Procedures
Any practicing MD can treat someone with scoliosis, but if you’re looking for a doctor to treat the condition itself, a scoliosis specialist trained in various modalities is by far the best choice. When considering different doctors, keep in mind that even a specialist might only have experience with one form of treatment.
Self-care
When it comes to doctors who treat scoliosis in adults, as always, my top recommendation is to find a scoliosis specialist, due to the complex, highly-variable, and …
Nutrition
Scoliosis Treatment The Department of Neurosurgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital has dedicated scoliosis experts that will work with you and your family to determine the best treatment option that meets your individual needs, including the …
Which scoliosis specialist should I see?
Scoliosis Surgery in adults. Surgery to correct scoliosis involves placing one or two metal rods stabilized by hooks and screws along the spine in an effort to prevent further curvature. The surgeon uses pins and bone grafts to keep the rod in place next to the spine. This is …
Who is most at risk for scoliosis?
In general, most scoliosis in adolescents occurs in the thoracic or rib cage portion of the spine. In adults the main concern is typically in the lumbar or lower spine. This portion of the spine is most susceptible to the changes seen with aging or degeneration. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
Are there any celebrities who have scoliosis?
Bracing is currently the only nonsurgical treatment that has been proven to reduce the natural progression of idiopathic scoliosis curves. However, if given the okay by a doctor, exercise is healthy for people with scoliosis and helps keep the back strong and flexible. See Exercise and Fitness to Help Your Back.
What kind of Doctor specializes in scoliosis?
Oct 01, 2020 · The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) recommends an observational doctor's visit every four to six months if this is your child's scoliosis treatment. 1 Because adult bones don't grow, observation is generally necessary only when nerve symptoms accompany the scoliosis. 2 Scoliosis Treatment - Bracing
Can scoliosis be treated by a chiropractor?
A chiropractor for scoliosis can develop a non-invasive, drug-free scoliosis treatment plan that addresses multiple symptoms. While chiropractors are unable to straighten your spine completely, studies have shown a marked improvement in spine curvature, pain, and disability rating among those with scoliosis.May 8, 2020
What does a specialist do for scoliosis?
A specialist will understand the condition's complex nature, be able to comprehensively read a scoliosis X-ray, and will design a customized treatment plan. This is the difference between finding someone to treat your scoliosis as a symptom, or as a condition.
What is the most effective treatment for scoliosis?
A scoliosis curve will not get straight on its own. Bracing will help to keep it from getting worse. Surgery — a spinal fusion — is the only thing that will straighten out the spine, but it will not make it completely straight. Surgery will also stiffen the spine and is therefore reserved for more severe deformities.
Can an osteopath help scoliosis?
There is currently reliable evidence to suggest that other therapies, such as osteopathy, can help correct a curved spine or stop it getting worse. Important aspects considered by the osteopathic approach include: Posture adopted during the day can influence scoliosis in different ways.Feb 14, 2020
How can I fix scoliosis naturally?
Mild scoliosis is often managed simply with exercise, medical observation, scoliosis-specific physical therapy, and chiropractic treatment from a chiropractic scoliosis specialist. For some people with scoliosis, yoga or pilates is also recommended to decrease their pain level and increase flexibility.
What can worsen scoliosis?
Repeated extension of your thoracic spine with backbends, gymnastics, high jumps, dance maneuvers (especially in ballet) and certain yoga positions causes vertebrae to rotate further into the scoliosis curve. The force often causes rapid scoliosis progression.Oct 28, 2021
Can you fix scoliosis without surgery?
Fortunately, most cases of scoliosis do not require any treatment and very few require surgical treatment. If your child's spinal curve progresses to more than 40-50 degrees, depending on location, or if your child's curve is advancing rapidly, your doctor might recommend surgery.Jun 2, 2020
Is it worth getting scoliosis surgery?
The research effort found that surgery usually helped patients improve. It helped correct their curvature, and they had less pain. But the researchers also found that those who didn't have surgery usually did not go on to experience more severe pain or a more extreme spinal deformity during a two-year follow-up period.Feb 22, 2019
What did Dr Nalda do for migraines?
Severe migraines as a young teen introduced Dr. Nalda to chiropractic care. After experiencing life changing results, he set his sights on helping others who face debilitating illness through providing more natural approaches.
Can you go to a Ford dealership with scoliosis?
Think of it this way, if you’re having car troubles with your Dodge, you wouldn’t consider going to a Ford dealership for answers or maintenance; it should be the same with your health. If you have scoliosis, don’t go to a general practitioner who doesn’t have scoliosis-specific training and experience.
Can you straighten a crooked spine with a spinal fusion?
While spinal-fusion surgery can be successful in one aspect of straightening a crooked spine, there are many risks involved.
Can a specialist treat scoliosis?
When considering different doctors, keep in mind that even a specialist might only have experience with one form of treatment. Patients with scoliosis benefit from being treated by a specialist capable of combining therapies for the best treatment results.
Can a general practitioner treat scoliosis?
While this distinction might not seem overly important, I can assure you it is. While a general practitioner can most definitely treat someone with scoliosis, unless they are specifically trained in scoliosis, they will be treating the condition’s symptoms, rather than the condition itself.
Is chiropractic good for scoliosis?
I discovered that chiropractic is most effective for treating scoliosis when it’s used in conjunction with other therapies. This is why I always encourage people to seek out a specialist with training and certification in different modalities.
Types of Scoliosis
One of the reasons it’s so important to customize scoliosis treatment plans is because not only is there a wide range of condition severity, but there are also different types of scoliosis that can develop, each with its own unique treatment needs.
Symptoms of Adult Scoliosis
While every case is different, adults who are diagnosed with scoliosis generally reach that point because they are experiencing one or more of the following symptoms.
Adult Scoliosis and Treatment
As a leading scoliosis chiropractor, I have worked with patients of all ages and severity levels. Not only have I helped my young patients achieve corrective results in the form of curvature reductions, I have seen similar progress in my older patients as well.
Conclusion
When it comes to doctors who treat scoliosis in adults, as always, my top recommendation is to find a scoliosis specialist, due to the complex, highly-variable, and progressive nature of the condition.
How much risk of infection is associated with scoliosis surgery?
Infection: All surgical interventions carry the risk of infection. Scoliosis surgery is very invasive which increases this risk to approximately 10%.
What is the Department of Neurosurgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital?
The Department of Neurosurgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital has dedicated scoliosis experts that will work with you and your family to determine the best treatment option that meets your individual needs, including the latest minimally invasive surgical options.
What happens when you have spinal surgery?
Nerve damage: Spinal surgery necessitates working around the spinal cord and nerves ; damage as a result of chronic nerve compression or due to surgery can result in patients experiencing a variety of neurologic complications such as loss of sensation, feet or leg weakness, or loss of bowel and bladder control.
How to recover from a traumatic brain injury?
Diet – Discuss your diet and nutritional needs and prepare a meal plan. Reheating food that is already cooked/prepared reduces stress and strain. Personal Hygiene – Your recovery period may last a few weeks, so prepare accordingly (i.e. cut/wash your hair) and stock up on the necessities, especially if you live alone .
Can scoliosis be treated with physical therapy?
Mild curves that have no symptoms found on x-ray likely will require no treatment. Moderate and painful scoliosis patients may benefit from physical therapy to improve the flexibility and strength of the spine to reduce the symptoms.
Can spinal surgery be emotional?
Spinal surgery can take a toll on your emotional & physical well-being. You should speak with your surgeon regarding any concerns you may have as this will help your surgeon to develop a better treatment plan with you to meet all your needs. Here are some things to think about: Exercise – Both pre- and post-surgery plan.
Is scoliosis surgery a risk?
Scoliosis Treatment Surgical Risks. Scoliosis surgery is complex and therefore, there are important risks to consider. Your surgeon, who is an expert in complex spinal surgery, will discuss these risks with you prior to your surgery. Every patient is different, but common known risks are the following: Implant failure: A surgeon will use an implant ...
How do you fix scoliosis?
Surgery to correct scoliosis involves placing one or two metal rods stabilized by hooks and screws along the spine in an effort to prevent further curvature. The surgeon uses pins and bone grafts to keep the rod in place next to the spine. This is called “fusion surgery.” The spinal bones are fused together, destroying the joints of the spine.
What are the main concerns of a scoliosis patient?
Adult scoliosis has two main concerns that don’t apply to a majority of adolescent sufferers. They are: Pain. Disability.
How many degrees does scoliosis progression take?
Research shows that the curve progression in an adult will vary between 0.5 to 3.0 degrees per year, depending on the shape of the curve, overall curve size, and the age of the scoliosis onset. It was previously thought that progression only happens for people with more extreme curves of more than 30 or 40 degrees.
How many degrees per year does scoliosis progress?
The research on scoliosis tells us that a typical adult will have progression of their curve, and that the progression will vary from 0.5 to 3.0 degrees per year. I have great news for you: Your condition is treatable. There is hope.
What braces are ill fitting?
Scoliosis bra ces like the Boston Brace, Milwaukee Brace, Providence Brace, Charleston Brace, or the many TLSO braces that are available at hospitals around the world, are ill fitting and seek to lock the scoliosis into its distortion. This is similar to what a cast does to a broken arm – lock it in place.
What are the consequences of scoliosis?
Another terrible consequence of untreated scoliosis is disability. You lose your freedom to do the things that you love to do and can become less and less independent. Some severe scoliosis sufferers cannot even stand or walk because their condition is so degenerative.
Can scoliosis cause back pain in teens?
Though it is rare for scoliosis to cause pain in adolescence, pain is a common symptom of scoliosis in adults. The patients in my office receiving adult scoliosis treatment all say the same thing. They were told they had scoliosis as children and teens and advised to “watch and wait.” Then around middle age, quite often sooner, they begin to experience back pain, hip pain, or other symptoms only to discover that scoliosis is the underlying culprit.
How to treat scoliosis in adults?
Maintaining an ideal body weight and maintaining a regular exercise program are excellent ways to minimize symptoms associated with adult scoliosis. Surgical treatment of adult scoliosis can improve a patient’s quality of life and deal with pain connected to the condition.
What is the treatment for scoliosis?
The outlook for adult scoliosis can vary depending on the type (idiopathic or degenerative) and severity of symptoms. Non-operative treatment, with modalities such as physical therapy, a regular exercise program, and over the counter anti-inflammatory medications is always the first line of care.
What is a scoliosis curve?
What is adult scoliosis? Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine (backbone). There is a natural, forward-and-backward curve to the spine. With scoliosis, the spine rotates and develops a side-to-side curve. Curves may be as mild as 10 degrees, or as severe as 100 degrees or more.
How severe is a spinal curve?
Curves may be as mild as 10 degrees, or as severe as 100 degrees or more. Most cases of scoliosis are mild and don’t need treatment. In adults, the degree of the spinal curve may or may not determine treatment. Treatment is geared towards relieving symptoms, and not necessarily fixing the curve.
Why is spinal surgery the last option?
This treatment is the last option because of the risks of complications from spinal surgery. Surgery may be suggested for the following reasons: Pain. Surgery may be needed if back and leg pain from the scoliosis becomes severe and ongoing, and doesn’t respond to conservative treatment. Spinal imbalance.
When is idiopathic scoliosis found?
Idiopathic (coming from an unknown cause) scoliosis is usually discovered during growth in childhood or adolescence. When it begins or is found after puberty, it is called adult idiopathic scoliosis because the curve is discovered after complete skeletal growth.
Why is adult scoliosis called adult scoliosis?
When it begins or is found after puberty, it is called “adult scoliosis” because the curve is discovered after complete skeletal growth. Appointments & Access. Contact Us. Overview. Symptoms and Causes. Diagnosis and Tests. Management and Treatment. Prevention. Outlook / Prognosis.
How often should a doctor check for idiopathic scoliosis?
About 90% of idiopathic scoliosis cases are mild and only require observation. Typically, observation is done by a doctor every 4 to 6 months until the adolescent has reached full skeletal maturity.
What are the risk factors for scoliosis to progress?
Risk Factors for Scoliosis to Progress. In general, the following factors increase a person’s risk for a scoliosis curve to worsen: Large lateral curve. In general, the larger the curve’s Cobb angle, the more likely it will progress.
Why do you need a brace for scoliosis?
If scoliosis starts to cause a noticeable deformity or is at high risk of doing so , a doctor might prescribe a brace to prevent the curve from getting any worse. Typically, a brace is worn until the adolescent has reached full skeletal maturity.
How long do you have to wear scoliosis braces?
These braces use hyper-corrective forces (which put the body out of normal balance and cannot realistically be applied while a person is standing and/or performing daily activities) and are to be worn at least 8 hours a night. See Types of Scoliosis Braces.
Where is the scoliosis curve located?
Curve in thoracic spine. A scoliosis curve located in the upper back is more likely to progress than a curve located lower in the back. Once the risk factors for idiopathic scoliosis progression are assessed, treatment decisions can be made.
Does scoliosis cause lateral curves to grow?
If scoliosis has been identified and the adolescent has some skeletal growth left, there is potential for the spine’s lateral curve (s) to grow and worsen. The more skeletal growth remaining, the greater the risk for curve progression. See Cobb Angle and Skeletal Maturity. Female sex.
Do scoliosis braces need to be prescribed?
Bracing is a major time commitment and uncomfortable for adolescents—both physically and emotionally—and is usually not prescribed unless the curve is at significant risk for progressing.
What is the best treatment for scoliosis?
If your child's curve is between 25 and 45 degrees, bracing may be required.
When is scoliosis surgery recommended?
In adults, surgery is recommended when the curve is 50 degrees and you have nerve damage to your legs and/or bowel or bladder problems. The goal of having a scoliosis surgery is to correct (i.e. straighten) the curve and to prevent it from progressing any further.
What degrees should a scoliosis curve be?
Once a scoliosis curve measurement hits 40 or 50 degrees, surgeons generally recommend surgery. This is true for both teen and adult patients. In teens (technically, adolescents), signs of curve progression have to be present, as well.
How long ago did scoliosis surgery last?
Adults who had scoliosis surgery a long time ago (i.e. 20 to 30 years) may benefit from revision surgery. Long spinal fusions, which were common years ago make for extra wear and tear and load on the vertebrae just above and below the fusion.
How often should a child be measured for scoliosis?
Scoliosis Treatment - Observation. If your child has a small curve, i.e. between 10 and 24 degrees, she may only need to measured a few times per year. This is called "observation.". The idea behind observation is that should the curve measurement increase to 25 degrees or higher, a different type of treatment may be initiated.
What is fusion in spine?
(Fusion, according to the AANS, is the knitting together of the spinal elements. ) 1 .
Does chiropractic help with scoliosis?
Sadly, many believe this treatment can straighten out their spines. As far as evidence-based medicine goes, there's little if any proof that chiropractic is an effective scoliosis treatment.
Is it a good idea to self diagnose lumbar scoliosis?
Self-diagnosing yourself or a family member with lumbar scoliosis is never a good idea. You may end up with incorrect results or other issues. Even if you’re correct with the diagnosis, treatment requires professional attention. If you notice any symptoms of lumbar scoliosis, or scoliosis in general, it’s time to seek the help of a chiropractor specializing in scoliosis.
Is lumbar scoliosis a self diagnosis?
Lumbar scoliosis is a very particular disorder that requires specific treatment. Self-diagnosis is never the right solution , but you should keep an eye out for the symptoms to see if you need to schedule a visit to the doctor’s office. Remember that some of those symptoms include:
How often should a child go to a scoliosis doctor?
However, because of the very real risk of rapid progression, it is vital to keep a close eye on the child! This means taking the child to a scoliosis professional every 3 months to be evaluated for progression. The chart above shows the extremely high rate of growth in young children.
How many cases of scoliosis go on to require surgical treatment?
Without effective bracing and a scoliosis exercise program, nearly 95% of juvenile cases go on to require surgical treatment. In infantile cases (birth to 3 years) scoliosis under 20 degrees many spontaneously resolve.
What is a curved spine in a child?
Scoliosis in children, also referred to as Pediatric Scoliosis or Juvenile Scoliosis , is a condition in which a child’s spine is curved sideways. The Scoliosis Research Society defines pediatric scoliosis as a curved spine in a child measuring 10 degrees or greater. Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis is a spinal curvature that is first diagnosed between the ages of 3 and 10. The word “Idiopathic” is a medical term, which means the exact cause is unknown.
How long does it take for scoliosis to get worse?
The physician will first wait up to 6 months to determine if the curvature is progressing—or getting worse. While a small percentage of children will have a curvature of the spine that is stable and unchanging, the large majority of children with a curve size above 20 degrees will have a curve that rapidly gets worse.
What causes the spine to twist?
Scoliosis causes the bones of the spine to twist or rotate. Instead of a straight line down the middle of the back, the spine looks more like the letter “C” or “S.” Scoliosis curves can occur only in the upper and middle back (thoracic scoliosis ). They can also develop only in the lower back (lumbar scoliosis ). Many times the curvature will occur in both the upper and lower parts of the spine known as a double major scoliosis . Scoliosis that involves both the middle and lower back can also be called thoracolumbar scoliosis in children.
What percentage of scoliosis is idiopathic?
Causes of Scoliosis in Children. Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis comprises about 10% to 15% of all idiopathic scoliosis in children. At the younger end of the age range, boys are affected slightly more than girls and the curve is often angled to the left. This shape of scoliosis is referred to as “levoscoliosis”.
What is considered a mild scoliosis curve?
Mild Scoliosis in Children. A curve size of less than 20 degrees is considered a mild scoliosis in a child. The typical medical approach to treating a mild scoliosis is to be under doctor supervision until the curves progresses further. The chart below shows why the younger the child is when the scoliosis is first diagnosed, ...
Diagnosis
Treatment
Clinical Trials
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Specialist to consult
Alternative Medicine
Coping and Support
- Scoliosis treatments vary, depending on the severity of the curve. Children who have very mild curves usually don't need any treatment at all, although they may need regular checkups to see if the curve is worsening as they grow. Bracing or surgery may be needed if the spinal curve is moderate or severe. Factors to be considered include: 1. Maturity.If a child's bones have stoppe…