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Scoliosis Treatment In San Antonio can be a very scary thing for those recently diagnosed, especially for children and adolescents (an of course their parents). Just the terminology alone can sound very frightening to the uninitiated.

Most cases of scoliosis fall under the category of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. "Idiopathic" may sound serious to the uninitiated, but it simply means that the cause of the scoliosis is unknown - as opposed to it being due to some underlying disease or spinal defect.

While the diagnosis of scoliosis may seem scary, rest assured that the majority of cases can be managed without resorting to drastic measures like surgery, and most of the patients we treat in our San Antonio, TX office go on to live very normal lives.

Scoliosis Treatment That Is Easier On The Patient

While the potential symptoms of scoliosis are a concern, young patients may have bigger fears about how the condition will effect them socially. Children and teenagers have a hard enough time without having a condition that makes them look different from their peers. While scoliosis itself may not be readily noticeable by others, the treatments for it can be quite obvious and can make a young scoliosis patient a target for harrassment by other kids.

For example, one of the first lines of treatment typically used for adolescent scoliosis is bracing. Scoliosis braces are bulky and restrictive and are very noticeable when being worn, despite the best efforts to hide them with clothing. Furthermore, because the braces severely restrict movement, the patient is often unable to participate in physical activities and will tend to move stiffly. Here's an example of a scoliosis brace (shown being worn outside of clothing, but you can probably see how difficult it would be to hide even under baggy clothes:

Since the majority of bracing protocols require the patient to wear the brace most of the time, including while at school, there is no hiding the fact that the patient has something going on, and unfortunately kids can be rather cruel when there is something "different" about one of their peers.

Fortunately, new scoliosis bracing protocols, such as the Providence bracing that we use in our San Antonio scoliosis treatment program, allow for bracing only at night while the patient sleeps. This leaves the patient brace-free during the day and avoids the self-consciousness and activity limitations that all-day bracing presents.

Avoiding Scoliosis Surgery

In our experience, scoliosis surgery is rarely necessary. There are some unsual cases in which the scoliotic curvature progresses rapidly, and in those rare instances, surgery may become necessary to prevent problems with organ function due to compression related to the scoliotic deformity.

Unfortunately, surgery is sometimes done when there is not a good clinical indication for it. Spinal surgeons may recommend it for a variety of reasons before really giving other treatment methods a chance, and some patients may request it for aesthetic reasons, without really knowing what they are getting into.

For those people who are considering scoliosis surgery for primarily cosmetic reasons, we strongly advise you to consider the long-term effects of such surgery and to realize that the surgery itself creates some obvious physical signs that will be noticeable to others. The surgery will leave a very large scar along the spine, and it will dramatically restrict your movement. Many people who undergo scoliosis surgey suffer from long-term pain and so we recommend that it be considered only as a last resort in the very rare cases of aggressive scoliosis in order to prevent secondary health problems.

Our San Antonio Scoliosis Treatment Program

Our scoliosis treatment program utilizes several different methods in a patient-friendly environment. In addition, while some San Antonio scoliosis specialists are notorious for keeping their patients waiting for long periods of time, our friendly staff provides prompt attention to performing the necessary procedures and getting you on your way in an efficient manner.

The following is a breakdown of the treatment methods employed in our office:

Gentle Spinal Manipulation and Mobilization

Using a special table that allows the spine to be flexed and rotated to reduce the scoliotic curve, gentle pressure is applied to normalize joint function and promote more even mechanical loading of the spine.

Muscle Stimulation and Exercise

We use electrical muscle stimulation and positioning wedges to balance muscles on the sides of the spine. As treatment progresses, exercises are introduced to work the weaker, overstretched muscles on the outside of the scoliotic curvature and to stretch the tighter muscles on the inside of the curvature.

Vibration and Decompression Of The Scoliotic Spine

Using our special Flexion-Distraction table, the scoliotic curvature can be de-rotated and decompressed. In this position, vibratory therapy is applied to stimulate special nerve receptors in the spine that are responsible for joint position, muscle tension, etc.. It is thought that this vibratory stimulation helps to "re-set" these nerve receptors to promote more normal joint and muscle postural control.

Night-time Bracing With The Providence Brace

As previously mentioned, we utilize the Providence brace to apply corrective treatment to the scoliosis while the patient is sleeping. While the brace does take some getting used to, patients adapt to sleeping in it pretty quickly, and the vast majority much prefer nighttime bracing to having to wear a brace all the time.

Affordable Treatment

We participate on most insurance plans in the San Antonio area and treatment is fully covered by insurance in most cases. For those without insurance, our treatment protocol is quite affordable and we will work with you to help you get the treatment you need in a way that fits your budget.

To Find Out More About Our Treatment Program, Call Us Today At:

(210) 308-7473

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