Scoliosis affects many patients young and old. Its symptoms can range from mildly annoying to excruciatingly painful. In this article, we are going to focus on scoliosis – and answer some frequently asked questions about the condition.

What is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a medical term for an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine.

What are the Causes & Symptoms of Scoliosis?

Scoliosis can be caused by several factors. In some cases scoliosis is congenital (meaning it’s passed down through genes). Other times, scoliosis can result from an injury, or a neuromuscular disorder. Regardless or the cause, there are some tell-tale signs of the condition. Here are some of the common symptoms and signs of scoliosis:

• Loss of height
• A shoulder or hip that juts out when standing
• Pain in the back and possibly other areas

Is Kyphosis the Same as Scoliosis?

Kyphosis is a spinal curvature condition that is similar, but not identical to scoliosis. Kyphosis causes the spine to curve forward, rather than side to side like scoliosis. As a result, patients with kyphosis tend to hunch forward. Many patients who suffer from abnormal curvatures have a combination of scoliosis and kyphosis.

How can Scoliosis be Treated?

As with most spinal conditions, there are many different ways to treat scoliosis – some more effective than others. Some treatments aim to reduce the pain and other symptoms of the condition. Pain meds, physical therapy, and bracing can all be a great help in relieving pain. But these options won’t correct the scoliosis curvature. The only way to effectively do that is with a surgical procedure.

The minimally invasive keyhole Inspire Spine surgical procedures can be used to correct a scoliosis curvature in both adult and pediatric patients. These revolutionary techniques require much smaller incisions than would typically be required for scoliosis surgery. Even better, they offer the patient less pain, quicker recovery times, and shorter hospital stays. To find out more about our Inspired Spine procedures, contact us, or find a provider in your area.