Scoliosis. Do i need to go to a doctor? Can it get worse?

[sleeplessbeauty]

I never noticed until last year when I got a lung X-ray that my spine is twisted, not terribly but noticable if you really look.
My shoulders are uneven and my back is slightly twisted.

I also feel that my butt bone sticks and my lower back goes in more than normal people in an S shape. Can scoliosis twist like that, 'S' from shoulder to shoulder at the top of the back and 'S' in the direction of Stomach to Back at the bottom ?

After seeing that I have scoliosis, I also notice that I sleep in a strange twisted position, I feel most comfortable sitting sideways in chairs and feel comfortable only with my bag on one shoulder. Do i need to fix these habits? Will they make the scoliosis worse?

I’m 20 years old, can I get treatment? Do I need treatment? Will it get worse over time? Will this cause me lots of back pain when I'm older?
Are there things that I should avoid or do to help?

Please help. Im living abroad right now and dont have a good selection of English speaking doctors to help

[Kalvin]

The 1st and most important thing is, do you have any pain related to this? You're stressing out too much about this, calm down. A lot people have mild scoliosis and it doesn't effect them at all.

You should see a Doctor, to see if you even have it, because you might not. Or it might not be enough to worry about, they have of way measuring it. I find it hard to believe that none of your Doctors noticed this as you were going up?

[sleeplessbeauty]

Without seeing a doctor, its very obvious. My shoulders are completely uneven and by looking at my back i can see the twist in it. Also when i got a lung Xray, my spine in the back of they X-ray is S curved.
Nobody noticed when i was growing up, but im pretty sure I caused it myself from carrying an extremely heavy book bag on one shoulder all throughout middle and high school, sleeping in a strange twisted position and sitting side-ways all the time and I didnt go to the doctor much after entering  middle school

[bigfatgrannyof5]

I have scoliosis, as well. Mine is very bad. The thing is, you can't knock something out of alignment that is already mis-aligned, so yeah, what's it hurting? At 46, it doesn't give me any pain, but the seam in the back of my britches goes about an inch to the left, and I have a hooked tailbone which I inherited from my father. My left leg is also an inch shorter than my right, left foot 1/2 size bigger than right and I cannot hold a purse up on either shoulder, although I used to be able to hold it on the left. I held my kids on my left hip. They'd slide off the right hip, and my right ear has no tolerance for secrets or holding phones to it, and I would feel grossed out and irritable breastfeediong my children on the right side. Also, I have always had to sleep on the left side, or I would lose my breath in my sleep, so, Scoliosis has it's challenges. Just dress in ways that will camouflage it if it progresses, get your calcium and do not smoke, to assure that it does not progress into osteoporosis(hunchback), and keep in touch with your Dr. I, too discovered it later in life. After having my second child, now 25 years of age, I was so proud of my figure. I had lost all of the baby weight, so I was wearing a bikini. I was walking down to hall to go out the back door, and saw my reflection in the screen door and noticed it. When I told people, the only person who had the truth enough to say, "I knew that" was my very young little cousin. Honesty from a child is a very nice thing. I wish someone would have told me sooner.

[sleeplessbeauty]

Thank you for your experience. I will definitly take your advice about calcium and staying away from smoking. If you dont mind, i have a few questions. Did your sculiosis get worse as you grew up or has it always been the same? Did you have any problems with your hips during child birth?

[bigfatgrannyof5]

I have a bit of trouble with all my joints and bones from time to time. It sometimes felt as though my hips were turning in on each other, bones grinding together, etc., and made it hard to walk. In my 30s it was unbearable, and I would sometimes cry. You adjust and develop a threshold for pain. I was also pigeon toed, but trained myself out of it. Migraines have been a large part of this, as well. Remember this: I have been a heavy drug user way back in the past and smoked a pack of cigs a day since age 10. It's all up to you. Take care of your body, and it will take care of you. Don't do as I have done, and it won't be as bad. Keep active. Do aerobics, but never stop weight bearing exercises. Nothing over 40 lbs. More reps. They are crucial to keeping your bones from loss. No overuse, though. Get a little sunlight every day, and get a good source of calcium, vitamins A and D, etc. I always knew what must be done, but refused to listen. I will be a broken down old lady, trust me. You have time to do the right things.