Scoliosis in adults is an abnormal curvature of the spine diagnosed in patients aged 18 or older. This condition can occur as a progression of childhood scoliosis or due to degenerative changes in the spine, making early diagnosis and treatment essential.
Advanced Spine Center is led by Dr. Stephen P. Courtney, MD, a board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon. He has over 28 years of experience treating cervical, lumbar, and thoracic spine conditions. Dr. Courtney and his team provide comprehensive, personalized scoliosis treatment for adults. To learn more about adult scoliosis treatment near you, call (972) 499-5457 or visit our online contact page to schedule your consultation.
Causes of Adult Scoliosis
Causes of adult scoliosis depend partially on the type of scoliosis. Primary degenerative scoliosis refers to curvature that develops in adulthood after skeletal maturity, often due to age-related wear-and-tear or degenerative spinal issues. Individuals with disc degeneration, arthritis, spinal stenosis, and low bone density due to osteoporosis are at a higher risk of developing this condition. According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, degenerative scoliosis most commonly occurs in people aged 65 years and older.
Some adults develop scoliosis as a progression of idiopathic scoliosis that was present in childhood. Prior spine surgery or spinal injury can also disrupt the structural integrity of the spine and lead to adult spinal deformity. In some cases, medical professionals may be unable to diagnose the primary cause of scoliosis.
Common Symptoms of Scoliosis in Adults
Individuals with adult scoliosis often experience chronic back pain and stiffness that worsens with activity. Uneven posture and visible asymmetry in the shoulders, hips, or waist can indicate scoliosis. Leg pain, numbness, and other nerve symptoms arise when spinal nerves become compressed by the curvature. Adult scoliosis can also reduce mobility and endurance.
How Is Adult Scoliosis Treated at Advanced Spine Center?
Prior to scoliosis treatment in Plano, TX, the Advanced Spine Center performs a comprehensive evaluation of your condition. This process includes a detailed medical history review and physical examination. We use imaging studies to diagnose scoliosis and assess the severity of the spinal curve, also known as the Cobb angle.
Our team develops personalized treatment plans based on the patient’s type and degree of curvature, their symptoms, and their overall health and lifestyle goals. Most patients begin with conservative treatment options designed to reduce pain, improve function, and slow the progression of scoliosis. Advanced Spine Center reserves surgical procedures for severe cases in which non-surgical treatments have not provided adequate relief.
Non Surgical Scoliosis Treatment
Non-surgical scoliosis treatment focuses on reducing pain and inflammation, improving posture and core strength, and preventing spinal curve progression. The goal of treatment is to enhance daily comfort so that patients can maintain their independence and quality of life without surgery.
Physical Therapy for Scoliosis in Adults
Physical therapy treats scoliosis by targeting the core muscles and abdominal muscles that support the spine. Programs often include core strengthening, targeted stretching, and postural correction exercises. This can relieve pain, improve spinal alignment, and build the muscular support needed to slow curve progression. Balance and functional training help patients move more safely and confidently. Customized home exercise programs allow patients to continue making progress between clinic visits. Our team may recommend physical therapy as a first-line treatment for mild scoliosis or as a complement to other conservative and surgical interventions.
Scoliosis Pain Relief Options at Advanced Spine Center
The Advanced Spine Center offers several targeted pain relief options to help adults with scoliosis manage their symptoms and maintain daily function. Anti-inflammatory medications help reduce inflammation around the facet joints and spinal nerves, providing significant pain relief for patients with mild to moderate symptoms. Our team provides steroid injections and nerve blocks to deliver medication directly to the spine and prevent pain signals from traveling to the brain. You may qualify for a Cervical epidural steroid injection in TX to treat upper-spine and neck pain. Alternatively, a lumbar epidural steroid injection in Plano, TX reduces pain in the lumbar spine. We may also suggest activity modification, which helps patients identify and avoid movements that aggravate their symptoms.
When Is Adult Scoliosis Surgery Recommended?
Severe and worsening spinal curves usually require surgery to address. Patients who experience persistent pain even after conservative care may benefit from surgical intervention. Surgery also becomes appropriate when the spinal deformity has a major impact on the patient’s quality of life and overall health. You may want to consider surgery if nerve compression is causing leg pain, weakness, or other neurological symptoms.
If you’re experiencing spinal issues, consider reviewing the 8 signs you need back surgery to better understand the indicators that make surgery the most appropriate next step. Whenever possible, the Advanced Spine Center prioritizes using minimally invasive procedures to treat scoliosis. This reduces irritation to the surrounding tissues and improves post-surgery recovery times.
Spinal Fusion for Adult Scoliosis
Spinal fusion is one of the most common surgeries for adults with scoliosis. Our medical professionals perform cervical and lumbar fusion surgery in Plano, TX. This procedure involves stabilizing the spine by using rods, screws, and bone grafts to permanently connect two or more vertebrae. Fusion prevents further curve progression, restores better spinal alignment, and reduces the pain associated with spinal deformity. Recovery following Plano, TX cervical fusion surgery or lumbar fusion surgery requires a structured rehabilitation program to restore strength and mobility.
Other Adult Scoliosis Surgery Techniques
Decompression surgery eases scoliosis-related nerve compression by removing bone or tissue that narrows the spinal canal and irritates the spinal nerves. The Advanced Spine Center team performs minimally invasive lumbar decompression, laminotomy, and laminectomy surgery in Plano, TX, to relieve pressure on spinal nerves.
Severe scoliosis may require osteotomy. This is a more complex surgical technique used to correct severe or rigid spinal curves by cutting and removing portions of vertebrae to improve spinal alignment.
Adult Scoliosis FAQs
How Do Spine Curves Progress in Adult Scoliosis?
Spine curves in adult scoliosis tend to progress gradually as degenerative changes in the discs and facet joints alter spinal alignment. Curves exceeding 30 degrees on the Cobb angle measurement carry the highest risk of continued progression without treatment.
What Happens If Scoliosis Is Left Untreated in Adults?
Those who leave scoliosis untreated risk worsening curve progression, increasing nerve compression, and a significant decline in mobility and quality of life. Severe cases can potentially lead to flatback syndrome or serious difficulty performing daily activities.
How Does Scoliosis Affect Adults Over 70?
Adults over 70 experience scoliosis symptoms more intensely due to reduced bone density, increased degenerative changes, and diminished core muscle strength. Conservative treatment and careful monitoring are especially important for this age group to manage pain and preserve function.
Does Scoliosis Treatment Lead to Improved Function and Quality of Life?
Most adult scoliosis patients who receive appropriate scoliosis treatments experience improved function, reduced pain, and a better quality of life. In fact, many patients return to daily activities they had previously been unable to perform.
Schedule a Consultation for Adult Scoliosis Treatment in Plano, TX
Adult scoliosis is a progressive condition that responds best to early evaluation and a personalized treatment plan developed by an experienced scoliosis specialist. Advanced Spine Center in Plano, TX, provides comprehensive care for adults at every stage of scoliosis. Our team is committed to helping each patient achieve the best possible outcome and return to the activities that matter most to them.
Call Advanced Spine Center at (972) 499-5457 or visit the online contact page to schedule your consultation for adult scoliosis treatment in Plano, TX today.
