With scoliosis there aren't a lot of symptoms. The first thing that people notice is usually a cosmetic asymmetry, whether it's slight chest/rib prominence or a difference in the waist creases. Thus, when you look at the hourglass of your lower back, you notice that things look a little bit different. The fact that it doesn't have symptoms is the reason there are school screening programs for scoliosis to try to catch curves very early when they're not that noticeable to children or their familes.
Scoliosis Symptoms
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Dr. Richard A. Hostin, MD , Orthopedic Surgery, answered on behalf of Medical City Children’s HospitalSee All 3 Answers -
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The symptoms of adolescent scoliosis include the following:- Back pain: About 40 percent to 60 percent of adolescents with scoliosis complain of back pain. Frequently they are first evaluated by their school nurse or their pediatrician. The school nurse might notice a slight curvature of the spine or unevenness in the trunk when the child bends forward.
- Pulmonary compromise: When the curve of the spine is significant, usually over 80 degrees, a child/adolescent may develop pulmonary compromise. This means that the lung on the side that the spine is bent towards does not function as well as the lung on the other side. This can have various implications, from frequent lung infections to poor exercise tolerance.
- Shoulder/trunk asymmetry: Frequently in adolescents with scoliosis the child will have one shoulder that is higher than the other. The trunk will also be shifted in the direction of the curve. Adolescents may also exhibit pelvic obliquity, meaning that one side of the pelvis is higher than the other.
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Portsmouth Regional Hospital answeredIf you are exhibiting any of the symptoms of nonstructural scoliosis, such one shoulder or hip resting higher than the other or a sore back during extended periods in the same position, you should speak with your doctor. Because nonstructural scoliosis is caused by seemingly unrelated conditions, it is important to get diagnosed sooner rather than later so that the underlying condition may be treated. Nonstructural scoliosis can be caused by appendicitis, muscle spasms, or other inflammatory conditions.
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Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered
If you are exhibiting any of the symptoms of scoliosis, such as non-aligned hips or shoulders, or a sore back when staying in the same position, you should speak with your doctor. It is important to detect scoliosis early in children, as there are treatments that can slow the progression of the curve. For adults, scoliosis that has gone untreated since childhood can cause spinal arthritis, but a doctor may be able to help.
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Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered
If you suspect you have scoliosis symptoms, you should see your family doctor. Your doctor may take a family medical history, examine you, ask you questions about your symptoms, and take x-rays. They may treat you or refer you to a specialist, such as an orthopedic doctor, for further tests and treatment.
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Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered
Someone with structural scoliosis likely has one shoulder or one hip that rests higher than the other, though this is a symptom that is typically only noticed by a doctor or during a routine exam. One shoulder blade may be more prominent than the other. Someone suffering from structural scoliosis may also feel a low-back pain or back fatigue when sitting or standing for extended periods of time. If the curve of the spine is allowed to get worse, the chest cavity may close in on the lungs, which can lead to breathing problems. In some cases structural scoliosis is caused by an underlying problem like injury or a cyst, which may have other symptoms of its own.
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Portsmouth Regional Hospital answered
Someone with nonstructural scoliosis likely has one shoulder or one hip that rests higher than the other. This is a symptom that is typically only noticed by a doctor or during a routine exam. Someone suffering from nonstructural scoliosis may also feel a low-back pain or back fatigue when sitting or standing for extended periods of time. Because nonstructural scoliosis is caused by seemingly unrelated conditions, such as appendicitis or muscles spasms, someone with nonstructural scoliosis may experience symptoms related to those conditions.