Does anyone know much about this
i am 23 and been diagnosised with this disease and my kyphosis is 79 degrees.
i am in toledo ohio and cant find a doctor with much knowledge about this.
i have major problems with my legs and will go completly numb about twice a week.
anyone have any knowledge please.

its where there was insuffient blood flow in the vertebrate while you were growing. part of the vertebrate dies, and becomes wedge shaped.

The shape of your back changes...and you get a hard fixed unatural kyphosis in the upper back. Doctors say this doesn't cause much discomfort (yeah right...)

in my opinion Scheuermann's Disease is so undertreated. It does hurt. It hurts a lot. I was given a jewett brace to wear 10-14 hours a day. When I don't wear it, I feel like I'm folding in half.

The disease itself only lasts 3 months to 3 years and some people never have any problems at all.

So adults can't have the actual disease...but we have changes in our backs due to Scheuermann's(like excessive kyphosis-changes in the endplate of the vertebrate(schmorls nodes)
.
But sometimes Scheuermann's Disease is not the only thing going on. Most people have other problems like scoliosis...and low back and nerve pain...tight muscles...jerky reflexes...weakness in legs, restless legs,ddd, and depression related symptoms due to untreated chronic pain.

I have also found that most doctors don't even blink an eye and take my issues seriously. I cant sit- I cant stand...cant sleep- have spasms, weird burning and cold sensations, weakness, tightness and pain in my musclesa constant burning sensation between my shoulder blades,and more.

I have seen three different docs--been to physical therapy 7 times (6-8 weeks each time) seen a neuro-and 2 orthos. I was prescribed anti-inflammitories for pain. I have had many x-rays but no doctor ever explained to me in detail. no mri's

I hope you are able to find a doctor in your area. I think my next step may be pain management--if I can find the right place.

Ask questions and bring someone with you to your appointments. make them explain what is going on. i wish i had.

take care

I undersatnd how you feel, I also have this problems and have been to more drs in the pass 6yrs then I can keep track of and each and everyone has bliown this off completly.
I however do have numerous other problems with m y spine so I can't really say for sure what causes what pain and what symptoms.
However how did you come of this knowledge was it through an exam or actual MRI pictures, I wonder because maybe there is other problems you have that is causing the symptoms you are talking of?Linda

thank you all for help-n me you all helped me that much more yes I have had 5 MRI's to many to count X-rays the only thing that they really say is that it is not very common in girls and i'm a girl When I think that I've got somewhere with this it goes right back to the begining back to nothing. I know some stuff about it but not enough if there is any more things anyone knows please help me out anything and everything can help

Hi,
I just wanted to say hi and that I really hope you can find a doctor that will help you out and take your pain seriously. I also have Scheurmanns disease, I am 21 and a girl too, obviously. When I was 18 I got horrible pain out of nowhere in my mid back and I have been in constant horrible pain ever since. I have been diagnosed with compression fractures, arthritis, and collapsed thoracic discs along with Scheurmanns. I also have herniated lumbar discs with nerve damage, leg pain and numbness, etc. But I COMPLETELY agree with what you all have said, doctors do not take this disease seriously AT ALL. They completely blow it off as nothing, and all the websites I have seen say that Scheurmanns doesn't even cause any discomfort. What are these people talking about?????? Who decided that there is no pain involved?? Because from everyone I know that has it, there is tons of pain with this disease. It makes me very angry that nobody takes this seriously! I have tried everything to try to help my back...physical therapy, ESI's, chiropractors, pain management, etc. Nothing has ever helped. I am in the same situation as you, with the doctors now telling me my only option is to have major fusion surgery of 10 or more levels....and they also give it only a 65%chance of it even helping the pain. I'm still trying to decide what to do. I just want to tell you, you are not alone, and I pray that you find something to help your pain. If you ever have any questions, feel free to ask. God bless you and good luck with your search for information and help!
~Jen~

jen
hello I wanted to know if you have alot of pain when it gets cold out. lately it's been real hot here and I have been ok well the norm but anyways it cooled off a very very little bit and when it did cool off I was in so much pain. but the numbness was not that bad. I didn't go to work my little girl went to my moms I sat around in horrible pain and now that it got hot again the numbness is just horrible when it's cool I hurt very bad when it's hot the numbness is bad did you have this or have it now and if so what do you do for it. I can't take pain pills (narcs) they give me hives and make me really sick! any ideas anyone please help!
*Laura*

I wanted to qoute lorieann33 because this is the first time I have read of syptoms beyond the sheuermanns disease that I too seem to suffer.
After many years of anxiety and related depression, I found that the more stress I felt, the more my back and neck muscles would tighten. Then, after a particularly stressful week, my back totally locked up. Although i have had bad backs before (who hasn't) my normal treatment (chiro) didn't work.
Nor did phsysio, deep tissue massage , acupuncture ,heat bags or anything else. Finally, after 2 years, an x-ray found I had sheuermanns disease as a child (I am now 35 ) with schmorls nodes on some vertabrae. For a long time i was gettting by on painkillers but the pain became too much. I had shortness of breath, migraines, and numbness through my left shoulder blade and arm for 2 and a half years. Every test I've had has shown the problem to be seen as 'minimal' at best. What I found interesting is that 2 months ago, after severe pain in my neck, I began to spasm uncontrollably, with my body wanting to double in half or try to 'release', for wont of a better word, tight muscles. The hospital I was sent too sent me home and I ended back there 8hrs later in an even worse condition. The finally discharged me with a card to see a psychiatrist! I was treated as though I was having a seizure to to some "subconcious" mental condition. They didn't seem or want to know about the 2 yrs of back pain, sleeplessness, restless legs, everything that the above poster has described. Even my regular G.P (who has helped as much as possible) was shocked.
And now I need answers. I am to see a neurologist in a week to find out about the spasms, the tingling im my arm, the cramp in my right foot, the muscle knot between my shoulder blades which DOES NOT GO AWAY WITH ANY TREATMENT.
I am desperate to see what others have experienced, what benefits they got from what treatment, and peace of mind that something, anything works .
Sorry for the long post ,but frustration is a powerful thing
Looking for help, steve.

Hi

I can see from your post you are in Toledo, Ohio. I don't know if you can come to Cincinnati? My Neurosurgeon here, Dr. Horne ( Riverhills ). One of his specialitys is treating kyphosis ( shermans ). If you can't come to cinci, look for a neuro who is focused on the spinal disorders. I hope you find a doctor who will treat you and help you understand what is going on with your body. I hope this helps.

Rose

I feel for you - you are so young and have a painful problems...
Kyphosis - including round back deformity; adolescent round back; osteoporosis with kyphosis; and post-traumatic kyphosis - this all coniditions are treated with surgeries most of the time.
They stabilize the spine and correct any deformity. Surgical approaches very according to the nature and severity of the spinal problem.
I go for my spinal problem to HSS in NYC and they have so much booklets in there to read while you are waiting, so i got a lot of info about spinal problems and how do they correct them.
Good luck to you!

I feel bad for all of you who hae to deal with this awful disorder and the terrible tx yo are getting. I cant believe you've been treated do badly. I thought I was young and could not deal with the pain of my back and legs ad then i look at you all and feel ashamed for even complaining. i want you all to know that you are in my prayers and please keep fighting and stay strong!

Well, I finally saw a neurologist who completely dismissed my disease and is sending me for a MRI. She claimed Shermans is nothing more than a radiological finding in some adults and can't be the cause of my symptoms.
She actually said (after some initial personal questioning-including asking if I were a "queer") that if the MRI is negative than I will need to change my lifestyle because all my problems will be anxiety related. If my findings are clear, I wonder how getting out more, getting a girlfriend, and buying a dog to walk will fix 2 and a half years of mind numbing pain and desperate searching for relief? Isn't it good to know we have such caring, understanding specialists in my country(Australia)
Anyone else with similiar experiences?
love Duff72