Scoliosis is more common that you might think, six to nine million people in the United States are affected by scoliosis. This condition can cause immobility and back pain. Scoliosis can cause a change in posture or gait that can put stress on other areas of the body. At North County Pain Relief center we can help provide help in identifying and addressing the pain that can result from this issue.
Scoliosis is a condition where the spine curves more than 10 degrees. Pre-teens and young teens are the most likely ages for scoliosis to be identified, though it can be diagnosed in infants and young children as well as adults.
Scoliosis is generally broken down into three types. Neuromuscular scoliosis refers to scoliosis that is associated with muscular or neurological diseases, such as muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy and spina bifida.
Congenital scoliosis begins before birth, when the spine is being formed. If one or more of the vertebrae are malformed the spine can lengthen more slowly in those areas and cause a curvature. This type of scoliosis is usually the first detected because it is present at birth.
Scoliosis that does not fit into either of the first two types is called Idiopathic scoliosis. This is the most common type, roughly 80% of cases are Idiopathic. This type of scoliosis is often identified during puberty.
There are several things that you can look for if you think that you or a loved one have scoliosis. Stand straight in front of a mirror. Does it look like your head is centered over your pelvis? If your head and hips seem to be offset, or if you notice that your entire body leans to one side you may be seeing signs of scoliosis.
Hips and shoulders can be good indicators of scoliosis as well. When standing straight the shoulders should be even. Does it look like the shoulders are uneven or do the shoulder blades look like they are sticking out? Does it look like the hip bones are even or is one hip raised above the other? You may also notice that the rib cages appear to be at different heights.
If you think that you are showing signs of scoliosis call our office. We can help determine the severity of the curvature and can help address any aches or pains that you have associated with scoliosis.
