Scoliosis affects the body in different ways, from headaches to reduced vitality. Living with scoliosis is painful and can limit your ability to experience autonomy. It impacts financial stability, well-being and overall quality of life.
The good news is that scoliosis is highly treatable. With proper care and following your doctor’s recommendations, you can live an independent and fulfilling life with scoliosis.
Scoliosis is a chronic illness involving abnormal spinal curvature. While the spine has natural curves at the lumbar, thoracic and cervical regions, they form a straight line in the center of the back. The spine curves to the side in people with scoliosis, creating a shape similar to a “C” or an “S” instead of keeping its normal straight curvature.
In mild scoliosis, the patient’s spine is curved at least 10 degrees from expected and less than 20 degrees, and in severe scoliosis, the curve exceeds 45 to 50 degrees.
Learn More About the Types of Scoliosis
We can split scoliosis into two main classifications — adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and early onset scoliosis (EOS):
The exact causes of AID and EOS are unknown, but they have no connection with a patient’s activities. Heavy backpacks, injuries, poor posture and repetitive physical activity have negative effects on the body, but those things cannot cause scoliosis. Some people are born with congenital scoliosis. Neuromuscular scoliosis can result from other medical conditions that affect the nerves and muscles.
The most significant concern in treating children with AIS and EOS is preserving and maximizing the spine’s growth potential, as well as delaying its curve progression. Ultimately, the goal is to either delay surgery or eliminate the need for surgical intervention altogether.
Scoliosis can also be identified by three main types — idiopathic, congenital and neuromuscular.
Idiopathic scoliosiscomprises80% of all scoliosis cases and is diagnosed when no definitive cause is apparent. This scoliosis type is usually diagnosed in adolescence.
Congenital scoliosisoccurs when patients are born with abnormal spine curvature due to the malformation of one or more vertebrae in the womb. This malformation can occur in any part of the spine. Since congenital scoliosis is present at birth, it’s usually detected at a young age. Congenital scoliosis life expectancy will depend on the severity of the case.
Neuromuscular scoliosis is an underlying condition likely causing abnormal spinal curvature. It can be caused by other medical conditions, including cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida and spinal cord trauma. Neuromuscular scoliosis usually progresses more quickly than idiopathic scoliosis, so surgery is often needed.
Doctors closely monitor children with mild and severe scoliosis with X-ray imaging and routine checkups. This helps prevent the condition from worsening and combat scoliosis complications later in life as children age and their spines develop.
The spine might seem like a stand-alone part of the body. In reality, it is intricately linked to your entire body and your brain. When your spine is misaligned, it can affect the rest of your body in numerous ways — disrupting that brain-body connection. As a result, scoliosis can impact your body’s overall health, including the lungs, heart, brain, digestive system, muscles, nervous system, reproductive system and mental health.
Severe scoliosis can significantly weaken lung function and is associated with adult respiratory failure. The abnormal curvature of the spine disrupts regular lung function by limiting the capacity of ribs to expand and allow a full breath. As a result, you might find it challenging to take deep breaths.
Severe scoliosis can affect lung function and the capacity to breathe during sleep by:
Most scoliosis cases have little to no effect on the heart. However, severe cases of scoliosis can have a restrictive impact on this organ. In the same way that your lungs need room to inflate with oxygen, your heart needs room to expand and pump blood. When scoliosis contorts the rib cage, it can restrict the heart’s room to function correctly, potentially resulting in:
Fortunately, people don’t typically die from scoliosis. However, in severe cases, surgery is often needed to avoid life-threatening complications of heart failure and to provide the patient with proper treatment.
The abnormal curvature of the spine can decrease the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the fluid that coats the brain and spinal cord and provides protection and nourishment while removing waste. Low CSF flow can worsen scoliosis, causing several neurological deficits — the most common being headaches.
Learn More About Neurological Symptoms
Muscle imbalances in the back are considered both a potential cause of scoliosis and an effect of this condition. The muscles that the spine curves toward are overused, while those on the other side are underused. In this way, the muscles on one side of your spine will be stronger than those on the other if you have scoliosis.
Scoliosis affects the digestive system by removing space from organs that aid the digestive process. Abnormal curvature of the spine can compress and constrict the esophagus, stomach and small intestine by shortening the torso. Some patients may experience gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to scoliosis.
Scoliosis compresses the organs inside your torso by shortening the distance of your spine, affecting the reproductive system. In pregnant women, it affects the position of the baby, creating potential stalls during labor. It is also linked with lower progesterone levels. One study shows that patients with scoliosis are more likely to experience dysmenorrhea, or abnormally painful menstruation cycles.
The brain and spinal cord are crucial parts of your nervous system. In the same way that your skull protects your brain, your spinal column protects your spinal cord. Your spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that send messages from your brain to your body and vice versa. When the skull is misaligned, it can cause abnormal brain function. A misaligned — or abnormally curved — spinal column disrupts spinal cord function. Since scoliosis affects the skeletal system, it also affects the nervous system.
Learn More About Neurological Care
Scoliosis may also negatively impact your mental health. Whether you’re dealing with pain or a visible spinal deformity, scoliosis may cause mental health issues such as:
If you’re experiencing mental health concerns with scoliosis, know you’re not alone and that help is available for both scoliosis and mental health concerns.
Scoliosis can lead to many health concerns, including physical and mental stress, reduced lung function, heart complications and the need for surgery. If your scoliosis is severe, it may cause related conditions that could lead to death. Your life expectancy with scoliosis depends on many factors, including the severity of the disease and whether you receive treatment.
In severe cases, you may experience reduced range of motion, back pain, trouble breathing and cardiovascular issues. Your ribs may press into your lungs, which can restrict breathing and lower your oxygen levels. Your ribs can also press against your heart, which may cause further damage. Other organs may suffer as well. Scoliosis can also cause headaches, chronic pain and even digestive issues.
While mild cases are unlikely to cause serious problems, the condition can become more severe over time. Seeking treatment from Dr. Roberts as early as possible can prevent other issues from developing. If scoliosis goes untreated and continues to get worse, you may also experience progressive pain. Some patients with severe scoliosis are unable to walk normally or perform many physical tasks.
Scoliosis and life expectancy are topics that concern most patients and caregivers. Although scoliosis is not a life-threatening condition, the life expectancy of scoliosis patients depends on many factors, including the severity of the disease and whether they receive treatment.
Most scoliosis patients are diagnosed with mild scoliosis, which presents symptoms such as headaches, chronic pain and even digestive issues. In some severe cases, the prognosis of scoliosis is reduced range of motion, back pain, trouble breathing and cardiovascular issues.
When caught early enough, mild cases can be treated with physical therapy and a brace that stops the progression of the curve. Without treatment, the curve progresses freely. Often, patients with untreated scoliosis need surgery, which leaves them open to the other risks associated with spinal surgery. Since the curve can progress even in adulthood, waiting to seek treatment is unwise.
Treating scoliosis in time allows patients to have a normal life expectancy and perform daily activities, including exercise and sports, without major problems. Seeking treatment from Dr. Roberts as early as possible can prevent other issues from developing.
Learn More About Scoliosis Treatment
When caught early enough, mild cases can be treated with physical therapy. Braces can help stop the curve’s progression, though keep in mind it cannot reverse any existing spinal curvature. If scoliosis goes untreated, the curve progresses freely, even in adulthood, worsening the condition. Long-term scoliosis effects are progressive pain, diminished mobility and reduced quality of life.
Identifying the condition on time is the best way to prevent scoliosis from progressing. If you think you or your child has scoliosis, consult a spine doctor for a proper examination. A spine doctor can assess symptoms, provide testing, determine an accurate diagnosis and proceed with effective treatment. Some symptoms of scoliosis include:
Children are still in their developing stage. A scoliosis diagnosis at an early age and proper treatment can prevent long-term scoliosis effects.
Early scoliosis treatment can be the key to slowing the condition’s progress. At the New York Spine Institute, every adult, adolescent and child receives dignified and individual treatment. Our world-class orthopedic physician and neurosurgeon, Dr. Timothy T. Roberts, specializes in a wide range of comprehensive medical treatments, from minimally invasive care to traditional spine surgical techniques. His number one priority is providing patients and their families with the quality of life they deserve.
We have offices in Westbury, Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Newburgh, White Plains, Queens and Long Island. To learn more, please schedule an appointment today. We welcome patients from every state.
