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Originally Posted On: Scoliosis Pain Management | The curve irritates & stretches nerves (scoliosisinstitute.com)

A majority of the population experiences back pain in one form or another.  It is a very common problem and those with Scoliosis are often the recipients of back pain.  Some people with scoliosis don’t have pain or it is not a major issue. However, for those with Scoliosis pain, it can really affect the quality of their lives and their families.

When back pain strikes, it makes it impossible to be as active as you would like. Most back pain sufferers must give up their fitness routines and daily activities that kept their spine strong and in-shape. They also miss out on family vacations and other group activities, because they are in so much pain. Recent research has shown that chronic back pain causes a decrease in your “happy hormone,” serotonin. So if back pain has you feeling down, you’re not alone. And we can help you can fix that.

There are many reasons why a person’s scoliosis causes so much pain. The curve of the spine can irritate, and stretch nerves, muscles, tendons, and organs. Then posture is affected and other parts of the body do not function correctly.  Muscles then begin to spasm and it’s a slow but steady decline in the way one feels. Sometimes, the pain will shoot down a leg or two, causing sciatica causing instability walking.

But there is more.  Much of the pain of adult scoliosis is caused by the discs in the spine.  These shock absorber like body parts can press up against nerves, or if they are ruptured, they can cause the vertebra to rub together and pain becomes prevalent.

Pain management has undergone huge research in the past decade – especially for those with Scoliosis.  We have participated in research studies and worked to understand its genesis and how it can change one’s life. Some pain is instantaneous, and in other situations, it slowly appears and before you know it, you have so much pain you can hardly get through the day. It is interesting to note that some people experience little or no pain with adult scoliosis, yet others have so much pain, it is hard for them to sleep and attend to daily activities.

We know what pain is and we can help.

Depending on the type of pain, there are treatments called complementary therapies that might help, in addition to pain medication. These include things like hydrotherapy and massage and are usually done alongside medical treatments.

An exercise that strengthens the core muscles (the back and stomach muscles that support the spine) such as yoga, Pilates, stretching, and swimming can also help with back pain.

ESI injections are powerful steroids that are injected into the joint space to help ease pain and inflammation. Injections are used to settle the nerve pain down. Most do not have any proven long-term effect but can be useful for acute pain or as part of a formal pain management program. As a first and conservative treatment option, we’ve found that a lot of our patients find significant pain relief with a single injection, others take a few injections to find some relief. Injections are helpful for most patients, and others do not find relief with an injection series.

Today, there are many different types of medication that can help to relieve pain. Even with a wide range of pain medication, it is not easy to control chronic pain and we will use a combination of treatments along with medication to ease and eliminate pain.

Although the above treatments are our first choice, unfortunately, these treatment options will not sufficiently reduce the pain for some patients.  Then it’s on to the second stage of treatment and that will involve surgery.  We always implement the least invasive procedure and our team of experienced spine specialists will consult with you on a winning strategy for your unique condition.  After decades of researching and treating Scoliosis and spine pain, at the Southwest Scoliosis Institute, we have been recognized throughout the world as the experts in Scoliosis and the pain that often comes with the condition.  Where others do not specialize in Scoliosis, we do and as such we have helped over 30,000 patients and completed over 5900 successful procedures.

• Maintain Mobility and Independence
• Improve Sleep Quality
• Dive Back Into Old Hobbies That Had Become Too Painful
• Travel Without pain in Your Back
• Get Through a Long Day at Work Without Aches and Pains
• Play with Kids and Grandkids Again
• Decrease Depression and Increase Energy
• Get Back to Feeling Like “Me” Again