What is scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a spinal abnormality that causes a C or S curve in the back affecting nearly 6 million people in the United States. This spinal abnormality may affect any part of the spine. Mild cases may not cause any symptoms or pain, while some instances of scoliosis may cause severe or debilitating pain.
There are several types of scoliosis ranging from mild to severe, including:
- Idiopathic scoliosis, meaning there is no known cause of the disease.
- Congenital scoliosis, which is when someone is born with this spinal abnormality.
- Neuromuscular scoliosis, which is caused by muscle or nerve abnormalities most commonly associated with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, or muscular dystrophy.
Scoliosis may be diagnosed during early childhood or may not appear until later in life. In some cases, scoliosis may not be diagnosed until adulthood, but it will not resolve on its own. Instead, pain management specialists in Corinth at Midsouth Spine & Pain Associates (MSSP) provide minimally invasive treatments to relief chronic pain associated with scoliosis.
What causes scoliosis?
The cause of scoliosis depends on the type of spinal abnormality that you have, but can be caused by genetics, spine tumors, conditions affecting the nerves or muscles, or vertebrae malformation during embryonic development. However, unless someone was diagnosed with spina bifida at birth, most cases of scoliosis are thought to be idiopathic, which means no known cause.
Symptoms of Scoliosis
Scoliosis may not cause symptoms in some individuals. However, severe cases may lead to chronic back pain, difficulty or immobility to stand straight and upright, core muscle weakness, and leg pain, numbness, or weakness.
Unfortunately, scoliosis may lead to other conditions including:
- Nerve damage
- Arthritis
- Spinal fluid leakage
- Difficulty breathing
- Physical deformity
- Chronic pain
- Organ damage
How is scoliosis treated?
Treating scoliosis depends on the severity of the spinal curve and whether the patient experiences any discomfort or severe pain. Your age, skeletal maturity, and overall health are also taken into account when developing a pain management plan for scoliosis. To determine which treatment modality is right for you, our Corinth pain specialist begins with a thorough consultation to review your health history and collect imaging like an MRI, CT scan, or x-ray and speaks with you about your lifestyle and pain levels. While scoliosis treatment varies from patient to patient, a common minimally invasive treatment for pain may involve corticosteroid injections. However, results from steroid injections vary, and may not provide lasting relief. Our pain management doctor can help you decide which treatment is right for you and whether you may benefit from another minimally invasive treatment that provides longer lasting relief.
Treating Scoliosis in Southwest Tennessee and North Mississippi, including Tupelo, MS and Jackson, TN
Scoliosis affects millions of people in the U.S., and some sufferers experience a great deal of pain that interferes with their life. The good news is that thanks to the non-surgical treatments at MSSP, you can experience life without pain. To learn more or schedule a consultation, please call MSSP at (662) 284-8565.