What Happens If You Don't Treat Scoliosis?

You might be a child, teenager, or an adult when you receive your diagnosis of scoliosis. In this spinal condition, your spine curves abnormally from side to side. It’s often identified in childhood or adolescence and can affect you later.

No matter your age, you need to receive the correct treatment for scoliosis, or you could face the progression of your condition over time. Scoliosis progression typically leads to more intense curvature, more debilitating symptoms of back pain, and increasing loss of physical range of motion.

Experienced neurosurgeon Dr. Beejal Y. Amin provides expert scoliosis treatment in Hinsdale and Woodridge, Illinois. If you’re not sure why it’s critical to treat your scoliosis, consult with Dr. Amin to understand the impacts of your condition on your long-term quality of life.

Symptoms and complications of scoliosis

What consequences does abnormal curvature of your spine have for your whole-body health? It all comes down to pressure distribution. Your body distributes the pressure of your weight and the various forces needed for motion.

Without a typical spine shape, that pressure distributes in ways that harm your body. Childhood scoliosis increases your risk of adulthood chronic back pain, especially without proper treatment while growing up.

Severe scoliosis can cramp the space in your chest cavity for a healthy heart and lungs, leading to complications. As the condition progresses, your risk of back pain, leg pain, balance problems, and loss of range of motion all increase.

Don’t let these health complications of scoliosis happen to you. Seek the support and care you need. You can partner with Dr. Amin for diagnosis and treatment.

Finding the correct treatment for your scoliosis

The treatment you need for scoliosis varies based on the degree of curvature in your spine, as well as your age. Children with mild curvature may only require monitoring for progression. Growing up with scoliosis may also mean using a brace for part of the day to prevent spinal curvature from worsening.

Other therapies and treatments provide ongoing and much-needed support to patients with this condition. Physical therapy works well to lessen the impacts of scoliosis for both child and adult patients. You may also need interventional pain management support. Therapies like spinal injections help reduce pain and maintain your range of motion.

Scoliosis may require surgery in severe cases or when your condition progresses rapidly.  Procedures like a spinal fusion surgery prevent scoliosis progression from worsening. In younger patients, surgically implanting spinal rods may make sense to provide long-term structure and support.