Are you battling chronic back pain? If so, you may be one of the millions of Americans who suffer from scoliosis. Characterized by an abnormal curvature of the spine, this condition may affect people of all ages. While most cases are fairly minor, some people experience severe symptoms that result in serious back pain. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what scoliosis is and share tips for treating chronic spine pain.
What Is Scoliosis?
Most people’s spines have a natural, front-to-back curve. Those with scoliosis, on the other hand, have a side-to-side curvature instead. Minor cases generally don’t cause any symptoms. In more serious cases, the patient may experience the following:
- Chronic back pain
- Difficulty standing straight
- Core muscle weakness
- Leg pain or weakness
- Uneven shoulders
- Leaning to one side
Scoliosis can occur due to a variety of factors, including genetics, a spinal injury or a nerve condition. For many people, however, the cause is unknown. No matter how it originates, scoliosis may cause severe discomfort that interferes with day-to-day life. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce this pain.
How to Relieve Scoliosis at Home
Oftentimes, scoliosis is worsened by certain lifestyle habits and actions. Here are a few changes you can make to lower pain levels:
- Maintain good posture: Poor posture and slouching exacerbate back pain. Try to ensure that your back is straight and that your weight is evenly distributed on both feet.
- Use the right furniture: If you spend lots of time sitting down, invest in a cushioned chair with good lumbar support. For sleeping, it’s advisable to use a firm mattress, which helps maintain spinal alignment.
- Exercise regularly: There are many exercises designed to reduce back pain and improve spinal alignment. These include core strengthening exercises (such as planks and crunches), low-impact exercises (such as walking and swimming) and stretches (such as yoga or Pilates).
- Consume a healthy diet: In addition to exercising regularly, try to maintain a healthy diet. Excess weight places extra stress on the spine, contributing to pain and misalignment.
If these tips don’t help with your back pain, consider seeking professional treatment.
Chronic Back Pain Treatments for Scoliosis
For some people, lifestyle changes are enough to manage their scoliosis. Others, however, need more hands-on treatment. At Aspire Pain Relief Institute, we offer minimally invasive, non-surgical solutions that reduce chronic back pain and improve your overall well-being. Our treatments include the following:
- Epidural Steroid Injections: Delivered to the spinal cord, these injections target irritated nerves to reduce pain and encourage healing.
- Percutaneous Disc Decompression: In this procedure, a small amount of disc tissue is removed to relieve pressure on nerves.
- Spinal Cord Stimulation: Using a small device that sends electrical impulses, this treatment blocks pain signals from reaching the brain.
- Sacroiliac Joint Injection: This lower back pain treatment targets the sacroiliac joint, which connects the spine to the pelvis.
- Intrathecal Pumps: Also known as a pain pump, this surgically implanted device sends medication to the fluid around the spinal cord.
- Kyphoplasty: This procedure involves injecting bone cement to treat fractures, stabilize the vertebrae and restore height.
- Vertebroplasty: Similar to kyphoplasty, this treatment involves injecting bone cement into fractured vertebrae. However, the main intention is to relieve pain, not restore height.
- Radiofrequency Ablation: This treatment prevents nerves from sending pain signals by using radiofrequency energy, or heat generated by radio waves.
Our treatments are paired with physical therapy, which helps build muscle strength and promotes long-term relief.
Achieve Relief in Tampa Today!
When it comes to treating chronic pain, our team at Aspire Pain Relief goes above and beyond. Not only are we committed to finding non-invasive solutions, but we’re also passionate about treating the whole patient. Rather than mask symptoms with medications, we discover the underlying cause. Then, we create highly personalized solutions geared toward your unique symptoms. Achieve pain relief by scheduling your appointment today!