Adult Scoliosis: 4 Things to Know

Scoliosis is a three-dimensional curvature in the spine. While it's most often diagnosed in children, scoliosis also can affect adults.

Adult scoliosis is commonly caused by asymmetric disc degeneration. Degenerative disc disease causes uneven wear in the discs in the spine and can cause the spine to curve.

Untreated scoliosis from childhood can also lead to adult degenerative scoliosis.

How serious is scoliosis as an adult?

The abnormal curve of the spine caused by scoliosis can affect posture and mobility. People with scoliosis may lean forward while walking to ease the discomfort and strain on their lower back.

While this posture adjustment can temporarily alleviate some pain, it is not a sustainable solution. Walking in a hunched-over position can put strain and pressure on the back, causing significant back pain and discomfort that might not go away.

Adult scoliosis can also lead to other spinal issues, such as spinal stenosis — a condition where the space within the spinal canal narrows that results in pressure on the nerves, which can generate more intense pain and potentially making it harder to walk.

It is important to recognize the signs of scoliosis early and contact your doctor to get help managing symptoms and to improve your quality of life.

What hurts when you have scoliosis?

Adults with scoliosis commonly experience:

• Sensation of falling forward or leaning sideways
• Difficulty walking
• Leaning forward when walking
• Back pain when walking or standing
• Cramping in buttocks or legs when walking

As the condition progresses, people can experience a persistent ache or sharp discomfort when walking or standing for extended periods.

Who's at risk for adult scoliosis?

Adult scoliosis can affect anyone, even those with no previous spinal problems. The natural aging process can lead to wear and tear on the spine, contributing to the asymmetric disc degeneration that often leads to scoliosis.

Those at higher risk of developing adult scoliosis include:

• People who have had lumbar spine surgery, particularly people with Harrington Rods
• People with a family history of back surgery

How can you fix scoliosis as an adult?

In most cases, your doctor will first try conservative treatments that help to alleviate pain and improve mobility. This could include:

• Anti-inflammatory medication to reduce swelling and alleviate discomfort
• Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the spine. This can help enhance flexibility and correct posture imbalances, which can significantly reduce stress on the spinal column.
• Epidural injections to provide targeted pain relief by delivering steroids directly to the inflamed areas in the spine, minimizing nerve pain and discomfort

A patient may also wear a scoliosis brace to try to relieve pain. In most cases, a patient only wears it for 30 minutes to an hour at a time.

If pain continues to limit a patient's daily activities after trying conservative treatments, surgery may be an option.

Surgery for adult scoliosis involves a major spinal realignment. This surgery has long recovery time and a high complication rate, so it is generally only recommended for patients whose symptoms have affected their ability to perform daily activities and have failed conservative management options.