Scoliosis Surgery Options in Arizona

What is Scoliosis?

Each person has natural curves in their spine. One of the easiest curves to spot is the curve that causes the lower back to sway inward when viewing from the side.  These curves serve a number of functions, including absorbing shock, promoting mobility and shaping shoulders.  When viewing from the front or the back, the spine should be straight.  In some people, however, the spine abnormally curves sideways and may rotate, forming an “S” shape.  In some individuals this “S” may be visible when bending forward or standing.  In many, however, the curvature is only visible on X-ray.   While some of these abnormalities in posture (e.g. tilted shoulders and hips and/or uneven protruding shoulder blades) can be caused by abnormal curves; this is not simply a problem of “poor posture”.   A person cannot exercise the curves out or try to sit or stand straighter.

This condition of abnormal curvature of the spine is called “scoliosis”.

What causes Scoliosis?

There are a number of potential causes of scoliosis, but in most cases, an exact cause is not known, which physicians will call “idiopathic scoliosis”. Other conditions known to cause abnormal curvature of the spine include genetic conditions and congenital abnormalities (meaning “present at birth”), among others.

Treatment for Scoliosis – Common Options

Option 1: Observation

Put simply this option means “do nothing for now but keep watching”.   When the patient is only suffering from a small abnormal curve, especially while they are still growing, many specialists will choose to leave the condition alone, monitoring periodically for changes.    The reason is that in many cases the condition will likely not worsen and may not necessitate any treatment.  In some cases, the medical scoliosis specialist may decide to refer the patient to some physical therapy.

Option 2: Bracing

In certain condition, typically limited to growing children, the specialist may prescribe some corrective bracing with the mindset of preventing further adverse progression of the scoliosis.

Option 3: Surgical Treatment

Surgery is typically only recommended in cases that involve larger scoliosis, and are typically limited to adolescent and adult patients. In rare cases, most commonly when a curve is causing an undesirable appearance for the patient, surgery may be performed for smaller curves.   In cases where smaller curves are persistently symptomatic (i.e. generating constant pain and/or discomfort), surgery may be recommended.  The orthopedic surgical correction of scoliosis is typically achieved by the surgical implantation of rods and devices into the spine, which correct the spine curvature.

Scoliosis Surgery Options in Arizona

If surgery is in fact what you need to get past the challenges presented by this condition, then you should avoid the temptation to rush into the first opportunity to get something done. There are scoliosis surgery options in Arizona that are available and that you can take a close look at before making a final decision. We briefly mentioned a couple of different surgical approaches above, but there are other options to consider based on the specifics of your situation and, of course, surgery is still only one step towards putting this difficult time in the past. You also need to consider things like recovery time and other potential factors.

The best way to tackle this situation is to thoroughly evaluate your scoliosis surgery options in Arizona with a doctor who knows as much about this condition as anyone in the medical industry. That someone is Dr. Rafath Baig, who is as committed to patient education and understanding as he is to the ultimate results of treatment, as he feels that the former is an integral component of the latter. Dr. Baig will go through all of the different surgical approaches that could help you and do so in detail, providing you with a deep understanding of what needs to be done with each.

From there, you’ll collectively choose what’s best for your chances of recovery and other important factors such as your comfort and your overall health. Evaluating your scoliosis surgery options in Arizona should be an interactive process, and with Dr. Baig, that’s exactly what it is.

If you are a Phoenix, Gilbert, Mesa or Arizona resident with Scoliosis and you are seeking an orthopedic scoliosis surgeon specialist.  Please feel free to contact us today for your appointment.