• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Bradley D. Ahlgren, MD
  • Call Today: (248) 215-8080 | (248) 840-2035
  • Request an Appointment
  • Home
  • Meet Dr. Ahlgren
  • Meet the Team
  • Conditions Treated
    • Back Pain
    • Neck Pain
    • Scoliosis
    • Sciatica
    • Herniated Disc
    • Bulging Disc
    • Degenerative Disc
    • Spinal Stenosis
    • Trauma & Injuries
  • Treatments
    • Cervical Spine Treatments
    • Thoracic Spine Treatments
    • Lumbar Spine Treatments
    • Microdiscectomy
    • Sacroiliac Injections
  • On-Site Services
    • Physical Therapy
    • Pain Management
    • Clinical Research
  • Blog
  • Contact & Locations
    • Rochester Hills
    • Satellite Locations

Degenerative Scoliosis: What You Need to Know

September 11, 2020

in Physical Therapy
September 11, 2020
Tagged With: Chronic Pain, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, Orthopedics, Scoliosis treatment near me, spine specialist Michigan
 

Scoliosis refers to the development of a sideways or “S”-shaped curve in the spine. While this disorder commonly occurs in children and adolescents as idiopathic scoliosis, degenerative scoliosis tends to occur in some people as they get older.

Degenerative scoliosis can signify a serious degenerative spinal disorder, so a proper diagnosis is essential to effective treatment. Let’s talk about what scoliosis is and who can help you if you are suffering back pain or problems with your back.

Idiopathic vs. Degenerative Scoliosis

Idiopathic scoliosis tends to occur in younger people, although it is possible to receive this diagnosis as an adult. It also tends to manifest in the thoracic spine (mid-back). In contrast, degenerative scoliosis occurs more commonly in older adults and tends to affect the lumbar section, which is the lower back.

Whereas idiopathic scoliosis is believed to be an inherited condition, degenerative scoliosis comes from progressive age-related changes in the spine that cause deterioration of its structure over time, including the vertebrae and discs.

Symptoms of Degenerative Scoliosis

Most cases don’t have overt symptoms, making it challenging to diagnose. However, people may develop back pain due to muscular imbalances.

As the condition progresses, people may develop noticeable unevenness in posture. The shoulders or hips might look uneven. People may also unconsciously lean to one side. Sometimes, a hump might develop on one side of the back, and the curvature can also reduce apparent height. In severe cases, there might be nerve compression that leads to leg numbness or weakness.

Even if it causes no symptoms, scoliosis still requires medical attention. It can signify the presence of other degenerative disorders, such as osteoporosis or arthritis. The underlying condition needs to be addressed to avoid the development of debilitating complications.

Treatment Options for Degenerative Scoliosis

Treatment always starts with conservative options, as well as by treating any underlying degenerative conditions. Physical therapy is an effective treatment in alleviating symptoms. Your therapist may prescribe low-impact aerobic activities, such as walking or swimming, to improve the conditioning of your body and maintain good posture.

Your doctor might also recommend oral pain medication to reduce the discomfort from the condition. If pain relief remains elusive, they might administer nerve block injections.

If symptoms continue to significantly impact your ability to perform your daily activities, you may be a candidate for surgery. Your orthopedic surgeon may stabilize your spine with spinal fusion surgery, which aims to safely reduce the curvature of your spine.

Spine Specialist in Southeast Michigan

Degenerative scoliosis is an essential condition to treat, especially as it can indicate other spinal conditions. Ahlgren Spine provides high-quality treatment methods for spinal disorders in Rochester Hills, Bad Axe, and Royal Oak, Michigan. Dr. Bradley Ahlgren is a board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon with many years of success in treating patients for their back pain.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (248) 215-8080 or by filling out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to serving you!

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Ankle Pain
  • Arthritis
  • Back Pain
  • Back Surgery
  • Bulging Disc
  • Cervical Disc Herniation
  • Disc Degeneration
  • General
  • Herniated Disc
  • Lumbar Disc Herniation
  • Lumbar Surgery
  • Neck Pain
  • Orthopedics
  • Pain Management
  • Physical Therapy
  • Radiofrequency Ablation
  • Sciatica Pain
  • Scoliosis
  • Spinal Fusion
  • Spinal Injuries
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Spine
  • Spine Pain
  • Spine Surgeon
  • Spine Surgery
  • Steroid Injections
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Uncategorized

Tags

Ahlgren Spine Ahlgren Spine Orthopaedic Surgery Arthritis Back Pain back pain doctor in Rochester Hills MI back pain doctor near me back pain relief back pain treatment near me Back Surgery Bradley D. Ahlgren MD Chronic Pain Chronic Spinal Pain Degenerative Disc Disease Herniated Disc herniated disc treatment Herniated Disc Treatment near me lumbar disc herniation doctor near me orthopedic doctor Rochester Hills MI Orthopedics Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Orthopedic Spine Surgeon in Rochester Hills MI Orthopedic Spine Surgeon near me Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Rochester Hills MI orthopedic surgeon Rochester Hills MI Pain Management Physician physical therapist near me physical therapist Rochester Hills MI Physical Therapy physical therapy Bad Axe MI physical therapy clinic near me Physical Therapy near me Physical Therapy Rochester Hills physical therapy Rochester Hills MI Sciatica pain treatment near me Scoliosis treatment near me Scoliosis Treatment Southeast Michigan Spinal Pain spine doctor near me Spine Specialist Spine Specialist near me spine surgeon Spine Surgeon near me Spine Surgeon Rochester Hills MI spine surgery steroid injections near me

Footer

 Our Blog

 Discover the latest news, advancements, and techniques in the field of spinal orthopedics, as well as special announcements pertaining to our practice, with our informative blog.

LEARN MORE 

Patient Education

Want to know more about the conditions we treat and the ways in which acute and chronic back and neck pain can be relieved? Our exclusive patient education library has the answers to your questions.

LEARN MORE 
  • Home
  • Meet Dr. Ahlgren
  • Meet the Team
  • Conditions Treated
  • Treatments
  • On-Site Services
  • Blog
  • Patient Education
  • Contact & Locations
  • HIPAA Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sitemap
Copyright © · Ahlgren Spine · All Rights Reserved
iHealthspot Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com

At Ahlgren Spine, Dr. Bradley D. Ahlgren provides comprehensive diagnosis and treatments of spine conditions such as, Back Pain, Neck Pain, Scoliosis, Sciatica, Herniated Disc, Bulging Disc, Degenerative Disc, Spinal Stenosis, and Spinal Trauma & Injuries.