I put a message on here a few months ago, but alas nobody replied, please if anyone sees this I would really appreciate knowing Im not the only one out here! I was diagnosed with scheuermanns disease and spinal stenosis in march, and life has been a living hell ever since.It just isnt getting any easier, Im finding it really hard to ajust to the life changes. I get muscle spasms throughout the day and intense back pain that doesnt stop. I also have trouble eating. I am doing a rehabiliation program that is providing a little relief. I am on baclofen, vioxx, panadiene forte, and zoloft for the depression, and Omeprazole for the stomach discomfort. Its hard getting through the day. I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has this or anyone!!!!!

HI THERE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THAT DISEASE IS,BUT PLEASE EXPLAIN.THE REASON I'M POSTING IS BECAUSE I ALSO TAKE VIOXX & BACOLFKEN & THEY ALSO GAVE ME AN ANTI-DEPRESEANT(SORRY ABOUT THE SPELLING),BUT I DO NOT TAKE THAT.DOES THE VIOXX HELP?IT'S REALLY A MIRACLE FOR ME.I HAVE VERY BAD SICATA PAIN & CHRONIC INFLAMATION OF MY SI JOINTS.I HAVE HAD 2 CORTIZONE INJECTIONS & THEY HELPED FOR A LITTLE WHILE,THE DR.SAID THERE IS NOTHING ELSE HE CAN DO,SO HE SAID TO STAY ON THE VIOXX FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!BUT ANYWAY YOU ARE NOT ALONE,PLEASE POST MORE ABOUT YOUR CONDITION.BYE,HOPE TO TALK TO U SOON!!

Hi, I have had back pain for 7 years and although I have some Scheuermans, I dont believe it is the reason for my trouble. I started with low back pain and then it carried on gradually until I have it in my upper back and neck also. Once it reached my neck I started to get reflux. I have been to every expert, had xrays etc and no one really knows WHY they just try to adjust me. I stretch and exercise and hope eventually I will get sorted but I am still waiting. Just reading some of the others on this board makes me feel lucky. I have never had surgery, they cant operate when they dont know what is wrong! Dont give up, I never have and yet I am a real quitter at everything else! Best wishes from New Zealand.

Thank you Orville and Cinderella for replying! I take Baclofen for the muscle spasms, and the vioxx is suppose to act as a anti-inflammatory. I also live on panadiene forte! Bacically, my back is curving to such an extent that it is cutting off blood circulation which is causing the weakness in my legs, the pain goes through stages, at the moment it is hell, because i have recently increased my activity load.... it didnt like that! I am 19 but i feel about 80..... schuermanns is suppose to be more common in 14 yr olds boys! but unfortunatly it has affected me to such an extent that mobility is very limited, it affects my neck, legs and arms as well as my back. I also have a lot of trouble with my stomach, at the moment i can only eat one meal a day! My muscle tissue is so dead, and certain parts of my body just havent moved for so long which is why this rehabiliation on such a huge process. While all of my friends are out clubbing, im consentrating on getting well again. I know its never going to be the same, and i just have to accept that. I have been going to counselling regularly which is really helping.The schuermanns has led to a painful thoracic scoliosis which was brought on by excertion through my jobs, i have since stopped working and am now just consentrating on rehab. Basically all of my bones in my back are irregular and are wedging together. Ny right side has taken all the pressure from my balancing which has caused extreme pain there, and leg weakness. Its now growing the wrong way and my chin is out to quite an extent! I dont look abnormal.... its just what is happening, and if i hadnt have got treatment when i did, i would be a hunchback. Its still such a long road to travel.... but your messages meant a lot!

What a nightmare for you, and you are only 19. Can they straighten your spine with a brace? I only have a little wedging in my upper spine which gets stiff and tight mostly because I have other back problems I think. There is not much on the internet about it is there? Do you know what your outcome will be after treatment? I do hope you will be able to live a normal life. Is surgery an option? Best wishes neighbour!

I cant have back surgery or a brace, because at 19, the curve has formed and cannot be improved without painful surgery that may or may not help! If the docs at diagnosed it at 14 when I first had symptoms then I may not be in this position! I have been told that my rehab program will help to make the disease a little more manageable, but things will never go back to what they were- I am still getting my head around it. I have forgotton what a pain free day is like! BUt i guess its just something that i have to accept, life has to go on, and I am trying really hard!!

Hello All,

Sorry to hear about all your pain. I know EXACTLY where you are. I, too, am getting really depressed with my day to day life. I have had recurrent lower back problems for years only to be sent to the Chiro without so much as an xray. About Sep 2002, I sat up in bed and had one of the most severe episodes of pain in my back in recent years. Almost the same thing happened about 3 years ago and they just shuttled me off to Chiro saying is was a severe lumbar strain. I was more insistant this time as far as tests were concerned and found out alot more about what's going on. To make a VERY long story short, the xrays and MRI show what I believe to be Scheuerman's: Wedging, irregular vertebrae and quite a few Schmorl's nodes. Also included in the report is a chip fracture at T11/T12 and a herniated disc at L4/L5. Muscle spasms galour! The problem is that no one want to take the leap of faith and accually diagnose me!!! Maybe it's because I am dealing with the military doctors. Maybe I'm not talking to the right people. Can anyone assist me and tell me with whom I need to talk??? To make matters worse, they are trying to send me off to Neurology because they say that I shouldn't be having this kind of pain in these patterns. I have been having burning/tingling/stinging throughout my torso (wrapping around to my chest just under my breasts) and down my arms and to my knees. I, too, don't remember what a day without pain feels like. I am a 32 year old mother of 2 (who doesn't fit the profile) and it has just recently gotten almost unbearable!!! If this at all sounds like what you are going through, could you PLEASE let me know so that I can at least get a diagnosis and prove that this is not just my imagination!!!

Thank You for listening to me complain