Many scoliosis symptoms do not occur until later in life, the extent of which depends on the strength of the spinal curvature. Only in a few cases does a scoliosis cause pain; slightly curved spines often do not appear at all. For many sufferers, scoliosis is a purely cosmetic problem. However, the longer a crooked spine lasts and remains untreated, the more likely it is to develop discomfort. Find out all about possible scoliosis symptoms here.
Cosmetic scoliosis symptoms
Some symptoms of scoliosis can be seen with the naked eye, which often bothers the affected person: the shoulders are at different heights, the pelvis is crooked or protrudes from one side and some patients also hold their heads crooked.
In pronounced scolioses especially the so-called rib hump is conspicuous. He can be seen on the back, on the side to which the spine curves. Due to the twisted vertebral bodies, the ribs are pulled back so that the rib cage archs on the back. A rib hump occurs especially at a Cobb angle of about 40 degrees and is best seen when the patients bend over.
Muscular bulges also form in the lumbar region or the neck, because the spinal musculature is pulled along by the scoliosis and therefore becomes more pronounced on one side of the spine. A lumbar bulge is clearly visible above all from a Cobb angle of 60 degrees.
Cosmetic symptoms of scoliosis, especially in children and adolescents, can also lead to psychosocial problems, such as when peers bully them. As a result, they develop a diminished self-esteem and avoid unpleasant situations, for example in the locker room or swimming pool.
Scoliosis symptoms of the infant
The scoliosis symptoms of an infant are in the majority of cases only temporary and are self-reliant. Infant scoliosis is usually large-arched C-shaped and mainly affects the thoracic and lumbar spine. Twists of the vertebral bodies are atypical. Scoliosis in infants usually results from an unequal basic tension of the muscles. Therefore, it is rarely fixed and can be moved to the normal position.
Infant scoliosis, however, is often associated with other conditions. The possible overall picture is summarized by doctors under the Siebener syndrome:
- scoliosis
- Lumbar humping (lumbodorsal kyphosis)
- Cranial deformation / asymmetry (often unequal flattening of the back of the head = plagiocephaly)
- Head posture (inclination, rotation)
- Mostly one-sided malformation of an acetabulum (hip dysplasia),
- Beck asymmetry
- foot deformities
Symptoms of scoliosis: pain and restricted mobility
Children usually have little or no symptoms of scoliosis. Pain is very rare. However, if scoliosis is prolonged and its curvature increases, more scoliosis symptoms may appear or increase.
From the middle of the third decade of life, some patients suffer more from their scoliosis. Back pain is more common. These are caused, on the one hand, by increasing signs of wear on the spine due to the permanent curvature (spondylosis deformans). On the other hand, the back muscles are tense. They constantly try to stabilize the unfavorable position of the spine.
Scoliosis pain is most common in lumbar spine curvature and thoracolumbar scoliosis. A hollow cross (lumbar lordosis) can additionally strengthen it.
In addition, muscle tendon attachments (spinous processes, iliac crest, etc.) can cause painful tendon-muscle irritation (tendomyosis). Initially, patients complain of scoliosis symptoms, especially after prolonged standing or sitting, for example, at work. They usually give pain somewhat below the curvature of the spine.
Scoliosis pain often radiates to the sides and can also affect the shoulders, neck and head. In addition, some patients feel restricted in their movements, especially when the joints stiffen due to spondylosis (growing bony edges on the vertebral bodies). Due to increasing wear and tear on the structures involved, these scoliosis symptoms often increase over time.
Scoliosis symptoms with severe curvature
Distinct curvatures and twists of the spine also deform the chest or abdominal cavity. In severe cases, scoliosis restricts the function of the heart, lungs, and digestive organs. In a lung function test, respiratory impairment can often be measured early on. Patients usually do not feel any shortness of breath or other scoliosis symptoms.
Experts have found that pulmonary function depends directly on scoliosis degrees: per ten degrees Cobb angle, vital capacity (lung volume between maximum inhalation and exhalation) decreases by about ten percent. Thus, usually in the later course of the disease, the cardiovascular system is burdened by a strong curvature (about 90 degrees Cobb angle) or its increase.
The right ventricle pumps blood into the lungs, but lung capacity is diminished by scoliosis. As a result, blood builds up in the right heart, which increases morbidly as a result of permanent overloading. This is how a chronic lung heart (cor pulmonale) develops. Patients are particularly affected by respiratory distress. In addition, in the course of a feeling of pressure in the chest as well as palpitations signs of a cor pulmonale and thus late Scoliosis Symptoms be.