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Hello, I'm 27 and was recently told by a doctor that it would probably be best if I didn't have children. I have scoliosis, at age 12 they put me in a cast for a year and it made my curviture worse. At age 15, I had a curve of 47 degrees and had corrective surgery using the Harrington Rods. I still have pain, especially when I lift, push, or pull more weight than I'm supposed to. I have more pain if I sit or lay down too long. I've had times when I'm sitting for long spells and once I start to stand up...I literally get stuck. Its like my back siezes or catches in some way. When that happens my husband helps me lay on the hardwood floor until I'm able to more again. I've just received the results from my latest bone density scan and I'm still losing density, not in large numbers, but my doctor was still concerned since I'm 27, I'm still young. With all of this said I've never had any regrets on having the surgery. I had more pain and problems before than I do now. But I've always wanted to have children. I want to carry my own baby and have that bond that develops while still in the womb. I work at Vanderbilt Children's Hosptial in the NICU and have seen all kinds of complications with child birth. I've had several people give me their opinions and judgements. I would like to get as factual of an answer to my question as possible. I'm choosing this route because on here, I'm not known personally. I won't get answers based on biased feelings and opinions because I'm liked and people don't won't to hurt my feelings or scare me. I plan on speaking with a specialist ob/gyn before getting pregnant, I just want to do my research first. I don't like going into situations blindly. If you have any information or facts, that can only help me. I'm not scared of the risk. I plan on having my baby, but I would like to know, plan, and prepare as much as possible. Any help you can offer is greatly appreciated. Thank you, Amanda Truet.
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My name is kristan. I am also a scoliosis patient with Harrington rods. I had the surgery done when I was 13. I too was offered to wear the brace but had other friends who tried it unsuccessfully. My curve was 48 degrees and I decided to have the surgery. I was pretty much okay until age 18 about five years after. I started to have more pain than I ever had because I had no pain before the surgery. I was put on pain medicine because I was having problems walking. I became pregnant two years later at 20 with twins. I obviously was taken off the pain medicine and at 29 weeks put on bed rest. After I had my kids I was put back on pain meds but was noticing the pain was not easing even with the meds. I had X-rays. They pretty much found nothing. But I knew I wasn't crazy. My surgeon would no longer see me because he did not take my insurance. So I had mri done by my own primary care doctor and found numerous problems. I now have scoliosis below my rods in my lumbar spine. I have spondylolthesis spondylolsis spinal stenosis straightening of my cervical lordosis in my neck and more than 5 herniations. I don't know if it was from carrying my kids but I do know this seemed to have happen a few months after my kids. When I delivered I had a csection and because of my rods they had to re do the spinal before my csection because they almost hit my rods. It's hard and more difficult with having his condition,but it is not impossible. Get multiples opinions from doctors. You should be okay hope this helped.
May 30, 2013 - 9:09amThis Comment
Hi Amanda Truett,
Welcome to EmpowHER. Everyone is different. Some believe that the spine curvature could worsen as a result of the pregnancy, with the added weight and pressure that the increasing size of the uterus can place upon different parts of the body. However this is not necessarily the case. Scoliosis and pregnancy will not automatically increase the curvature of the spine, in particular for women over 25 there may be no change in curvature. Though in some cases such alterations are noted, particularly among women with severe scoliosis. You need to discuss this with your doctor or specialist. They can guide you as to which precautions to take if you do decide to become pregnant.
Best,
Daisy
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