When Katie received her first diagnosis at the age of 12, everything started to make sense. She never seemed to stand or sit straight. Her back was always asymmetric, and her right chest looked curved more when she bent over. Before, Katie’s parents only thought it was because of her childish naughtiness and scolded her for that. However, when her mother tried to correct her posture one day, she failed. Katie’s weird posture was not a silly prank but a real problem, so they decided to see a pediatrician and heard of scoliosis for the first time.
What Is Scoliosis?
Similar to kyphosis, which refers to the spine abnormally bending forward, scoliosis happens when the spine is bending sideways. A normal spine should look straight from behind, but a scoliosis patient has a spine with noticeable curvature.
Most cases of scoliosis are mild and need no treatment. However, mild scoliosis can become worse if left unattended, and severe ones can be disabling.
Symptoms of Scoliosis
Common signs and symptoms of scoliosis include:
- A visible curve in your back
- Uneven shoulders, waist, and hips
In most cases of scoliosis, the spine will rotate or twist in addition to curving side to side, resulting in:
- One shoulder blade that looks bigger than the other
- One side of the rib cage jutting forward
- A prominence on one side of the back when bending forward
Apart from listed visible symptoms, scoliosis may also lead to:
- Lower back pain
- Back stiffness
- Pain and numbness in your legs due to pinched nerves
- Fatigue from muscle strain
Causes of Scoliosis
In nonstructural scoliosis, the spine works well but looks curved, and the causes are usually identifiable. For example, muscle spasms and appendicitis can induce nonstructural scoliosis. However, in most cases of scoliosis, the causes are unknown, although many scientists believe that heredity is the main factor.
Treatments for Scoliosis
Mild scoliosis usually does not need treatment, but doctors may recommend long-term monitoring to see whether scoliosis becomes worse.
If the curvature of the spine is too large, there are several treatment options:
Braces
Katie took this therapy after diagnosis because she was young and her bones were still growing. She wore a brace around her torso 24/7 for six years to prevent the curve from worsening. It was uncomfortable but necessary.
Surgery
Katie’s curvature did not require surgery, but she has seen others who had to. For example, one boy had undergone vertebral body tethering. During this treatment, a strong and flexible cord that threads through screws is fixed on the spine to straighten it.
MicroGen for Scoliosis
HeaWea MicroGen is an advanced portable frequency healing device that can help with thousands of issues. Katie’s parents bought her one to help her recover and prevent potential relapse and complications after the braces were removed. Here are the programs they have used.
The TENS pads should be placed on the two ends of the curved spine.
Katie’s spine did not grow straight fully and still has a 29-degree curve. However, MicroGen has significantly relieved her back pain, and the spine stayed in good condition. She was lucky that her parents took her to the doctor at an early stage. The earlier the intervention, the better scoliosis will recover.
