Scoliosis Doctor in Northern Indiana

What is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a common spinal condition that impacts millions of people worldwide. Scoliosis is defined by an abnormal curve in the spine. A healthy spine, when viewed from the front or back appears straight. For people with scoliosis, the spine may be curved to the side forming a “C” or “S” shape, and can vary in severity. Scoliosis can affect any part of the spine including the cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (upper back), or lumbar spine (lower back). 

What are the Symptoms of Scoliosis?

It’s important to talk to your doctor and get regular scoliosis checks. In some cases, minor curvatures aren’t a concern, but for some scoliosis patients, spinal curvatures can get worse over time and cause health problems. Prominent and large curves to the spine can cause arthritis of the spine, cause the ribs to rub painfully against the pelvic bone, or put pressure on the lungs and heart. Scoliosis commonly develops in patients in childhood or adolescence and symptoms include:

• Limited Mobility - Scoliosis can impact your range of motion and make daily activities difficult.
• Breathing Difficulties - Some people with scoliosis may experience breathing problems if the ribcage is out of place
• Back Pain - A common symptom of scoliosis is back pain near the area of curvature, ranging from mild to severe, and can get worse as the scoliosis progresses. It can feel like an ache or stiffness in the spine, or even present as hip pain and numbness in the leg.
• Uneven Posture - Scoliosis often presents as uneven posture where one hip is more prominent than the other, or the shoulders are out of balance. People with scoliosis often notice their clothing hangs differently than it should or an appearance that they’re “leaning” to one side.
• Visible Curve - The most noticeable symptom of scoliosis is a noticeable curve in the spine when viewed from the front or back.

Scoliosis can get worse without treatment, so it’s important to seek a doctor’s opinion if you suspect your child or adolescent may have symptoms.

What Causes Scoliosis?

It’s not clear what causes scoliosis, but several factors in developing scoliosis are:

• Trauma or Injury - Spinal trauma and injuries can cause curvature in the spine.
• Age - As people age, the spine can experience degenerative changes that could lead to scoliosis.
• Underlying Medical Conditions - Neuromuscular conditions like cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy can cause scoliosis
• Idiopathic Causes - Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common form of scoliosis and has no known cause, often developing in adolescence or during puberty.

What are the Treatments for Scoliosis?

Scoliosis treatments depend on the age of the patient, underlying causes if any, and the severity of the spinal curve. Treatments include:

• Observation and monitoring
• Physical therapy to alleviate pain and strengthen surrounding muscles
• Bracing moderate to severe spinal curves to prevent the curve from progressing
• In severe cases, your doctor may recommend surgical interventions, such as a spinal fusion

Scoliosis Specialists in Michiana

Specialized and experienced scoliosis care is available at OSMC, your trusted orthopedic destination in Michiana. Our skilled orthopedic specialists are here to provide expert evaluation and diagnosis for scoliosis and provide a personalized treatment plan.

For more information, give us a call or schedule an appointment online with one of our neck and spine specialists. Our orthopedic clinic has multiple locations. We serve patients in Elkhart, IN, Goshen, IN, Granger, IN, Middlebury, IN, and Nappanee, IN. We also have two walk-in orthopedic clinics.