Scoliosis in adults: causes, symptoms and treatment
Do you have scoliosis and chronic back pain, and feel like you've tried everything? You're not alone. Scoliosis is more common than you might think. In people over 60 years old, as many as 68% have some form of scoliosis.[1] Many adults live with scoliosis and chronic back pain. Surgery often seems like the only option, but that's not always the case.
Scientific research shows that an intensive pain management program can help you function better and gain more control over your life with pain.
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What is scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a sideways and/or twisted position of the spine. In a healthy back, the spine runs in a straight line from top to bottom. In scoliosis, the spine curves to the left or right, often in an S-shape or C-shape. In addition, scoliosis can cause a bulge on the back due to the twisting of the spine.
The severity of scoliosis is determined in part by the Cobb angle: from an angle of 10 degrees, we officially speak of scoliosis.
Scoliosis in adults is different from in children
Whereas scoliosis in children and young people often does not cause pain, chronic low back pain is actually a common symptom in adults with scoliosis. This pain is not only due to the curvature itself, but can also be caused by arthrosis, tension in the muscles and joints, and the way the body compensates for the crooked posture.
Symptoms and complaints of scoliosis
In adults, scoliosis mainly manifests itself through pain and functional limitations. However, not everyone with scoliosis experiences complaints and the severity of complaints can vary greatly. Common complaints include:
Living with chronic back complaints due to scoliosis
Chronic back pain due to scoliosis has an impact on all aspects of your life. It's not just about the physical pain, but also about what that pain does to you.
The vicious cycle of pain and fear
Many people with scoliosis develop fear of damaging or straining their back. You start avoiding movements for fear of more complaints, which makes your body increasingly stiff and can actually increase complaints. Your fitness, strength and flexibility decrease because you move less or in a modified way.
The search for solutions
You've probably already tried many things: physiotherapy, medication, injections, perhaps chiropractic or osteopathy. Sometimes something helps temporarily, but the pain keeps coming back. Frustration grows when treatments don't have the desired effect.
Impact on work and social life
Working with chronic back pain is hard. You feel that you have to push through while your body asks for rest. Social activities become more difficult when sitting for a long time is uncomfortable. Hobbies that you always did are no longer possible the way they used to be. This can lead to isolation and sadness.
The pressure to keep functioning
You don't want to constantly talk about your pain, you want to do your work, care for your family, live your life. But the pain demands more and more attention and energy.
Traditional treatments and their limitations
For adults with scoliosis and chronic back pain, various treatments exist.
RealHealth treatment for scoliosis and chronic back complaints: scientific evidence
More and more adults with scoliosis and chronic back pain find help through an intensive pain management program. RealHealth has shown that this approach works for people with scoliosis [2].
Scientific research shows results
In an extensive study, researchers followed 80 adults with scoliosis (average Cobb angle 21 degrees) and chronic low back pain who participated in the RealHealth program. The participants had an average of 15.5 years of back pain and were eligible for the program because surgery was not an option or they themselves did not want surgery.
Can non-surgical treatment help with scoliosis and chronic low back pain?
More than half of the participants reported being able to function better in their daily lives, despite complaints not always disappearing completely.
The study was published in the European Spine Journal, a leading scientific journal in the field of back conditions.
Who is the RealHealth program intended for?
The program is intended for adults with scoliosis and chronic back pain (longer than 6 months) where surgery is not an option or not desired. You must be motivated to actively get to work and be willing to look at your pain and body differently.
What do participants with scoliosis value about the RealHealth program?
Evaluations of the program show what participants with scoliosis experience as most valuable:
More confidence in your body
Participants indicate that they lose their fear of damaging or straining their back. They dare to do more again, move more freely and feel that their body is stronger than they thought. This greater confidence helps them become more active and do things that previously seemed too scary.
Contact with fellow sufferers
Sharing experiences with others going through the same thing turns out to be enormously valuable. You are not alone with your pain, others understand exactly what you are going through. This contact with fellow sufferers provides support, new insights and the feeling of being understood.
Learning to protect your limits
A recurring value is learning to recognize where your limits lie and to respect them. By finding a better balance between activity and rest, listening to your body and dosing in a timely manner, you prevent relapse and build up your possibilities.
Insight into pain
Understanding how pain works and that moving is safe, even with scoliosis, provides an enormous mental shift. Participants experience that their pain does not mean damage is occurring, and that movement actually helps rather than harms.
Enjoying life again
Many participants indicate that thanks to the program they can enjoy more again, despite the pain still being present. Life becomes more fun, activities become possible again, and the pain is no longer so central in their daily lives.
Frequently asked questions about scoliosis and the RealHealth program
Frequently asked questions about scoliosis and the RealHealth program
Can the RealHealth program reduce my scoliosis or straighten it?
No, the program does not focus on reducing the Cobb angle or straightening the spine. The aim is to teach you to function better with scoliosis, to cope better with the pain and to improve your quality of life. Research shows that improvement in functioning is possible without the curvature decreasing.
Should I stop my current treatments?
No, the RealHealth program does not automatically replace other treatments. During the program you evaluate together with the team which treatments help and which may be less meaningful. Some participants reduce their medication use or other treatments after the program, but this always happens in consultation and based on your situation.
I suffer from severe pain, can I actually exercise intensively?
Before you can participate in the RealHealth program, you have an appointment with an orthopedic specialist at Sint Maartenskliniek. The orthopedic specialist first looks at whether medical treatment (such as surgery) is still an option. The orthopedic specialist also checks whether the program fits your situation – for example, whether your back can be safely loaded.
The program is aimed at learning to move safely again, even with complaints. The RealHealth team is trained in working with people who have long-term back complaints. You learn to build up gradually and discover that moving is safe, even if it sometimes feels uncomfortable. The pace is adapted to what you can handle.
What if I want or need to undergo surgery in the future?
Participation in the RealHealth program does not exclude possible future surgery. The skills you learn during the program remain valuable, even if you later choose surgery. Moreover, these skills can help with recovery after surgery.
Sources:
Schwab F, Dubey A, Gamez L, et al. Adult scoliosis: prevalence, SF-36, and nutritional parameters in an elderly volunteer population. Spine 2005;30:1082–1085.
Hoevenaars, E.H.W., Beekhuizen, M., O'Dowd, J., Spruit, M., & van Hoof, M.L. (2022). Non-surgical treatment for adult spinal deformity: results of an intensive combined physical and psychological programme for patients with adult spinal deformity and chronic low back pain. European Spine Journal, 31, 1189-1196. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-022-07156-4
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