Guest ckdancegirl7 Posted October 15, 2003 Report Share Posted October 15, 2003 I found out two weeks ago that I have scoliosis. My spine is curved in two different places, and I have recently been having alot of pain in my upper left back. I've been dancing for ten years and have dreamt of a professional dance career since I was four...will my back problems shatter that dream?? I have seen a chiropractor four times already and he says that if I continually go to him to have my back alligned, my spine will eventually become straight, after between 5 and 12 months of appointments. Do you know of any dancers who also have scoliosis who have still become professional? My back is definitely improving but the pain still persists, and I've had to miss many dance classes. What can I do to strengthen my back in the meantime until it is fully healed (which could be many months)? I would greatly appreciate any advice. Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted October 15, 2003 Report Share Posted October 15, 2003 Relax. Scoliosis is a relatively frequently-found condition in people. It's just that dancers notice it a lot more, because they are more concious of their bodies. Plenty of dancers dancing today have slight amounts of scoliosis. It's not a stopper unless it's pronounced. I would continue with the chiro, especially if he's accustomed to working with dancers, but I would also be talking to an orthopaedist for a referral to a physical therapist, and maybe some Pilates. Quote Link to comment
balletstar811 Posted October 15, 2003 Report Share Posted October 15, 2003 A couple of years ago I had like 5 degree scoliosis, but now it's really minor, like 2 degrees. I definitely don't think it will hinder your dream! Quote Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted October 16, 2003 Administrators Report Share Posted October 16, 2003 ck, as Mr. Johnson said, it depends on the degree, however I have had scoliosis all my life and it never became a problem until recently, which is long after my professional career and many, many year into teaching. While there are some things that chiropractors do very well, I would not accept this diagnosis as the cause of your current pain without checking it out with an orthopedic doctor who KNOWS dancers. Most dancers can overcome this very well, and unless it is very severe, it should not cause you problems at this point in time. It is highly likely that the cause of your pain is muscular, probably specific movement related, and will go away on it's own. If it does not, then DO see an ortho, and DO try to find one who knows dancers. This is important. PT and Pilates might turn out to be far more helpful than continuing chiropractic treatments. When I started having trouble with my back I went for months and months to a chiropractor, and it simply did nothing. There was no improvement at all. So, they really can't do everything, no matter how many times you go. I've had better results with PT, which has to be prescribed by a regular physician in order for the insurance to cover it. Quote Link to comment
Guest devion101 Posted October 16, 2003 Report Share Posted October 16, 2003 Deanna McBrearty of NYCB had scoliosis. Don't give up hope! If you continue to see your doctor and/or chiropractor and take care of yourself, there's no stopping you. Best Wishes, Devion Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted October 16, 2003 Report Share Posted October 16, 2003 Let me give you a little story which may encourage you: A long time ago, when I was a student, I was a classmate of a young woman who danced exquisitely, and was truly beautiful in her expression, form, and technique. One day, after quite awhile of watching her in class, I finally asked, "___, what is that big scar up your back?" She answered blithely, "Oh, that! I was run over by a motorboat when I was about seven. Look fast, I'm the original half-a**ed ballet dancer!" And it was true! Her body had been sheared from her buttocks to her shoulderblades by the propellor. "My insides got all rearranged when they put me back together, and they prescribed ballet as therapy. Now, I can't get enough of it!" She was scoliotic, and still had the most perfect arabesque I've ever seen - no backside! We've kept in touch, and she and her husband and four children, none of whom she was supposedly able to have, are great friends . So you see, if she can live and thrive through trauma-induced scoliosis, to say nothing of versicardia ("backwards heart", but stands for any kind of rearranged insides), you should be able to see this through just fine. Quote Link to comment
Guest ckdancegirl7 Posted October 16, 2003 Report Share Posted October 16, 2003 Thank you so much for the advice, everyone! I appreciate the story, Mr. Johnson...it definitely gave me encouragement! And thank you, Ms. Leigh...my mom and I are now looking into PT and seeing an orthapedic. It's also nice to know that a dancer from NYCB also had scoliosis! There's hope! Quote Link to comment
ArabesqueAngel23 Posted October 22, 2003 Report Share Posted October 22, 2003 I dance, I have scoliosis, and I am happy. I have it pretty badly, it is about 20-25 degrees. I am thiiis close to needing a brace, but since I have stopped growing it most likely won't be needed. However, it is been getting better! I think this is from ballet, the back strength training it promotes, as does my doctor. So as long as the pain is bearable, keep on dancing! Quote Link to comment
Guest ckdancegirl7 Posted October 25, 2003 Report Share Posted October 25, 2003 Thanks a ton! I'm not sure what my degree is yet, but the doctors think it's between 15 and 22. It's glad to know that other dancers are in the same situation! My chiropractic treatments have been helping alot lately, and soon I might start physical therapy. Thank you everone for your ideas...I've been much more optimistic, and the doctors have really been able to help me. Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.