Alternative Treatment For Scoliosis Patients

Alternative Treatment For Scoliosis Patients Scoliosis has swept about a large portion of population. Every year thousands of patients undergo scoliosis Harrington rod surgery to improve the curvature. Spinal fusions can take weeks to take hold and fully form.

Growing children with scoliosis have a much higher risk of the scoliosis substantially increasing above and below the fused areas once the surgery is completed. However, surgery seems to be the best treatment, there are numerous side effects. A patient might need a procedure for scoliosis surgery rod removal, if they had developed: 

Infection

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Bending or breaking of the Harrington rod

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Fusion not taking (called ‘pseudoarthrosis’)

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Curve increasing in later months/years despite the surgery

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Flatback (a painful condition where the cervical, thoracic and/or lumbar spine lose their curve after the thoracic curve is straightened)

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Neurological complications such as partial or total paraplegia, quadriplegia or a peripheral nerve deficit (which often manifests as an abnormal or loss of sensation in your legs)

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Additional surgeries to fix complications or failures due to a trauma (like a car accident or bad fall)

Some of the other complications associated with Harrington rod includes: 

blood loss

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urinary infections from catheterization

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Pancreatitis

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obstructive bowel dysfunction from immobilization

Why choose alternative treatments?

The Harrington rod does straighten the Cobb angle, however, it can’t be considered a cure because it fails to address the underlying causes of scoliosis. It improves the curvature of the spine and replaces it with an unnaturally straight and inflexible one.

Because those underlying causes weren’t addressed with the surgery, it can’t prevent the spine from curving down the further. Many patients experience an increased Cobb angle five to ten years down the road, despite the Harrington rod and the spinal fusion. It also doesn’t always put a stop to the symptoms that many scoliosis patients experience. Any pain you’re experiencing will likely not disappear after the surgery. Also, many cases have been addressed where these rods have eroded causing severe pain and infection.

Alternative treatment options

Because of failure of surgery for scoliosis treatment, many professionals suggest treatments like braces and exercise. 

Braces

Braces made for exclusively for patients with minimal curvature like 37 degree or less.

These are painless and highly recommended for growing children. 

Physio therapy

Physical therapy exercises is regarded as an effective treatment of scoliosis. Consult a chiropractor or therapist for better results from non-invasive treatments.