kyphosis

moving me forward™

Your movement may be limited, but your options don't have to be. See how other patients conquered their pain and get started on your own journey to recovery.

Mike "Coach K" Krzyzewski
Inspirational college coach and DePuy joint recipient.

watch a spine pep-talk from Coach Kread Coach K's story

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"It's not worth living with pain."

http://prod.neverst.depuy.edgesuite.net/patients/media/depuy-spine.mp4
http://prod.neverst.depuy.edgesuite.net/patients/media/depuy-spine.mp4
"It's not worth living with pain."

read Coach K's story

"Hi, I'm Mike Krzyzewski, coach of Duke University's Men's Basketball team. If you could take a journey to move better, live better, why wouldn't you? I did when I had joint replacement surgery.

"I'm here to tell you that you have two opponents. Pain and lack of mobility. Pain can get you down every day. Lack of mobility can lead to decreased speed and loss of endurance. With speed and endurance loss, you don't stay competitive and you spend energy just trying to catch up. But you've got to fight your opponents to stay in the game.

"I know it isn't always easy. There was a part of me that thought of stopping, giving up coaching altogether. I would never have won two Olympic team medals and four NCAA Championships if I hadn't had my surgeries.

"Now, I don't have to overcompensate for injury and pain. I'm more active than before, I have relief from pain and I'm even quicker on my feet. People say I look better now. Do you want your life back the way it should be? You have two choices, a continued downward spiral or take action.

"So don't let the injury win. You don't need to live in pain. That's why I want to encourage you to empower yourself. Get educated, develop a personal treatment plan with your doctor, build a team of support and commit to reclaiming your life. Remember, this is a major event in your life—treat it as such. What you put into it will multiply for you at the end of the journey."
 

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overview

Most people have some curve in their spines. When viewed from the side, spines should have an "S"-shaped curve. But in some people, the curve in the mid back is more pronounced. In severe cases, this can cause other painful conditions to develop in the back.

Thoracic Spine Diagram

KyphosisKyphosisThe word "kyphosis" describes a type of curve in the spine. A kyphotic curve is normally present in the thorac... is the term used to describe a type of abnormal curve in the spine. The thoracic spine—the middle 12 vertebraevertebraeThe individual bones of the spine are the vertebrae. These are the building blocks of the spinal column. The v...—naturally has some kyphosis or "C"-shaped curve. The normal amount of curve is considered to be from 20 to 40 degrees within the entire thoracic spine. A kyphotic spinal deformity means there is too much forward curve in the spine. If the curve is more than 40 to 45 degrees, it is considered a spinal deformity.

Adult kyphosis can have varying symptoms and degrees of severity, from minor changes in the shape of the back to severe deformity, nervenerveA whitish cordlike structure composed of one or more bundles of myelinated or unmylelinated fibers, or more of... problems and chronic pain. Kyphosis is most common in the thoracic spine, though it can also affect the cervical and lumbar spinelumbar spineThe lowest part of the spine is called the lumbar spine. This area has five vertebrae. The lumbar spine's shap....

Kyphosis should not be confused with scoliosisscoliosisAll spines have curves, but occasionally the spine twists and develops curves in the wrong direction - sideway..., which is a more common condition. Scoliosis occurs when the spine exhibits a side-to-side "S" curve.

May 15 2012 - 19:17:49