Scoliosis Management in North Alabama

What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a condition that causes the spine to bend sideways and occurs most often during a child’s growth spurt just before puberty begins. Although scoliosis can be caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, the general cause of this issue for most cases is unknown.

What are the symptoms of scoliosis?

The most common scoliosis symptoms include:

  • Shoulders that appear uneven
  • Waist that appears uneven
  • One shoulder blade appearing to protrude more than the other shoulder blade
  • One hip appearing to angle lower than the other 
Make sure to remain aware of these symptoms, especially if they get worse. If a scoliosis curve is left untreated, the spine can rotate, in addition to curving side to side. This can cause the ribs to be pushed outward and appear larger on one side than the other. 

What can cause scoliosis?

Although doctors don’t know for sure what causes scoliosis, it is known that the condition appears to have hereditary links as it seems to run in families. Scoliosis may also be caused by these factors: 

  • Birth defects affecting the spine’s development
  • Spinal injuries
  • Neuromuscular conditions (i.e. muscular dystrophy) 

In order to determine if you are at risk for developing scoliosis, here are some risk factors to be mindful of: 

Age

Symptoms of this condition usually appear in children just before they enter puberty 

Sex

Girls have a much higher chance of scoliosis developing into something worse and requiring treatment. 

Family History

Scoliosis has been known to run in families.

What are the treatment options for scoliosis?

While treatment options for scoliosis usually depend on the severity of your spine’s curvature there are other factors such as age, the type of scoliosis you have, the degree of its curvature, and whether or not you’re likely to continue growing.  Generally speaking, the two most common ways to treat scoliosis is with braces and surgery. 

Bracing

Braces are commonly used on people for whom symptoms of scoliosis have been spotted early. This is because the purpose of the brace is not to straighten the spine, but rather to prevent the curvature from increasing. Of course, the brace’s effectiveness depends on how often it’s worn but doctors recommend wearing it 16-24 hours per day, until the person stops growing.

Surgery

The other treatment option is surgery and that is reserved for people who have curves greater than 40 degrees. It’s important to remember, however, that this should only be an option if you and your doctor feel the condition is causing disruption to your daily life.

During this surgery for scoliosis called spinal fusion, your surgeon will fuse your vertebrae together using rods and screws. The rods are used to hold the spine straight and the screws are to keep it in place. For children who are still going through their growth spurt, the rods that hold the spine straight in place may need to be adjusted from time to time.

Schedule Your Appointment for Scoliosis Treatment Today!

If you are looking for relief from your scoliosis pain near the Tennessee Valley area, please contact Tennessee Valley Pain Consultants today to schedule an appointment in Huntsville or Scottsboro. To get started, call your preferred location directly, or request an appointment online using our secure online form.

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