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20 years
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I have scoliosis for 24.degrees. How can I fix this and how to stop the pain?
Jul 16, 2014
2nd opinion

Dr. Rania Mousa General Medicine
Scoliosis is however, when a person's spine twists and develops an "S"-shaped side-to-side curve.

The most common types of scoliosis are first discovered and treated in childhood or adolescence. Probably the most common type is what is called Idiopathic Adolescent Scoliosis (IAP). This type of scoliosis occurs in teenagers just at the growth spurt of puberty. Idiopathic adult scoliosis is generally treated with a brace, or in severe cases, surgery at the end of the teenager's growth spurt.

Adult scoliosis has a variety of treatment options. Whenever possible, the first choice of treatment for adult scoliosis is always going to be conservative. Spinal surgery will always be the last choice of treatment due to the risks involved. Conservative treatment that is commonly recommended includes: medications, exercise, and certain types of braces to support the spine.

TREATMENT OPTIONS DEPENDING ON DEGREES OF SCOLIOSIS:

• Braces. Bracing is the usual treatment choice for adolescents who have a spinal curve between 25 degrees to 40 degrees -- particularly if their bones are still maturing and if they have at least 2 years of growth remaining. The use of a spinal brace may provide some pain relief. However, in adults, it will not cause the spine to straighten. Once you have reached skeletal maturity, bracing is used for pain relief rather than prevention.
The purpose of bracing is to halt progression of the curve. It may provide a temporary correction, but usually the curve will assume its original magnitude when bracing is eliminated.

• Surgery. Those who have curves beyond 40 degrees to 50 degrees are often considered for scoliosis surgery. The goal is to make sure the curve does not get worse, but surgery does not perfectly straighten the spine. During the procedure, metallic implants are utilized to correct some of the curvature and hold it in the correct position until a bone graft, placed at the time of surgery, consolidates and creates a rigid fusion in the area of the curve. Scoliosis surgery usually involves joining the vertebrae together permanently-- called spinal fusion.

Physical therapy and exercise is an important part of treating adult scoliosis. A well-designed exercise program can also provide pain relief in many patients. A physical therapist will develop an appropriate exercise routine for your case. It is essential that you stick to the plan.

Typical advice includes:
>Learning correct body mechanics in order to maintain erect posture that counteracts the effects of the scoliosis
>Doing regular non-jarring exercises, such as swimming
>Maintaining high levels of activity
>Doing your daily stretching exercises and deep breathing (for lung expansion)
 • 
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