Is it normal to have a crooked spine

The most common type of spinal deformity in adults is degenerative scoliosis. Scoliosis is a side-to-side curvature of the spine that can develop in adults when their facet joints and discs begin to deteriorate Fig. The facet joints give the spine flexibility, enabling us to twist, stretch, or curl up on the couch.

When these joints deteriorate, the spine bones can tilt and begin to shift to one side. Kyphosis is an abnormal forward rounding more than 50 degrees of curvature of the spine. In the upper thoracic back, kyphosis is commonly due to osteoporotic compression fractures. It can also occur in the lower lumbar spine. It limits function and results in a common complaint among older people: "I can't stand up straight.

These patients can develop what is called "flat back syndrome," which means they have lost some of the natural lordosis inward curvature of their lower spine. A patient who has had a previous lumbar fusion may develop a junctional kyphosis. In this situation, the spine has weakened right above the fusion, causing the patient's posture to bend forward.

Also called swayback, lordosis is a condition in which the spine curves significantly inward at the lower back, giving a backward leaning appearance. Scoliosis is not a single disease. It falls along a spectrum, from mild to moderate to severe. Symptoms include pain or stiffness in the mid-to-lower back, and numbness or weakness in the legs or feet. Not all adults with degenerative scoliosis experience pain.

When pain does occur, a pinched nerve is typically the cause, not the curvature. In more severe cases, scoliosis can cause shooting pain down the leg sciatica , an inability to stand up straight, and an inability to walk more than a short distance.

Symptoms of severe, progressive scoliosis are similar to those of stenosis, but with visible spinal imbalance. This imbalance can result in strain on the hips and knees, the inability to walk a straight line, and falls. Patients with kyphosis have lost their ability to stand up straight. Hunched over while standing, they may become quickly fatigued and have difficulty talking to others or maintaining eye contact.

They also may have difficulty lying flat. As you get older, your bones undergo degenerative changes that are part of the natural aging process. When joints deteriorate, arthritis can develop and the spinal column can shift sideways. Other conditions that might cause degeneration include:.

The aging of joints, combined with a fracture at a level above a previous fusion, can also cause a significant deformity. Simply removing material from the spine can cause a problem down the road. It may reduce or eliminate pain in the near term, but symptoms can return later because of instability of the spine.

What is Acute Pain And When to Take it Seriously It can be a challenge to determine if your pain is serious and something that could need addition Customer Support Our customer support team is available Monday - Friday from a.

Holidays BraceAbility. This website uses JavaScript to apply discounts. To be eligible for discounts, please enable JavaScript for your browser. Powered By Discount Ninja. Kyphosis Symptoms:. Scoliosis Symptoms:. Lordosis Symptoms:. Kyphosis of the spine:. Scoliosis of the spine:. Lordosis of the spine:. Kyphosis of the spine is a common condition resulting in an exaggerated forward rounding of your upper back, or thoracic region.

Causes of Kyphosis:. Causes of Scoliosis:. Causes of Lordosis:. Kyphosis can be caused by a variety of different health problems including: Osteoporosis Disk degeneration Birth Defects - spine not growing properly in the womb Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.

There are variety of things that may cause Scoliosis including: Bone abnormalities present at birth - Congenital scoliosis Abnormal muscles or nerves - neuromuscular scoliosis Previous back injuries - degenerative scoliosis Traumatic injuries or illnesses - degenerative scoliosis Unknown causes- Idiopathic scoliosis.

Wearing a brace or recovering from surgery takes a while. For some people, this can be tough. If you'd like, your care team can put you in touch with other people who have gone through the same thing or help you find support groups. There are several different types of braces. If you need a brace, the orthopedic specialist will decide on the number of hours you'll wear it each day and night. The brace acts as a holding device that keeps a curve from getting worse.

A brace won't make your spine straight. But if it does its job well, your curve won't get bigger. If you're getting a brace, your care team will work with you to choose the right one. The right brace is the one that works best for the type of curve you have — but it's also the one you're most likely to wear. So make a list of questions and concerns to discuss with your care team, and let them know all the activities you like to do. Some teens with severe scoliosis need a type of surgery called a spinal fusion.

During the operation, an orthopedic surgeon straightens the spine as much as possible and holds it in place with rods and screws. The surgeon then puts in bone graft to join fuse some of the vertebrae together.

That way, the curve can't get any worse. After about a year, the bones should be fully fused. The metal rods are no longer needed, but they stay in the back because they aren't doing any harm and taking them out requires another operation.

When treatment is over, people with scoliosis are able to live full and active lives. As long as people get the right treatment as kids or teens, their spine usually won't continue to curve after they're done growing. Scoliosis can improve with treatment, but it is not usually a sign of anything serious and treatment is not always needed if it's mild.

Some people with scoliosis may also have back pain. This is usually more common in adults with the condition. See a GP if you think you or your child has scoliosis. It's unlikely that there's anything seriously wrong, but it's best to get it checked out. The GP will examine your back and can refer you to a hospital doctor for help with diagnosis if they suspect scoliosis.