Degenerative scoliosis is an abnormal spinal curve caused by degenerative conditions of the spine, such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Symptoms include pain, muscle spasms, and a hump in the spine. Treatment varies depending on severity, from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to surgery.
Degenerative scoliosis is a condition involving an exaggerated or abnormal spinal curve. Unlike idiopathic scoliosis, it occurs after the spine has finished growing and is caused by degenerative conditions of the spine. It is more common in the lower back rather than the middle back and usually occurs more commonly in people over the age of 60.
Some of the most frequent causes of degenerative scoliosis are osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. It is also relatively common for patients to suffer from both conditions. Some people who develop the disorder already have idiopathic scoliosis and their spines are already structurally compromised, making them more vulnerable to degenerative disease.
For many individuals, degenerative scoliosis is relatively mild with no obvious symptoms. In other people, the most common symptom is pain in the spine. This pain can get worse if they spend too much time in one position, and carrying heavy objects can make it worse. Some patients may notice a hump in the spine or a strange curve. In some cases, muscle spasms or unusual levels of pain may occur when walking long distances.
In diagnosing degenerative scoliosis, doctors often ask a series of questions and take x-rays of the spine. They will usually also want to see any prior x-rays, if available, so that comparisons can be made. If an unusual curvature is discovered, they may wish to run other tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other possible threats such as spinal tumors.
Treatment varies greatly depending on the severity of symptoms and the stage of the disease. For most cases, your doctor starts you on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin. These will help control pain and reduce any inflammation that could be accelerating the degeneration. As the disease worsens, doctors may switch to using a back brace to help stabilize the spine and reduce pain. When the pain becomes extreme, doctors can inject anti-inflammatory drugs directly into the most affected areas.
For some people with degenerative scoliosis, surgery may be an option. Usually, doctors wait until the disorder reaches a level where it begins to interfere with a patient’s lifestyle or pose a serious health risk. Surgeons generally fuse certain parts of the spine together to strengthen it and reduce pressure on the nerves. Surgery is usually unnecessary because most patients are elderly and the disorder usually progresses very slowly.
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