Is scoliosis the same thing as MS? ?

Question

My 12 year old was told she might have scoliosis, to come back to the Dr. in 6 months. They did not do an X-RAY or anything. Should i worry now , about like MS, Please tell me all u know about this, thanks

Answer 1

No, scoliosis is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine, and can range from minor and not worth worrying about to clearly visible and problematic. MS is multiple sclerosis, which is a condition where the immune system begins attacking the central nervous system. As far as I know there is absolutely no relation between the two conditions. Believe me, if your daughter was diagnosed with MS or an advanced case of scoliosis, you would not be waiting 6 months for a second appointment. The doctor is probably waiting to see if the condition worsens enough to become concerning.

Answer 2

I was told by my doctors everyone has some form of scoliosis..which is a curvature of the spine...they don't get too excited unless it is over a 2 degree curvature over a one year span....they will check her out more in 6 months if the curvature is progressing

MS is an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system...it strikes women usually between the ages of 20 and 50  

Answer 3

Why don't you start by Googling "scoliosis"?  There's lots to read on the web. Don't get overwhelmed.

Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine.  MS is a neurological disease.

I am surprised they didn't do a "scoliosis study" xray to measure the curve. This would be compared with another at your next checkup to see if it is progressing.  

Was the doctor an orthopedist, and preferable a pediatric orthopedist who specialized in scoliosis?  If it's just your regular pediatrician, you should ask for a referral.

And Autumn: not every case requires surgery. In fact, the minority do, and in boys, almost none.

Answer 4

As the others have said, scoliosis is not the same as MS.  It is a curving of the spine.  The spine can curve in a variety of ways (single, double, or even triple curve (very rare), upper, middle, or lower back).  The ribs can deform along with it, the whole trunk can rotate, and it can develop at any age.  Below is a little information.

I've posted the following a few times for other people with questions. I hope I'll answer the things that have you concerned.

Scoliosis comes mainly in two flavors - functional (the curve is caused by another issue (uneven leg length for example) and structural.  There are two main kinds of structural scoliosis - congenital (present at birth) and idiopathic (unknown cause).  It is important for you to know what kind you have.

If you have functional scoliosis, a chiropractor may be able to help.  Shoe lifts may help with uneven legs, but there can be many causes of functional scoliosis.  I don't have much experience with functional scoliosis.

If you have structural scoliosis, there's not a lot you can do.  The main treatments depend on how bad the curve is and how much more growth you have to go.  Its not possible to predict how much or how fast a curve may increase.

You need to see a scoliosis specialist if you're not doing that already. A doctor that is not trained as a scoliosis specialist doesn't have the expertise to treat it.

Any curve under 10 degrees is considered normal and probably isn't monitored.

Curves from 10-25 degrees are mild but should be monitored, especially if you're still growing.

Curves from 25-40 degrees are moderate with bracing possible. You will need monitoring, especially if you're still growing.

Surgery may be recommended if your curve doesn't respond to bracing. Bracing will do no good if you're through growing. The purpose of a brace isn't to make your curve better, but rather to keep the curve from becoming worse.

Curves greater than 45 degrees is major. Surgery may be recommended. This depends on many things, but whether you're done growing, whether your curve is increasing, whether your heart and lungs are in danger of being squeezed by your curve, whether you're in pain, quality of life, etc.

If your curve is over 30 degrees, there is a good chance that it will increase even when you're through growing.  (Mine did.)

Unfortunately, nothing can *fix* idiopathic scoliosis. Surgery can keep the curve from getting worse, and in most cases, will reduce the curve but most likely your spine won't be straight (unless you are very flexible in the area to be fused, then you might be lucky).

Chiropractors, message therapists, acupuncturists, etc., can't fix idiopathic scoliosis. These people adjust the soft, connective tissues and that may (or may not, you can't tell ahead of time) make you feel better, but remember, idiopathic scoliosis is not a connective tissue disease. Your spine is growing curved.

Answer 5

Scoliosis has to do with the backbone, MS deals with the nervous system. There's nothing to worry about, your child will need corrective surgery and so forth to straighten their spine.  

Answer 6

Scoliosis is NOT MS, scoliosis is curving of the spine and can range from the spine being off centre to painful and debilitating s curves. Unless your daugther is morbidly obese, x-rays are not nessicary for diagnosing scoliosis.

Here is information about MS from the Canadian MS Society:

  

Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada

What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system — the brain and spinal cord. The disease attacks the protective myelin covering of the central nervous system, causing inflammation and often destroying the myelin in patches. In its most common form, MS has well defined attacks followed by complete or partial recovery. The severity of MS, progression and specific symptoms cannot be predicted at the time of diagnosis.

Answer 7

These are two entirely different conditions.  Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine, it is more common in females.  Treatment is usually not indicated unless the curvature is severe. It is usually a lateral cure to one side or the other, some people have a "hump" of the spine which is called Kyphosis or the "swayback" called lordosis.

MS is when a persons immune system for some reason or another attacks the nervous system.. it attacks the "insulation" or myelin sheath of the nerves that carry out the "electrical" signals. This causes balance problems, muscle weakness, even swallowing diff.

Hope this helps....

Answer 8

Scoliosis...

Scoliosis is a lateral curve of the spine. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (unknown cause) is the most common type. Girls are more likely than boys to have this type of scoliosis.

You need to see a spine specialist, either neurosurgeon or an orthopedic surgeon. I don't trust chiropractors. I had my back manipulated once or twice, it always hurt worse after they were done with it. As a nurse, I've also cared for a few patients who required surgery after seeing a chiropractor because the chiropractor actually caused nerve damage.

There are three main categories of treatment: observation, bracing, and surgery. If the curve is small when first diagnosed, it can be observed and followed with routine X-rays and measurements. If the curve stays below 25 degrees, no other treatment is needed. If the curve is between 25-40 degrees, a brace may be recommended. If the curve is greater than 40 degrees, then surgery may be recommended.

MS...

Multiple sclerosis is completely different animal.  Myelin covers or insulates our nerves, improving conduction of nerve impulses and maintaining the health of the nerves. In MS, inflammation causes the myelin to eventually disappear. Nerve impulses become slower. In addition, the nerves themselves are damaged. As more and more nerves are affected, a patient experiences a progressive interference with functions that are controlled by the nervous system such as vision, speech, walking, writing, and memory.

Usually, a patient is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis between 20 and 50 years of age, but multiple sclerosis has been diagnosed in children and in the elderly. Multiple sclerosis is twice as likely to occur in Caucasians as in any other group. Women are twice as likely as men to be affected by multiple sclerosis earlier in life.

Scoliosis & MS...the two do not go hand in hand.

Where as we don't know what causes most cases of scoliosis, we are constantly learning more about MS. MS is an autoimmune disease. The genetics part is that a parent may pass on the predisposition for an autoimmune disease to their child. Doesn't mean it will be passed on. Doesn't mean that if it is passed on that anything (like a virus) will ever trigger the autoimmune response.

That being said, if you have a family member with MS you have a higher chance of developing it than someone without MS in the family. But again, doesn't mean you will. One relative having it, you have about 1-3% chance. I have two relatives (mom and maternal aunt) so I had about 10%.

Since the two do not go hand in hand, I guess I'm just lucky? I do KNOW I am happy and healthy and as normal as most people, thank you very much ;)