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 Scoliosis
Ross
Hauser, M.D.
Scoliosis is a lateral curvature of the spine of 11
degrees or more. An estimated 500,000 adults in the United States have
scoliosis. Scoliosis is usually discovered during adolescence and is called
idiopathic scoliosis, a fancy term meaning the doctor has no idea what caused
the scolios.
In common language, scoliosis means that the spine is crooked. The spine is
held together by the same thing that holds all the bones together, ligaments.
The patient often experiences pain at the site where the spine curves. At the
apex of this curve, the ligaments are being
stretched with the scoliosis, and
localized ligament weakness is one of the etiological bases for it.
Traditional treatments for scoliosis, especially during adolescence, include
observation, bracing, and surgery. Observation of a crooked spine does not
sound very helpful, bracing has been shown to decrease the progression of mild
scoliosis, and surgery involves placing big rods in the back to stabilize the
spine. Surgery is generally utilized for severe scoliosis when bracing has
failed to stop the progression.
Again, every disease has a cause. Since scoliosis
involves the spine moving in the wrong direction, treatment should be aimed at
why this is occurring and correcting the problem.
Ligament
laxity
is probably the main plausible explanation for the development of scoliosis
and its pain.
Prolotherapy treatments to strengthen the weakened ligaments can have
potentially stabilizing and curative effects in scoliosis. If the scoliosis is
progressing quickly, then bracing would be necessary in addition to
Prolotherapy.
Scoliosis pain has common patterns depending on where the scoliosis is
located. These pain patterns are easily reproduced by palpating the ligaments
over the scoliotic segments of the spine. A positive 'jump sign" will be
elicited ensuring the diagnosis. The most common reason for pain with
scoliosis is ligament weakness at the apex of the scoliosis curve.
Prolotherapy treatments over the entire scoliotic segment is effective at
eliminating the pain of scoliosis.
It has the added benefit of causing the ligaments to strengthen which will
help stabilize the segment. For these reasons, Prolotherapy should be a part
of comprehensive scoliosis management.
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