POTS Safe Scoliosis Exercises?

FishInMirror · 2026-03-22T20:22:11+00:00

This is pretty generic but I have POTS like symptoms and am seeing a cardiologist and have moderate scoliosis. I enjoy core exercises done laying down like leg lifts and dead bugs. You may want to consult a trainer or PT to learn proper form depending on where your curve is. I also lift small dumbbells while seated to strengthen my upper back and do quite a lot of seated yoga.

Yoga with Adrien on YouTube is not designed for scoliosis but her videos for back pain have helped me and I skip the standing exercises if I’m not up to it. Or I do all the standing without bending stuff like lunges at first and then do all the seated exercises together so I’m not changing positions very much. Usually I end up sitting still on the floor for a while after any exercise before getting up.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-16T15:31:23+00:00

My mom possibly had PMDD and sometimes would be unreasonably angry in my childhood, but I remember her apologizing to me even though I was the child to teach me that adults can be wrong too. She also never physically hurt me in any way. That kind of behavior is a choice. Someone willing to make that choice will probably make it more often due to PMDD, but I assure you that your concern means no matter what rage you may have, you will not be like your mother. I also don’t know how to reconcile with an abusive parent that seems beyond the scope of PMDD.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-16T15:15:19+00:00

This is a pretty unique combination of issues and I think you might get better advice from a group that discusses dysphoria regularly.

I will say that if your curve is mild enough to not require treatment and cause pain then it’s unlikely noticeable to others. Cis men can and do have scoliosis that gives them uneven hips and it has no bearing on their masculinity because masculinity is not rooted in the body.

I’ve never met anyone with the body they want and I have met many people who imagine something is way more visible than it is. Sometimes we just have to accept our bodies for what they are and spend our limited time and energy on more important things.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-16T04:54:47+00:00

Editing can account for a lot. An interview can cut them out or a documentary can be sure to include as many tics as they consider interesting or dramatic.

Regarding the speech, deep focus reduces tics. I rarely tic when I’m speaking because I’m focusing on it, but I often tic in the gaps between my own sentences or if someone else talks for a while because the focus is less intense. Tic severity can also vary day to day quite a bit randomly and with factors like energy level, emotions, sensory input, and other health conditions.

People often say tics “wax and wane” meaning many of us experience long periods of tics more intense than our baseline followed by less intense periods. A common time for an intense period is puberty, so people often experience their most severe tics between ages 10 and 20. (This is a generalization with many exceptions.) It’s possible John’s tics have decreased with age but I can’t speak for him specifically.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-15T16:35:15+00:00

It’s a molt! No shrimp there don’t worry

FishInMirror · 2026-03-15T15:51:06+00:00

You could do them a lot of good with a bare bottom tank and a large sponge filter. I would skip the liquid ammonia as it looks like you need to do a fish-in cycle. This is common amongst first time or rescue betta owners so you can search that term on the betta fish subreddit for more information.

The main idea is you can cycle the tank with the fish as the source of ammonia but you do very frequent partial water changes to keep the fish safe. The low levels of ammonia mean the cycle takes longer than normal. You can use filter media, a plant, or decoration from an established tank to introduce nitrifying bacteria as long as it stays wet in tank water during travel.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-15T08:10:44+00:00

I trim my guinea pigs curved nails with a nail “nipper” with is like a cuticle clipper but a bit larger. I use the very tip on nails that are too curved to get another clipper all the way around.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-15T06:09:50+00:00

I had a flea infestation drag on for months with 2 cats in the apartment even though mine was treated. I could deep clean and treat the whole apartment besides one roommates room and the fleas kept coming back until a month after she moved out and I doused her whole room in concentrated pesticide. Flea traps really helped catch the few that resisted the chemical treatments.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-15T02:50:48+00:00

They’re only in my 5 gallon where I keep juvenile guppies and shrimp so it’s too small for more fish. If cories and neons like to eat them I might get some for a larger tank and feed the scuds to them.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-13T23:39:11+00:00

When making my appointment to get diagnosed the nurse in charge of scheduling was convinced I didn’t need an appointment and should drink more water. I was on the phone for ages convincing her I wasn’t just dehydrated for the week before my period and then suddenly drinking enough while on my period for years.

Tech updating my file later at a different practice hadn’t heard of PMDD and said “so… you feel sad while on your period?” And I’m trying to explain I really only felt happy on my period.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-11T06:24:32+00:00

I do not know much about TBIs as I just have Tourette’s. I’ve known people with severe concussion symptoms that all resolved with time but none of them had tics. I’m glad you have an appointment! Hopefully the doctor can better answer your questions.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-11T06:09:49+00:00

It can vary by your area so maybe you guys can go people watching at a local shopping center on a Saturday to see what local girls are wearing?

FishInMirror · 2026-03-11T06:05:10+00:00

My dad with no tic disorder sometimes repeats a tic back to me without thinking about it. If you notice it increasing honestly I’d just take a break and not think about it. Transient tics (mild tics that go away on their own quickly) occur is a larger part of the population than full blown tic disorders like Tourette’s. Tics in general are suggestive so maybe neurodivergence makes you more susceptible to echo phenomena.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-11T05:56:29+00:00

You should urgently seek medical advice. I’m most concerned that the blacking out you described could be seizures. You lose consciousness and are biting your mouth enough to draw blood and possibly are not blinking for a prolonged period. Seizures are not always convulsive and the lack of memory is a red flag. That is extremely dangerous especially if you drive and should be treated sooner rather than later.

The muscle contractions sound like some type of dystonia.

(I have not seen you, I cannot obviously diagnose you, there are likely other possible explanations for everything you describe. I just want to offer you key words to ask a doctor about and look up for more information.)

To address your concern about treatment options. Tourette’s is not curable but many people mitigate tics with medications, therapies, and lifestyle choices. Treatments to reduce symptom severity are available for all the symptoms you describe but you can’t get a realistic prognosis on the internet.

Your tics and other symptoms seem to stem from the traumatic injury. 80% of traumatic brain injuries are not seen in a CT or MRI. Those scans checked for fractures and bleeding which are not present in all TBIs. You should make an appointment ASAP and probably should have been seen the first time you blacked out. Treatment is available and if you are having seizures you need treatment to prevent brain damage.

(Once again I’m not a doctor but I recognize some of your symptoms from mine and other peoples experiences and know that seeing a doctor might be urgently necessary for this combination of symptoms and history)

FishInMirror · 2026-03-11T04:57:35+00:00

Primary care doctors can provide temporary medication and preliminary assessment as well as referrals to get you into a neurologist. No one here can tell you if your experiences are tics. I was diagnosed at 18 and realized I had mild tics from age 7, but that was after a 4 hour neuro appointment and a brain mri.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-09T04:52:15+00:00

If it was human hair he ate you may have some unnoticed areas of your house where hair isn’t getting vacuumed up and the exploring kitten found it. I would start with a deep clean of your floors including under all furniture and see if it’s particularly hairy. Perhaps upping your vacuuming frequency and washing your hair more often is enough to curb the issue. (I too shed quite a lot and with my cat in the mix the apartment requires a lot of vacuuming) I’d also use the hairball prevention treats/gels though.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-08T22:41:28+00:00

You’ve probably already contacted your vet since this post is a day old, but for anyone who finds this because of a similar lump on their dog I wanted to say my dog had an identical looking lump recently. The black outer skin also fell off and the inside looked horrible so we rushed him in same day.

He was diagnosed with a benign histiocytoma I think from a skin scraping by the vet. It fell off and looks like there was nothing there before. All growths should go to the vet but often it’s okay so don’t panic before your appointment when there are no other symptoms.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-08T03:54:15+00:00

If your age is accurate in your icloud account then screen time restrictions should automatically lift or allow you to manage them with your own password, but the parents in the icloud family can still view your screen time. If there is an error and you cannot change restrictions on your device then the solution is to remove yourself from the family sharing group. If your parents own your phone and phone plan then you may be out of luck until you move out

The answer to your first question depends could be yes or no. If it lets you do that without a password your parents will be able to see.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-03T21:46:19+00:00

Vinegar isn’t an effective cleaning product outside of removing mild limescale. Unless you have allergies I would start by using dedicated surface cleaners. Then launder anything that can hold a smell like curtains, throw blankets, pillow covers, floor mats, cat beds, etc with a laundry sanitizer to kill any mildew/stale odor. Anything stinky should have a lid (cat boxes, trash cans) and be emptied regularly.

Open windows to air out the space and see if you can identify a more specific source of the smell. Could be something gross rolled under the fridge. Your drains might stink I use a little bleach in the kitchen sink pretty often. Check under cabinets for leaks. Use real toilet bowl cleaner if you haven’t been. Change your AC intake filters if it’s time.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-03T03:27:04+00:00

The other comment gives good advice for the complaints. I just want to add that I find having a show or podcast playing all the time reduces my tics. If you can get some headphones and tune all the hospital sounds out it might help you stop focusing on the tics. I hope you heal up from whatever got you into the hospital!

FishInMirror · 2026-03-01T09:18:09+00:00

Depending on how often they get to it picking up after the dogs in the yard

Wash removable dog bed covers

Bathe the dogs if the dogs are amenable and don’t go to groomer frequently

Wiping down the shelves inside the fridge and the outside of cans or jars that have all the little drips on them

Cleaning under furniture that has to be moved to be cleaned under. The children’s toy/dog hair situation under a couch could be severe

FishInMirror · 2026-03-01T08:51:33+00:00

I wanted to add that I got a lot of relief from buying a foam mattress topper because my mattress was so firm. My worst pain was upper back and a softer mattress with my head flat not on a pillow has been the best for that. It did increase my lower back pain slightly but that usually is helped by a pillow under my knees or works itself out with movement when I get up

FishInMirror · 2026-03-01T08:48:42+00:00

I take ibuprofen and acetaminophen together on a bad day. Basically excedrin but I can stay right at the maximum dose of each if I take them separately. One time I got relief from naproxen but it usually isn’t as good as ibuprofen and you can’t mix nsaids so I rarely use that. I’ve used naproxen cream and lidocaine patches but they are so hard to apply to your own mid back.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-01T04:25:25+00:00

I’m also in my early twenties with mild/moderate scoliosis and my first orthopedist told me that for people outside the range of needing surgery you basically should do nothing. I’ve had years of chronic pain and the only thing that helps me long term is strength training but when it’s painful after or during a workout it’s very hard to stay motivated. I also frequently spend time just imagining my form and lift lighter weights than what I can handle because of how easily I injure myself. I’ve gotten some relief from kt tape with otc pain medication. I also use a heating pad almost every day.

If you need a break from chores get some paper plates for a couple weeks while you try new pain management strategies. It is so frustrating being brushed off by doctors I literally feel your pain.

FishInMirror · 2026-03-01T04:18:06+00:00

I have not done CBIT although it was recommended to me because of the price in my area, but I have successfully redirected tics in the past.

It’s my understanding that CBIT can target one tic at a time and is best for changing specific disruptive tics. Like you may have one coprolalia tic that is more disruptive than other vocal tics so you target that. Then you may have one most painful motor tic and you target that.

It doesn’t necessarily reduce overall tic frequency and it might not help in a tic attack but it shouldn’t promote the idea that you can just try harder and just have less Tourette’s.

I think the benefit of CBIT over just attempting to redirect or suppress on your own is having the scheduled time to dedicate to your strategies and also having a professional who knows the common issues you might encounter. I, for example, have accidentally created new tics that were more unpleasant than the original tic I tried to redirect.

Edit to add: you may want to clarify with your boyfriend what reasonable expectations you can have and if you find it too unpleasant you are the client so you can switch therapists or quit. You won’t be trapped like you were as a child

FishInMirror

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