Current Scoliosis Treatments

By nature, the spine will bend forward and backward slightly over time, to keep the body balanced. When you bend over, you will notice that the spine is in a straight line. If your spine is curved and the bones are twisted out sideways to the right or left, then this will cause your shoulders, waist and hips to become uneven. A curved spine can affect any part of the body, but most of the areas affected in children are at the top of the spine. In adults, it generally affects the lower back.

There are two objectives to treating scoliosis

1. Treatment to maintain the aesthetics of the body
2. Treatment to relieve pain

In cases where the curved angle of the spine is not significant, and there is little to no pain, scoliosis can be treated by taking painkillers and wearing a back brace, which increases flexibility. This helps reduce compression, and curvature of the spine, but symptoms should be monitored with a checkup every six months.

In children, it is generally recommended that surgery should not be performed until the spine has fully developed. In some cases, however, it might be necessary to operate immediately before the curvature of the spine becomes too great and causes other complications. In women who endure great amounts of discomfort and pain in the legs, the main objectives of surgery are:

1. To operate and remove the part that is pressing on the spinal cord
2. To make the affected part of the spine stronger, by using bolts, screws and metal plates
3. To correct deformities and make the spine straighter and stronger

The most important part of surgery on a curved spine is the process of stretching the spine and making sure it is stretched to a length that is correct and appropriate. If it is too straight or stretched, this can affect the spinal cord and cause paralysis of the legs. If it is not stretched enough, then there is a risk of the curvature occurring on another part of the spine.