And who but a child, will spend the rest of his days combining;
Ever inquiring mind of a child.
With the near-masochistic dare-evilness of a child.
With the lightening growth-fluidity of a child.
With the painful loneliness of a child.
With the invigilated veracity of a child.
With the unsoiled intellectual virginity of a child.
With the imaginative elasticity of a child.
With the insane addiction to sanity of a child.
With the self-appointed-God simplicity of a child. Etc.
(Diary of A Homeless Prodigal- Meeting The Father of Man by Obi Egbuna 1976)
That was Obi Egbuna describing the qualities of a child in 1976. Looking at some of those qualities, you can then imagine the child’s state of mind if his physical well being is encumbered by a deformity such as scoliosis.
We know that Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. About 4% of all children especially African children aged 10 to 14 years have detectable scoliosis. About 60 to 80 percent of all cases occur in girls. Scoliosis may occur as a birth defect. When it develops later no causes can be found in 75% of the cases but in Africa about 5 percent of scoliosis is caused by spinal tuberculosis
It is a side to side curve of your spine as opposed to khyphosis(hunch back) which is a back curvature of the spine which is most common in older women and often related to osteoporosis.
Scoliosis is usually mild and does not cause symptoms, but it can lead to back pain and abnormal posture.
Fatigue in the back may be felt after prolonged sitting or standing. It may be followed by muscular pain in the back and eventually by more severe pain.
Some scoliosis are described as “idiopathic which means the cause is unknown, this is the most common scoliosis, and research has shown that this type runs in families and has a genetic (hereditary) link.
The congenital scoliosis is a rare type of spine abnormality and could be detected at birth. It occurs when the vertebrae (the bones that make up your spinal cord), do not form as they should during embryonic development.
There is a neuromuscular scoliosis which results due to abnormalities in the muscles and nerves that support your spine. It usually happens alongside a neurological (nerve) or muscular conditions, like an injury, cerebral palsy, spina bifida or muscular dystrophy.
In Africa, tuberculosis of the spine is experienced especially in rural areas. The infection usually starts in the anterior part of a disc and spreads to the adjacent surface of the body of vertebrae, or to two adjacent ones. It seldom involves its neural arches. The result is that, as the bodies of his vertebrae collapse, his spine angles forward, to produce a Kyphus(hunch back), the shape of his spinal deformity ,depends on how many of his vertebrae are diseased. Commonly, as his deformity gets worse, a sharp angle (the gibbus) appears.
As I enumerated earlier the signs and symptoms to watch out for if we must diagnose scoliosis earlier, include but not limited to:
Back pain
Difficulty standing upright
Core muscle weakness
Leg pain numbness or weakness
Uneven shoulders
Shoulder blades that stick out
Head that does not center above your pelvis
Uneven waist
Elevated hips
Constant leaning to one side
Uneven leg length
Changes in skin appearance or texture (dimples, hair patches) skin discolouration these occur on your bank along your spine
Height loss
Uneven alignment of your pelvis and hips.
The complications of scoliosis may vary. Without treatment severe scoliosis can lead to long-lasting pain, physical deformity, organ damage, nerve damage, arthritis, spinal fluid leakage and difficulty in breathing.
Most curves of scoliosis are convex to the right in the upper back and to the left in the lower back so that the right shoulder is higher than the left. One hip may be higher than the other.
The first step of a scoliosis diagnosis is a scoliosis screening. You may remember getting a scoliosis physical screening during vaccination as a primary Health Care Center of Six killer diseases. Usually, a well oriented Nurse during vaccination will also examine the children to rule out abnormality due to polio virus and scoliosis is discovered accidentally.
The Nurse will ask you to remove your shirt to see your back, stand up straight, bend forward like you are touching your toes.
Also mild scoliosis may be discovered during a routine physical examination at school. A parent teacher or doctor may suspect scoliosis when a child has one shoulder that seems higher than the other or when the child’s clothes do not hang straight. To diagnose the condition a doctor asks the child to bend forward and views the spine from behind, because the abnormal spinal curve can be seen more easily in this position.
X-rays help confirm the diagnosis. Other imaging tests may include- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). Or CT(Computerised Tomography) Scan.
A scoliosis diagnosis is most common during adolescence between ages 10 and 15. As you age, your spine curves (degeneration) for this reason adult, can get you a scoliosis diagnosis later in life. This usually happens if scoliosis is mild and goes undetected during childhood.
The prognosis of scoliosis depends on where the abnormal curve is how severe it is and when symptoms begin. The more severe the curve, the greater the likelihood that it will worsen.
Half of the children with detectable scoliosis need to be treated or closely monitored by a doctor. Prompt treatment may prevent further deformity.
Usually a child who has scoliosis is treated by an Orthopedic Specialist. A brace or plaster cast may be worn to hold the spine straight. Sometimes electro-spinal treatment, the spinal muscles are stimulated by tiny electrical currents that allow the spine to straighten.
Sometimes surgery, in which vertebrae are fused together is needed. A metal rod may be inserted during surgery to keep the spine straight until the vertebrae have fused.
Scoliosis and its treatment can cause psychological problems, threatening an adolescent’s self-image. Wearing a brace or a cast can cause concern about appearing different from peers, and hospitalisation and surgery may threaten an adolescent’s independence. However, the alternative could be an obvious permanent deformity. Counseling and support could help.
There is, no known way to prevent scoliosis. If you have scoliosis your doctor might recommend strengthening your back and abdominal muscles with stretching and exercises. These can help prevent the curve in your spine from getting worse.
The outlook for scoliosis can vary depending on the type and severity. Most people can live normally, without any changes to their routines.
Most people with scoliosis even after treatment can participate in mild physical activities and exercises. Routine movement can reduce the severity of symptoms. If an aching causes pain listen to your body and stop.
Always be medically guided.
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