When you hear the word “scoliosis,” do you think of schoolchildren hunched over as the school nurse examines each back? While you wouldn’t be far off, cases of adult scoliosis are actually on the rise – and you may be unknowingly suffering from this spinal disorder already.
To clarify, adult scoliosis isn’t being contracted as adults; rather, the increase in scoliosis in adults is a direct result of misdiagnoses from formative childhood years. However, even those adults with mild – and often symptomless – cases of scoliosis can experience a worsened condition over the years, as the degenerative aging process can exacerbate previously undiagnosed cases of this spinal disorder.
So what exactly is scoliosis – and how can you diagnose it?
Scoliosis is a lateral curvature in the spine. This can be seen by the naked eye if it is moderate to severe, but typically missed if it is a mild case. The best diagnosis can be determined from a thoracic spine anterior/posterior x-ray taken in the following manner, standing and without shoes.
In most cases of scoliosis, the spine tilts to such a degree that it places extreme pressure on other parts of the body, such as the lungs. This uneven tilt is often caused by uneven discs, which are located between the vertebrae of the spine. When these discs are uneven or worn down, the spine becomes malformed, resulting in the tell-tale tilt of this spinal condition.
This tilting can also be a result of muscle asymmetry, as a result of compensation. That’s when one side of the body is working harder than the other side. Muscles on one side of the spine are pulling the spine toward that side and the weaker muscle on the other side are giving in. This is commonly caused by one leg being anatomically or even functionally shorter than the other side. If the leg discrepancy is diagnosed at an earlier age, patient can wear a lift to even the legs and not cause this muscle asymmetry, which leads to scoliosis.
Scoliosis can only be diagnosed by a medical professional; therefore, if you’re experiencing the following symptoms, contact your doctor of chiropractic right away for a diagnosis:
- Pain in the back;
- Weakness in the back;
- Pain in the chest;
- The head, shoulders, and hips appear to be tilted or uneven
If any of these symptoms are accompanied by shortness of breath and a shooting pain in the left arm, be sure to seek medical attention immediately, as this is a sign of a heart attack and requires emergency treatment.
Once your doctor has diagnosed your scoliosis, a number of treatment options may be used to help your spine, depending on the severity of your scoliosis:
Parents please have your children get checked by age 4 by a chiropractor who looks at the spine everyday and don’t wait until it is too late.
- If you have mild scoliosis – in other words, the spine is less than 25% tilted – then your doctor may give you a lift to even the legs if needed, mobilize restricted areas to create motion on both sides of the spine, adjusting the vertebrae to improve nerve flow to the muscles, joints and discs, as well as recommend exercises to improve strength, balance, stability and posture.
- If your spine is tilted more than 25% tilted, your doctor will supply you with a back brace to help straighten the spines, as well as recommending the above.
- Pain medication to manage any discomfort would be an option if there is no other option in pain reduction. Surgery will only be considered as a last option in cases of extreme scoliosis.
Please have your spine checked, like you have you teeth and vision checked regularly, to see if you have a mild case of scoliosis that is over-looked and might be the cause of your ailments. Visit the Tustin Bodywork Bistro in Tustin, CA, where Dr. Laila Nayab-Murshidi can give you a proper diagnosis for scoliosis and many other spinal conditions that are usually missed by the school nurse and other professionals.
If you’d like to learn more about treating scoliosis fill out the form in the top right corner or simply call 888-899-3315.
