necessary.

There always some dangers of surgery especially doing operation at your spine. I went through some video on the scoliosis surgery, it’s really scared me… thinking of all the pain you need to go through after the surgery (I really give big respect for those who went through).

What’s Wrong with Cow’s Milk?

We always come across advertisements asking us to drink more cows’ milk to prevent osteoporosis and to protect our bone strength. The facts and figures provided as follows are scary. In US, 10 million individuals suffer from osteoporosis; 18 million have low bone mass; 1150 people are dying every month in UK as a result of hip fractures (National Osteoporosis Society); Malaysian women consume less than 50% of their required calcium needs. (research conducted by UPM and University of Otago, New Zealand).

From young age I am aware of the important of calcium and for that reason I usually consumed more cow’s milk compare to my peer will do. But one things make me curious is why my bone mineral density (BMD) is lower compare to my mum when we went for a free bone mineral density test provided by one of the famous daily milk product?

What’s wrong here? At the age of 23, I accidentally come to a workshop provided a nutrition MLM company. They give me shocking news that by drinking cow’s milk does not prevent osteoporosis, in fact cow’s milk can lead to osteoporosis. According to Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (2005) that “the level of dairy product consumption in the United States is among the highest in the world, and yet osteoporosis and fracture rates are also among the highest”.

Why? Scientists have known that diets that are high in protein cause calcium to be lost through the urine. The fact is cow’s milk is high in protein; it contains 3 times protein much higher than human milk.

All those marketing gimmick have mislead us on the important of drinking cow’s milk. Why can’t they tell us the truth? It is sad to see more and more teenage nowadays are having scoliosis problems compare to previous. Can we do something to fix this?

If you want to know more dark side of milk, you can read "What They Don't Tell You about Milk" published by Consumers Association of Penang".

Law of Attraction

One of my pictures I put down in my dream board on year 2008 was to have a straight and beautiful back bone (I have pasted it at my study desk's wall). You asked me how I can achieve this dream. I can say I really have no idea. The only things I do are just putting it in my dream list and started to believe I can achieve it one day. I guess this is what calls the law of attraction and I always believe on the power of subconscious mind. This is the secret.

Law of attraction really exists; I have tested it in my area of life. The best proof is I have attracted my husband which I want. How? Very easy… all I do is just list down the feeling I want from my Mr. Right and imagined the happy moments. I still remember I imaged a scenario vividly on what I wanted from my Mr. Right after I broke up with my ex-boyfriend. I want a family man, he will kiss on my forehead every morning before he went for his work (This really happened now after I married on 2009), listen to my words, always care for me… Amazing! Is really happened!

Current I am now undergoing a Chinese traditional scoliosis treatment – bone-setting treatment (Tuina). Before that I have try some other methods like exercise, pendulum, body shaper top garment and physiotherapy (went for the first diagnose, but don't really started it). Thanks to God and thanks to power of attraction.

Good News or Bad News?

I really don’t take it seriously about scoliosis because doctor has set my mind at rest. But one things upset me was if my parent noticed it earlier, maybe I got the chance to improve and I can wear tight cloth and sleeveless garment. I even afraid to let guys found out that I have such an ugly shape. What happened if they know after getting married, will they dislike me? I have no confident with my appearance and always try to hide my weakness with wide and loose T-shirt.

I was actively playing badminton with my right hand (my right hand is super stronger than my left hand), drink a lot of cow milk to prevent osteoporosis (later I found out drinking cow milk can lead to osteoporosis faster!), sitting with crossed leg often (not encourage), sleep at soft and bad quality mattress, carried heavy things with incorrect posture, wearing high heels and drink carbonated drink. These are the things we should avoid when we have scoliosis.

Until I reached 24, I attended an interview and recruited as one of the bank employee. Before I was formally recruited, I was required to undergo a body check up. I went to the clinic for the entire test and the doctor noticed my scoliosis. She seems very surprised on it and told me that my lung on left side is smaller compare to my right lung; she even told me that my degree of curvature will get worse especially when I have osteoporosis. Then it will threatens the vital organs, especially the lungs and heart.

I told her the report I obtained from the orthopedics doctor previously, there were nothing serious. But the doctor asked me to go and get the support letter from the orthopedics doctor. I was worried on what the doctor told me. In these 9 years, I have notice that my degree of curvature getting worse, mainly I have a lower bone mineral density (BMD) compare to my mum. Another word I have tendency in osteoporosis. What’s happened if I reach menopause stage? These are the questions I afraid of.

45 Degree Curve

I really don’t know the reason. When I browse on internet regarding the cause of scoliosis, normally the answer I got will be unknown, such case called idiopathic scoliosis. I just remember when I was 15 year-old. My grandmother (now my grandmother had passed away) noticed the abnormal curve with my spine when we visited her. She asked my mum to take me for X-rays. How can I not noticing about my own problem? I really can’t remember. May be it is because I was inferiority, felt myself not beautiful, more masculinity, and seldom wear tight cloth. When I observed myself in the mirror, the front posture is still “presentable”, the back shape is like a big “S” shape where the right muscle coming up and left muscle hiding up.

This picture was taken after I undergone 3 treatments

Finally I got my X-rays done and advised from the orthopedics (bone) doctor in hospital. The doctor told me that the degree of my curvature was 45 degree. He asked me whether I have any difficulty to breath, pain related to scoliosis. I said no. He told me that the cause is inborn, which I might have it when I was infant, but it is unnoticeable. Any treatments to improve the condition? The answer I got from the specialist was to undergo surgery to correct my spine. But it was not advisable, luckily he said that, if not I will probably go for operation. He also told me that I am too old to wear bracing to correct my bone. All I need to do is exercise. I asked him whether the curve will get worse. He said no. This is the advice I got from the orthopedics doctor which was contradicted with one of doctor and sometimes I do feel my curvature got worse due to I have low bone density.

Why I am writing this blog?

I am currently 30 year-old and undergo scoliosis treatment. Actually scoliosis didn’t cause me any big issues where I don’t feel any chest or back pain, breathing difficulty as others may feel. Haha! I think the biggest problem is I cannot wear bikini. Just joking… But once a while, I felt difficult to breathe when I was sitting too long or playing badminton using my right hand (my muscle is over active in right hand). Other than that I am a normal person. What is scoliosis? Scoliosis three-dimensional deformity of the spine and rib cage and the layman meaning will be it is a medical condition in which a person’s spine is curve from side to side.

This blog is not for me to share with you from medical point of views. It is more on my real experiences which I gone through on my scoliosis treatment. I hope others can contribute their experiences too and at least provide some alternative scoliosis treatment methods others than surgery which I really do not want unless it is really serious. I have spent 15 years sourcing and continue sourcing now. I have found few alternative methods and I felt comfortable about it. I can say I am lucky and thanks to God. I hope this will help others to discover your own treatment method and ways to improve your condition.