DENVER, Colo. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Scoliosis is not just for kids. In fact, seven million people have been diagnosed with it. There are two types of adult scoliosis – one starts as a teen and progresses into adulthood, the other develops later in life and is related to osteoarthritis and spinal degeneration. Doctors are helping to straighten things out, so older adults can live their golden years pain free.
Cynthia Friedland surrounds herself with color.
But Cynthia’s days turned grey when the pain of scoliosis forced her to quit her job as an ICU nurse.
“I couldn’t function. I couldn’t sit, I couldn’t stand, I couldn’t lie down,” Explains Cynthia.
Seventy percent of adults over the age of 60 have a curved spine. Twenty percent have curves greater than 20 degrees.
Shay Bess, MD Spine Surgeon at Denver International Spine Center says, “As one ages, then the joints in the discs then become incompetent, which can then cause scoliosis.”
Cynthia’s spine was pitched to the side and forward 40 percent. She had tried many procedures and medications. Fusion was a last resort.
Doctor Bess says, “I think at some point, people run out of gas and they’re miserable.”
Cynthia says, “They cut me open from chest to groin and then in the back, from the back all the way down.”
During an 11-hour spinal deformity surgery, surgeon Shay Bess fused five segments of Cynthia’s spine together, bringing it back into alignment. Doctor Bess says there is no age limit and has corrected spines like Cynthia’s for people well into their 80’s.
It worked for Cynthia, and now she is doing things she never thought she would ever get the chance to do.
“I would never have thought about playing the piano before, but now, I can sit at a piano bench and play the piano.” Says Cynthia.
And she is now living life one hundred percent pain-free.
Doctor Bess says pain is not the only reason people are opting to fix their backs later in life. In several studies he has led with the International Spine Study Group, he found that self-image, not pain, is the leading factor in people opting to do surgery in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, and by straightening their backs, not only are they making them look better, which helps their self-image, it also eases their pain and improves their mental health.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor and Videographer.
Sources:
https://www.dukehealth.org/blog/7-facts-you-should-know-about-adult-scoliosis
STRAIGHTEN UP! AGING BACKS TURNING INTO SCOLIOSIS
REPORT #3093
BACKGROUND: Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine is not erect but curved. Typically, the spine has natural curves that aren’t apparent to the naked eye. However, for individuals with scoliosis, they have an atypical curve that is usually in the shape of an “s” or a “c”. Unfortunately, for most people with this disorder the cause is ruled “idiopathic” – meaning researchers and physicians can’t pinpoint why the malformity occurred. Idiopathic scoliosis is usually found in children 11 years old and older. The likelihood of girls contracting this form of scoliosis is higher than boys. Researchers aren’t entirely sure what may bring on scoliosis, but they believe certain factors such as genes, cell structure changes, and hormones contribute to the formation of this condition. It’s been discovered that for some children, trauma or other diseases may prompt the appearance of it; injury to the spine or back, tumors, genetic diseases, neuromuscular diseases, or unforeseen utero developments. Most people with mild scoliosis don’t experience pain and don’t exhibit symptoms. However, there are physical signs to watch out for. If your child’s shoulders are uneven, one shoulder blade is more pronounced than the other, one hip is seemingly higher than the other, or one side of the rib cage tilts forward or higher than the other — these are telltale signs scoliosis may be the cause. In rare cases, if the condition is extreme some children may find breathing becomes difficult.
(Source: https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/scoliosis)
DIAGNOSIS: Since scoliosis doesn’t usually manifest symptoms, doctors may discover an individual has it when performing a routine physical examination. Through inquiring about family medical history and conducting x-rays; doctors can spot scoliosis and measure the severity of it. The process of creating a treatment plan is based on the depth of the curve, the location, whether it’s causing symptoms, and if the child is still growing. The typical modes of treatment offered include: monitoring the spine every few months, wearing a brace to prevent further curving, spinal fusion surgery, expandable rod insertion to the spine, and physical therapy. Orthopedists, pediatricians, physical therapists, and primary care doctors are the medical professionals best suited to attend to scoliosis regulation according to most doctors.
(Source: https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/scoliosis/diagnosis-treatment-and-steps-to-take)
NEW REGULATIONS: Thirty eight thousand people annually undergo spinal fusion surgery to seek relief from scoliosis symptoms and stop the condition from worsening. Lee Health has created a new scoliosis program that features a surefire plan to straighten up this medical phenomenon. There’s now a new way to treat scoliosis, without surgery, and it’s called the “Schroth Method”. The Schroth Method is an exercise plan curated with singularity in mind. This therapy hopes to reverse a misaligned spine back to a natural state using specific exercises. “De-rotating”, “elongating”, and “stabilizing the spine” is the objective of this treatment plan. During the therapy, certified physical therapists utilize mirrors to help patients hone in on their posture and provide visual guidance to the verbal instructions being given to them. A therapist from Lee Health’s scoliosis program, Catherine McManus, says that by patients “learning about the nature of their unique curve, they’ll know how to move in ways that benefit their spine.”
* For More Information, Contact:
Stephanie Sullivan
Stephanie.Sullivan@HealthONEcares.com
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