my spine is hunched forward from my scoliosis, i always catch glimpses of it in windows and stuff too.

If you can lie down flat, you can improve your posture. It takes the right kind of exercises, stretches, keeping balance on both legs, not letting yourself slump while sitting (even though you think it will be more comfortable),trying to cenrer head over neck, neck over ribs, ribs over hips, over knees, over feet. When we let our bodies slump, we perpetuate the problem. Muscles try to protect spine and pull spine out of whack,then muscles, tendons and ligaments hurt and pull us out of kilter, etc., etc., etc. Look for a book on spinal exercises, find a pool and tread water with a Noodle under your arms in the back, try an inversion table, gently, at a back care store, ask and look on the Internet. You can improve posture but it takes steady work. It does hurt at first but if you don't work on it now, it can get worse. Actually, many people have badly degenerated discs and no pain because their muscles are strong. I have stenosis, degenerated discs and one hip higher than the other, but when I'm faithful and do my exercises and stretching on the inversion table, plus a massage now and then and hot baths, I can cope pretty well these days. And I hope you will, too.

It's part of all of it. At one point before my 3rd surgery I was bent to the right at about a 45degree angle. You could have offered me a million dollars to stand up straight I coulden't have done it. Have you seen an orthopedic specialist lately? If not you might want to give it some thought. I like wearig my brace its uncomfortable, I look fatter than what I normally do but at least people know there is something wrong with me. I love when people especially children ask why I'm wearing it. It gives me a chance to educate other. The best of luck to you.
Hugs & God bless
Lisa

I went back and reread my post and it sounds awfully cheerleaderish and I don't mean to diminish the pain and sense of loss that goes with physical changes. You're right, Lisa; I remember feeling just completely unable to straighten up both before and after surgery. After was worse because supposedly the surgery was to help and instead the nerve pain was unbearable. I spent a good part of my days in bed because lying flat was the only not-hideous position. Went to a walker, even a wheelchair for a while. Then I started exercising, just what I could do, mostly in the pool and on the floor because physical therapy was incredibly painful and just made everything worse, and that's what relieved the verve pain & helped me to straighten up. That's just me and my (partial) solution and I was blessed it turned around to a degree, so wanted to suggest it. I think I've tried everything, conventional and non- and keep hoping each new try will be the solution. I passed that seeing-myself-in-the-store-window milestone a long time ago but doing better these days. I feel so bad for Missy Di with so much on her plate and I think you have a wonderful attitude in explaining your brace to strangers and spreading awareness.
Hugs,
Nora

I have the opposite problem, I can't slouch because of the fractured vertebra and the hardened cartilage surrounding it.

I get comments all the time about my "perfect" posture but it's a pain, literally. If I'm standing too long my back, neck, and legs, will ache as I don't have strong back muscles since I can't work some of them well.

Even though out problems aren't the same, I've found lifting weights has helped relieve some of the pain when I stand for long periods of time. Maybe it would help your posture.