Scoliosis is a condition categorized by an abnormal curvature in the spine. The issue is typically discovered at birth or during childhood or adolescence, but it can also set in after a person has gone through puberty. When this happens, it’s known as adult scoliosis. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at why adult scoliosis develops and how Dr. Jackman and his team can help treat it.
Causes And Symptoms Of Adult Scoliosis
Scoliosis can develop for a number of different reasons, but oftentimes the underlying cause is related to the type of scoliosis you’re dealing with. Some forms of adult scoliosis include:
- Degenerative Scoliosis – Curvature that is worsened as a result of natural degeneration in the spine.
- Pediatric/Adolescent Scoliosis – Earlier forms of scoliosis may not be discovered until adulthood, and may have been a result of how the spine formed during periods of growth when you were younger.
- Idiopathic Scoliosis – This is the term for scoliosis that develops without a known cause.
Some risk factors associated with scoliosis development include spinal injury or infection, a family history of the condition, connective tissue disorders, poor posture habits and being extremely underweight.
A double-edged sword appears when we look into symptoms associated with adult onset scoliosis. On one hand, most cases of scoliosis or those in an early stage do not present with pain or other uncomfortable symptoms. However, this is also a time when treatment is the most successful, but many people don’t change their lifestyle habits because their condition is asymptomatic. They are more likely to seek treatment once pain develops, but at a more advanced stage, treatment success likelihood starts to dip a little. Aside from pain, the most common symptoms associated with adult scoliosis include difficult walking or standing, leg weakness, numbness and a visual misalignment of the hips, spine or neck.
Diagnosing And Treating Adult Scoliosis
Adult scoliosis can be diagnosed during an appointment with a spine specialist. During that time, your physician will review your medical history, ask you about your symptoms, take a closer look at your back and have you perform some simple movements to see how your spine responds to activity. The curvature disorder may also be diagnosed with the help of an imaging test like an x-ray.
Most mild to moderate cases of adult scoliosis respond well to a combination of conservative techniques and regular observation to ensure that the curvature is not continuing to progress. Some of those conservative techniques include:
- Over the counter pain medications
- Posture improvements
- Gentle exercise and core strengthening
- Physical therapy
- Bracing
Most symptoms can be calmed and curvature progression can be halted with the help of the above techniques, but more severe cases may require spinal injections, nerve blocks or a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The specifics of your operation will be unique to your situation, but the typical goal of adult scoliosis surgery is to stabilize the spine, relieve nerve pressure and prevent the continued progressive of the curvature disorder. Surgery has a high track record of success, but because all surgeries carry risk, your doctor will pursue non-operative treatments first if they believe these options can provide relief.
So if you are noticing that you have a slouched or hunched appearance or are experiencing any of the symptoms we listed above, reach out to Dr. Jackman and the team at the Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
