Scoliosis is a very common condition that causes a sideways curvature of the spine. The condition typically occurs during growth spurts just prior to puberty. If you feel you may have scoliosis, you should check with scoliosis treatment NJ. Dr. Han Jo Kim is an educated professional located in this area that specializes in correcting scoliosis in patients.
Causes of Scoliosis:
The Mayo Clinic states that the most common cause of scoliosis remains to be unknown. Researchers feel it may involve hereditary factors; considering it seems to appear commonly in families. Less common types of scoliosis can result from neuromuscular conditions. For example, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. Birth defects that may have occurred during the development of the spine and injuries to the spine are believed to be a factor that results in this condition.
What are Signs of Scoliosis?
Besides the most common sign of scoliosis; leaning while you stand, there are a large number of other signs/ symptoms. Some of the most common signs are:
- A visible curve in back
- Shoulders, waist, and hip can look uneven
- One shoulder bald may look bigger than the other side
- Ribs stick out on one side of the body
Not only are there visible symptoms to scoliosis, but there are physical ones as well. Someone suffering from scoliosis is commonly affected by back stiffness and lower back pain. Scoliosis can result in pinched nerves; leading to numbness in one’s legs. Lastly, fatigue is a common sign of scoliosis as well due to muscle strains. If you are experiencing any of these signs you should definitely contact Dr. Han Jo Kim, one of the best scoliosis treatment NJ.
Many children are checked for scoliosis at their annual pediatrician visits. This is done by the child leaning over from the waist, so the doctor can check for a curve. The doctor will most likely prescribe an x-ray or MRI to confirm a diagnosis.
Treatment
Most commonly, children with scoliosis will wear a brace on a daily basis. The brace will not cure this condition or fix previous damage. Instead, it prevents the spine from curving anymore than it already has. The braces are worn both day and night; and are also contoured to fit each child’s body perfectly. The brace is worn until the child completes puberty, and will not grow anymore.
If the severity of the scoliosis is high, a doctor will probably recommend surgery. The surgery will allow the severity of the curve in the spine to be stopped. The most common type of scoliosis surgery is known as a spinal fusion. The spinal fusion is one of Dr. Han Jo Kim’s most well mastered surgeries he performs on his scoliosis patients.
Risk Factors
Research shows some risk factors that can increase one’s chances of having this condition.
- Age: Signs typically arise right before puberty
- Gender: Both males and females develop this condition at the same rate; females have a higher risk of the curve worsening
- Family history: Can run in the family
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Dr. Han Jo Kim also provides a section on his website that allows you to read reviews from his past patients. All of the patients had a great experience with him and wanted to share their stories. The stories range from spine revision surgery to spine fusion, and of course scoliosis.
You should take a look at these stories and see how they relate to you. It may allow you to feel more comfortable and confident about your condition. Reading about others who may have had the same condition as you, and overcame many obstacles will definitely help. After seeing how Dr. Han Jo Kim’s patients thrived after treatment/surgery, you will feel less fearful of any treatments you plan on receiving in the future.
Contact Our Scoliosis Treatment NJ!
If you suffer from any of these symptoms or have any questions about treatment; feel free to contact Dr. Han Jo Kim. Dr. Han Jo Kim has offices located on Long Island and NYC. His main focus for all of his patients to recover fully from all their spine ailments, and feel better than ever. The services he specializes in are cervical spine surgery, scoliosis surgery, and spinal deformity surgery. Besides excelling in all of those areas, one can see that he has won multiple awards since 2005 on his website as well. His office accepts a large variety of different insurances; to help provide aid and treatment to as many patients as he can.
No matter what your lifestyle, whether you’re doing some heavy lifting or simply walking around and performing light activities, chances are your back is the one thing that is keeping you going. To be more specific, the spine, which is what keeps you from being all shaky, weak, and ultimately maintains your body so that everything is in the places it should be for optimal performance and function. However, there lies a nasty physical ailment that unfortunately affects countless individuals. This physically dangerous condition is widely known as scoliosis, and it may very well progress over time. It is essential to understand not just the details and background surrounding scoliosis and how treatment has evolved over the years, but also the answer to the commonly asked question by many of those afflicted by it; does scoliosis worsen as you age? At Dr. Han Jo Kim MD, scoliosis doctor NJ, these questions and the nitty-gritty details behind scoliosis will undoubtedly be answered. The spine is our specialty, treatment of scoliosis falling under our duties consistently over the years.
What Is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is the damaging physical condition of the spine that causes various issues for the muscles closest to it, causing the spine to take a particularly unnatural shape, thereby causing significant discomfort in the region. Scoliosis makes the spine curve, often forming either a “C” shape or an “S” shape. Over time, these conditions may worsen, making the back stick out as if those afflicted are ridden with an awful hunch, causing one side of the spine to protrude outwards much more than the other regions. Scoliosis is unfortunately common among the youth, often spotted during adolescence as the body continues to grow, and point out more details to be spotted for the child. These are found out during scoliosis checks in school gymnasiums or perhaps through another routine check-up at the local medical provider. It is often found in children just before they hit the mark of puberty. Contact our scoliosis doctor NJ today!
Physical Symptoms of Scoliosis
Scoliosis is guilty of affecting the spine regions and other muscles close to it, as previously mentioned. These include the shoulders, the hips, the breasts, the rib cage, even the entire body is susceptible to the dangers of scoliosis. To be more specific, the symptoms are as follows:
- A shoulder blade protrudes farther than the other.
- The shoulders are uneven.
- A breast is elevated more so than the other.
- Parts of the rib cage are of varying heights.
- Head position is not above the pelvis, where it should be
- The entire body is tilting toward a particular side (opposite of where scoliosis originated)
- The waist is noticeably uneven.
- The skin is developing abnormalities such as hairy patches springing up, dimples, and differences in color that are abnormal and are noticeable.
These are not all of the symptoms that come with every single case of scoliosis, though these are the ones that arise the most and give the earliest signs.
Scoliosis Doctor In NYC Medical Symptoms
Scoliosis does, in fact, not only affect the physical comfort and appearance of those afflicted, as there are plenty of internal symptoms that must be spotted early on, symptoms that Dr. Han Jo Kim MD, scoliosis doctor NJ treat right away. While the symptoms are primarily of back pain, others may arise, such as difficulty breathing. Difficulty breathing occurs in numerous instances when one has a particularly severe case of scoliosis, often beginning in children before they reach the age of 10 and when the curvature of the spine reaches a particularly alarming threshold.
So, Does it Get Worse With Age?
It varies with every individual, though it is possible that it can worsen. Scoliosis may or may not decline, though it is important to treat it effectively and as soon as possible. A severe curvature of the spine, passing the mark of fifty degrees, can expect to worsen by one or two degrees as the years go on. In some instances, however, the curves never worsen even without proper treatment. Still, it is a detriment to your health. Maintaining your weight and avoiding obesity is one way to treat it and ensure it never worsens, as obesity is long considered to be one of the leading causes of scoliosis (though no one knows the definitive reason as to how it is caused aside from patterns observed by medical professionals). It is never definitively known if it will ever worsen or stay where it is, as it may also vary given the genetics and birth defects of those afflicted, defects such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, spinal muscular atrophy, and several other conditions.
Contact Us
Dr. Han Jo Kim MD, a scoliosis doctor NJ, knows just how to deal with this unfortunate condition and is always willing to assist you as best as he can. Contact us today. We are located in New York City as well as Uniondale.
Scoliosis can be an unfortunate condition that, when left untreated, can cause an individual a lot of discomfort. Dr. Han Jo Kim is one of the most experienced scoliosis surgery NJ that specializes in scoliosis surgery. We believe that you should not hesitate to seek treatment. To learn more about this condition and how Dr. Kim can help you treat it, contact us today!
What is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine. Scoliosis is a very common condition that most often occurs in children during the growth spurt before puberty. Most of the time, scoliosis cases are mild, but sometimes the spine deformities can become more severe as an individual grows. This condition can be very debilitating because a severe spinal curve can reduce the amount of space in your chest, hindering lung function. Some of the most telling signs and symptoms of scoliosis include:
- Uneven shoulders. One shoulder blade will typically appear more raised than the other.
- Uneven waist. One hip will be higher than the other.
If the curve worsens, the spine can also twist, which can cause the ribs on one side of the body to stick out. Scoliosis is also found in adults. In many cases, the condition actually starts to develop during childhood, but will be undetected and untreated. Several factors can cause scoliosis in adults. Some of these include trauma to the spine, arthritis, and osteoporosis. If you notice any of these signs of scoliosis, it is a good idea to contact scoliosis surgery NJ for proper evaluation. They will be able to determine the best course of action for your condition.
Do Orthopedic Doctors Treat Scoliosis?
Each case of scoliosis is unique. Your scoliosis surgery NJ specialize in this condition and will help outline the best course of treatment for you and your lifestyle. There are a few forms of treatment that can be effective in dealing with scoliosis. The treatment you receive will be based on the severity of your condition. These treatments include:
- Braces: Braces are usually worn during childhood while the individual is still growing. Wearing a brace will not reverse the spinal curve, but it will typically prevent the curve from progressing. The most common type of back brace is plastic and conforms to the patient’s body. It is made to be invisible under clothes and is usually worn both day and night. Once the bones stop growing, braces are discontinued.
- Surgery: Severe scoliosis progresses over time. Surgery is usually only recommended if nonsurgical treatments were unsuccessful and pain is still an issue. Your scoliosis surgery NJ might suggest getting surgery to reduce the spinal curve’s severity and prevent it from worsening. The most common type of scoliosis surgery is called spinal fusion. In this surgery, your surgeon connects two or more vertebrae together so that they can’t move independently.
Orthopedic doctors can effectively handle scoliosis because orthopedics is the area of medicine specializing in the treatment of bone, joint, nerve, and tissue disorders, including those in the back and spine. To learn more about which course of action is best for your scoliosis, talk to scoliosis spine surgery NJ.
Contact Us: Scoliosis Spine Surgery NJ
If you are looking for scoliosis spine surgery NJ, look to the offices of Dr. Han Jo Kim. Dr. Kim is a spine surgeon who specializes in cervical spine and scoliosis surgery. Dr. Kim believes in a comprehensive approach to patient care so each outcome is optimized. If you or a loved one has scoliosis, you should not hesitate to contact us today. We will help you determine if spinal surgery is right for you.