The 4 Types of Scoliosis & Your Scoliosis Treatment Options

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When a patient is diagnosed with scoliosis, they are not usually told what type of scoliosis they have and that scoliosis has many different variations. It can range from mild, moderate, severe, and very severe and can develop in many different areas of the spine, such as the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine.

There are different types of causes for scoliosis which has caused it to be broken down into four main categories or types: idiopathic scoliosis, degenerative scoliosis, neuromuscular scoliosis, and congenital scoliosis.

Idiopathic Scoliosis is when there is no clearly associated or known cause. It means an unknown cause. Idiopathic Scoliosis is thought to be a multifactorial process with many different things that can contribute to the causation of scoliosis. Since there are multiple variables, a patient can have more than one factor that is contributing to their scoliosis. We know that it progresses as a result of growth. As the patient goes through their adolescent growth spurt, the curves progress. The average age of diagnosis is between 10 and 18 and is more commonly associated with girls vs. boys. Idiopathic scoliosis in the adolescent stage, either untreated or undiagnosed, is the most prevalent type of scoliosis in adult cases.

Degenerative scoliosis is the second most prevalent type in the adult patient. It is when the spine goes through a degenerative phase. I believe it is when a small injury occurs to the spine and causes it to shift out of alignment. It remains uncorrected for years and causes abnormal or accelerated aging in the area; as a result, scoliosis starts to develop around 40 years of age, commonly in women and the lumbar spine.

Neuromuscular Scoliosis is a complex problem because there is normally an underlying condition. We can divide these into two major types or categories. The muscular component affects the connective tissue of the body. It either causes the connective tissue to be too contracted, or it causes too much laxity. There is also a neurological component that can cause the development of scoliosis as well.

Congenital scoliosis is scoliosis that you're born with. It develops in utero when one of the bones of the spine has a hemi vertebra in between the vertebrae. Congenital scoliosis can be the most difficult to treat because it is a true bone deformity. The curve develops much faster during growth.

All types of scoliosis treatment are guided by the patient's characteristics, age, severity, and location. Reducing the curve is the number one way to stop curve progression during growth phases. In adults, the main symptom tends to be pain, so normally, we want to improve the pain while addressing the cause of the problem.

Some neuromuscular conditions we cannot treat conservatively, although most of the time, we can use conservative methods to help manage and treat neuromuscular conditions, but the expectations may be less.
In congenital scoliosis, the best way to treat it is by measuring the size of the congenital deformity and figuring out how many degrees that accounts for, of the scoliosis and their overall condition. Congenital scoliosis can be treated conservatively, although some cases can be extremely difficult; the best way to know is to have your spine evaluated to determine what's the best approach.

For all types of scoliosis, the treatment must be proactive, customized, and driven by the underlying cause of the condition to reduce the curve instead of trying to slow down progression. When you have a smaller curve, you reduce the risk of progression because smaller curves, no matter the age group, always progress less than bigger curves.

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00:00 The 4 Types Of Scoliosis
00:59 Idiopathic Scoliosis
02:35 Degenerative Scoliosis
04:00 Neuromuscular Scoliosis
06:21 Congenital Scoliosis
07:48 What Types Of Treatment Do They Need?
14:38 Closing Thoughts

[dcjr]

I am 31 and the pain is becoming overwhelming and exhausting… I was told at the age of 15, that I had a 65 degree bend and also Scheuermann kyphosis. My parents were told the surgery would be $150, 000 back then… how much is it now?

[natashawaytes]

I was born with scoliosis but it was detected when I was about 9 years old went through treatments and still had to go through 4 to 5 hours of surgery at about 11 years old

[mairose]

I wish I could share your videos with my PT. Unfortunately a lot of PT treat scoliosis patients like an injury. I wish you would show an adult patient with scoliosis.

[lisaeaker]

I’m 36 and they found my scoliosis at age 5 I went through 3 different brace designs my thoracic and lumbar spine was not only curved but also twisting by age 11 I refused to wear brace so as much as my dr wanted me to wait till she 16 before having surgery he did it at 11 but only fused thoracic area because that was the only one getting worse … but I’ve had 6 kids all without a spinal only IV pain meds and only 1 child has scoliosis my 16 yr old daughter but no need to do anything so just watching it
I at 36 am now experiencing numbness in lower back and down legs after only standing or walking for 5-8 min but I don’t know if it’s from scoliosis or from accident I was in 05/28/22 but I know I have many herniated disc 2 of them push against nerves from what mri shows

[cbs]

What if you have spinal osteoporosis, and scoliosis? Is it still treatable?

[LeulSelase]

Selam. How are You Dr. Nalda. I am please to learn and know about ways on how I do can approach Scoliosis Spine Surgery. However, I lived with Scoliosis for 40 years now, its Curve is now full 70%....I do feel pain/fratigue, I notice my breathing passave on the left side of is not operative as the Right when breathing in. I also schedule to have Surgery this Year and I would like to know what is your view. Also, what is the developmental capacities of some of your patients who had undergone surgery successfully and resume back to normal life. I am concern about the long term, and mainly the nerves and cells, thereafter. How possible is it that I can maintain my 70-80 GWAM Typing....would there be a change in the quickness of my fingers and general body functions and movement. Dr. Nalda, if the Curve is in the middle, but do turn at the bottom of the spine as you express in the Video. Generally, I am fratigue constantly, rather to ly down that to sit, I would stand for 3 hours after that I must ly down (prefere) or have a slush sitted position to ease the agony. it basically, compromises my social life. what can be done. Thank You.

[lucillekean]

Where is yourCenter ? LK from Canada 😊

[rehamshaat]

Hi can I send to you x Ray of my child he is suffering from scoliosis and kyphosis

[Lemonadebro]

Am i allowed to sue my doctor for not treating my scoliosis sooner? Its been 6 years but i think he was a new to the whole thing and he said no to a backbrace when my biggest curve was at 32 degrees, when i was 15 than 6 months later he basically Apologized because it became 42 degrees and than i finally got a backbrace, i did my best with wearing the thing but i have always Resented that doctor even 6 years later because he should of known better and gave me the appropriate treatment. Im sure it could have stayed 32 degrees, but now, as an adult, it will probably get worse sooner. He was a surgeon at that hospital so im guessing he wanted money for the surgery because he always talked about a little boy he did the surgery of and said he got back to playing baseball like 2 weeks later. I oftentimes feel like my tomorrow won't be as good as my yesterdays since you guys hardly understand scoliosis and what causes it for most people, than there's the progressive nature of it but than again you have no idea how much it will progress than theres the 5 degree margin of error you always talk about, so your telling me my curve can be 37 or 47 and you won’t even know? I've heard there's a whole 2% of the population, and it's one of the most common back problems maybe prioritize research in it. Sorry about my rant i just don't understand how theres so little effort put into all this and whenever i talk with doctors i hear the same thing as always with little to no options and little to no hope.

[RobinLee-zr]

I'm 65, and have severe scoliosis.I need help

[qqcdkpi]

can you help sonebody from another country;

[RonMiki]

What is the difference between your scoliosis treatment vs schroth treatment?