Adult scoliosis. Do you think visiting a chiropractic could be useful?

Question

I have a pain in the back due tue a mildy scoliosis. I don't want to take medicines for pain. Any advice?

Answer 1

There are varying opinions about chiropractic regarding scoliosis treatment. But there's no dispute that for symptomatic relief from scoliosis pain, chiropractic is by far the safest and most effective treatment barnone.

As far as correction goes, there aren't any long term studies even though many anecdotal cases exists. There's a study being developed for this by one of the chiropractic university and should be published soon.

Meanwhile, if all you are looking for is symptomatic relief, finding a right chiropractor would be the best choice.

Drugs only hide the symptoms. You must understand that pain is a signar from your body telling you not to use the damaged structure. If you take pain medication and keep using that structure, it'll only get worse in the long run and you may become surgical case.

I've personally seen this many times. Chiropractic directly deals with soft tissues and biomechanical aspect of your spine which is THE cause of your problem. I feel that that's the only right approach to your problem.

Also, if you have mild scoliosis that's causing pain, consider non-invasive braces like Spinecor. Check it out at http://www.myscoliosis.net

Answer 2

The uneven pull of muscles on the sides of the spine cause fatigue. The pain needs' to be evaluated. Physical Therapy, started early, in the long run will teach you a lot and the exercises will straighten the muscles for strengthening at least. Be sure to sit very right, and no slouching. Mine developed very quickly- from s curve in 10 years, to a 21 degree left bend, twisting and retrograding to be backwards. Seeing and knowing this sure explained why I leaned in a chair to get comfortable. P.T. would have helped and the cost would have been short-term for all the benefits I'd been getting. Muscle relaxants like methocarbimol and cyclobenzaprine are great- just take at 8 P.M. so that your'e not too relaxed to hold onto the steering wheel, in the morning and use when not working mostly, to keep on top of the strain and pain it causes'.

Answer 3

I have scoliosis as well but, unfortunately, along with other problems required a total spinal fusion. However, since your pain is due to mild scoliosis, I would suggest massages with warm compresses (such as a heating pad). I personally don't agree with chiropractors. Also, unfortunately, with scoliosos comes nerve problems, so it might be best to just consult with an orthopedist who specializes in spines just to rule out any pinched nerves or spinal cord compression.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Chiropractors are useful for some problems but for scoliosis I suggest you see an orthopedic specialist. Once I was diagnosed with scoliosis, my orthopedic surgeon referred me to a spinal surgeon and that is the only person I trust now to help my back problems.

Answer 5

Go to a chiropratic but be careful some arn't all what they are cracked(no pun intended) to be. I have gon for a long time and It helps out alot!! your insurance my cover it to but good luck on finding and family dr to refer you most are against it.

Answer 6

I personnally wouldn't let anyone do anything to my back except massage. They just charge you big bucks and more then a higher percentage have conditions worse after treatment.

Answer 7

Chiropractic is a safe and effective way to help with many conditions. Chiropractic is different than other health care professions in that it allows the body's own natural ability to heal and regulate itself. If you have scoliosis, than you probably have nerve interference which is causing dysfunction in your body, resulting in symptoms. In this case, pain in your back. Chiropractic adjustments release the interference from the brain to the body therebey restoring the integrity of the nerve system and the ability of your body to heal itself.

If it is scientific proof you are looking, I have included below a few research studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of chiropractic. Unlike all other "treatments", chiropractic believes that health and healing comes from within, not from the outside. It doesn't need lotions and potions to heal. Only the body can heal, that is, if there is no interference.

Research supporting Chiropractic
Last Updated ; 1996.10.06
[ New Zealand Report ]
Report of the Commission of Inquiry, Government Printer, New Zealand, 1979
Inglis, BD, Chiropractic in New Zealand

[ Rand Report ]
The appropriateness of spinal manipulation for low-back pain. Project overview and literature review.
Shekelle PG, Adams AH, Chassin MR, et al.
RAND STUDY-CHIROPRACTIC REPORT Vol.5 No.6,
RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California, 1991

[ Low back pain of mechanical origin: randomised comparison of chiropractic and hospital outpatient treatment ]
T.W.Meade, Sandra Dyer, Wendy Browne, Joy Townsend, A.O.Frank
British Medical Journal vol.300 no.6737 pp.1431-37 Date:1990-JUN-2

Randomized comparison of chiropractic and hospital outpatient management for low back pain: results from extended follow-up.
Meade TW, et al. British Medical Journal, Vol. 311, 1995, pp. 349-351.

[ Recovery Rate on Posterior Displacement of Lumbar Vertebra ]
A Retrospective Case Analysis of Pretreatment and Comparative Static Radiological Parameters Following Chiropractic Adjustments
Gregory Plaugher,D.C., Edward E.Cremata,D.C.,and Reed B.Philips,D.C.,PH.D.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
vol.13 no.9 pp498-506 1990-NOV-DEC

[ Randomized clinical trial of manipulative therapy and physiotherapy for persistent back and neck complaints: results of one year follow up. ]
Koes, B.W., Bouter, L.M.. et al.
British Medical Journal, 7 March 1992, Volume 304, Pages 601-605.

[ 50-Year History of Chiropractic Effectiveness ]
Chiropractic Evaluation Study Task III Report of the Relevant Literature.
MacDonald, M.J., Morton, L.
MRI Project No. 8533-D, For Department of Defense, OCHAMPUS, Aurora, Colorado, 24 January 1986.

[ Spinal Manipulation for Low-Back Pain. ]
Shekelle, P., Adams, A.,et al.
Annals of Internal Medicine, 01 October 1992, Volume 117, Number 7, PP590-598.


[ Cost Effectiveness of Chiropractic ]
[ A Study to Examine the Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness of Chiropractic Management of Low Back Pain ]
Pran Manga, et al.
Pran Manga and Associates, Ontario, Canada, 1993.

[ Mechanical Low-Back Pain: A Comparison of Medical and Chiropractic Management Within the Victorian Work Care Scheme. ]
Ebrall, P.S.
Chiropractic Journal of Australia, June 1992, Volume 22, Number 2, PP47-53.

[ Cost per Case Comparison of Back Injury Claims of Chiropractic versus medical Management for Conditions with Identical Diagnostic Codes ]
Jarvis, K.B., Phillips, R.B., et al.
Journal of Occupational Medicine, August 1991, Volume 33, Number 8, Pages 847-52.

[ Mandated Health Insurance Coverage for Chiropractic Treatment: An Economic Assessment, with Implications for the Commonwealth of Virginia. ]
Schifrin,L.G.
The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, and Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, January 1992.

[ A Comparison of the Costs of Chiropractors versus Alternative Medical Practitioners ]
Dean, D.H., Schmidt, R.M.
University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia, 13 January 1992.

[ Chiropractic versus medical Care: A Cost Analysis of Disability and Treatment for Back-Related Workers' Compensation Cases. ]
Steve Wolk, Ph.D.
Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research, Arlington, Virginia, September 1988.

[ Chiropractic users tend to have substantially lower total health care costs. ]
Journal of American Health Policy, Nov/Dec 1992, Vol.2, No.6