Busting common myths in a child with scoliosis!!
Myth – My back is aching because I have scoliosis.
Fact – Usually scoliosis does not cause back pain. Most of the scoliosis that we see in our clinics are idiopathic ones which do not cause any pain. Smaller children with scoliosis (Congenital ones) also usually do not have any back pain. Pain occurs only of scoliosis is associated with a tumor or infection. A type of scoliosis called neuromuscular scoliosis may cause pain on prolonged sitting in certain cases.
Myth – I have scoliosis, did it happen because I carry heavy bag to my school!!
Fact – Dear children and parents carrying a heavy bag doesn’t give rise to scoliosis nor they are the reason for curve progression if you carry one.
Myth – Can my scoliosis get corrected with chiropractic therapy??
Fact – No!! Never. Some patients spine gets tilted on one side due to pain arising from spine which is medical terms is called LIST. Please don’t confuse it with scoliosis.
Myth – Can I walk after scoliosis spine surgery!!
Fact – Yes you definitely can. In today’s world scoliosis surgery yields excellent results.
But please be practical – eg. If a patient comes with complete/partial loss of power due to advanced kyphoscoliosis (generally not associated with idiopathic ones) then walking after spinal surgery is dictated by your response to post operative physiotherapy – you may or may not depending on your initial extent of damage to your spine. But in these cohort of patients also we see them walking after adequate rehabilitation.
Myth – Can I have child after scoliosis surgery??
Fact – Yes obviously without any doubt. Please come with your baby in your next follow up. Shall be very happy to meet the little one and share her mother’s courageousness.
Myth – Can I participate in sports after scoliosis surgery!
Fact – Sports, dance, gymnastics – everything you can !! Please bring medals and show them to me in follow up. Believe me I will be the happiest person to see your achievement.
Myth – Can all scoliosis be treated with braces!!
Fact – small curves can be managed with a brace with close follow up upto a certain age limit. But large curves with documented progression and some specific types of scoliosis need surgery.
Myth – Wearing a brace and doing exercise will revert my scoliosis and my spine will become straight again.
Fact – No. All these halt/ delay the progression of the curves.