Every case of scoliosis is different. Some scoliosis sufferers lead lives virtually unaffected by their condition, whereas others are constantly reminded of it. There is a lot of variation between the ways in which people experience scoliosis, and as a result, asking two people the same question...
"What does scoliosis feel like?"
...might result in two very different answers. In this post, we'll look at some of the physical pain that scoliosis can cause, and we will also explain how scoliosis can affect a person's self-esteem and body confidence.
Physical pain
Although some lucky scoliosis patients are scarcely impaired by their condition at all, in other cases there can be a lot of discomfort. The curvature of the spine itself is not a direct source of pain; however, it can cause pain in other ways. For instance, back pain may arise because the curve is putting pressure on your spinal discs, ligaments, nerves, and muscles. Sometimes this pain is merely uncomfortable; sometimes it can be seriously debilitating.
There are also cases where a severe curvature has caused misalignment of the hips, which can affect the patient's gait (how they walk). Over time, this can cause leg pain as the muscles over-compensate for the lack of balance.
If a spinal curve becomes extremely severe, it can lead to even bigger problems such as cardiovascular / breathing issues. This is because the curve of the spine progresses so much that it begins to twist the rib cage, which can reduce the amount of space your lungs and heart have to work properly.
Body confidence
Even in cases where there is only minor physical discomfort, for many scoliosis sufferers, we must also consider the added emotional pain of body confidence issues. Idiopathic scoliosis usually develops during adolescence, and teenagers / preteens tend to be especially prone to body image sensitivity. This can be a big issue, as scoliosis can result in a visibly curved spine, noticeably uneven shoulders, waist, hips and legs, and a leaning posture.
The treatment courses that we deliver here at Scoliosis SOS aim not only to treat the physical symptoms of spinal curvature but also to build up the confidence of the patient. We don’t think that anyone should be embarrassed about scoliosis, and it is our goal to treat every aspect of the condition.