In this type, the normal wear and tear on the lower back during the aging process leads to the development of a curve in the spine. In addition to seeking treatment for scoliosis, there are things you can do at home to reduce your symptoms. Although many people who have scoliosis have been told to limit their activities, Dr. Orr disagrees. If you are overweight, weight loss can also help to reduce scoliosis symptoms. Learn more about vaccine availability. Advertising Policy.
You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Related Articles. Could Your Child Have Scoliosis? Trending Topics. When a person has scoliosis, a sideways curvature is present. Some of the symptoms of scoliosis include pain, tingling in the extremities, and noticeable abnormalities in posture like uneven shoulders or stooping.
Nobody knows why people develop scoliosis, but there is some evidence of hereditary factors. There are two types of scoliosis, idiopathic and degenerative. Idiopathic scoliosis usually develops in and is diagnosed in young adolescents. Idiopathic scoliosis may not be diagnosed until adulthood, either because there may have been no symptoms for many years, or the curvature has become more pronounced.
Degenerative scoliosis is more likely to occur in adults. Just like many orthopedic conditions faced by older adults, degenerative scoliosis is preceded by wearing down of the cartilage between the bones of the spine. The spinal bones collapse against each other and can deviate to the side. Osteoarthritis of the spine results in scoliosis for some people. Some patients will also have osteoporosis also add the possible complication of a fracture due to the pressure on the spinal curvature.
But just as idiopathic scoliosis may not cause any symptoms or discomfort, the same is true for degenerative scoliosis. There is no need for treatment if it is not causing the patient any issues with pain or mobility. Of course, a patient is unlikely to seek treatment and be diagnosed if there are no troubling symptoms. Some possible reasons for the increase in cases of adult scoliosis are that people are living longer, and more active lives.
Wear and tear of the cartilage in the back happens more quickly when there is more movement, such as from running, playing sports, or just walking.
People also are more likely to seek out help for back pain than they may have been in the past. As the field of orthopedic medicine develops and specialists are more widely available, people increasingly know where to go with their back pain and they have more trust in orthopedic physicians who can help. The severity of scoliosis is measured in degrees that the spine moves away from the center. If the curve is less than 40 degrees, most of the time conservative methods of treatment are effective in reducing or eliminating symptoms and preventing further curvature.
Watch: Degenerative Scoliosis Video. If degenerative scoliosis becomes symptomatic, pain can range from a dull back ache to excruciating sensations that shoot down the leg, commonly referred to as sciatica , and make walking difficult or impossible. When healthy, facet joints are like hinges that help the spine bend smoothly, and intervertebral discs are like cushions that absorb shock between vertebral bones. If degeneration is more pronounced on one side of the spine, degenerative scoliosis can result.
The degenerative scoliosis curve, which is often located in the low back lumbar spine , forms a slight "C" shape as the spine abnormally curves on one side or the other. Any sideways spinal curve of at least 10 degrees, as measured by the Cobb angle on spinal radiographs X-rays , is considered scoliosis. See Scoliosis: Symptoms, Treatment and Surgery. Degenerative scoliosis can trigger the following types of discomfort:.
It should be noted that spinal joint inflammation or nerve impingement is the main source of degenerative scoliosis pain, not the abnormal sideways curvature of the spine. It is difficult to determine exactly how many people have degenerative scoliosis because many cases never cause significant symptoms and go undetected. If degenerative scoliosis becomes symptomatic, the pain typically starts gradually.
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