Treatment for Scoliosis

Hey Guys, - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJh1YZeWtfc

Today's blog is going to be all about the different types of treatment for scoliosis, covering at which degrees tend to dictate the different types of treatment and the treatment of physiotherapy, back bracing and the operation.

The first treatment is to simply watch the scoliosis curve because a lot of the time if a child or baby is born with scoliosis over time it can just even itself out because of the growing that the child's torso does.

If it starts to get worse though up to 30 degrees physiotherapy is normally advised - this physiotherapy is very similar to the physiotherapy that you undergo after your scoliosis operation in your rehabilitation stage and is also the type of treatment that Usain Bolt has before and after every race to help ease his scoliosis.  This physiotherapy is generally every day for up to 2 hours and I have heard of many cases of this sorting out scoliosis within a matter of months.

30 - 45 degrees is when Back Bracing comes in and there are three types of back bracing that you can have

Thoraco - Lumbo - Sacral - Orthosis (TLSO) 

The most common form of a TLSO brace is called the “Boston brace”, and it may be referred to as an “underarm” brace. This brace is fitted to the child’s body and custom molded from plastic. It works by applying three-point pressure to the curvature to prevent its progression.

It can be worn under clothing and is typically not noticeable. The TLSO brace is usually worn 23 hours a day, and it can be taken off to swim or play sports.

This type of brace is usually prescribed for curves in the lumbar or thoraco-lumbar part of the spine.

- Boston Brace

- Milwaukee

1. Boston Brace
2. The second type of bracing is the Milwaukee brace and it is very very similar to the Boston brace the difference being that this is the brace that people will tend to think of when back brace comes to mind, it is the one with the vertical poles up from the chest to a neck ring.
3. The third type of bracing is the Charleston brace known as the 'nighttime' brace.  How this brace works is it presses against the curve whilst the patient is sleeping and helps to bend back the spine over the nights it is worn.  It has to be worn every night and it moulded to the patient before made. This brace is especially good for those who don't particularly want to tell people that they wear a brace; which I can imagine must be quite hard for a teenage girl to have to get used to, as it is only worn at night nobody has to see it! Although this brace does have a few requirements, the curve must be between 20-40 degrees only and the apex of the curve must be underneath the shoulder blade.
   - Charleston Brace
   
   
   The scoliosis operation is needed when a curve reaches 45 degrees or more.  The operation is invasive surgery and involves two titanium rods down the side of the spine and screws in each vertebrae.
   So what the operation does is after opening up your back the spine is 'cracked' and straightened.  Two titanium rods are then put either side of the spine to stop if from being able to move back into the curved shape, they then put screws into the vertebrae to ensure that it doesn't move any further and finally ensure the fix by putting in bone graft.
   
   Personally I have most movement in my spine so I'm not restricted in any way which is very relieving!
   
   
   The final type of treatment  - which is so incredible, is the new type of scoliosis operation for young children is to use surgically magnetic rods.  Most of the time surgeons will do the operation when you are close to the end of your growth curve or chart, but for some young children they need to do the operation much before - this new surgery means that they can do one invasive operation where they put in the rods but when they need to be changed or extended are extended through magnetic procedures - really incredible stuff and I'm so so happy for all of those who get to go through this procedure now rather than the multiple operations!
   
   
   
    - me
   
   
   
   
   So that's all for today, thank you so much for reading my blog, I hope it was helpful and I will write back in my next one!
   
   
   Stay aware,
   
   
   Love, Millie xoxo