What To Know About Scoliosis in Vacaville

If you have an abnormal curvature in your spine, it means that you have scoliosis. The normal shape of a spine has a curve at the top of the shoulder and a curve at the lower back. Once the curve forms an "S" or "C" shape, it's certain that you have scoliosis.

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) shows that 80% of scoliosis cases have no identifiable cause. It can mostly be diagnosed during the child's first 7 years. The common causes for this condition are:

• Birth defects
• Genetic conditions
• Neurological abnormalities.

Vacaville chiropractors are knowledgeable about scoliosis and can answer any questions you may have.

Common types of scoliosis in Vacaville

Idiopathic scoliosis, the largest category of scoliosis, is the term used when the cause could not be identified. It can be broken down by age group:

• Infant: 0 to 3 years old
• Juvenile: 4 to 10 years old
• Adolescent: 11 to 18 years old
• Adult: 18 years old and above

According to the AANS, adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is the most common of them all.

An estimate of only 20% of scoliosis cases are usually identified by doctors. These includes different types of scoliosis, including:

• Congenital: Spinal deformities are apparent at birth
• Neurological: The type where nerve abnormalities affect muscles in the spine

There are also 2 categories of scoliosis: structural and non-structural. Structural scoliosis is permanent, and it happens when the spine's curve is caused by a disease, injury, or birth defect. Non-structural scoliosis is a curvature that's temporary since it can be fixed by a chiropractor.

Signs and symptoms of scoliosis

The symptoms will vary depending on the degree of scoliosis that you have. These are the common symptoms:

• Uneven hips
• Back pain
• Rotating spine
• One shoulder blade higher than the other
• One shoulder blade sticks out more than the other
• Breathing difficulties due to the reduced area needed for the lungs to expand

Common causes

As it was mentioned, some causes of scoliosis can't be easily determined. However, some of it are identifiable, which includes the following:

• Spinal injuries or infections
• Spina bifida, a birth defect that affects the spinal bones of an infant
• Cerebral palsy, a nervous system disorder that affects hearing, learning, movement, seeing, and thinking
• Muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder that results in muscle weakness

If your family has a history of scoliosis, you are more likely to develop the condition as well. Also, women are more likely to develop a severe form of scoliosis than men.

Diagnosing scoliosis

The first step in diagnosing scoliosis is to undergo a physical exam of your spine. There are also some imaging tests which will help take a closer regarding any spinal abnormalities.

Physical exam
Your doctor will observe your back by looking at the way you stand with your arms at your sides. They will check for any signs of spine curvature and to see if your shoulders and waist are symmetrical.
After that, you will be asked to bend forward so that any curvature in your upper and lower back can be easily detected.

Imaging tests
Any signs of scoliosis can be identified through imaging tests. This includes:

• X-ray: Small amounts of radiation are used to create a layout of your spine.
• Bone scan: This test will detect a radioactive solution injected into your blood that focuses in areas of increased circulation, which highlights spinal abnormalities.
• CT scan: X-rays are taken at several angles to create a 3D picture of your body.
• MRI scan: Radio and magnetic waves are used to create a detailed picture of the bones and tissues that surrounds your spine.

Long-term outlook for scoliosis

This depends on how severe the spine's curvature really is. Mild to moderate cases will not interfere with your daily activities. As for severe cases, the individual may have some physical limitations.

Living with scoliosis can make life difficult. If you want to cope with it, it's best to have it checked by a chiropractor like Dr. Alex Tam of Absolute Integrative Physical Medicine as soon as possible. You can also join in a support group so that you can talk about it with individuals who are suffering from the same condition as you.