Guest guest Posted February 4, 2002 Report Share Posted February 4, 2002 As far as lung capacity indeed anyone can suffer a lesser capacity than the normal for various reasons, such as the placement and how your scoliosis is situated, maybe there is a bit of kyphosis or rotation. It can be anything as well unrelated to scoliosis or flatback.. such as enlarged heart or live, excessive weight, pregnancy, diaphragm... anything ...sickness, bronchitis, pneumonia whatever gosh its so bewildering...really how amazing we are still standing up (well on most days! :-) ) I guess it becomes like a detective mystery and eliminating the obvious. I guess you would have to do some medical investigative research which you are and bravo keep digging because you know your own body best. Don't ever let anyone persuade you differently! wishing you all peaceful moments TwistedSister in NJ ** LIFE IS UNCERTAIN....EAT DESSERT FIRST ** " Harrington Rod people and other post-op multiple spine surgery people may be interested in the following website dedicated to flatback syndrome and multiple spine surgery cases: " Salvaged Sisters of Scoliosis " website http://forums.delphiforums.com/adultscoliosis/messages Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2002 Report Share Posted February 5, 2002 A few (6) years ago after taking a pulmonary function test I was diagnosed with restrictive lung disease. I had always thought I had asthma. The doctor told me I might have a slight case of asthma but mostly my lungs were restricted by my rib cage as a result of the scoliosis. I have been taking Theo-24 since then to help get a little more air into my lungs. It's just another one of those things that go with the territory especially if you have a thoracic curvature. My daughter was starting to experience breathing problems shortly before she was diagnosed with scoliosis for the same reasons. But like , I don't think it has anything to do with flatback. Peggy Greene Osteoporosis dx @ 33- Fosamax for 5 years Fibromyalgia - Zyprexa for sleep, massage for pain Scoliosis - Harrington rod fusion T3-L3 in 1975 9-year-old Daughter with scoliosis in Boston brace Flatback Syndrome Severe Degenerative Disc Disease - support brace Restricted Lung Disease Hypothyroidism Allergies GERD Jesus laid down His life for us, so that He could give His life to us, so that He could live His life through us! Date: Mon, 04 Feb 2002 21:38:46 -0000 From: " legerpj " <legerpj@...> Subject: Re: flatback and lungs I don't know about flat back causing a decreased lung capacity but scoliosis does cause this. I believe the last time I was check I was about 1 litre of air short. However this is caused by the curvature that is still present despite correction. I still have a substantial, in my mind, rib hump remaining so the distortion is still there. I can't see how flat back syndrome would affect lung capacity except that if there is still a curvature remaining it still might be affecting your capacity. Anyone else have any comments about this? I am kind of curious myself now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2002 Report Share Posted February 5, 2002 Hi I'm no expert with flatback- However, from the picture on this website: http://www.scoliosismd.com/flatback.html it seems that bending forward because of lack of lumbar lordosis will affect one's breathing. (Imagine the lungs and diaphragm trying to function in a restricted space) I don't know however if this will be the case with all diagnosed " flatback cases " . Sanette -----Original Message----- From: " legerpj " <legerpj@...> > I can't see how flat back syndrome would affect lung capacity except > that if there is still a curvature remaining it still might be > affecting your capacity. > > Anyone else have any comments about this? I am kind of curious myself > now. > > -- _______________________________________________ Sign-up for your own FREE Personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup Win a ski trip! http://www.nowcode.com/register.asp?affiliate=1net2phone3a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2002 Report Share Posted February 5, 2002 Hi Sanette... I don't really know for sure either, but if you look at the sagittal view x-ray in Figure 9 at http://www.espine.com/scoliosis2.html, you'll see that there is quite a bit of room for the lungs. It seems to me that the " scrunching " of the torso in someone who is severely bent due to flatback would push their organs into lung space. I believe I've read that most of us, unless we have a specific lung disease, use far less than 100% of our total lung capacity. That's why I suspect, it usually takes a pretty severe curvature for lung impairment to be noticed. Regards, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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