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I am a 14-years-old girl, very active in sports like soccer, basketball, and a little hockey. I got blasted by another girl in my last hockey practice. My back hurts a little but mostly I notice I'm crooked when I look in the mirror. One shoulder is higher than the other and I seem to be leaning to the side. I can't make myself go any straighter. What in the world could be wrong with me?
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You will need a medical examination and possible X-rays (these are painless) to find out what's going on. With a known injury and the changes you've observed, it's best not to wait. Let your parents (or guardian) know right away what's going on. Early diagnosis and treatment can save you a lot of time and trouble later on and possibly get you back to your regular daily and sports activities sooner than later.
Although rare, it's possible you have a disc compressing the spinal cord or spinal nerve root. Intervertebral discs are the round cushions between each vertebra. They support the spine and function as shock absorbers. The discs also help transfer load so that no single spinal segment bears the full burden of your body weight or sudden spinal movements. But with enough force from outside (e.g., getting hit by another player) even healthy, strong body parts like discs can get injured.
There are other possible causes for your symptoms but the change in posture is somewhat typical of a disc problem. This is called a nonfixed reactive scoliosis. Nonfixed means it's not a structural change that will be present forever -- it will only be present as long as the disc is pressing on the nerve. Reactive means the body is responding to this nerve compression by moving away from the nerve. That's what causes the scoliosis (curvature of the spine).
Another common symptom with disc problems is a difficulty lifting the straight leg up when lying on your back. This is actually called a straight leg raise. It's a test used to see if there's pressure on the sciatic nerve. A positive straight-leg raise occurs in 95 per cent of young people with a disc protrusion or herniation. Other symptoms can include muscle weakness, numbness, tingling, and even bowel and bladder changes. Make a note of any symptoms you are having and report to your doctor any changes in your symptoms (especially if they get worse or you develop new symptoms you didn't have before).
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*Disclaimer:*The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. |
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