Are you suffering from a curved back? Is the curvature increasing with time? Is it affecting your posture and deforming your body? If your answer to all three questions is yes, then there is no doubt that you are suffering from scoliosis.

Scoliosis is the abnormal curvature of the spine. Your back protrudes outward or sideways, causing a noticeable deformity. Children between the age of 9 and 15 are affected by this condition; family history also plays a role in acquiring this condition. Females are almost two times more prone to scoliosis than males. There are several types of scoliosis based on age, sex, and curve of the patient.

It must be noted that there is no cure for scoliosis, but the symptoms of spine curvature can be treated and reduced or contained. There are several treatments available for this condition, and it varies with the severity of the problem. An orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon will take a look at the spine curvature and suggest appropriate scoliosis treatment. If the doctor feels that the curve will worsen over time, then a good scoliosis treatment plan is essential. The treatments range from partial bracing to surgery, and all will depend on what your doctor feels suits your condition the best.

Braces
The doctor will recommend braces when the patient is still in a growing phase. In this age, the bones are still developing; therefore, a brace will assist it to develop in the right manner by preventing further development of the curve. These braces are generally made of plastic so that they can easily conform to the shape of the body. There are two types of bracing options

• Night time braces
  These kinds of braces use a hyper-corrective force, which works by putting the body out of its normal balance. Hence, it cannot be used while standing or doing daily chores. They must be worn for at least eight hours in the night or when laying down.
  
• Full-time braces
  These are designed in such a way that they can be worn for 16 to 23 hours a day. These help to keep the spine in a straight line using force from either side of the brace.

Both these braces are close-fitting braces that are designed to hide under the clothes and keep your entire upper body in a firm grip to eventually provide the necessary posture correction.

Surgery
In case the scoliosis is severe and progresses at a rapid rate with time and age, surgery is the only effective scoliosis treatment. Mind that the surgery is not a cure for scoliosis. It is just to reduce the severity of the curve and prevent it from further expanding. The most widely undertaken type of surgery is spinal fusion. In spinal fusion, the surgeon takes two or more vertebrae and connects them together, so that they cannot move independently. The connection between the vertebrae is usually made by using a piece of bone or a bone-like material. Metal rods, hooks, screws, and wires hold the vertebras in place until the piece of bone fuses together with the vertebrae.
There are some underlying complications associated with a scoliosis surgery like bleeding, infection, pain, and especially nerve damage. As spinal cord passes through the vertebral column, any problem may lead to the damage of spinal cord, giving rise to a nervous failure.

Alternative treatments
Many doctors may suggest treatments like chiropractic manipulation, physical therapy, electrical stimulation of muscles, and dietary supplements. However, such scoliosis treatment methods might be ineffective as satisfactory study results are not available yet to substantiate such claims. If your doctor has suggested any of these treatments, then it is better for you to look for a second opinion.
If you are looking for a non-surgical treatment, then bracing is the only option at your disposal. All other non-surgical scoliosis treatments have been disowned by orthopedic and neurosurgeons all around the world as they can’t treat scoliosis in any way. However, you can do some exercises and yoga along with bracing as it might help you to keep a strong and flexible back.

It is unfortunate that scoliosis doesn’t have a cure, but it should not cause you any worry or sadness as the medical research field is an ever-progressive field, and you never know what new treatment might be discovered. The best thing to do now is to follow the prescribed treatments carefully. As it is a matter of your vertebral column, which is the passage of the spinal cord, surgery should be your last refuge. Try to get as much of non-surgical help as possible. Try bracing, exercises and yoga. Then if your doctor feels that the condition is worsening and needs immediate surgery, only then you should opt for a surgical procedure. Surgery will reduce the symptoms and help you lead as normal a life as possible.