Thank you for your reply, Leesa. Yeah, scoliosis isn't the problem. I should add that while I was in the military I had several cortisone injections into my ankles. I don't remember exactly how many, but I do remember a doc finally telling me that he wouldn't advise any future injections. One of the adverse reactions to methylprednisolone, for example, is "vertebral compression fractures". They took 11 x-rays, and my VA primary care doc said that I have a "small amount" of arthritis. Who doesn't? He was basically reading from the radiologist's report. He's apparently not "qualified" to read x-rays, but he has no problem prescribing methylprednisolone for my arthritis. Strange thing is, methylprednisolone can actually lead to "vertebral compression fractures". I assume this holds true for "cortisone" injections, as well.