I went to the doctor's last November/December because a small bang to my back in martial arts class became a huge bruise that didn't go away for a month and made my back hurt like crazy 24/7. Well, my doctor (the idiot) sent me to a orthopedic technician after not finding anything wrong with me. It took the orthopedic 10 minutes of stretches and examining my back to ask me if I'd ever been tested for scoliosis and order up X-rays. So, I have scoliosis. Only problem is no one can tell if I've always had it or whether the small tumble on the gym mat gave it to me. I did orthopedic theropy for awhile, then my doctor sent me to a scoliosis expert who after 5 minutes of questions and briefly looking at my x-rays, said I'm fine and it probably (99% sure) won't get worse. He also said glugosmine (spelling?) wouldn't do anything, then a study was released saying it would help. I talk to some people in the medical field and they swear that scoliosis needs to be treated so it won't get worse or effect the rest of the body, others say nothing will help and nothing should be done. I don't know who to believe on that.
I do know I'm feeling worse than I was back in December. I get headaches too often. Things I enjoyed before annoy me. My neck/back hurt constantly. I've gotten 2 inches shorter since last year. I'm having stomach/digestive problems (I should list the nasty symptoms I guess: pale bms, diaherra, hunger then nausea while I'm eating something, heartburn which I had never had before December, and little/no tolerance for some of my fav foods). I've been feeling depressed (probably partly due to the number of deaths around me lately and the loss of a very beloved and close pet). My boyfriend seems to also be depressed, which may be feeding my depression. I've been under alot of stress lately with transfering to a new college and bigger city(ies). I've felt like a failure lately because everyone treats me like a stupid college "kid" and discriminates against me. I'm used to a nice city where people are have way nice and have some morals, yet in this new city I seem to find everyone who hates college students and everything else about me. I had an apartment complex okay my pets, then turn around and say they don't allow my particular pet (when they allow everything else including big dogs and distructive cats---I'm not a cat person btw)! I've had job interviews where they say I look like I'm 16 (not that looking almost 10 years younger won't come in handy later in life) and won't hire me based on how young I look. Just junk like that is stressing me out.

So, I don't know if it's stress or my scoliosis or something else. I just want to figure out how to fix it and get on with my life.

Any suggestion would be appreciated. Don't just say "See you doctor" because she's an idiot and I'm trying to get into another doctor, but my insurance company is being difficult.

Thanks

Hi para
Whoa! You sound majorly overloaded! It's good that you are venting though! Hang in there see this through. You need attention for you medical condition before it affects your psyche too much. I don't know much about scoliosis(geez, I can't even spell it!), but I do know first hand how stress and pain can affect your mind and your life. Your happiness is not to be taken lightly - it is as important as eating. See if you can get some extra time in with a close friend outside of your problems to talk with or perhaps a couselor for a while to help you through this hard time. You are carrying a pretty heavy load.

As for your insurance company, they can't deny you a second opinion - especially not if you feel unconvinced by your first doctor. Be strong and stick to your guns on that. If the insurance person who you speak with is not serving your needs, ask to speak with someone else (like their supervisor). You are paying them to take care of you, not to blow you off.

Hang in there and be strong. Times will get better soon - even when they may not feel like they will. And remember...if you quit the journey, you will never know how close you were to arriving.