Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. The normal shape of a person’s spine includes a curve at the top of the shoulder and a curve at the lower back. If your spine is curved from side to side or in an “S” or “C” shape, you might have scoliosis. Usually the curve is mild and doesn't affect your appearance or health. Yet it can get worse over time. It can also cause back pain and other health problems.
Category
The largest category of scoliosis is idiopathic scoliosis, a term used to refer to cases that have no definite cause.
Idiopathic scoliosis is broken down by age group:
Infant: 0 to 3 years
Juvenile: 4 to 10 years
Adolescent: 11 to 18 years
Adult: 18+ years
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is the most common.
Types
Doctors identify a cause for an estimated 20 percent of scoliosis cases. These consist of different types of scoliosis, including:
congenital, in which spinal deformities are apparent at birth
neurological, when nerve abnormalities affect muscles in the spine
Scoliosis can also be categorized as either structural or nonstructural. In structural scoliosis, the spine’s curve is caused by a disease, injury, or birth defect, and is permanent. Nonstructural scoliosis describes temporary curves that can be fixed.
Signs
back pain is the first sign of scoliosis in adults. The pain may be from bone damage in the back -- not the scoliosis itself. As the spine curves, it can put pressure on nearby nerves and cause symptoms like weakness and numbness.
Signs of Scoliosis is like these:
Uneven shoulders and/or hips
Bump in the lower back
Numbness, weakness, or pain in the legs
Trouble walking
Trouble standing up straight
Tired feeling
Shortness of breath
Loss of height
Bone spurs -- bony bumps in the joints of the spine from bone and joint damage
Feeling full quickly while you eat. This is because your spine is putting pressure on your belly.
Diagnose
A physical exam of your spine is the first step your doctor takes to see if you have scoliosis. Your doctor may also order some imaging tests to get a closer look at your spine.
Treatment
Treatment depends on numerous factors, the degree of spine curvature being a major one. Your doctor will also take into consideration:
your age
whether you’re likely to continue growing
the amount and type of curvature
the type of the scoliosis
The primary treatment options are bracing and surgery.
The long-term outlook for scoliosis depends on how severe the curvature is. For mild to moderate cases, the condition won’t interfere with everyday activities and functions. Individuals with severe forms of scoliosis may have physical limitations.
