Every patient is different, and each patient’s treatment process may be unique, as well. Your team may use a combination of different techniques to treat scoliosis.
At the UK HealthCare Comprehensive Spine Center, our team of experts works together to create the treatment plan that best fits your specific needs.
Physical therapy plays a crucial role in effectively managing chronic back pain. At UK HealthCare, physical therapy is an integral part of many spine treatment plans. Our spine specialists work with therapy experts who specialize in musculoskeletal care. Together, they create a plan tailored for your unique needs.
A physical therapist can:
- Create a personalized exercise plan to enhance your flexibility and range of motion
- Strengthen your core muscles to maintain proper alignment
- Improve your posture
- Educate you on correct movement techniques and modifications to use during pain episodes, helping you to engage in your favorite activities while reducing the likelihood of recurring back pain
Back bracing and cervical collars support and stabilize the torso or neck while limiting motion for the spine, muscles and ligaments. Cervical collars are used to stabilize spinal fractures or after surgery, as you are recovering.
Some back braces can be made from breathable elastic or neoprene material that wraps around your torso for targeted support. An adjustable fabric fastener lets you customize the fit for optimal comfort and compression. Other braces, particularly those used for fractures, are rigid and made of hard plastic or metal. These braces minimize spine movement to allow bones to heal. A rigid brace can reduce the risk of nerve damage.
Hard collars are usually made from plexiglass or plastic. They restrict head rotation and side-to-side movement more than softer collars. They often have a chin support to allow the muscles in your neck to relax.
Specific brace types used for scoliosis include:
- Thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO): Fits under the arms and around the rib cage, lower back and hips
- Milwaukee brace: Includes a neck ring with rests for the chin and back of the head
- Charleston bending brace: Worn at night to apply corrective pressure
- Control stress. Learn to identify stress and find calming activities that can help you manage stressful situations.
- Eat a healthy diet. This includes eating fruits and veggies, lean meats, nuts, beans, fish and whole grains. It also includes limiting sodium, added sugars and unhealthy fats.
- Strive to get seven to nine hours of quality sleep per night.
- Limit alcohol. Men should have no more than two drinks per day and women should aim for no more than one drink per day, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
- Manage other health problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, by taking medicines properly and following your provider’s guidance.
- Quit smoking. If you smoke or vape, take steps to quit. Try to avoid secondhand smoke, too. Smoking can interfere with healing, as nicotine can reduce oxygen-rich blood flow going to the healing tendons and bones. Nicotine can also increase the risk of blood clots in the legs.
- Reach and maintain a healthy weight.
- Stay physically active. Try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week. Talk to your provider about what exercises are good for you. Be sure to watch for signs that your heart is working too hard. If you become short of breath or dizzy while exercising, stop and rest right away.
In severe cases, surgery may be necessary. The most common procedure is spinal deformity correction and fusion, which corrects the spinal curve, alleviates pain, and improves function.
This surgery is performed to stop movement between two or more vertebrae in the spine.
Before your spinal fusion, you will receive general anesthesia so that you sleep during the procedure. To perform this surgery, your surgeon may access your spine in one of three ways:
- On your back or neck above the spine: You will lie on your stomach, and your surgeon will make an incision over the area and move the muscles and tissues to the side to access the spine.
- On your side: If spinal fusion is being performed on your lower back, you may lie on your side to give the surgeon the best angle to access the spine in that area.
- On the front of the neck: If spinal fusion is on the neck, your surgeon may make an incision on the front part of your neck near the side.
The vertebrae will be fused together with:
- Bone graft placed along the back of the spine
- Bone graft material added between two or more vertebrae
- Implantable cages used between the vertebrae
The doctor may also stabilize the vertebrae with cages, plates, rods or screws until the grafts heal. The surgery usually takes three to four hours.
After your surgery, you will remain in the hospital for three or four days, and you will receive pain medicine to keep you comfortable. You may wear a back brace when you leave the hospital.
After surgery, you will need to stay off work for about four to six weeks as you recover, and you will be limited to very light activity. You may need physical therapy.
If you have tried other pain relief treatments and your spinal pain hasn’t improved, spinal fusion may work as a pain relief option. However, spinal fusion doesn’t provide pain relief for everyone, and it can increase pain.