At my Ann Arbor chiropractic office I sometimes take x-rays of a patients spine. I do this so that I'm able to better understand the health of the patient's spine as well as look for spinal bone misalignment. Occasionally, an x-ray will show that a patient has a lateral curve(s) in their spine of 10 degrees or greater and if this curve is found in an adult the patient likely has degenerative scoliosis (adult scoliosis).

There are a number of types of scoliosis and degenerative scoliosis is one of the more common forms and most often found in people 65 years old or older. The lateral curve found in degenerative scoliosis is often seen in the lumbar spine portion of the spinal column, but can also be seen in the thoracic spine. Lastly, the thoracic and lumbar spine can each have lateral curves in the same individual generally causing the spine to form a lateral “s”shaped curve.

Degenerative scoliosis often becomes worse over time. That is, the curve(s) become more pronounced over time. Usually, a curve results from bone/joint misalignment causing degeneration of the facet (sliding) part of the joint, eventually making the spine curve/shift laterally.

Patients with scoliosis that come to see me at my Ann Arbor office usually come to see me because they are experiencing pain, but usually not aware that they have scoliosis. The pain and some of the other conditions experienced by those with degenerative scoliosis are low back pain, mid back pain, neck pain, tingling and numbness in the arms, legs, hands and feet, and poor posture.

How can chiropractic help those who have degenerative scoliosis? Chiropractic can help by reducing the pain, tingling and numbness. Chiropractic can help with improved mobility and improved posture. Chiropractic can also help slow or stop the degenerative component of this condition.

At my chiropractic office in Ann Arbor we regularly see people with degenerative scoliosis, so if you have any questions about scoliosis, chiropractic, neck pain, back pain, tingling and numbness or headaches please contact us at tannenbaumchiropractic.com