What Is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a sideways curvature in your spine. It often first shows up when you’re a child or teenager but sometimes isn’t discovered until later in life. The curvature typically does not significantly worsen past puberty. Eighty percent of the cases of scoliosis are idiopathic, meaning there is no known cause. Approximately 90% of people identified with idiopathic scoliosis have curves that never progress enough to require bracing or surgery. Despite this, however, later in life the curves can lead to back pain.
Common Scoliosis Symptoms
In Children
Treatment in children typically involves observation, bracing, and in severe cases, surgery. Most adults with scoliosis, however, do not require surgery. In most cases, your doctor will recommend some form of physical therapy, to both maintain strength and relieve pain. These may include:
- Working to improve posture
- Doing low-impact exercises, such as swimming
- Daily stretching
- Staying active
Adult Scoliosis
In some cases of adult scoliosis that fail conservative treatment, intervention pain procedures may help with pain and disability. These may include:
- Facet steroid injections
- Medial Branch Blocks and Radio Frequency Ablations (RFA)
If you are living with pain due to scoliosis, seek help from St. Louis Pain Consultants.
We want to help remind you what life without pain feels like.
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