Does Acupuncture Help the Back Pain Caused by Scoliosis?
Does Acupuncture Help the Back Pain Caused by Scoliosis?
In most cases, scoliosis is not painful, but there are certain types of scoliosis than can cause back pain. Additionally, there are other causes of back pain, which your doctor will want to look for as well.
Be sure you consult a spine doctor (either orthopedic or neurosurgeon). For curves greater than 40 degrees, surgery may be recommended to heart and lung problems or problems carrying a pregnancy.
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July 7th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
I've posted the following a few times for other people with questions. I hope I'll answer the things that have you concerned.
Scoliosis comes mainly in two flavors – functional (the curve is caused by another issue (uneven leg length for example) and structural. There are two main kinds of structural scoliosis – congenital (present at birth) and idiopathic (unknown cause). It is important for you to know what kind you have.
If you have functional scoliosis, a chiropractor may be able to help. Shoe lifts may help with uneven legs, but there can be many causes of functional scoliosis. I don't have much experience with functional scoliosis.
If you have structural scoliosis, there's not a lot you can do. The main treatments depend on how bad the curve is and how much more growth you have to go. Its not possible to predict how much or how fast a curve may increase.
You need to see a scoliosis specialist if you're not doing that already. A doctor that is not trained as a scoliosis specialist doesn't have the expertise to treat it.
Any curve under 10 degrees is considered normal and probably isn't monitored.
Curves from 10-25 degrees are mild but should be monitored, especially if you're still growing.
Curves from 25-40 degrees are moderate with bracing possible. You will need monitoring, especially if you're still growing.
Surgery may be recommended if your curve doesn't respond to bracing. Bracing will do no good if you're through growing. The purpose of a brace isn't to make your curve better, but rather to keep the curve from becoming worse.
Curves greater than 45 degrees is major. Surgery may be recommended. This depends on many things, but whether you're done growing, whether your curve is increasing, whether your heart and lungs are in danger of being squeezed by your curve, whether you're in pain, quality of life, etc.
If your curve is over 30 degrees, there is a good chance that it will increase even when you're through growing. (Mine did.)
Unfortunately, nothing can *fix* idiopathic scoliosis. Surgery can keep the curve from getting worse, and in most cases, will reduce the curve but most likely your spine won't be straight (unless you are very flexible in the area to be fused, then you might be lucky).
Chiropractors, message therapists, acupuncturists, etc., can't fix idiopathic scoliosis. These people adjust the soft, connective tissues and that may (or may not, you can't tell ahead of time) make you feel better, but remember, idiopathic scoliosis is not a connective tissue disease. Your spine is growing curved.
July 7th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Acupuncture and acupressure treatment can give relief from pain but you need to treat the root cause. Consult your physiotherapist and get a set of exercises so that you can correct the problem.
July 7th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
July 7th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
July 21st, 2009 at 4:05 am
I think this website has some interesting information
July 22nd, 2009 at 10:49 am
Thank you, Nacke, I appreciate that. And good luck with your scoliosis blog. Let me know if you have any questions.
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Thanks for posting about this, I would love to read more about this topic.
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Hi Joan. So, you’re on this blog, too! Thank you again, and I will be writing more about it. Julie