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  • tine312
    Member
    Post count: 3

    Hi Dr. Corenman, how are you? I went through the forum & didnt see any results for my exact question. So, I will just ask it. Do you feel it is possible, if I had an “insignificant scoliosis” in 2005 & 2007 (xray reports stated just scoliosis, but doctors that read report & saw films said it was so insignificant, could have been caused by a very serious motor vehicle accident? The curve never moved for 4 yrs, until 2009, the accident occured in 2008, but upon impact from a huge truck hitting me on drivers side & pushing my car across street & hitting passenger side into telephone pole, my body swayed from left to right, not front to back. I hit my shoulder so hard on the door that I ended up w/a torn rotator cuff, of that there is no doubt the car accident caused it. I just cant find any medical documentation that states that a car accident can absolutely cause or “awaken” a dormant curve, to progress into severe scoliosis. I did have a pre-existing herniated disc and back pain, but my pain became much worse and different after the accident. Sometime toward the end of 2009, I started to curve, limp, shoulders became uneven, all the symptoms of scoliosis began to appear. I felt something pop or snap in my spine upon impact. Anyway, by 2010-2011, it became so severe, my breathing became affected because my lungs were starting to become compressed & now when xrays are taken, they ask me if I ever had a problem with my right lung. I told them after both surgeries for my scoliosis, I was told I have restrictive lung disease. They say that the lung is still smaller then my left one & still compressed. Also, my degree of curve was at 70%+. I had the surgeries in Jul 2012, 6 mos ago, first they went in through side & abodomen & took out discs & replaced them with cages. Then, a week later they did the spine, the rods, pins, screws, nuts, bolts, ya know, all kinds of hardware, ha ha! In any event, I am thankful to be straighter, but I still have one leg shorter than the other, I am still curved and reports show I still have scoliosis in the lumbar area, I still have pain, and am just starting PT. My back is completely numb & tingly, with the weirdest feeling, I cant even descirbe. Hypersensitivity, I’ve been told, is what it is, and it isnt improving. Anyway, I just want to get some peace about this issue, because I dont believe I would have ever had this all happen to me had the truck not hit me. So, if you know of any medical documentation or reported cases of a MVA causing or advancing scoliosis, I would really appreciate you letting me know. And, if you feel it is absoultely possible, I would like to hear your opinion and medical reasons as well. Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my information and answer my question. Christine

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    In general, the increase of a scoliosis is not related to trauma with two exceptions. If there was a fracture associated with the trauma, this can increase a scoliosis curve (measured by two angulated endplates-the Cobb method). If there is pain associated with the trauma (disc herniation or such), the curve can increase from antalgia (pain that causes adaptation of the spine to compensate for the curve).

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
    tine312
    Member
    Post count: 3

    Dr. Corenman, thanks for your answer. Antalgia seems like the most fitting answer for me. However, if you can direct me to any websites (preferably medical), such as published articles in JAMA, or articles written by doctors explaining the causes of & how antalgia develops would be really helpful. I would also like to find one site, or one doctor, who believes that even w/out antalgia, that a motor vehicle accident can “awaken” a dormant scoliosis curve. I have read way too many stories of other people online who were involved in MVAs and said that their doctors told them it was the accident that caused or furthered their scoliosis without a doubt! I guess I just cant understand how I can end up with a torn rotator cuff because of how hard the truck hit me & caused my body to sway left to right, & I felt something pop or snap in my spine upon impact, but the power of the impact couldnt be enough to make this slight curve start to advance. I will find proof somewhere, eventually, that it is possible, because, as we know, anything is possible. Thanks again, & I await your reply for some resources.

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    A scoliosis can be present but not symptomatic. An accident can cause new symptoms that would not be present from the asymptomatic scoliosis. The scoliosis curve progressing without pain provocation (antalgia) or from fracture has not been noted in the literature or by my personal clinical experience.

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
    nanmglenn
    Participant
    Post count: 1

    Dr. Corenman,

    Could you speak to scoliosis made worse or initiated in the case of Ehlors-Danlos and joint hypermobility.

    I have EDS and significant back pain. I have a Buffalo hump (kyphosis) since having my neck and upper back whipped forward and to the left (no shoulder belt) in a motor vehicle accident.

    I have had Scoliosis mentioned by PT and chiropractic, but when I try to pin anyone down about whether I have it or not, including a spine surgeon, my primary care, and physiatrist I don’t get straight answers.

    I feel like my back isn’t straight. I have done different forms of Yoga for years and I can feel the difference in my spine. I also sit in a very weird kind of side folder way that is new to this accident. I also have lumbar and thoracic suspected CSF leaks

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    A hyperkyphosis (a large back to front spine bend) can be associated with a scoliosis and vise-versa. Ehlers Danlos Syndrome can have scoliosis and hyperkyphosis related to it. Scoliosis is measured by the Cobb method and a curve greater than 10 degrees is defined as a scoliosis. When you have EDS and become involved in an auto accident, you are more susceptible to injury due to your hypermobility from EDS but it would be unusual to have an increase in your kyphosis just from the auto accident unless you had vertebral fractures. It would be unusual to have CSF leaks spontaneously. See these links:

    https://neckandback.com/anatomy/normal-spinal-alignment/
    https://neckandback.com/conditions/hyperkyphosis-scheuermanns-disease/
    https://neckandback.com/conditions/scoliosis-thoracic/

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
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