Scoliosis in Adults: Symptoms You Should Know
Spines have a series of vertebrae and a natural curve that allows you to move. Patients with scoliosis have a spine with an exaggerated curve that feels more like a C or S if you run your finger along the length. Because this is not necessarily noticeable, it can go undiagnosed well into adulthood. When this happens the condition worsens leading to health problems as well as back pain. Here we look at the symptoms of scoliosis to help determine if you should speak to a doctor.
ADULT SCOLIOSIS SYMPTOMS
The most common symptoms of scoliosis in adults include:
Uneven shoulders
Uneven hips
Lower back “bump”
Leg pain
Numbness and/or weakness in the legs
Trouble walking or standing straight
Feeling tired
Shortness of breath
Becoming shorter
Bone spurs in the joints of the spine
Feeling full when eating just a small amount of food
While many of these symptoms on their own can be due to other issues such as shortness of breath, feeling tired or issues with your legs or back, if you find you experience a combination of these symptoms you could have scoliosis. It is important to speak to a doctor as if left untreated you can develop complications.
WHAT ARE COMPLICATIONS OF UNTREATED SCOLIOSIS?
Mild cases of scoliosis don’t necessarily require treatment, or cause complications. However, in cases that are moderate to severe, it can lead to serious issues including:
Pain
Increasing deformity of the spine, shoulders and hips
Heart damage
Spondylosis
Compromised organ functionality
Lung impairment
Digestive issues
Doctors measure the severity of scoliosis based on whether the curvature exceeds 50 degrees. In this case, the spine can rotate, leading to more serious issues such as lung and heart damage. Spondylosis is another possibility, an arthritic condition that thins spinal cartilage leading to joint inflammation. If you don’t already have bone spurs of the spine, it is possible they might develop.
SCOLIOSIS AND AGE
When scoliosis is caught earlier, treatment can be provided such as wearing a back brace. However, as you age, the progression of scoliosis increases the size and severity of the curve. When doctors diagnose scoliosis prior to adolescence, they can slow progress before the rapid progression of puberty begins. Once entering puberty, the curvature becomes bigger at a faster pace although this varies from patient to patient. In adults, the progress slows because their skeletons have matured. The issue with adults is that although they are no longer at risk due to growth rates, progression affects other factors which are degenerative in nature.
INCREASED CURVATURE
Larger spinal curvatures increase the risk for more defined spinal deformity. This affects posture as well as your hips and shoulder asymmetry. This can happen without noticeable pain or function issues. However, when your physique changes, it can affect your appearance, demeanor, and confidence. Deformities associated with scoliosis include:
Uneven shoulders
Rib issues
Uneven hips
Off-centered waistline
The appearance of different arm lengths
The appearance of different leg lengths
Head being misaligned with your shoulders and torso
An overall asymmetrical look in your posture or body
Eventually, changes to your posture will also affect how you walk, your balance and even how your clothes hang on your body.
PAIN AND SCOLIOSIS
Untreated scoliosis ultimately results in pain. This occurs due to the compressive force caused by the curve. The pressure affects your nerves and muscles causing pain throughout your back, neck, arms, legs, and feet. As you age, your spine will also naturally degenerate. Combined with the effects of scoliosis, you become more vulnerable to:
Spinal damage
Degenerative conditions
Again, it is dependent on the severity of the curve. The larger the curvature, the higher risk there is for complications.
TREATMENTS FOR ADULT SCOLIOSIS
Ideally, scoliosis in adults does not require surgery. Non-surgical treatments include:
Pain medication
Physical therapy and postural training
Weight loss and maintenance
Modified activity
Back brace for a short term
Surgical treatments might be recommended for those who fail to see results from these treatments. People with curves over 50 degrees may also experience impairments that interfere with their daily activities which warrant surgery. In worsening cases where lung or neurologic function is affected or when someone is unable to stand upright surgery is often the only choice to remedy the issue.
SURGICAL TREATMENTS
Posterior spinal fusion and artificial implants can help correct scoliosis. Bone chips are welded to the vertebrae that are either from the patient’s body or from a bone bank. Recovery can take from four to six weeks, but complete healing can take from six months to a year.
