What is spinal curve disorders & symptoms?

TYPES OF SPINAL CURVE DISORDERS & SYMPTOMS!

There are mainly three types of Spinal curve disorders. In this article, we discuss the types of spinal curvature disorders in brief. 

What are the types of Spinal Curve Disorders or spinal abnormalities?

(A)Scoliosis:

 It is a disorder in which the spine gets curved sideways. In Scoliosis the spine gets turned into the shape of S or C. It is often seen occurring during the growth spurt just before puberty. 

 

Though it can be caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy etc. the causes of scoliosis are unknown till now. About 3% of adolescents experience scoliosis.

 

The symptoms of it are mild but can become severe as children grow. The spine may also rotate or twist, in addition to curving side to side causing the worsening situation to occur. 

 

It is very dangerous when it turns severe as it reduces the amount of space within the chest, further making it difficult for the lungs to function properly.

It can be detected with X-rays even if could be mild Scoliosis. 

 

What are the symptoms Experienced?

Following are the symptoms of Scoliosis:

• Uneven shoulders
• One hip higher than the other
• One shoulder blade that appears more prominent than the other
• Uneven waist

What are the Causes of it?

Particular causes of it are not yet discovered, but it may be concluded that its causes may depend on hereditary factors. 

Mild Scoliosis causes are listed below:

1. Neuromuscular conditions (such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy)

2. Birth defects

3. Injuries to or infections of the spine

What are the risk factors included in Scoliosis?

Here are the risk factors that may develop scoliosis:

Age:

Age is one of the risk factors that affect scoliosis. Symptoms of it typically begin during the growth spurt which occurs just prior to puberty.

Sex:

Generally, girls are prone to have a higher risk of curve worsening and requiring treatment. But the rate of scoliosis is almost the same in boys as well as girls.

Genes:

Hereditary factors may be the cause of Scoliosis and that’s the reason why it is one of the risk factors for developing scoliosis. Scoliosis can run in families, but most children with scoliosis don't have a family history of the disease.

 

What are the other complications associated with it?

Sometimes it may cause complications that include:

Back problems:

 People who are adults and possess Scoliosis from childhood may experience severe back pain than normal people without scoliosis. 

 

Appearance: 

 Scoliosis affects the appearance of the people. It causes uneven hips and shoulders, prominent ribs, and a shift of the waist and trunk to the side. 

 

Heart and Lung Diseases: 

 Generally, it happens under severe worsening conditions when your rib cage gets pressed against the lungs and heart. It makes it more difficult to breathe and harder for the heart to pump in the condition of scoliosis.

 

When to refer a doctor?

You should refer a doctor if you get to see the symptoms and signs of Scoliosis in your child.

 

What is the Treatment?

Scoliosis Braces: 

Doctors recommend braces if your child’s bones are still growing. It doesn’t mean that wearing braces may cure your scoliosis but it helps to prevent further growth of it. 

 Braces can be discontinued:

• About two years after girls begin to menstruate
• When boys need to shave daily
• When there are no further changes in height.

Surgery:

 Scoliosis surgery is the way to stop the progress of severe scoliosis. The most common type of scoliosis surgery is called spinal fusion. 

In it, surgeons connect two or more of the bones in the spine together, so they can't move independently. 

It might include complications such as bleeding, infection, pain, or nerve damage.

 

(B)Kyphosis:

Kyphosis is a condition in which your back rounds forward and becomes exaggerated. It is seen usually in older people, most commonly in older women.

It occurs due to the weakening of spinal bones. It further causes them to crack or compress. 

There is also another kind of kyphosis which is seen in infants or teens. The cause of it is due to the malformation of the spine. 

What are its Symptoms?

You may experience less or mild symptoms or even no noticeable symptoms in mild kyphosis.

Some might feel severe back pain and stiffness in their back.  

What are the causes of Kyphosis?

When the vertebrae in the upper back become more wedge-shaped, it is termed as Kyphosis.

What are its causes?

Causes include:

Osteoporosis: 

Osteoporosis can be one of the causes of spinal curve disorders. It is most commonly seen in older women. Also, people who have corticosteroids for a long term period are found to have kyphosis. 

 

Fractures: 

Breaking or crushing of vertebrae can be included under the cause of kyphosis. 

 

Disk degeneration:

 There are different discs located in our body that act as cushions between spinal vertebrae. Depending on the age these disks dry out and shrink which worsens the condition of kyphosis. 

It may include other causes such as:

• Scheuermann's disease
• Birth defects
• Cancer and treatment of cancers
• Syndromes

How to treat?

You may refer to the treatment such as:

     1. Yoga

     2. Weight Loss

     3. Medications

     4. Surgery

     5. Braces

What are the lists of Complications in it?

You might experience breathing problems which can build pressure on your lungs. 

There might be difficulty in performing tasks, thus you are limited to perform physical functions. 

It can lead to various digestive problems causing your digestive tract to compress. 

It makes your body image appears to be poor in adolescents. 

When to see a doctor?

You should see a doctor immediately if you notice an increased curve in your upper back. 

(C)Lordosis: 

When your spinal curvature bends inwards, that condition is referred to as lordosis. It is also termed as swayback in other words. It might affect your lower back as well as your lower neck. Also, in severe conditions, it might affect your movement. This is the normal type of spinal curve disorder.

Causes of Lordosis

 

Here we look after the causes of Lordosis:

Spondylolisthesis: 

It refers to the condition of Spinal Curvature where one of the lower vertebras slips forward onto the bone below. 

Osteoporosis:

It is a kind of bone disease where the loss of bone density occurs. It further increases the risk of fractures. 

Obesity: 

It might become one of the causes of Lordosis in you.  It also can be the cause of other serious diseases such as heart disease, cancer, etc. 

 

• Achondroplasia
• Osteosarcoma

What are the Types of Lordosis?

 

Lower back Lordosis:

It is one of the most common types of lordosis. When you lay on the plain surface your spine won’t be able to touch the ground as there could be space between your spine and the surface. 

 

Cervical Lordosis:

In this condition, your spine around the neck region does not curve as shape C i.e. as the normal condition of the neck.

  

What are its Symptoms?

Symptoms are as follows:

• Pain in neck, shoulders, upper back
• Electric shock pains
• Difficulty maintaining muscle control
• Tingling
• Numbness

How to treat Lordosis?

For lordosis treatment the following methods:

• Use braces
• Weight loss
• Medication
• Surgery
• In taking Vitamin D

You should consult medical experts/doctors for taking medications. 

What are the complications related to it?

• In severe cases, you might get problems in
• spine
• legs
• internal organs

These all are the types of spinal curve disorders with some basic information about symptoms & treatment for this disorder.