My school nurse says I might have minor scoliosis. What does this mean?!


Question: As the others have said, your back has an unexpected left-to-right (or lateral) curve.

You now need to see your family doctor who may order an xray. If your family doc says you have it, get a referral to a scoliosis specialist. Any doctor that doesn't have a scoliosis specialty doesn't have the expertise to treat scoliosis.

If your curve really is "mild" then you are most likely in one of the following two catagories. Any curve under 10 degrees is considered normal and probably isn't monitored. Curves from 10-25 degrees are mild but should be monitored, especially if you're still growing.

Since scoliosis curves usually increase during a teen's growth spurt, its really important for your specialist to watch your curve until you're done growing. If it doesn't get worse, that's the best news. If it does get worse, you'll be prepared to treat it.


Answers: As the others have said, your back has an unexpected left-to-right (or lateral) curve.

You now need to see your family doctor who may order an xray. If your family doc says you have it, get a referral to a scoliosis specialist. Any doctor that doesn't have a scoliosis specialty doesn't have the expertise to treat scoliosis.

If your curve really is "mild" then you are most likely in one of the following two catagories. Any curve under 10 degrees is considered normal and probably isn't monitored. Curves from 10-25 degrees are mild but should be monitored, especially if you're still growing.

Since scoliosis curves usually increase during a teen's growth spurt, its really important for your specialist to watch your curve until you're done growing. If it doesn't get worse, that's the best news. If it does get worse, you'll be prepared to treat it.

Curvature of the spine.

this just means that your spine is not completely straight. I have this too and I'm completely fine- just try not to hunch your back and sit straight in you chair.

Yeah, curvature of the spine. Since some asymmetry is natural, it's not a big deal unless it's marked enough to cause disfigurement or physical discomfort.

I was told the same thing and actually had to see a doctor about it. They didn't do anything about it though.

That she/he notes some "curvature" or malalignment in your vertebral column (spine). This may mean nothing, many people live their entire lives with scoliosis and are not even aware of it. If it was problematic she/he would request further diagnosis as in more moderate-severe cases it can affect height, mobility and can be very uncomfortable. There are surgical treatments for scoliosis when it is found to be necessary. I recommend you discuss this with your personal physician as well.

Scoliosis is when the spine "bends" to the side. It generally bends to one side lower down and then bends to the other side higher up. The only way to truly diagnose scoliosis is with a standing X-Ray of the entire spine. Many people are scoliotic and never even know it. But, since you are not yet finished growing, you should be checked by your regular doctor to see if you need to be referred to an orthopedist who specializes in scoliosis. Scoliosis can become much worse during the teenage growth spurts and can cause difficulty for the internal organs. Scoliosis can be treated, but it is much easier to stop any progression than it is to reverse it.

Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine. A lot of school age children (elementary and junior high) will be told they have a mild case of this. It is a good idea for your mom to take you to the doctor to be checked out, but most kids need nothing done about it and will grow out of it.





The consumer health information on answer-health.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007-2011 answer-health.com -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

Health Categories