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Scoliosis
Scoliosis refers to a condition where an abnormal curve in a person’s spine is manifested. Instead of a straight line, a person afflicted with scoliosis has a spine that looks like a “C” or an “S.”
630 Questions
What can be done for scoliosis?
Orthopedists -- the doctors who most often deal with scoliosis patients -- have three treatments. 1) Observation, which is not really a treatment but simply monitoring to see if it gets worse. 2) A body brace, a kind of stiff corset, usually prescribed for teens who are still growing, in the hope that it will slow or stop progression of abnormal spinal curves. 3) Spinal fusion surgery, generally indicated if the main curve progresses beyond 45-50 degrees. The purpose of surgery is to prevent further progression, or to relieve pain in adults. Orthopedists in the US and the UK do not usually believe that exercises or any intervention other than a brace or surgery will help a scoliosis patient.
In Germany, however, orthopedists routinely refer patients to a Schroth clinic for physical therapy treatment. The Schroth method of scoliosis treatment has been standard practice there since the 1960s, and was developed in the 1920s. Because every case of scoliosis involves imbalances of strength, length, and thickness of spinal and other muscles, a Schroth therapist first diagnoses the individual patient's scoliosis and then designs a regime of exercises that will strengthen weak muscles and stretch tight ones. A chiropractor or conventional physical therapist may be able to relieve scoliosis pain symptoms temporarily, as can a massage therapist. But if the scoliosis patient's posture is not addressed and improved by exercise therapy, pain will persist and can increase later in life.
How long before your body recovers from surgery for scoliosis?
It depends what type of scoliosis surgery you are having. Mine took four hours, and I had posterior spinal fusion with bone grafting from the hip. If you have anterior spinal fusion, it will most likely take longer, as the surgery is done by entering the front or side of your body. With posterior, they reach your spine by entering your back.
Degenerative facet and ligamentous arthropathy?
The facet joints are located in the spinal canal. Bilateral facet arthropathy is arthritis in the facet joints of the back.
Scoliosis is not caused by carrying heavy objects (such as heavy school bags on one shoulder), sports or physical activities, poor standing or sleeping postures, or a lack of calcium in the diet. Scoliosis affects the whole body.
If the part of the spine that is in the chest, called the thoracic Scoliosis is defined as a lateral curvature of the spine, the presence of which is abnormal, its name is derived from the Greek word for curvature. It can be disfiguring because when the spine bends to the side, the vertebrae (the individual bones that make up the spine) become twisted and pull the ribs round with them, which sometimes form a "bulge" on the back and cause the shoulder blade to stick out. Click here to read about bone structure.
The causes of scoliosis are many, and although we well understand the consequences, the origins of this condition remain complex and obscure. There are two main types of scoliosis-namely, idiopathic (no known cause) and syndromic (the curvature is part of a recognised disease pattern, such as Marfan's syndrome). Idiopathic scoliosis accounts for most spinal curvatures and they may either be of early onset, before age seven years, or late onset, after that age and usually in adolescence. There is a definite genetic connection, with around 25% of those with a scoliosis have a direct relative with a curvature. 80% of adolescence idiopathic scoliosis arises in girls, and 80% of these girls have their rib prominence on the right side.
If the part of the spine that is in the chest, called the thoracic spine, curves more than 90°, the volume of the chest can be reduced so much that the function of the heart and lungs may become compromised. The heart may have to work harder to pump the normal volume of blood, or the affected individual may have difficulty breathing.
Severe curvature of the lower half of the spine that connects the chest with the pelvis, known as the lumbar spine, may push the contents of the abdomen against the chest and in this way interfere with function of the heart and lungs indirectly. In addition, curvature of the lumbar spine may alter sitting balance and posture.
Severe curvature of the either the thoracic or the lumbar spine, or both, eventually will become visible to others. The resulting tilting and twisting of the back, shoulders and pelvis, and in turn can affect the individuals regarding appearance that the individual finds unacceptable. When one considers that the most common scenario for Idiopathic Scoliosis is a girl at around the time of puberty, when body image is developing hand in hand with self-esteem, this can pose significant psychological and emotional challenges.
There is no clear evidence that untreated Scoliosis, or Scoliosis treated with bracing or spinal fusion, will increase the risk of back pain or arthritis in the long term. Progression of spinal curvature is inversely related to maturity.
After maturity, curves under 50° will remain stable and stay that way, i.e. they do not progress. For this reason, the ultimate goal of Scoliosis management is to keep curves under 50° until maturity. Children with curves under 50° will grow up into adults who will have no significant problems related to their Scoliosis.
10°-30° Observation.
In this range, scoliosis is observed for progression. The measurement error in reading X-rays is up to 4°. This means that a difference of 4° between office visits may not be real, but rather a reflection of the inherent inaccuracies of measuring X-rays. Partly because of this, significant progression is defined as an increase in curvature of at least 5°. The typical rate of progression is 1°/month, so it would take at least 5 months to see significant progression. As a result, the child is seen every 6 months for follow-up, which includes both physical and X-ray examinations.
30°-50° Bracing
....is the standard of care in the United States. The Scoliosis brace is known as a TLSO, which stands for Thoraco-Lumbar Spinal Orthotic. The idea behind bracing is to keep the progression of the curve stable so that it stays under 50º. An X-ray taken in a brace shows that the brace does straighten the spine, but at best the spine will return to its original curvature when the brace is
removed. The 2 principal types used are the Milwaukee and Boston brace. (for more info on these braces use the search provided)
More than 50° Fusion
Beyond 50°, the spine loses its ability to compensate, and progression becomes inevitable even after the child is mature. The only way to stop progression at this stage is spinal fusion.
The spine can bend towards either side of the body at any place, in the chest area (thoracic scoliosis), in the lower part of the back (lumbar), or above and below these areas (thoracolumbar). It can even bend twice, causing an S-shaped curve. When the curve is S-shaped (double curvature) it is often not noticeable and the person can appear quite straight because the two curves counteract each other. If the curve is low down in the spine, the ribs will not be affected but one hip may be higher than the other.
Scoliosis is, surprisingly, quite common. About three or four children per thousand of the general population will need specialist supervision, and about one child in every thousand will need hospital treatment usually for major corrective surgery with the insertion of a metal rod, sometimes followed by a period in a plaster jacket or brace. Scoliosis can develop at any time during childhood and adolescence. It might develop in infancy, in which case there is a good chance of it resolving with growth. Progressive (worsening) early onset curvatures are potentially serious, and some of these may need surgical treatment. Late onset scoliosis is less serious, but some will need surgery and all need to be seen by a scoliosis specialist who can keep an eye on the situation and give some idea about the future. Severe deformity, which is uncommon nowadays because of modern treatment, can lead to damaged lung function, or disability in middle age. The lungs are usually affected only in people with untreated early onset thoracic scoliosis, when the upper (chest) part of the spine is curved.
A developmental disorder, Scoliosis is rarely present at birth (congenital Scoliosis). It can develop in infancy or early childhood and it is sometimes caused by rare childhood disorders. However, it is most common in early teenage years, when, especially at the start of the adolescent growth spurt, it can progress rapidly.
Treatment at this age is usually corrective surgery.
There is contradictory evidence as to whether early discovery and treatment of a curve improves the long-term outcome, but we know that if curves are discovered too late, when they are already severe, the results of surgery can be compromised. Therefore, awareness of scoliosis and what it can mean for an individual among General Practitioners and physical education teachers in schools is regarded as important, so that early referral to a specialist in scoliosis is achieved. Treatment in a scoliosis centre will usually prevent unsatisfactory long-term results.
Scoliosis has been recorded since the days of the ancient Greeks, but its cause is still unknown - Idiopathic Scoliosis. Orthopaedic surgeons specialising in scoliosis and scientists in many countries continue to research the cause, or causes, of the condition.
Can scoliosis affect your singing?
Unfortunately.. Yes. Singing is breathing, breathing is posture. But it's not hopeless. A lot of people sing with proper technique yet do not all sound the exact same. You can take a handful of singing instructors and ask them to describe the feel and you'll be surprised at the different answers. The reason for this is because they are not all clones with the same body and posture. The smallest thing can change the way somebody stands and feels their body. Scoliosis is not a small thing and may change the technique quite a bit. The hard part is that you don't want to find a style that will encourage your scoliosis to increase and you don't want to find a style that is out of reach for your unique body alignment. There is no reason that you can't find "your" technique though. If you are truly serious about this.. dig into what Germany is up to. Good luck with finding your singing voice.
The facet joints connect the posterior elements of the vertebral bodies to one another. Like the bones that form other joints in the human body, such as the hip, knee, or elbow, the articular surfaces of the facet joints are covered by a layer of smooth cartilage, surrounded by a strong capsule of ligaments, and lubricated by synovial fluid. J
Just like the hip and the knee, the facet joints can also become arthritic and painful, and they can be a source of back pain. The pain and discomfort that is caused by degeneration and arthritis of this part of the spine is called facet arthropathy, which simply means a disease or abnormality of the facet joints.
What is the cost of scoliosis surgery?
My scolioisis surgery in 1994 cost around $60,000..I stayed one week in the hospital and had a Harrington rod insertation with bone grafting...I am sure it is much more money now in the year 2008..Lucky for me the State of California paid for my surgery and I was covered by Medi-Cal because I started seeing the doctor after I noticed progression of my curve before I turned 18 years old.
Is it difficult to live with scoliosis?
If treated correctly a patient can lead a fairly normal life with scoliosis, the patient does have to change some aspects in their life when living with scoliosis, pain management and exercise are key to keeping the spine supple and muscles strong to support the spine throughout life with scoliosis
What is mild dextroscoliosis of the spine?
it's a side to side curvature of the spine.
Description:When viewed from the rear, the spine usually appears perfectly straight. Scoliosis is a lateral (side-to-side) curve in the spine, usually combined with a rotation of the vertebrae. (The lateral curvature of scoliosis should not be confused with the normal set of front-to-back spinal curves visible from the side.) While a small degree of lateral curvature does not cause any medical problems, larger curves can cause postural imbalance and lead to muscle fatigue and pain. More severe scoliosis can interfere with breathing and lead to arthritis of the spine (spondylosis).
Approximately 10% of all adolescents have some degree of scoliosis, though fewer than 1% have curves which require medical attention beyond monitoring. Scoliosis is found in both boys and girls, but a girl's spinal curve is much more likely to progress than a boy's. Girls require scoliosis treatment about five times as often. The reason for these differences is not known.
What does slight dextroscoliosis of the mid thoracic spine means?
change the position of vertebral colum right or left
What Are The Signs Of Scoliosis?
There are many ways to tell but a few are. * The Adams fowards Bending Test.(Here is a link on how to do it)http://iscoliosis.com/symptoms-screening.html There is also a video on how to do it on this link. * One of your shouldrs may be higher than the other. * One of your hips may be higher * Your body could be leaning to the side * One of your shoulder blades may stick out more * Your head isn't located directly above your pelvis * And just by someone looking at your back something is wrong.
Does scoliosis affect walking?
It depends how bad you have it. If your curve is huge then you'll have a hunch back , if its around 60 degrees like mine was, then your back would have been forming into a hunch back and that didnt really affect my walking but it caused alot of pain.
Does scoliosis ever go away or not?
I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 11 and went to the doctor every 6 months. When I was 13 I was told that the curve was only 8. If the curve is 10 degrees and under then you are OK and your scoliosis has basically gone away. So to answer your question scoliosis does go away.
Scoliosis refers to a curve in the spine that is not normally present in a healthy spine.
What is the scientific name of scoliosis?
The word "scoliosis" comes from the Greek language meaning "curvature"
Why do you have back pain during scoliosis?
Scoliosis is an abnormal curve in the spine. It is frequently unstable, (in other words, it gets worse over time) and can effect all sorts of connections from the spine to other parts of the body. For example, the ribs abutting up to the spine could be out of alignment. This can even affect your breathing if sufficiently severe. Not only that, but your spine is a stack of about 72 small joints. If those go out of alignment, they can put pressure on the tissues that cushion each bone in the stack from the other. This means that the disks get stressed, swell or get damaged. The third way you get back pain comes from uneven distribution of muscle stress across the back. If the spine curves more towards one side, then muscles get over extended on one side, and not enough on the other. Then, if you move one way, you risk injuring those muscles, and on the other, the muscles get easily fatigued.It can also cause disruption of free movement in your shoulders, hips and tail bone. Because the nerves running across your back are fairly sparse and lack specific sensitivity, even things like shoulder or pain from the hip socket, or even problems with muscles along the ribs can be perceived as back pain.
Yes you can die from it in severe cases. Once curvature reaches 70's or more, decrease in lung capacity can be noted. In cases where curvature reaches 100 degrees or more, heart function can be impaired from additional pressure. You won't die directly from Scoliosis. But severe scoliosis will cause rapid decline in health and organ damage which could result in death. That's the reason why major surgeries are necessary in order to prevent curves from reach such a severe state. Yes you can die from Scoliosis, in fact, if I had NOT had my surgery in 1989 they said I would have died before I was 21, however, it is very rare to hear of cases where patients have died from having Scoliosis, as treatment is given by the way of a brace or surgery - this is saving lives. Because of the spinal curvature, this puts pressure on the lungs and heart and if left can cause serious problems for the patient. Majority of cases of Scoliosis are AIS (Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis) meaning "unknown" cause, although they have found a gene that they believe to link where the "unknown" Scoliosis comes from, you can also have Congenital Scoliosis where you are born with it.
No, in most cases. However, serious curvature of the spine can cause breathing problems. Prognosis The prognosis for a person with scoliosis depends on many factors, including the age at which scoliosis begins and the treatment received. More importantly, mostly unknown individual factors affect the likelihood of progression and the severity of the curve. Most cases of mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis need no treatment and do not progress. Untreated severe scoliosis often leads to spondylosis, and may impair breathing. Degenerative arthritis of the spine, http://www.answers.com/topic/sciatica, and severe physical deformities can also result if severe scoliosis is left http://www.answers.com/topic/untreated. Finally, scoliosis can also poorly affect the individuals self-esteem and cause serious emotional problems. Prevention There is no known way to prevent the development of scoliosis. Progression of scoliosis may be prevented through bracing or surgery. Exercise and physical fitness are of paramount importance for all individuals affected with scoliosis. They not only work to maintain flexibility and health, but decrease the likelihood of http://www.answers.com/topic/osteoporosis, which in these individuals, can be extremely debilitating.
What is mild thoracic scoliosis?
Well, scoliosis is a curvature of the spine. The cervicothoracic part deals with the location of the curve. The cervical region is the neck, and the thoracic is the upper back. So the cervicothoracic scoliosis would be a curvature of the spine in the neck/upper back
What are the causes of scoliosis?
There are many causes for scoliosis which are
congenital
genetic
neuromuscular
Other causes for scoliosis include cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy and tumors
Why do the nerves on the back of my head hurt?
Could be multiple things Inproper posture, sleeping positions, injury, work-related(heavy lifting), nerves
Where did scoliosis came from?
The word "scoliosis" originated from the ancient Greek word "skoliosis" which means bending. This condition is usually detected during growth spurts of the pubertal stage but the real cause is unknown.
What does it mean if you have mild thoracic scoliosis?
mild thoracic typically refers to a curvature 20 degrees or less on the Cobb angle measurement scale. Although this form of scoliosis can be mild, it may still cause pain and other symptoms. It is also possible for the curve to progress over time.
How do you contract scoliosis?
It can occur in more than one way:
- You can be born with it, possibly genetic
- You can have an injury or illness that damages your spine
- Osteoporosis
- It may be abnormal nerves or muscles pulling on your spine
- There may be no known direct cause that can be proven
