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As kids, we are often told to sit up straight over, and over, again by the adults in our lives. However, this doesn’t prevent scoliosis. The spinal column can shift out of alignment for a number of different reasons. Scoliosis means the spine curves sideways to one side of the spine or the other. If you want to know a little more about this diagnosis and how you can get past it, keep reading.
What is Scoliosis?
Did you know that scoliosis affects up to 3% of the population? That’s over six million people in the United States. Scoliosis is when the spine curves sideways to the left or the right. Surprisingly, this is a common back problem that millions of children have been screened for over the last few decades. The curve can be mild or severe, with symptoms and risks varying based on the cause. On X-rays and other imaging tests, spines of scoliosis patients often have an S or C shape to them.
Causes and Symptoms
Although more than half of all cases are ruled as idiopathic, meaning they have no specific cause, there can be some specific causes to a person’s diagnosis of scoliosis. Those causes can be:
- Tumors or bone growths pushing the spine of alignment
- Cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy
- Birth defects
- Infections of the spine or injuries to the ligaments and tendons supporting proper alignment
- Leg length inequalities that push your entire skeleton out of line
As the curve develops, most patients will experience one or more of these symptoms:
- Uneven hip or shoulder alignments
- A dull ache around the spine
- Twisted torso or ribcage
- Difficulty breathing
- Prominent shoulder blade exposure on one side or the other
How to Manage Scoliosis
The first step is to know that this is officially your diagnosis. Once you have a diagnosis, it’s important to be monitored with annual checkups. Here at Texas Spine and Sports Therapy we can help you with the diagnosis and the monitoring of it afterwards. We can start with a non-invasive treatment plan as soon as your condition is discovered to help prevent the development of life altering symptoms. If you have scoliosis that causes you pain, here are 4 ways to manage it.
Chiropractic Adjustments
A chiropractic adjustment is a good non-drug way to help with scoliosis pain. Here at Texas Spine and Sports Therapy, Dr. Shaner and his team of doctors can provide chiropractic adjustments that are exact, corrective, gentle, and safe for all types of conditions and all ages, including children and senior citizens. Chiropractors provide natural, drug-free, and non-invasive medical treatments that promote the body’s inherent recuperative abilities.
The spine and the nerves that connect to it are part of an incredibly complex system that require years of study and training to understand. With traditional primary care providers, surgery or long term use of narcotic pain medications are usually the only two options offered to patients with disorders that cause back pain. Doctors of chiropractic care specifically focus on the health of the spine and nerves alone. If you’ve sought help from other doctors and received sparse testing or a general lack of interest in your care, visiting our clinic in Austin could be beneficial to you.
Exercise
Another beneficial treatment to scoliosis is gentle stretches and exercise. In mild cases, exercising can eliminate the need for more intense treatment options. Further, research has proven that in those with mild scoliosis, they are most responsive to exercise treatment. According to Healthline, finding new stretches and workouts that can help restore the imbalances of scoliosis can help relieve any pain you might be filling with it.
Muscle relaxation
As if you really need an excuse to get a massage, but it can help scoliosis! A massage can help reduce tension, improve circulation, and promote recovery of injury. Additionally, we can also relax the muscles with electrical stimulation therapy. With this, we can provide nerve stimulation and muscle rehabilitation for your back, this then encourages the nerves to provide pain relief.
Lifestyle changes
This goes back to trying to sit up straight again, in a way. We will encourage you to make lifestyle changes that will make sure you have the back strength to properly support your spine. This will include making sure the way you work all day supports your back, the way you sleep, and more.
Get Help with Texas Spine & Sports Therapy
If you are suffering from scoliosis, Dr. Shaner and our team at Texas Spine and Sports Therapy Center are ready to work with you. We will customize a treatment plan for your specific condition and level of pain, to help you find relief and improve your health. Call today: (512)-806-0015.
