Scoliosis is generally the adaptation of the spine in the lateral direction. The person experiences the three-dimensional deviation of the spine.
Scoliosis is not a good medical condition. The spine shows us a turn in the upper back and a certain degree of the inward curvature in the lower when observed from one side.
The primary concern of this medical condition is one cannot identify it during a very early age. One often observes the sideways curvature of the spine in adolescents. When the child grows, they need to wear a brace to stop the curve from worsening. In the worst case, they may need surgery to straighten the curves.
Scoliosis Symptoms
It is always a must to identify the symptoms of the disease well in advance, as it is very much essential and helpful to cure it. Below are the signs and symptoms of this problem.
- The person may experience uneven shoulders in the normal position.
- The one-shoulder blade tends to appear more prominent than the other side.
- The person may also experience an uneven waist along with uneven shoulders.
- The rib cage getting forward is seen on one side.
- Some of the people who have this problem may also experience breathing problems.
If the person is experiencing such symptoms, they should immediately undergo treatment. The spine tends to rotate or twist alongside the curling sideways, apart from the above symptoms. As a result of curling, the ribs or muscles stick out further on one side.
Scoliosis Causes
Even with the latest technology available, doctors don’t know the exact cause of the most common type of scoliosis. Most doctors suggest this is a part of heredity and some disorders in the families. But it becomes imperative to find out the cause of this problem.
Below are a few of the significant factors that cause this problem
- Congenital disabilities generally cause issues in the development of the spine’s bone.
- The injury or infections to the spine causes this problem.
- The lack of nourishment to the spinal cord due to it not getting proper proteins and nutrients creates an abnormality in the body.
Scoliosis Types
This problem is experienced at different age groups and is classified based on the position of the spinal cord.
- Congenital
- Early Onset
- Adolescent Idiopathic
- Degenerative
- Neuromuscular
Scoliosis Treatment
The orthopaedic doctor gives the best scoliosis treatment for the problem. Generally, the condition is manageable, and it varies depending on the age and the type of scoliosis the patient has.
The doctor typically measures the patient’s back and the medical requirements to calculate how much more the curvature is likely to grow as the patient reaches adulthood. Apart from the age, the doctors also keep in mind what is the scoliosis type and what exact symptoms the patient is experiencing.
Depending on the situation and stage of the disease, the doctors categorise the scoliosis treatment in three parts:
- Observation
- Non-surgical Option
- Surgery
Observation
Suppose a person or child is experiencing some symptoms. Then, they talk to doctors, following which there is a wait and watch the situation. In a child, there are different stages of growth. Based on the child’s further development, the problem may worsen or be cured.
Hence, the doctor advises waiting till the child is undergoing development. The medical professionals typically keep children who exhibit a backbone curvature of less than 20 degrees under observation.
Non-surgical Option
When the child’s curve is more than 20 degrees, doctors recommend wearing the back brace. Based on the material of the brace, it can either be rigid or stay elastic. The ultimate goal is to control the curve, so there is no necessity for the surgery.
The doctors advise wearing the brace for 16 to 23 hours a day. However, note that the brace cannot stop the progress of spinal curvature after a specific point in time.
Surgery
Surgery is required when the child is experiencing more than 45 degrees of the curve. If the child does not undergo surgery on time, it may affect the lungs and damage the spinal cord.
Conclusion
Scoliosis is a spine condition that one must control from the initial stage. With the help of the latest science and technology, the doctors are trying their best to find out its root causes. The symptoms are straightforward to identify.
Kids facing this problem should immediately rush to the doctors and undergo scoliosis treatment. Recognising the different stages of scoliosis is crucial for treatment. If one can identify the condition well in advance, the correct treatment could cure it quickly.