What is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a common condition that affects 3 out of every 100 people in the United States. Scoliosis is defined as a condition where the spine curves sideways, appearing more like an “S” or a “C” than the straight line it should be. While every individual has some sort of curvature to their spine, those with scoliosis feel these effects more seriously. Many cases of scoliosis can be determined by simply looking at a person’s spine, whereas others require an x-ray with a front and/or rear view of the body. In some instances, a person with scoliosis may appear to have uneven shoulders or waist, causing them to look hunched over. Unfortunately, these curves cannot be corrected simply by asking the person to stand up straight.

Scoliosis is something a person is born with or develops over time because of changes in the body. This condition cannot be caused by something like carrying a backpack, poor posture, or a sports injury. Thankfully, there are numerous effective treatment options to help those suffering from scoliosis. And believe it or not, surgery isn’t the only viable option. Many people diagnosed with scoliosis worry that an invasive surgery is the only way to correct it, however, only a small percentage of people require this type of reconstructive surgery. Here at NeuroSpine Surgical Consultants, we will go over your options with you and ensure the right treatment for your particular case of scoliosis is discussed. We offer minimally-invasive surgeries, spinal fusion, and scoliosis correction to help our patients live a long, comfortable life.

The Impact of Scoliosis

Approximately 4 percent of the population has scoliosis, ranging from mild to severe cases. This spinal disorder can have a lasting impact on a wide range of health concerns, including:

● Chronic back pain
● Muscle imbalance
● Difficulty breathing
● Prominent bones

There are numerous known causes of scoliosis, but the vast majority (80 percent) of scoliosis cases that we treat are idiopathic. This means that scoliosis develops when the patient is between the ages of 10 and 15 years old, which is roughly the time period a child goes through puberty. Experts believe this type of scoliosis occurs because of genetic reasons, however, there is still ongoing research as to the exact cause of idiopathic scoliosis to this day.

Symptoms of Scoliosis

When a patient comes into NeuroSpine because they think they have scoliosis, we typically look for the following symptoms:

● Leaning to one side
● Uneven shoulders
● One shoulder blade is more prominent than the other
● Uneven hips, waist, legs, and/or rib cage

Many patients also complain of back pain, but it is important to keep in mind back pain alone is not a sole sign you may have scoliosis. To learn more about how we treat scoliosis at our Dallas pain management clinic, please do not hesitate to contact NeuroSpine today.