Would scoliosis affect my medical?

climbto350 · July 14th, 2004, 09:13

So I have a thing called scoliosis which is a curvature in the spine. Its not a sever curve according to an orthopedist and its not like I'm in constant pain or like the hunchback of Notre dame (not even close). I didn't even know I had it till after I got into a car accident and I went to see a chiropractor and got x-rays that reveled the curve in my spine. Since I have stopped growing, they said it would not get any worse than it is right now. What I'm worried about is another buddy of mine said this might affect an airline medical. Not so much my class one medical, but the medical the specific airline puts you through. If I wanted to join the airforce, they already wouldn't accept me with a twisted spine. The orthopedist said we should just leave it alone but is this something I should really get fixed? I don't even think you can fix a twisted spine. I'm continuing to see a chiropractor 2 to 3 times a week but thats only for the temporary pain I got in the car accident and that won't fix my spine. Its not affecting my live style in anyway except I'm just not as flexible and I would be terrible at limbo. I can't see an airline not accepting you just because you can't limbo. If it wern't for the car accident, I wouldn't even know I had a twisted spine so the only noticable thing is just not being flexible. Other than that, unless your like the hunchback of Notre Dame, you feel pretty normal. Would an airline medical require you to be flexible in the joints?

viper548 · July 14th, 2004, 09:45

I have it too. When I joined the Air Force they had to do an X-ray of my back and have some expert determine how bad it is....mine was 14.8 degrees. They said it isn't bad. They let me in the air force no problem. It wouldn't even effect me being a pilot in the air force. As for the FAA medicals, find a Doc in the local area that pilots highly reccomend. Pilots are not gonna reccomend the extremely thorough type. The type that get reccomended probably wouldn't "notice" scoliosis. I don't see how it would be an issue anyways unless you had chronic back pain or something like that.

aloft · July 14th, 2004, 12:09

Note to Doug: time to recruit an AME for the board!

Note to brian_jesus: before you even THINK about asking what an AME is, use the forums search and if you don't find anything, look on Google. I mean it.

darrenf · July 14th, 2004, 12:34

[ QUOTE ]
Note to brian_jesus: before you even THINK about asking what an AME is, use the forums search and if you don't find anything, look on Google. I mean it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Whew,.... harsh.

climbto350 · July 14th, 2004, 12:34

What does that have to do with the topic? I would appreciate it if you would stick to it.

aloft · July 14th, 2004, 12:38

What does recruiting an AME to the board have to do with the topic??? For starters, one could answer your question authoritatively, instead of guessing like a bunch of pilots are going to do.

climbto350 · July 14th, 2004, 12:41

I don't understand the metaphor.

Doug Taylor · July 14th, 2004, 12:44

[ QUOTE ]
What does that have to do with the topic? I would appreciate it if you would stick to it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd like to actually find an AME to drop by on occasion and help answer questions.

Aside from me trolling part 67 (is that the one? I can't remember) for references to Scoliosis and then making my best estimated guess if an airline would care or not, an AME on staff here at JC would know fairly definitively.

In short, my answer about Scoliosis is "I have no idea bro, sorry!"

And my question would be "Does anyone know a computer geek AME that'd have any interest in answering questions?"

climbto350 · July 14th, 2004, 12:51

Ok, I get it now. But why would an AME know more about airline medicals than the pilots who go through them?

Betabry · July 14th, 2004, 12:56

AME's are the doctors who give them to the pilots.....

I would imagine an AME performs more than one every 6 months therefore would have a broader knowledge base...
not to mention they are the ones making the decision you are trying to predict.

Doug Taylor · July 14th, 2004, 13:01

Primarily because when I had my medical for my current airline, I had no idea of what they were looking for in my medical records, besides, vision, blood pressure, heart rate, etc.

If one comes out and says "No Scoliosis!" they'd be making an actionable statement and privy to getting sued via the "American w/Disabilities Act" -- not that Scoliosis is a disability, but that ruling more or less says that if the FAA is cool and the gang with something, the airline, by default, has to be cool and the gang with the condition.

An AME could give his 'best guess' if an airline would be ok with a situation, or if he didn't know, may professionally be familiar with an AME that an airline uses that could probably 'unofficially answer' the question.

But in terms of medicals, it was eyesight, blood pressure, stethoscope and a WHOLE LOT OF BLOOD -- of which I have zero idea (nor will they tell you) what they were looking for.

That's my most honest answer.

sbe · July 14th, 2004, 13:05

I can't imagine why scoliosis would be an issue any more than someone with a previously broken ankle full of screws or plates would be an issue.

I was diagnosed with scoliosis in junior high. So was my sister. It is extremely common among young females. Mine was never diagnosed during those checks in junior high; it was discovered when I pinched a nerve in my hip playing softball. Happened because everything was out of line back there.

I went through several years of daily exercises I had to do, once a year xrays, and the curvature improved dramatically. It originally was 13 degrees, which is relatively minor to begin with. I've not seen the doctor for it in probably 14-15 years, and I have never had any issues with my back. And I have a 2nd class medical currently.

July 14th, 2004, 15:19

[ QUOTE ]
Note to Doug: time to recruit an AME for the board!

Note to brian_jesus: before you even THINK about asking what an AME is, use the forums search and if you don't find anything, look on Google. I mean it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Damn, I haven't even replied to the post yet. I do now that an AME is an aviation medical examiner.

GregCollins2 · July 14th, 2004, 15:59

I have mild scoliosis and it has never even been discussed. I've been told by an Orthopedist that most people have at least some "abnormal" curvature. If you have not been told to get treatment, it's pretty doubtful it would have any more effect on your medical status than having crooked teeth.

sopdan · July 14th, 2004, 16:21

I too have slight scoliosis, if you look at me you can see that my right shoulder is slightly lower than the left... I just tell people it's because I used to always sling my backpack over my right shoulder.

The AME has never said anything at all.

bullmastiff · July 14th, 2004, 16:23

No, dont tell them

Realms09 · July 14th, 2004, 16:32

I was diagnosed with scoliosis during middle school and wore a Boston brace to keep it from progressing during puberty. After 10th grade I stopped growing and the scoliosis was still where it was when it was diagnosed, around 18 degrees (which is pretty minor, and due to the potential error in measurements on the x-rays, the doctor said I could call it "asymmetry of the spine" rather than scoliosis). Disclosing my scoliosis to the FAA, I acquired a second class medical just fine. I can't speak for the airlines, but if you don't actively need treatment for it, I wouldn't worry about any problems. Getting it "corrected" involves surgery during which the doc fuses steel rods to your spine to make them straight and inflexible. This is reserved for severe cases (30-40 degrees of curvature) and is not what anyone wants to do (besides the surgeon, because that's what he does for a living). So you can see, getting it corrected would make your medical situation far worse due to the loss of movement (and you'd set off the metal detector every time). Keep your abdominal and back muscles strong, and if you have stopped growing and only have minor curvature, forget that you have it and get on with living your life. As far as I know your flexibility problem is most likely not related to the scoliosis. Best of luck in your flying aspirations.

GregCollins2 · July 15th, 2004, 10:15

Quote: I can't see an airline not accepting you just because you can't limbo.

Seems no one has addressed this part of the concern? How about it Doug, how low can you go???

Cosmo1999 · July 15th, 2004, 10:48

The Next best thing to having a doctor here

SRemy · June 18th, 2005, 14:26

This is an old post, but I figured I would post an answer...

I have scoliosis which was so bad, that I had to have spinal fusion surgery to correct it. My curve was about 65 degrees before surgery, and it was corrected to about 25 degrees (they can't fix it completely or it would damage your spinal cord). Basically, this means I have 2 steel rods permanently screwed into my spine. It's actually nowhere near as bad as it sounds....I honestly don't even ever think about it, and lead a perfectly normal life.

Anyhow....I am not a career pilot (just have a private certificate) but I was able to obtain a 1st class medical, no problem at all. My AME said it's not a factor.

I also know of an airline pilot who used to post on one of the other boards (sorry, can't remeber his name), and he had the same surgery I did..

cessna2351 · June 18th, 2005, 20:47

[ QUOTE ]
The Next best thing to having a doctor here

[/ QUOTE ]

Those guys know their stuff!!! I had to do a consultation with them lately regarding my color vision and they really helped me out. A private web consultation was well worth the 40 bucks. If you have a tricky medical situation I highly recommend them.

July 14th, 2004, 09:13	#1
climbto350 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 10	Would scoliosis affect my medical? So I have a thing called scoliosis which is a curvature in the spine. Its not a sever curve according to an orthopedist and its not like I'm in constant pain or like the hunchback of Notre dame (not even close). I didn't even know I had it till after I got into a car accident and I went to see a chiropractor and got x-rays that reveled the curve in my spine. Since I have stopped growing, they said it would not get any worse than it is right now. What I'm worried about is another buddy of mine said this might affect an airline medical. Not so much my class one medical, but the medical the specific airline puts you through. If I wanted to join the airforce, they already wouldn't accept me with a twisted spine. The orthopedist said we should just leave it alone but is this something I should really get fixed? I don't even think you can fix a twisted spine. I'm continuing to see a chiropractor 2 to 3 times a week but thats only for the temporary pain I got in the car accident and that won't fix my spine. Its not affecting my live style in anyway except I'm just not as flexible and I would be terrible at limbo. I can't see an airline not accepting you just because you can't limbo. If it wern't for the car accident, I wouldn't even know I had a twisted spine so the only noticable thing is just not being flexible. Other than that, unless your like the hunchback of Notre Dame, you feel pretty normal. Would an airline medical require you to be flexible in the joints?

July 14th, 2004, 09:45	#2
viper548 Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 818	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? I have it too. When I joined the Air Force they had to do an X-ray of my back and have some expert determine how bad it is....mine was 14.8 degrees. They said it isn't bad. They let me in the air force no problem. It wouldn't even effect me being a pilot in the air force. As for the FAA medicals, find a Doc in the local area that pilots highly reccomend. Pilots are not gonna reccomend the extremely thorough type. The type that get reccomended probably wouldn't "notice" scoliosis. I don't see how it would be an issue anyways unless you had chronic back pain or something like that.

July 14th, 2004, 12:09	#3
aloft Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Inside your OODA loop Posts: 7,006	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? Note to Doug: time to recruit an AME for the board! Note to brian_jesus: before you even THINK about asking what an AME is, use the forums search and if you don't find anything, look on Google. I mean it.

July 14th, 2004, 12:34	#4
darrenf Old Skool Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Atlantic City, NJ Posts: 4,024	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? [ QUOTE ] Note to brian_jesus: before you even THINK about asking what an AME is, use the forums search and if you don't find anything, look on Google. I mean it. [/ QUOTE ] Whew,.... harsh.

July 14th, 2004, 12:34	#5
climbto350 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 10	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? What does that have to do with the topic? I would appreciate it if you would stick to it.

July 14th, 2004, 12:38	#6
aloft Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Inside your OODA loop Posts: 7,006	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? What does recruiting an AME to the board have to do with the topic??? For starters, one could answer your question authoritatively, instead of guessing like a bunch of pilots are going to do.

July 14th, 2004, 12:41	#7
climbto350 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 10	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? I don't understand the metaphor.

July 14th, 2004, 12:44	#8
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 41,164 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? [ QUOTE ] What does that have to do with the topic? I would appreciate it if you would stick to it. [/ QUOTE ] I'd like to actually find an AME to drop by on occasion and help answer questions. Aside from me trolling part 67 (is that the one? I can't remember) for references to Scoliosis and then making my best estimated guess if an airline would care or not, an AME on staff here at JC would know fairly definitively. In short, my answer about Scoliosis is "I have no idea bro, sorry!" And my question would be "Does anyone know a computer geek AME that'd have any interest in answering questions?"

July 14th, 2004, 12:51	#9
climbto350 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 10	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? Ok, I get it now. But why would an AME know more about airline medicals than the pilots who go through them?

July 14th, 2004, 12:56	#10
Betabry Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 55	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? AME's are the doctors who give them to the pilots..... I would imagine an AME performs more than one every 6 months therefore would have a broader knowledge base... not to mention they are the ones making the decision you are trying to predict.

July 14th, 2004, 13:01	#11
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 41,164 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? Primarily because when I had my medical for my current airline, I had no idea of what they were looking for in my medical records, besides, vision, blood pressure, heart rate, etc. If one comes out and says "No Scoliosis!" they'd be making an actionable statement and privy to getting sued via the "American w/Disabilities Act" -- not that Scoliosis is a disability, but that ruling more or less says that if the FAA is cool and the gang with something, the airline, by default, has to be cool and the gang with the condition. An AME could give his 'best guess' if an airline would be ok with a situation, or if he didn't know, may professionally be familiar with an AME that an airline uses that could probably 'unofficially answer' the question. But in terms of medicals, it was eyesight, blood pressure, stethoscope and a WHOLE LOT OF BLOOD -- of which I have zero idea (nor will they tell you) what they were looking for. That's my most honest answer.

July 14th, 2004, 13:05	#12
sbe Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KC Posts: 540	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? I can't imagine why scoliosis would be an issue any more than someone with a previously broken ankle full of screws or plates would be an issue. I was diagnosed with scoliosis in junior high. So was my sister. It is extremely common among young females. Mine was never diagnosed during those checks in junior high; it was discovered when I pinched a nerve in my hip playing softball. Happened because everything was out of line back there. I went through several years of daily exercises I had to do, once a year xrays, and the curvature improved dramatically. It originally was 13 degrees, which is relatively minor to begin with. I've not seen the doctor for it in probably 14-15 years, and I have never had any issues with my back. And I have a 2nd class medical currently.

July 14th, 2004, 15:19	#13
Lurker Posts: n/a	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? [ QUOTE ] Note to Doug: time to recruit an AME for the board! Note to brian_jesus: before you even THINK about asking what an AME is, use the forums search and if you don't find anything, look on Google. I mean it. [/ QUOTE ] Damn, I haven't even replied to the post yet. I do now that an AME is an aviation medical examiner.

July 14th, 2004, 15:59	#14
GregCollins2 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hendersonville, NC Posts: 284	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? I have mild scoliosis and it has never even been discussed. I've been told by an Orthopedist that most people have at least some "abnormal" curvature. If you have not been told to get treatment, it's pretty doubtful it would have any more effect on your medical status than having crooked teeth.

July 14th, 2004, 16:21	#15
sopdan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 637	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? I too have slight scoliosis, if you look at me you can see that my right shoulder is slightly lower than the left... I just tell people it's because I used to always sling my backpack over my right shoulder. The AME has never said anything at all.

July 14th, 2004, 16:23	#16
bullmastiff Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hockey Town, MI,USA Posts: 839	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? No, dont tell them

July 14th, 2004, 16:32	#17
Realms09 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 215	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? I was diagnosed with scoliosis during middle school and wore a Boston brace to keep it from progressing during puberty. After 10th grade I stopped growing and the scoliosis was still where it was when it was diagnosed, around 18 degrees (which is pretty minor, and due to the potential error in measurements on the x-rays, the doctor said I could call it "asymmetry of the spine" rather than scoliosis). Disclosing my scoliosis to the FAA, I acquired a second class medical just fine. I can't speak for the airlines, but if you don't actively need treatment for it, I wouldn't worry about any problems. Getting it "corrected" involves surgery during which the doc fuses steel rods to your spine to make them straight and inflexible. This is reserved for severe cases (30-40 degrees of curvature) and is not what anyone wants to do (besides the surgeon, because that's what he does for a living). So you can see, getting it corrected would make your medical situation far worse due to the loss of movement (and you'd set off the metal detector every time). Keep your abdominal and back muscles strong, and if you have stopped growing and only have minor curvature, forget that you have it and get on with living your life. As far as I know your flexibility problem is most likely not related to the scoliosis. Best of luck in your flying aspirations.

July 15th, 2004, 10:15	#18
GregCollins2 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hendersonville, NC Posts: 284	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? Quote: I can't see an airline not accepting you just because you can't limbo. Seems no one has addressed this part of the concern? How about it Doug, how low can you go???

July 15th, 2004, 10:48	#19
Cosmo1999 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 247	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? The Next best thing to having a doctor here

June 18th, 2005, 14:26	#20
SRemy Newbie Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: D/FW Posts: 2	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? This is an old post, but I figured I would post an answer... I have scoliosis which was so bad, that I had to have spinal fusion surgery to correct it. My curve was about 65 degrees before surgery, and it was corrected to about 25 degrees (they can't fix it completely or it would damage your spinal cord). Basically, this means I have 2 steel rods permanently screwed into my spine. It's actually nowhere near as bad as it sounds....I honestly don't even ever think about it, and lead a perfectly normal life. Anyhow....I am not a career pilot (just have a private certificate) but I was able to obtain a 1st class medical, no problem at all. My AME said it's not a factor. I also know of an airline pilot who used to post on one of the other boards (sorry, can't remeber his name), and he had the same surgery I did..

June 18th, 2005, 20:47	#21
cessna2351 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Daytona Beach/Cleveland, OH Posts: 637	Re: Would scoliosis affect my medical? [ QUOTE ] The Next best thing to having a doctor here [/ QUOTE ] Those guys know their stuff!!! I had to do a consultation with them lately regarding my color vision and they really helped me out. A private web consultation was well worth the 40 bucks. If you have a tricky medical situation I highly recommend them.

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