Scoliosis Pain Treatment in Olney MD
Scoliosis is a bend or “curvature” in the spine where a healthy spine would be straight. In the beginning it may be just a small bend caused by a simple misalignment of single vertebrae. However, over time, the body will begin to compensate to ensure that the head remains level and to do that it builds musculature that pulls the spine into lateral curves.
This misalignment can occur because of postural issues, degenerative diseases, and traumatic accidents. Depending on how severe the misalignment is, scoliosis can cause severe pain problems and other adverse health consequences.
The good news is that most cases of scoliosis are mild and if the bending of the spine is discovered early on, chiropractic care can reverse the effects of scoliosis and return your body to full health!
What’s causing my scoliosis?
In about 80% of cases, doctors don’t really know why scoliosis occurs. In the other 20% of cases, scoliosis can be caused by improper muscle function, a condition that started at birth, neuromuscular conditions, such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy or injuries to the spine.
What are the signs I should see a Chiropractor if I have scoliosis?
If you have scoliosis, it is not uncommon to experience:
- Uneven shoulders
- One shoulder blade that appears more prominent than the other
- Uneven waist
- One hip higher than the other
- Numbness, weakness, or pain in the legs
- Muscle weakness
- Severe scoliosis can cause back pain and difficulty breathing
- If a scoliosis curve gets worse, the spine can also rotate or twist, in addition to curving side to side. In advanced cases the scoliosis condition can cause the ribs on one side of the body to stick out farther than on the other side.
How is Scoliosis Diagnosed?
Plain X-rays will confirm a scoliosis diagnosis and reveal the extent of the spinal curvature.
A diagnosis of scoliosis is made when the spinal curvature measures more than ten degrees to the right or left when a patient is facing forward.
What are the signs I should see a Chiropractor if I have scoliosis?
Typically, scoliosis begins as a minor bend in the spine that can gradually progress over a lifetime.
If scoliosis is left untreated, it can lead to severe, long-term consequences. Simply put scoliosis can affect your body’s ability to properly function long term
You should see a chiropractor for your scoliosis regardless, if you’re having any symptoms. But especially if it’s giving you back, neck, shoulder, or buttocks pain. It can lead to re-occurring injuries also and has also been linked to sciatica. In severe cases, it can cause diminished lung and heart capacity, painful menstruation, and physical disability.
One of the most important elements to treatment is catching it early, which is why it is important that you come in for a no-obligation session with our chiropractors. If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, we’ll make sure you have the right treatment plan for you.
How can a chiropractor help my scoliosis?
The treatment can vary depending on the severity of the scoliosis. For children, treatment may not be necessary, but it is important to closely monitor the condition with regular x-rays. The use of digital x-rays is the only way to accurately diagnose and measure the extent of the scoliosis. Proper recommendations can then be given to the patient.
- One of the most important treatments for scoliosis is the use of chiropractic adjustments to help with biomechanical imbalances and restrictions of the spine. The treatment consists of mirror image adjustments to reduce the distortion of the spine. Studies have proven that chiropractic treatment can drastically reduce the spinal curvature and help increase mobility.
- Mirror image posture exercises are an important part of helping to correct the effects of scoliosis. Your individualized posture assessment will provide the doctor with unique information about your problem and specific exercises will then be tailored to help correct some of the imbalances.
- A foot scan may also be prescribed and performed to evaluate the arches of the feet and its effect it may have on the scoliosis.
Your care team at Moss Chiropractic will also help you work on improving posture and we will perform a full health history to identify any factors that could be contributing to your scoliosis.
We take a gentle and non-invasive approach to treatment along with a program of corrective exercises, that can prevent, slow, and stop the progression of scoliosis. Once we have completed a thorough evaluation of your condition, we will likely suggest a course of specific spinal adjustments to reverse the body’s compensations. This can return the vertebrae to a more normal position.
With careful monitoring, regular treatment and exercise there is a good chance that your scoliosis can be minimized and invasive procedures can be avoided.
What are the health benefits of chiropractic care for scoliosis?
- Reduced pain and discomfort
- Decreased inflammation
- Improved range of motion
- Improved flexibility
- Optimized activity and lifestyle
- Remove biomechanical imbalances
How can I get relief from scoliosis?
Finding A Scoliosis Chiropractor in Olney
At Moss Chiropractic, we have successfully helped many patients with scoliosis. Regular spinal adjustment and chiropractic care can increase your comfort and mobility so please book an appointment today to get expert scoliosis chiropractic care.