Congenital Scoliosis

Congenital scoliosis is a condition which affects patients before they are even born. Scientists do not understand exactly what causes many cases of scoliosis, although they do know that heredity plays an important role in the development of this condition. Spinal curves are relatively common in the general population. Most curvatures are mild to moderate, while only a small percentage is severe enough to warrant treatment.

What is Congenital Spinal Curvature?

Scoliosis is a side to side curvature of the spine. In the case of people actually born with the condition, there is also a higher likelihood of other problematic disorders, such as Spina Bifida or Cerebral Palsy. Doctors do not completely understand the link between spinal curvature and other fetal developmental concerns, but there is certainly some correlation between the two. However, most patients born with scoliosis do not have any other troublesome conditions or defects in their spines.

Congenital Scoliosis Facts

There is a much closer ratio of males to females with congenital or infantile scoliosis than with other forms of spinal curvature. Scoliosis is a condition that is often not discovered until much later in life. Many people never even realize they have it at all, until routine health checks find it at an older age. Mild to moderate scoliosis is not inherently painful or symptomatic in any way. Most spinal curves are inconsequential and will have absolutely no effect on the individual or their functionality. Only a small percentage of spinal curves require monitoring and even less require drastic treatment.

Recommendation on Congenital Scoliosis

Since you were born with this condition, there is a decreased chance of developing a psychosomatic back pain syndrome based upon the diagnosis. Patients born with scoliosis do not know anything different and usually accept the condition far better than people who develop it as adolescents or adults. It is still important that any treating physician give the growing child confidence and security by making sure they understand that this condition is rarely serious. A child with a positive mental state will grow up to be strong and healthy, regardless of their mild to moderate scoliosis.

I was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 16 and was devastated by the prognosis of ongoing painful symptoms given to me by my chiropractor. If I had known then what I do now, I might have never suffered the 18 long years of pain which tore my life apart and brought me to a very dark place indeed...

Congenital Scoliosis to Back Pain Home page 4/14/08