Hi,

I am very sorry to hear you are in a lot of pain. I would like to commend you for taking steps to alleviate your pain and take care of your health. Chiropractic can really help with your problem.
First, assuming the doctor’s report on your x-rays is correct, your scoliosis is, in fact, a structural or true scoliosis which is an irreversible but manageable condition. Chiropractors can perform soft tissue techniques, which consist of basically massaging the muscles and fascia, to help relax your back muscles that are probably contributing to your pain. Your scoliosis can restrict some of your vertebra’s normal movement, and chiropractic adjustments will also help with maintaining a healthy amount of mobility in your spine. By keeping your muscles as relaxed as possible and your spinal joints moving in a healthy range, your pain in your back should eventually subside and may even resolve (2-4 weeks). If the pain doesn’t subside, it is time for your chiropractor to re-evaluate your condition just in case there is a different underlying condition causing your pain.
Second, based on the fact that there are “bone spurs” in one of your hip joints, this sounds like degenerative joint disease (DJD) of your hip. DJD is very common and occurs naturally as we age; it is essentially a product of us living our lives and using our joints. Also, DJD is managed well with chiropractic care, but it cannot be cured. As with your back, soft tissue techniques and chiropractic adjustments should help relax your hip muscles and keep your hip joint moving healthily. Your chiropractor can also educate you in ergonomics, so that you do not move your hip in ways that can exacerbate the pain or hurt your hip joint. As mentioned before, your pain and discomfort should subside after awhile (2-4 weeks), but if it doesn’t, your chiropractor should re-evaluate your hip.
Third, your chiropractor’s treatment plan (Going 3 times a week for 3 weeks, then 2 times a week for 3 weeks, then taper off to once a month) sounds reasonable, but he/she should re-evaluate every 6 weeks or so to make sure your pain and mobility are improving.
Best of luck. I hope this helps. ~Anne F.