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Small scoliosis curves – are they painful?

October 27, 2016

It is easy to imagine how large scoli curves can wreak havoc on one’s body, but many people are unaware of how small scoliosis curves can be just as physically and emotionally painful. I wrote in The Beautiful Scoliotic Back that bodies like balance. So, any deviation, even a small one, (i.e. small scoli curves) can create confusion in the body and cause pain.

I recently attended a yoga scoliosis workshop from Deborah Wolk, who owns Samamkaya Yoga Back Care & Scoliosis Collective Studio in New York City. When discussing large and small scoliosis curves, Deborah indicated that with large curves, part of the nervous system shuts down nerve feedback. That means a person with large curves may not always feel how much pain they are in. This shutdown doesn’t happen for people with small curves, so they can sometimes be in more pain even though their scoli is less severe. I found that concept to be fascinating, and one that I’ve been chewing on since the workshop.

This recent email I received about pain levels and small curves fits right in with that concept

Hi Erin,
You are an inspiration to me and I love watching and reading your material! Like so many others, I hope to take control of the progression of my scoliosis…I was not diagnosed with scoliosis (14 degree thoracic curve and 10 degree lumbar curve) until I was 26 years old and first began encountering problems and pain. I am now 45…and I found it interesting that my X-rays showed there were significant improvements in my thoracic curve (it decreased to 8 degrees). However I am still in a lot of pain…and I am so tired of being in pain!
-Katja W. from Florida

Here is what Katja’s scoli curves look like.

small-curves-blog-pic

Yep, looks like an almost straight spine to me, yet Katja is still in a lot of pain.

In addition to being painful, small scoliosis curves often affect one’s self-esteem. I have a scoli client in her late 30’s that has an amazing-looking body and a small scoli curve in her lumbar spine. As a movement practitioner, I can see muscular discrepancies, but you’ve got to really know what you are looking for to find them. However, that is not how this client feels. She wouldn’t wear a swimsuit in her teens, and still won’t wear one because of how self-conscious her small curves make her feel. As far as I’m concerned, she could be a swimsuit model! This just goes to show that small curves can have just as big an impact as large ones on a person’s image and self-esteem.

I have one more interesting email to share with you from a woman named Jennifer in Hawaii. In a previous email exchange, Jennifer shared that she has an 11-degree scoli curve. I quickly quipped back “wow, 11 degrees, that’s NOTHING. Literally, your spine has to be 10 degrees in order to get a diagnosis of scoli.” This was her thought-provoking response:

Hi Erin,
Yes, my 11 degrees still impacts my life. If I’m not looking head on when sitting or talking to someone, it throws off my whole spine. Also, during my period I get what I call a “scoliosis headache”. It’s the weirdest thing. Before my period, I get unstable and everything snaps and pops and is very loose. Then during my period everything seizes up and gets tight like a rope. I know my hormones have something to do with this.
-Jennifer P. from Hawaii

Crazy, huh?! Her reply was a good reminder to me of the impact small curves have on people’s lives.

No matter what type of scoliosis you are living with, fused or unfused, 11-degrees or 67-degrees, I have a personalized list of resources to help you.

If you have a small curve, I encourage you to share your experience it in the comments.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jessica Brower says

    January 31, 2022 at 8:30 am

    i am in my early 60s, and after losing weight, about 25 pounds in all, am now 135. i have had chronic back lower back pain for decades and the pain affects mostly my left side. i have about a 1/4 ” shorter right leg as well.
    i digress. after losing the weight, i now feel a boney protrusion near my s1 about even with the top of my butt crack, are that is actually visible through my skin. this is where my left sided pain has been radiating from.
    i had xrays taken of the area and this was the radiologist interpretation of the xrays..

    findings:
    minimal curvature of the lower lumbar spine convex to the left.
    minimal invagination of lumbar endplates is chronic. slight loss
    of disc space height is suggested at l5-s1. no fracture or
    destructive lesion seen.
    incidental note is made of multiple right pelvic phleboliths.

    i guess my question is where do i go from here. mri, ct scan…?
    thank you for your time

    Reply
    • Erin Myers says

      February 3, 2022 at 3:27 pm

      Hi Jessica,
      First off, congrats on loosing that weight! I have many thoughts and would love to help you. I’d suggest we set up a virtual lesson. You can book it online or contact Spiral Spine and the client care coordinator can help you set it up. There’ll be a bit more to this than a quick email response. I look forward to making a plan for you.
      Blessings,
      Erin Myers

      Reply
  2. Mrs. Sujata maharathi says

    August 30, 2020 at 7:38 am

    Hi Erin,
    Your information could be helpful to me as i am a researcher in scoliosis .it ll’be very useful if you post some of your concepts to strengthen the weak muscles,myself a physiotherapist by profession who want to help people suffering from scoliotic curves.Thank you. sujata

    Reply
    • Erin Myers says

      September 3, 2020 at 10:42 am

      Hi Sujata,
      It’s lovely to hear you research scoliosis. I would highly suggest you read my latest book, Analyzing Scoliosis, where I site research and pull together concepts on how I work with scoliosis clients through movement. I think that’ll be just what you’re looking for. You can also watch any of the number of scoliosis continuing education workshops I have online, which can be found here. Enjoy studying and let me know if you come across new scoli findings.
      Blessings,
      Erin

      Reply

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March 3-4 Scoliosis Retreat at @spiral_spine is al March 3-4 Scoliosis Retreat at @spiral_spine is almost full. There are only 5 slots left. When it’s full, it’s full and I can’t make any exceptions due to equipment at the studio that you’ll need. If you want to come in March to the retreat I’d suggest you register soon or there may not be space for you and you’ll have to come to June’s or October’s retreat. 🔗 in bio for registration and more info. See you soon! #spiralspine #scoliosis #bentbutnotbroken #scoliosisawareness #scoliosisexercise
This cup was in the studio when I arrived today an This cup was in the studio when I arrived today and it made me smile. Are you owning your journey? Are you owning your body “stuff”? Or, are you allowing yourself to be a victim to the current status of your body? All body issues can get better. I’m not promising they’ll go away, but all can get better. 

If you need help owning your scoli and your scoli journey, the Scoliosis Retreat is a perfect place for you to start. The next on is March 3-4 at @spiral_spine in Nashville. 🔗 in bio. We’d love to walk your journey with you. #spiralspine #scoliosis #nashvillepilates #bentbutnotbroken #scoliosiswarrior #scoliosisexercise #pilates
Reposted• @aliciafranklinludwig Push-ups anyone? Reposted• @aliciafranklinludwig Push-ups anyone? 
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Wow! What a journey I have been on! In 2016 I was told I had to have another fusion only this time it would be full spinal. I had already exhausted all “non” surgical options at that point and then I hit rock bottom. That is until a friend literally begged me to call her friend Erin at Spiral Spine.
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After delaying weeks, I finally made it in to the studio. I could barely walk and pretty much laid on my back crying most of the session. Bless Erin for loving on people. 💕
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Fast forward to Summer 2022. I have officially completed all of my Balanced Body courses to be an instructor and now focusing on my hours. I can only hope I have the same impact on someone else. 
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If you want to hear more of my Scoliosis Pilates journey from Erin’s perspective check out her 3 part blog. Link in bio. 
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