Scoliosis is treatable in many cases in children and manageable in adults
When I went to Stonerdige Mall in Pleasanton yesterday, I couldn’t help but notice a lady who was trying on a pair of jeans in a store I was in. What I couldn’t help notice was that one of her hips was significantly higher than the other. I suppose being a chiropractor, I tend to notice these subtle differences in people all time. Sometimes it’s a shoulder that is higher than the other, or it’s the head tilted or angled too far on one side. In any case, the lady I noticed with a higher hip was displeased with the jeans because of how she felt “tilted” I heard her say to her friend. I wondered if this young woman knew that it was probably a spinal problem and maybe even scoliosis.
Many times when I meet new patients in my office, I realize that they were not aware that they have a case of scoliosis until I show them their X-rays which demonstrate their hips and spine sitting crooked. When it comes to scoliosis, it can be very misleading. The traditional concept of scoliosis is an extreme curved spine which results in an obvious crooked frame. What most do not know is that scoliosis or a form of scoliosis can be found in a huge number of the population and goes undiagnosed. Symptoms of scoliosis can be the following:
- Postural changes such as a hip, shoulder, or pelvic region sitting higher on one side than the other
- Pain in the upper back, neck and lower back region
- Sciatica
- Breathing difficulties or congestion in the lungs
- Bowel or bladder abnormalities (most likely present in severe cases)
Treatment of scoliosis depends on the nature of the case as well as the age of the patient. If a young child is properly diagnosed with scoliosis options include bracing, physical therapy, chiropractic treatments and surgery (if the curve of the spine is extreme). Many cases of scoliosis in my office with children before the age of 15 have been very successful with some spinal adjustments and exercises. Once the growth period slows down, correcting scoliosis gets more challenging. When an adult patient comes in with scoliosis, treatment options become more limited in terms of correction. Often times, patients with scoliosis will have a secondary curve in their spine permanently, but the pain and aches from the curvature can be diminished and managed through regular chiropractic treatments.
For more information on scoliosis and treatment options call me at (925) 960-1960.
