Scoliosis Symptoms

Scoliosis is a medical issue in which the spine grows into a curve. Most cases appear with no known cause, although in some cases it is known to be caused by birth defects and diseases such as muscular dystrophy. It is a problem that can only be treated by wearing a brace, orthopedic surgery, and in some cases chiropractic care. While there is a list of scoliosis symptoms, for the most part the situation goes by unnoticed without any symptoms being present. Most of the time, the condition does not cause any pain, at least not in children and teens. If there is pain, there is probably another problem involved, like a spiral or bone tumor. Because these problems can be serious, it is always important that you take him or her to see a physician if pain is present.

Symptoms

A parent may first notice scoliosis symptoms if the child’s clothing does not sit right on the body. You may notice the child’s hems do not hang evenly, their back may be noticeably crooked, and their ribs may stick out. Children are usually checked for the condition at school. If your school didn’t check or if you home school, you can check for the following conditions. One shoulder may appear higher than the other. A hip may appear higher than the other. The child’s head may not be center to the body. A shoulder blade may stick out farther than the other. Have your child bend over and check to see if the ribs are higher on one side than on the other. You should also check to see if the waistline is higher on one side.

Seeing a doctor

If you child doesn’t have any of the scoliosis symptoms mentioned above, you really have no reason to think there may be a problem. Scoliosis affects a very small segment of the population. Roughly two per cent of all women get it, and only half a percent of all men. If your child does possess these or any other scoliosis symptoms that have you concerned, take them to see an orthopedic doctor who can better assess the situation. The doctor will require your child to get X-rays so that he can determine how crooked the spine has become and develop a plan to help correct it or keep it from getting worse. In case of severe spinal curvature, surgery will be required in order to correct the condition.