Scoliosis is a sideways curve in your backbone (spine). The angle of the curve may be small, large, or somewhere in between. But anything that measures more than 10 degrees on an X-ray is considered scoliosis. Doctors may use the letters “C” and “S” to describe the curve.
Scoliosis Symptoms
If you have scoliosis, you might lean a little when you stand. You could also have:
- A visible curve in your back
- Uneven shoulders, and a waist that shifts to the side
- One shoulder blade that looks bigger
- Ribs that stick out farther on one side of your body than the other
- One hip appearing higher than the other or one leg longer than the other
- Low back pain
- Back stiffness
- Pain and numbness in your legs (from pinched nerves)
- Fatigue due to muscle strain
- A hard time breathing because of an upper spine (thoracic) curve
Scoliosis pain
Teenagers who get scoliosis typically don’t feel any pain. If your teen has severe back pain or numbness, a doctor needs to rule out other causes of the pain. Adults age 40 or older who have untreated scoliosis may start to feel pain as the disks in their back break down.
Scoliosis Treatment
For mild scoliosis, you may not need treatment. Instead, your doctor might watch you and take X-rays once in a while to see if it’s getting worse. Some children grow out of scoliosis.
If you or your child needs treatment, your doctor might suggest the following:
Scoliosis brace
