Look closely at your profile in a mirror. Your spine should have a natural curve that accommodates your shoulders and your hips. That curve helps distribute your body weight evenly and helps you keep your balance when you move. For people who have kyphosis, that curve is exaggerated and the spine is abnormally rounded.
The team at Twin Cities Spine Center (TC Spine) can help treat kyphosis with both nonsurgical and surgical approaches. Our team spends all day, every day, dealing with issues that affect the neck and back. We have the expertise you need to recover as quickly and fully as possible.
Understanding Kyphosis
In some cases, kyphosis is caused by degenerative disc disease, arthritis or trauma. For some, it can be congenital. In other cases, the cause is unknown.
If you have kyphosis, you might have uncomfortable symptoms, such as an aching back. Your posture might also change. You might develop a hunchback or a swayback.
Your specialist at TC Spine can use physical exams and imaging tests to diagnose kyphosis. Spinal curves show up clearly in an x-ray, which can be performed in our clinic. Your x-ray might also show changes in your vertebrae, including wedging and irregular edges. That could indicate Scheuermann's kyphosis, named for the physician who first recognized these unusual bone changes.
Treating Kyphosis
With a diagnosis of kyphosis, you'll have treatment decisions to make. Your team at TC Spine can help. We will explain what that curve in your spine means in words you can understand, and we'll make sure you have treatment options that are right for you.
Your kyphosis treatment plan might include bracing so your back will be protected from further progression of the curve. We might also suggest physical therapy programs that can help boost the strength of the muscles in your neck and back.
If your kyphosis is severe, you might need more than bracing and physical therapy. You might also need surgery. Our team can use spinal fusion surgery to restore more proper alignment to your spine. We'll discuss your surgery options in detail so you can make the right choice.