scoliosis

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 knee 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-knee.mp4
http://prod.neverst.depuy.edgesuite.net/patients/media/depuy-knee.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 of us have spines that naturally curve forward and back. But in some people, the spine twists and develops curves in the wrong direction—sideways. This "S"-shaped curve that goes from side to side and, in some cases, rotates, is a condition called "scoliosisscoliosisAll spines have curves, but occasionally the spine twists and develops curves in the wrong direction - sideway...." In severe cases it can lead to disfigurement and physical painpainAn unpleasant sensation associated with actual or potential tissue damage, and mediated by specific nerve fibe....

 

A scoliosis curve can occur in the middle or the lower back, or even in both areas at the same time. When the vertebraevertebraeThe individual bones of the spine are the vertebrae. These are the building blocks of the spinal column. The v... in the mid and low back curve to the side, the normal appearance and condition of the spine and its muscles changes. The severity of the scoliosis is measured in degrees by comparing the curves to "normal" angles. Curves can range in size from as little as 10 degrees to severe cases of more than 100 degrees.

Most cases of scoliosis are first discovered and treated in childhood or adolescence—particularly during puberty when the curvature becomes more noticeable. It affects girls more than boys and may be inherited genetically.

May 15 2012 - 19:17:49