Here Is A Comprehensive List Of The Symptoms That Sciatic Nerve Damage Can Cause:

• Tingling, pain, or numbness in the lower back are all often symptoms that somethings wrong with the sciatic nerve. While it might start slow, these symptoms usually progress to be much more severe and uncomfortable over time. They also can be accompanied by unexpected difficulty when bending over.
• Severe foot pain is not usually thought of as something related to the lower back, but it absolutely can be. Patients often believe that a foot injury or something similar must be the cause of their foot pain, but thats not always the case. Sciatic nerve pain can stretch all over the lower body, including through the feet.
• Difficulty walking is another common symptom. Since the sciatic nerve sits mostly in the lower back, the pain can centralize in your legs, restricting your movement.
• A burning sensation in the upper legs, lower back, buttocks, and calves are another common symptom of sciatic nerve damage. It may feel like your skin is on fire or as if you had a muscle strain. Some patients also report a light tense feeling as if their muscles were being constricted.

Sciatic nerve pain and damage – whether its caused by scoliosis or not – can cause severe disability. Fortunately, there are a number of reliable treatments in the medical industry.

As with all problems caused by scoliosis, its easier to treat these problems and even rid them entirely if you can catch them before they get too severe.

Does Scoliosis Cause Back Pain Research Update

Posted on September 3, 2018 by Dr Paul Irvine – Blog

For some time, it has been thought that adolescent idiopathic scoliosis does not necessarily cause back pain however research is now beginning to indicate that in fact, scoliosis does most likely cause pain especially in patients with larger curves.

How To Treat Scoliosis

Most cases of idiopathic scoliosis are mild and dont require major treatment. In some instances where scoliosis occurs when the body is still growing, an orthopedic surgeon may recommend wearing a brace or undergoing surgery.

For adults, back braces dont provide the same effectiveness as the spine is fully developed and wont benefit from a brace. Plus, relying on a brace for support can actually weaken your muscles and ligaments and make the scoliosis worse.

Physical therapy and other non-surgical treatments

While over-the-counter pain medications or anti-inflammatory injections may help provide acute relief from your symptoms, its best to be proactive instead of reactive.

Physical therapy helps treat your symptoms by strengthening the muscles to better support your back. A strong core will help protect your spine from injury. You can also learn about ways to practice better posture and how to minimize the impact on your spine when doing household chores.

You may also benefit from dry needling or acupuncture. The needles are inserted into pressure points to help release and relax tissue that can create problems with spinal joints and discs.

Scoliosis surgery

If conservative treatments dont relieve symptoms, your doctor may refer you to an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon who specializes in spine surgery.

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Scoliosis And The Spine

According to the National Scoliosis Foundation, there are currently close to seven million people living with scoliosis in the United States alone. Amongst school-aged children, it is the most common spinal deformity.

Given the prevalence of the condition, many people have heard of scoliosis or know someone who has been diagnosed. What many people dont realize is just how much of an affect the condition can have throughout the body.

Any disorder that affects the brain or spine can come with a myriad of symptoms and related complications. In light of how the spine works in tandem with the brain to control virtually all working systems within the body, you can see how the effects of scoliosis can be felt in multiple areas.

When scoliosis develops, the spine has an abnormal lateral curvature with rotation this is why true scoliosis is considered a 3-dimensional condition. This leads us into discussing the various severity levels of scoliosis as this is a big factor in determining how painful a condition is.

Common Symptoms Of Scoliosis

Part of the reason scoliosis is so complex to treat is because, in addition to ranging widely in severity, there are also different types. The most prevalent form of scoliosis is adolescent idiopathic scoliosis , diagnosed between the ages of 10 and 18.

In adolescents, the conditions earliest signs are often uneven shoulders and hips, and this type of postural deviation is caused by the uneven forces introduced by the unnatural spinal curve.

Symptoms of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

In addition to uneven shoulders and hips, while each case is unique, common symptoms of scoliosis in adolescents can include:

• A tilted eye line
• Uneven shoulder blades with one protruding more on one side than the other
• The development of a rib arch
• An uneven waistline
• Arms and legs that appear to hang at different lengths

Additional signs of scoliosis in adolescents to watch out for include ill-fitting clothing and changes to gait, balance, and coordination.

The main effect of scoliosis is a disruption to the bodys overall symmetry, and while having one asymmetrical feature doesnt guarantee a person has scoliosis, it can indicate the need for further testing.

Now, when it comes to pain, this is where the adolescent and adult experiences vary widely.

Symptoms of Adult Scoliosis

While scoliosis is more common in children and adolescents, it also affects adults the two most common forms to affect adults are idiopathic and degenerative scoliosis.

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Surgery In Teenagers And Young Adults

In teenagers and young adults whose spine has stopped growing, an operation called a spinal fusion may be carried out.

This is a major operation where the spine is straightened using metal rods attached with screws, hooks, and/or wires, and bone grafts are used to fuse the spine in place. This metalwork will usually be left in place permanently, unless they cause any problems.

The surgery will take several hours. After surgery, your child will be transferred to an intensive care unit or high dependency unit , where they will be given fluids through a vein and pain relief. Most children are well enough to leave intensive care after a day or two, although they will often need to spend another five to 10 days in hospital.

After the operation, most children can return to school after a few weeks and can play sports after a few months. Contact sports should be avoided for 9-12 months. Occasionally a back brace may need to be worn to protect the metal rods after surgery.

What Treatment Options Are Available

Treatment options and outcomes for adult scoliosis have improved significantly over the years. Just a few decades ago, we could successfully treat scoliosis only in children and teens. Today, we know that multimodal treatment a team approach and combinations of therapy is the best way to treat adult scoliosis and prevent recurrence of symptoms.

While back braces might be effective for scoliosis in children, its not a primary treatment for adults. Sometimes we recommend bracing to stabilize the spine during acute episodes of pain. But long-term bracing can do more harm than good in adults. It can weaken back muscles because they dont have to work to support the torso, putting additional stress on the discs in the spine and speeding up degeneration.

Physical therapy is the first-line treatment for adult scoliosis, which sometimes surprises patients if their backs or legs hurt during activity. A physical therapist can help patients develop proper back mechanics to minimize stress on the spine when lifting, bending, and exercising.

We also recommend other non-surgical approaches, such as acupuncture or dry needling and anti-inflammatory injections to help manage symptoms. Some patients benefit from getting epidural steroid injections to reduce the inflammation affecting the nerves and reduce sciatica pain.

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What Are The Causes

As you get older, your bones undergo degenerative changes that are part of the natural aging process. When joints deteriorate, arthritis can develop and the spinal column can shift sideways. Other conditions that might cause degeneration include:

• Arthritis from degenerative discs and facet joint syndrome, resulting in the loss of normal vertebral alignment .
• Osteoporosis and vertebral compression fractures.
• Previous spine surgery . The passage of time after a spine surgery is a leading cause of spinal deformity.

The aging of joints, combined with a fracture at a level above a previous fusion, can also cause a significant deformity. Simply removing material from the spine can cause a problem down the road. It may reduce or eliminate pain in the near term, but symptoms can return later because of instability of the spine. Think of the game, Jenga. When you remove a block from the tower, other blocks can be affected. Like the Jenga tower, what goes on globally in the spinal balance and pathology is important.

The Strange Case Of Scoliosis And Back Pain

Scoliosis is right out of the X-files of musculoskeletal medicine: an unexplained anatomical defect that gets multiplied over the many joints of the spine, producing an overall sideways curvature that is much greater than the glitch in any one joint. It often starts in childhood, but it can strike at any age. It can stay subtle and stable for a lifetime, or it can progress relentlessly to extremes of deformity, or almost anything between.

And yet its not clear that it causes back pain! Or not as much as most people think. And it is virtually immune to treatment in any case.

The nature of scoliosis

Sometimes scoliosis has an obvious trigger, like the spine being pulled out of shape by the powerful spasms caused by some diseases, or as a reaction to a serious spinal injury . Scoliosis can even be induced! It happened to almost everyone who ever had ribs removed to treat the consequences of tuberculosis . Its almost like the spine is trying to squirm away from trouble.

But most scoliosis just comes out of the blue, and then often keeps coming . Not only is this as weird as snake sneakers, its actually common. Spines do this lateral warping thing rather a lot. People with a little of it are simply everywhere: at least one out of three older women, maybe even half of them and certainly at least one human of any kind in every full train car, busy coffee shop, or classroom .

Does scoliosis even cause back pain?

The answer seems obvious, but it isnt actually.

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Pain Relief For Scoliosis In Adults

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to pain relief for scoliosis in adults, as the best approach depends on the individuals particular situation. However, some common methods of pain relief for scoliosis in adults include physical therapy, pain medication, and massage. Sometimes, a combination of these methods is necessary to achieve the desired level of pain relief. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to correct the underlying cause of the scoliosis and relieve the associated pain.

Scoliosis is one of the most common problems in adults, and back pain is one of its most common symptoms. It is common to begin with NSAIDs such as ibuprofen as the first treatment. If over-the-counter pain relievers dont work, consult a doctor. Your back can also be relieved by doing exercise, which can also help you maintain a healthy weight. Scoliosis can be treated, but you should consult with a healthcare professional before embarking on a workout program. In some cases, a surgical procedure, such as lumbar decompression surgery, is required. If you are unable to undergo an operation, you may be able to have a brace placed instead.

Epidural Steroid Injections Spinal Injections

ESI injections are powerful steroids that are injected into the joint space to help ease pain and inflammation. Injections are used to settle the nerve pain down. Most do not have any proven long-term effect but injections can reduce acute pain or be used as part of a formal pain management program. As a first and conservative treatment option, weve found that a lot of our patients find significant pain relief with a single injection, others take a few injections to find some relief. Injections are helpful for most patients, and others do not find relief with an injection series.

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Exercises For Uneven Hips

Schroth therapy can be an effective exercise protocol to help manage scoliosis and its impact on the hips. Schroth therapy aims for three-dimensional correction of the scoliosis curves through a series of stretching, strengthening, and breathing exercises tailored to your specific anatomical and postural needs. It is done under the supervision of a physical therapist certified in the method.

At-home exercises include those that can increase flexibility and strength in the hips, as well as core balance. Always work with your spine specialist and/or physical therapist before starting an exercise regimen at home.

Regardless of the exercise approach and surgical corrective options you choose, its important to understand that theres no such thing as a perfect body. Humans are perfectly imperfect, says Dr. Lonner. And the only thing that is perfectly symmetrical often and usually not even perfect, are statues.

Scoliosis Pain: Understanding Your Treatment Options

If youve found this page, chances are you or a loved one are experiencing scoliosis pain. Youve come to the right place. I have over 30 years of experience treating scoliosis and over the years have helped thousands of patients alleviate their scoliosis pain.

In this article, Ill explain

• Why scoliosis causes pain
• The most common types of scoliosis pain
• Popular methods for treating scoliosis related pain
• Strauss Scoliosis Corrections unique approach to treating pain.
• 3 exercises you can try today to start alleviating pain.

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Lower Back Pain And Curvature Location

When it comes to pain levels, condition severity can play a role as the curvature size and degree of rotation factors into the type of postural changes and other related symptoms a person can experience.

As mentioned, there are three main sections of the spine, and while compensatory curves can develop that are also capable of causing pain in different areas of the back, curvature location does play a large role in where the extent of that back pain is likely to be felt.

Scoliosis Pain In Adults

The pain associated with scoliosis in adults can vary depending on the severity of the curvature. In some cases, there may be no pain at all. In other cases, the pain may be mild and only noticed when performing certain activities. In more severe cases, the pain may be constant and significantly impact the individuals quality of life. Treatment for scoliosis pain typically focuses on relieving the pain and preventing further progression of the condition.

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Treatment Options If You Have Knee Pain With Scoliosis

If you were diagnosed with scoliosis and are experiencing knee pain, there are a few treatments that can help manage your symptoms, including postural correction and physical therapy.

Postural correction involves adjusting your posture to take pressure off your knees and back. Physical therapy can help strengthen the muscles in your lower body and increase your range of motion, which can help alleviate knee pain.

Additionally, some forms of therapy can be used to treat underlying conditions such as sciatica and radiculopathy. For example, spinal manipulation and chiropractic treatments can help relieve pressure on the nerves.

Can Scoliosis Cause Back Pain

While pain isnt a common part of the scoliosis experience for children and adolescents, back and/or radicular pain is the main scoliosis symptom in adults. Keep reading to find out why age makes such a big difference in terms of whether or not scoliosis is likely to cause back pain.

Scoliosis develops across a wide severity spectrum of mild to very severe there are also multiple condition types with varying causative sources and treatment needs. Scoliosis can cause back pain, but its more common in adults, severe forms, or if a condition is left untreated.

Lets start our exploration of scoliosis and back pain by first discussing the condition, then comparing the adolescent and adult experiences in terms of common symptoms.

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Exercise : Specific Back Stretching For Scoliosis Using An Elastic Band

This exercise targets the trigger points of the latisimus dorsi, also known as the climbing muscle or the swimmers muscle.

This exercise will be demonstrated for an upper right thoracic scoliosis, and a separate demonstration for a left lower lumbar scoliosis. Only use the exercise that is appropriate for you. If your scoliosis is a simple left lumbar curve, then use the second approach. If your scoliosis is a simple single curve right upper thoracic curve use the first approach. If you have a double curve, you must be guided by a professional as to how to use these stretches. Used correctly, this stretch will relieve your trigger point pain, but used incorrectly it can aggravate the pain associated with your scoliosis.

• First tie elastic band on backside of door knob. Close the door on the elastic band.
• Next grab the second end of the elastic band with your left hand and place it across your chest. Place the right hand on top of the left hand for extra support on the elastic band.
• Step away from the door until you feel slight tension on the elastic band .
• Place 2 lifter under your left foot. Your right foot should be flat on the ground while your left foot is being supported by the 2 lifter.
• Put limited vision horizon glasses on.
• Stand up tall and twist your head/upper body to the right side. Hold for 10 seconds.
• Return to start position and repeat

Do 10 times, twice daily.

This next approach is done seated.

Do 10 times, twice daily.