Scoliosis And What To Do About It

All spines have curves. A curvature in the neck as well as upper and lower back area is considered normal. We need these spinal curves to help our body maintain a proper balance and alignment. But sometimes there is abnormal curvature in the form of side-to-side curves, which is known by the descriptive term scoliosis.

Basic scoliosis types can either be congenital, idiopathic, kyphosis, or neuromuscular in type. And scoliosis isn’t always even visible to others. Congenital scoliosis refers to spinal formation defects in utero. Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common form in the United States, and is said to affect up to 2 percent of our population. It is typically causes by an adolescent growth spurt, and as a result, the abnormal curves are gradual, typically painless, and have a typical curve pattern. Kyphosis scoliosis refers to an abnormal hunching over in the thoracic spine area. Neuromuscular scoliosis typically describes the curvature of the spine with any disorder of the neurological system. Examples of neuromuscular scoliosis can include cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, and spinal cord injuries.

As with any diagnosis, the level of curvature of the spine from scoliosis may different greatly. Many forms are able to be treated and the spine essentially straightened to normal curvature limits. For other individuals with scoliosis, medical intervention may be needed to help alleviate pain and provide a greater quality of life even with the diagnosis. Mild forms of scoliosis may not have even been treated, but the body’s reaction to chronic pain or through improper posture or movement can eventually cause a patient to have back and neck pain resulting from a variety of disc and/or ligament issues.

If you were diagnosed with even a mild case of scoliosis as a child, your body may have developed pressure points and degeneration that have led to chronic pain as an adult. We’d be glad to talk to you about your specific back and/or neck pain at the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute to see how we might be able to help you lead a more active and pain-free lifestyle.

Tags: Minimally Invasive Spine Institute, Scoliosis