Christie - many thanks for taking the time to reply. I particularly appreciate it just at the moment as my physio discharged me yesterday because the treatment she has been giving me over the past few months hasn't helped. I'm no better off than I was the first time I went to see her and she has confirmed that because the problem is structural, she can't do anything to help. I have to say though that she was fabulous - very professional and caring and seemed genuinely disappointed that she hadn't been able to help me.

So she told me to go back to my GP and ask to be referred to a pain clinic. I had accepted this and wasn't going to press to get referred to a Wikipedia reference-linkscoliosis specialist, but after what you have said, maybe I should be more pushy and demand to see a specialist. I suppose I don't want to be seen to be making a fuss, especially since the doctors I've seen to date have been so unsympathetic and unhelpful - I am a bit wary of going to a consultant and him telling me not to be so silly because my scoliosis isn't 'serious'...although it is serious to me because the pain it gives me has a big impact on my life

Maybe I just need to be more assertive and not let these doctors intimidate me!

Thanks again and I hope you get some relief for your symptoms too.