Scoliosis

Scoliosis often appears during adolescence, but at every age, it’s essential to get an early evaluation and ongoing monitoring to watch for curve progression. At Verma Spine in Los Alamitos, Long Beach, and Orange County, California, Kushagra Verma, MD, MS, FAAOS, specializes in treating scoliosis with personalized care and customized treatment that fits each patient. If you or your child have signs of scoliosis, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.

Scoliosis Q & A

What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine. When viewed from behind, the spine should form a straight line, but in patients with scoliosis, it forms an S- or C-shaped curve. In severe cases, the spine can also rotate or twist. Scoliosis tends to occur in families, and it may be caused by neuromuscular conditions and birth defects. In 80% of all cases, however, the underlying cause can’t be determined, a condition called idiopathic scoliosis.

When does scoliosis develop?

Scoliosis can develop at any age, from infancy through adulthood, but it most often occurs between the ages of 10-15 years and is idiopathic. When scoliosis develops in adults, it’s usually one of two types: idiopathic or degenerative. Adult idiopathic scoliosis typically begins during the teen years and continues to progress. Degenerative scoliosis occurs due to age-related spine problems such as facet joint arthritis and degenerative disc disease.

What symptoms develop due to scoliosis?

Scoliosis seldom causes pain or discomfort in children and adolescents. Their symptoms take the form of body asymmetry, such as uneven shoulders and hips, in which one shoulder or hip looks higher than the other. One side of the rib cage may be higher or stick out farther than the other side. Adults with degenerative scoliosis have the same physical changes, as well as additional symptoms such as low back pain and stiffness. Adults may also have numbness or pain that shoots down their legs.