While you may believe that a glance in the mirror will reveal whether your spine is bent or straight, you should see your doctor if you suspect you have scoliosis.
Your doctor will discuss your medical history and symptoms with you and perform a physical exam.
Symptoms of Scoliosis
Here's how to recognize scoliosis signs in yourself. Consult your doctor if you suspect you have it.
Symptoms of scoliosis in adults:
- Numbness, weakness, or pain in the legs
- Back pain
- Trouble walking
- Trouble standing up straight
- Uneven shoulders and/or hips
- Shortness of breath
- Bone spurs (bony lumps in the spine joints caused by bone and joint injury)
- Tired feeling
- Bump in the lower back
- Loss of height
- Feeling full rapidly while eating because your spine is pressing on your stomach
Some people have had this illness since they were teenagers. Curves can expand in size over time. Another type of scoliosis develops in adulthood. Wear and tear harm the bones and joints in your spine as you age. The disks that sit between them begin to degrade. As a result, the disks lose height and begin to tilt. As a result, your spine curves.
Back pain is frequently the first indicator of scoliosis in adults. The pain could be caused by bone damage in the back rather than by the scoliosis itself. As the spine curves, it can place pressure on adjacent nerves, resulting in symptoms such as weakness and numbness.
How Is the Exam Done?
Your doctor will examine your shoulders and waist as you stand with your arms at your sides. Of course, they'll scrutinize your backside as well.
Your scoliosis evaluation will almost certainly include the "Adam's forward bend test." Your doctor will instruct you to bend over. They'll stand behind you as you bend to see how even your back is. Anything odd in the back or ribs, such as a hump, could be a symptom of scoliosis.
If your spine is curved, your doctor may use a scoliometer to determine its angle. Standing X-rays of your spine from the back and side will be ordered to see the curve more clearly. These photos can be used to assess the degree of bend in your backbone precisely.
If your curvature is larger than 10 degrees, your doctor will diagnose you with scoliosis. Angles between 25 and 50 degrees are considered mild to moderate by doctors, whereas angles greater than 50 degrees are considered severe.
Your doctor may order magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in addition to X-rays. This could reveal whether the scoliosis is caused by a tumor or cyst.
Adult Scoliosis Tests
If you have back pain or numbness in your legs, your doctor may order a test to see if you have degenerative scoliosis. They'll inquire about the location of the discomfort and whether or not anything helps or worsens it. They will also examine your spine, shoulders, and hips while you stand and walk. You may be requested to lean forward or sideways.
To diagnose degenerative scoliosis, X-rays must reveal all sections of your spine, as well as your hips and pelvis. Your doctor will examine the photos for alignment, curvature, and balance.
If you experienced idiopathic scoliosis as a child, you may have more issues as an adult than you did as a teen. Your doctor may order additional X-rays to assess any changes in the curve of your spine. If you experience leg pain or an unusual curve pattern, your doctor may order an MRI to display specific information about the disks and nerves in your back.
