Name That Symptom / Question
Published: November 25, 2003
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I am a multi problem person. I have had problems with depression, suicide, weight, sexual orientation, and body structure. I am mostly curious about weight and body structure though. I have a scoliosis sort of in my back. The doctor says that it is because my left leg is longer, and I know that I can get a shoe insert, but my dad has very little money for things these days. Also, when I move my shoulders around they grind on the inside. I was told that this is because of a lack of muscle, but I don't know which one (most specifically, it just kind of makes a grinding noise, not like severe pain or anything, but I'm not allowed to play contact sports). My knees and my ankles crack/snap a lot. I don't know what to do about this period. My mom has weak knees, and my grandma does too. I am a boy so I suppose it could be inherited still anyways, but I don't know what to take in order to avoid problems with it later on. Body mass seems to be an issue too. I am 5' 11" and 123 lbs. I found that this means I have a 17.2 BMI and that isn't good right? The thing on there said that it should be at least 19. What if I don't seek help? What will happen? I don't think I can afford much in the way of anything right now, but I am open to all suggestions. Thanks =)
Signed: Multi Problem Person
Dear Multi Problem Person,
You bring up a lot of questions and we will try to address each of them individually. Unfortunately, many of them are about things that you should probably see a physician for, as he or she will be best able to assess your medical problems and figure out appropriate therapies. Medical diagnoses cannot be made over the Internet and without seeing you in person. That just would not be fair to you.
The type of scoliosis you have is from a leg-length discrepancy - legs of different lengths. It is treated with a shoe lift rather than a brace or other methods to treat scoliosis.
Usually, cracking joints is not a sign of something being medically wrong with you but rather just releasing trapped nitrogen within the joint. However, if you hear more of a popping or a snapping sound, it could represent a tendon or a ligament slipping over a bone. In that case, your doctor should probably evaluate you, as this could lead to damage due to wear-and-tear later on in life.
You are right that a BMI of 17.2 is low. FX wonders whether or not you are eating enough and exercising responsibly, or if you are regulating your intake and trying to lose weight. Your teenage years are absolutely critical in terms of growth and development, and depriving your body of the proper nutrients, vitamins and minerals can cause problems later on in life. Your bones and muscles do most of their maturation during adolescence, and need adequate intake of calories, vitamins and minerals to reach their potential. Some repercussions of poor nutrition during the teenage years include stunted growth, weak bones and muscles and, in severe cases, damage to your body's major organs. It is really important to eat healthy and get regular exercise so that your body will be healthy. If you are concerned about your body and would like some information about how best to gain weight appropriately, you should check out What to Eat to Gain and also see your doctor and/or a nutritionist who can better assess your situation and offer well-guided advice. It may be that all of these medical concerns are related - a thorough physical and discussion with a doctor could help determine this.
Even though you are not concerned about your experiences with depression, sexual orientation and suicide, FX is! These are very important issues that should not be taken lightly. It is unclear whether or not you have seen a physician or a psychiatrist for any of these conditions, but it is really important that you make sure that you get help for the depression and suicidal thoughts. FX has answered many questions about these topics, so you can read some of the answers under the categories "Emotional Health" and "Sexuality and Sexual Health" for some more information. Remember that depression is a very treatable condition and many people have made it through the experience. But, it is not something that can be dealt with on your own, so if you need help, you have to ask for and accept it.
If you feel that you may harm yourself, get help immediately. You can call the Suicide & Crisis Hotline at 1-800-999-9999, 24 hours, 7 days a week or if you live in northern New Jersey you can call the crisis hotline from Morristown Memorial hospital at 973-540-0100. In that same area you can get help finding a therapist by contacting the Access Center From Atlantic Behavioral Health at 888-247-1400.
FX understands that you have a lot of issues going on in your life right now and encourages you to remain positive and strong. There is help for your problems and it is important for you to know and understand that, and also be willing to accept it.
We encourage you to speak to your school nurse or contact your local hospital to find out if charity care or some type of medical assistance is available to help you to get medical care.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Adolescents are more likely than young adults to become dependent on prescription medications.
