The professional Spinal Specialists at New York Spine Institute can help diagnose and treat a variety of different spinal conditions including Degenerative Scoliosis. We offer our services at our multiple locations in Greater New York City.*
Degenerative scoliosis is the most common type of scoliosis in adults and is a result of the degeneration of joints and discs of the spine, which causes a side to side curvature. Everyone will experience some form of deterioration of their joints and discs over time as they age, but those diagnosed with degenerative scoliosis the process is happening at an accelerated rate.*
Typically this curvature is found in the lumbar (lower) portion of the spine, and patients report symptoms anywhere from dull back aches to debilitating pain. We have experienced doctors and specialists here at NYSI who are ready to help diagnose, treat, and get you on a healthy path of recovery from degenerative scoliosis.*
Our back and neck specialists will treat you with compassion and care while treating you. Each patient is given a customized treatment plan which will allow them to begin their recovery under some of the most experienced doctors in the area.*
Led by our medical director, Alexandre B. de Moura, M.D., FAAOS, our entire staff here at NYSI are industry leaders in spinal disorders like degenerative scoliosis. You can trust their expertise after being in the field for decades.*
We are here to help every single patient that enters our doors, which is why our friendly and experienced staff can speak multiple languages, including: Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, German, and Russian. Our goal is to help every single person who enters our facility, regardless of their background.*
Degenerative scoliosis deals with the degeneration of joints and discs. Naturally, over time these will deteriorate in everyone, but for those with accelerated degeneration it can result in scoliosis.*
The joints act as hinges in our bodies, helping our spine to bend with ease, while our intervertebral discs act as a cushion between our vertebral bones. When degeneration occurs on one side of the spine more prominently than another it can cause degenerative scoliosis. The curve that is created is typically located in the lumbar (lower) section of the spine and may form a slight “C” shape.*
To begin your diagnosis your doctor will review your medical history and perform a physical exam, focusing on your back and spine noting any curvatures, pain, and other indicators. Many times the initial reasoning behind a diagnosis stems from a patient’s pain. Many people with degenerative scoliosis experience some of the following symptoms*:
These symptoms can come on gradually throughout the day, worsening as the day continues.*
For some patients, they will need further testing to determine their treatment plan. They may undergo an x-ray, which can help pinpoint the degree of spinal curvature and spinal alignment, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which shows images of spinal discs, spinal cord, and spinal nerves, or computed tomography with myelogram (melo-CT), which shows further details of the spinal cord.*
Though the sideways curvature is an indicator of degenerative scoliosis, the deterioration itself and the pain that it causes is the biggest source of proof during diagnosis. Treatments for this type of scoliosis typically focus on the degeneration as opposed to the actual spinal curvature.*
Our team of specialists, doctors, and surgeons will review your particular case and determine a plan of action that fits best for your needs and pain. Some patients treatment plans consist of nonsurgical methods such as*:
For those who are experiencing severe pain and symptoms, and have exhausted other forms of treatment our specialists here at NYSI may recommend surgery. Typically the surgeries for degenerative scoliosis are categorized as either decompression surgery or decompression with fusion surgery.*
Your specialist here at NYSI will help determine which course of treatment will benefit you most based off of your pain levels, degeneration, and medical history.*
*The effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment will vary by patient and condition. New York Spine Institute does not guarantee certain results.
