It's more common in females than males. Scoliosis is a condition where the normally straight spine curves or twists to form a C or S shaped curve. Unfortunately, pregnancy can cause increased back pain in someone with scoliosis. The relationship that I do think is there is an indirect one. Giving birth is famously painful. ‘Type of curvature’ refers to the cause, if known. That being said, there haven’t been many studies done on the subject due to the obvious risks of conducting studies on pregnant women. Scoliosis in adults can be separated into two distinct groups: Adult idiopathic scoliosis; Adult degenerative (or de novo) scoliosis; It’s also possible for scoliosis to develop in adults due to … Scoliosis is a medical condition in which a person's spine has a sideways curve. Any pregnancy comes the risk of complications for those with or without scoliosis. Here at the Center, the main disciplines we use are all scoliosis-specific: chiropractic, therapy, rehabilitation, and corrective bracing. chiropractor trained in maternal-fetal medicine. The ease of customization in the conservative approach is ideal for adjusting treatment for pregnant patients, as aspects such as corrective bracing can be omitted and others such as chiropractic, exercise, stretches, and diet can be easily modified to suit the needs of the pregnant patient. Any adult, male or female, with an untreated major curvature may experience a progression after skeletal maturity. In some, the degree of curve is stable, while in others, it increases over time. Welcome to Scoliosis Reduction Center. That being said, there does seem to be an increase of scoliosis incidence within a family, but one thing that many people forget is that families share a lot more than just genetics. Adolescent girls may be up to 10 times more likely to develop scoliosis than boys. Degenerative Scoliosis Symptoms. What we don’t know is just how direct, or indirect, that relationship is. Occasionally, teachers, friends and sports teammates are the first to notice a child's scoliosis. When Scoliosis is first diagnosed, it’s classified based on a number of its most important characteristics: age of patient, location of curvature, type of curvature, and its severity. That being said, just as there is much we still have to learn about scoliosis in general, there is a lot we don’t fully understand about the effects of pregnancy on scoliosis and scoliosis on pregnancy. This can cause pain as the spine and its surrounding nerves and muscles face compression. It’s also important to monitor your bone density and seek treatment if you have osteoporosis. Cursory internet research has suggested that pregnancy and scoliosis aren't as entwined as they felt to me, so what gives? You can simulate what this loss of motion may be like by keeping your upper back straight with "perfect posture" while bending forward at the hips. You can't cause scoliosis; it does not come from carrying heavy backpacks, participating vigorously in sports, or poor posture. In adult de novo scoliosis, the condition has developed fresh in adulthood with no prior history of scoliosis in adolescence. About scoliosis. Known causes include neuromuscular, congenital, degenerative, and traumatic. The genetics may or may not be “expressed” and the person may or may not even develop scoliosis. Thankfully, there are options for reducing this pain before, during, and after birth. However, when scoliosis was present before pregnancy, there is an increased risk of back pain during pregnancy. So here’s all you need to know about scoliosis in pregnancy and if it’s possible for women with this condition to have a baby safely. Congenital scoliosis is the result of malformation of part of the spine, and this malformation happens sometime in the third to sixth week of a pregnancy—that's when the spine starts to develop. Scoliosis causes the spine to become misaligned, meaning it doesn’t bend in the same direction as an average person, pregnant or otherwise. Scoliosis and Pregnancy: Get Your Questions Answered. Copyright © 2020 - Scoliosis Reduction Center. There are rare genetic conditions that can cause problems with fertility that can be associated with scoliosis. The best way to address scoliosis-related back pain during pregnancy is also the best way, in my opinion, to treat scoliosis generally: with a more natural, less-invasive conservative approach. Degenerative scoliosis is often related to osteoporosis, especially in women, as the changes combine and the spine slowly sags into a curve. If you are now having pain, then yes, I suggest you seek out care to eliminate the pain before pregnancy. Conservative Treatment Approach During Pregnancy. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that causes pain and in some cases impaired mobility as well. There was a time when it was assumed that scoliosis patients would have to undergo C-sections and weren’t able to deliver vaginally, but that time has long since past. This is easily done by providing the doctor with a current X-ray image of your spine; this way, they can ensure precision as they are performing the epidural. What many people wonder about scoliosis and pregnancy is whether or not scoliosis would cause excessive back pain during pregnancy. Is it likely that its development could be caused by pregnancy-related changes or complications: no. Other factors include facet joint arthritis and collapse of the disc spaces. We recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for scoliosis because scoliosis is a complex condition that can take many forms and develops across a wide severity spectrum. After experiencing life changing results, he set his sights on helping others who face debilitating illness through providing more natural approaches. Pregnant patients with mild and moderate scoliosis are less likely to notice any related pregnancy/delivery complications because their overall health is likely less affected by their condition going into the pregnancy. When it comes to the theories regarding progression and pregnancy, there are two interesting answers to the question of how scoliosis progression is affected by pregnancy. A patient’s Cobb angle is a measurement taken that indicates, in degrees, how far their spine deviates from a straight alignment. Knowing the location of the curvature tells us where our treatment efforts need to be concentrated, as well as some likely symptoms. We know that hormones are released in the pregnant body to soften joints and ligaments in preparation for delivery, and we know that this includes the spine and pelvis. Scoliosis can still progress as adult, therefore leaving a curve unmonitored may lead to future progression. If a person with severe scoliosis isn’t doing those things due to pain or mobility issues and isn’t getting active treatment, they might be more likely to experience increased symptoms due to the added strain of pregnancy; however, if they are doing everything right in terms of lifestyle and treatment, I do firmly believe they can carry a baby and deliver that baby with no issues. Traumatic injury, age-related degeneration, thoracic surgery, and yes, pregnancy, can all increase the role scoliosis plays in your life. If you have questions or concerns, ask your healthcare provider for more information. Most often, these cases are the result of one of the aforementioned known causes and often is degenerative. However, I do think that for women with scoliosis, their experience during pregnancy is likely governed more by their overall health-and-fitness level going into the pregnancy than their scoliosis, but scoliosis can impact the overall health of the body in some instances. It is difficult to determine whether such pain is a result of scoliosis or pregnancy. Scoliosis mostly doesn’t affect pregnancy and will not stop you having a normal birth. Scoliosis itself, whether treated operatively or nonoperatively, should not affect a patient’s ability to get pregnant, nor should it affect a patient’s ability to carry a pregnancy to term. Pain relief is a big component of many childbirth experiences. Congenital scoliosis arises due to a failure of the bones to form properly. Degenerative scoliosis happens in late adulthood due to degeneration of the spinal discs. In some cases, adolescent scoliosis may develop symptoms with aging and require treatment. You can, however, stop scoliosis progression with brain-muscle retraining and nutritional support through neurotransmitter rebalancing. But predicting the course of pregnancy and how it may affect arthritis symptoms isn’t possible. If you have idiopathic scoliosis, you can touch your back and waist and feel how tight your muscles are. While there has been a lot of focus on the debate of whether there is a genetic component to scoliosis or not, the general consensus amongst experts is that scoliosis is considered ‘familial’, rather than ‘genetic’. ... folic acid taken before and during pregnancy has been shown to reduce its incidence. Congenital scoliosis is a birth defect that occurs early in pregnancy and is usually not noticeable at birth. Scoliosis can cause many complications later in life, but if you seek treatment before your spine deteriorates too far, many of these issues can be nipped in the bud and avoided altogether. If they suspect scoliosis, they can refer to a specialist for diagnosis and to discuss options. normal spine has several front-to-back curves between the neck and the pelvis Not all scoliosis is the same. Now, depending on how severe a patient’s scoliosis is, and how that condition is affecting their overall health, could have an indirect relationship on their ability to handle the rigors of their condition, pregnancy, and childbirth. Often, by the time these adolescents have reached adulthood and skeletal maturity, their condition has progressed in severity and starts to show noticeable symptoms, such as postural changes and pain. It also doesn’t make a premature delivery or unplanned caesarean section any more likely. Our approach is natural, non-invasive, and as it’s integrative, can easily be adjusted to suit the different needs of our pregnant patients. What I do believe is that a person’s overall health has more to do with their pregnancy experience than their scoliosis would. It’s also harder for them to withstand the rigors of treatment as they are not in prime physical shape. Almost anyone breathing, male or female, can tell you that the physical changes experienced during pregnancy are significant. If your nervous system is sending messages to your muscles to stay tight, no amount of passive lengthening (such as static stretching or massage) or forced re-alignment (such as bracing or chiropractic) will change these messages. In fact, exercise is encouraged as it can help with strengthening the core and back muscles and reducing pain. July 18 2016. Still, it is important for pregnant women with scoliosis to discuss epidurals and pain management with their doctor before going into labour. Your doctor will discuss any specific activity limitations with you. Adult scoliosis may be a case of pediatric scoliosis that was undiscovered until adulthood. Is it likely that its development could be caused by pregnancy-related changes or complications: no. However, other than making sure the doctor is aware of your condition, there are no known additional risks to getting an epidural if you have scoliosis. Will your slightly parenthetical spine cause health problems in the future, or will the scoliosis fairy spare you complications? Although most people with mild scoliosis can continue normal activities, some people are advised to avoid heavy contact sports or gymnastics. This is important to address because, clearly, surgery isn’t an option for pregnant patients, even if that was the treatment path they were choosing prior to their pregnancy. In most women, scoliosis does not adversely impact pregnancy. Scoliosis is a sideways curving and turning of the bones of a child’s spine. In terms of its effect on your quality of life, scoliosis is a matter of degree, according to the University of Maryland. One theory is that as pregnancy produces relaxants in the body that naturally soften the spine and pelvis, it seems logical to assume that treatment during pregnancy would be more successful. Older people tend to develop degenerative changes in the spine, and this can be associated with another cause of scoliosis called adult degenerative scoliosis. Severe scoliosis can be disabling. It’s taken at the apex of the curve from the most-tilted vertebrae. This is because the main treatment tools used in the conservative approach don’t involve medications, surgery, or invasive procedures that would be unsafe to undergo during pregnancy. As it’s the pelvic region that’s engaged during pregnancy, not the spine, in most cases, pregnancy doesn’t impact a patient’s scoliosis and vice versa. One physical effect that may be a concern for those with scoliosis is the hyper-elasticity of supportive connective tissues during pregnancy. Traumatic scoliosis can occur as a result of an accident or surgery. “Women who have been successfully treated for scoliosis have only minor or no additional risks at all for complications during pregnancy and delivery,” says the University of Maryland Medical Center. He explains: In the world of bends and curves, doctors often advise patients to wait-and-see. One thing we do know is that a person’s overall health and the severity level of their scoliosis plays a role in how they experience their condition during pregnancy. While scoliosis is most likely to develop during adolescence, there is ample evidence that the condition can develop earlier or later in life. Knowledge is power, as they say, and if you become pregnant, scoliosis may become more than just a quirk of your past. In terms of a pregnant patient ‘passing on’ scoliosis to their unborn child through genetics or the process of childbirth, the answer is no, you can rest assured that just because you have scoliosis does not mean your child is guaranteed to develop it as well. Check out Romper's new video series, Romper's Doula Diaries: Watch full episodes of Romper's Doula Diaries on Facebook Watch. As we’ll discuss further shortly, scoliosis develops across a wide severity spectrum, ranging from mild to severe. Clear-institute.org - Pregnancy Complications: A Look at the Research. The conservative approach has gained more and more respect over the years and is backed by impressive results. There is an alternative to spinal fusion that can help you avoid these problems—find out about an innovative new procedure that’s healthier for your spine. As touched upon earlier, part of the complex nature of scoliosis is how much it can differ from one patient to the next. This form of the condition is caused by the natural degenerative changes experienced by the spine, and its discs, as part of the aging process. Some kids are born with it. If a patient is doing everything they should be doing prior to getting pregnant, such as getting active treatment for their scoliosis and living a healthy and active lifestyle, I feel it’s a very small chance that their condition will influence their pregnancy and/or their delivery experience; however, if a patient is already 100 pounds overweight going into their pregnancy, isn’t getting their scoliosis actively treated, and as a result is experiencing mobility restrictions that make exercising difficult, this can affect their overall health and ability to withstand the strain of pregnancy and childbirth. In older patients, having reached skeletal maturity, their spines are vulnerable to the compressive forces of the curvature and affect the spine and its surrounding nerves and muscles. 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