Managing Scoliosis Pain: 5 Lifestyle Changes That Can Help

Scoliosis can affect your life in many ways. From causing pinched nerve pain to hindering your ability to lead an active, independent life. Adult Scoliosis, in particular, often comes with one consistent symptom: Pain. 73% of young adults diagnosed with Scoliosis report experiencing pain to some degree.

Managing Pain With Scoliosis Bracing

The good news is that you now have more choices to manage your pain thanks to medical advancements and a better understanding of the disorder. Depending on the degree of Scoliosis you have been diagnosed with, there are some simple steps you can incorporate into your lifestyle to minimize pain.

These habits can be adopted even if you undergo other treatments for your disorder, such as medication, therapy, or scoliosis bracing. Here are the top lifestyle alteration habits we recommend to lessen the grasp of scoliosis pain in your life:

1. Schedule Regular Chiropractor Appointments

Along with scoliosis bracing, regularly visiting a chiropractor is one of the top things you can do to keep pain at bay. Early diagnosis and management can drastically improve your chances of leading a pain-free life.

Another advantage of getting checked out regularly is that only a trained professional can diagnose the exact cause of your pain. Not all scoliosis pain is the same, so it’s not treated the same way. 

Sometimes, a pinched nerve might be causing your symptoms, such as sudden numbness or sharp pain. This pain differs from the dull chronic backache usually associated with scoliosis. You can also prevent your condition from worsening when you regularly get your treatment plan altered and updated by a health care professional. 

2. Find the Culprit

Recognizing the triggers that make your scoliosis pain worse is a crucial part of better pain management. Instead of upping your pain medication dosage, try and identify the factors that cause flare-ups. Here are some common culprits that aggravate scoliosis pain:

Cold

If you’ve noticed that dropping temperatures often have a negative effect on your scoliosis pain, you’re not alone. Colder weather causes joints and muscles to stiffen, causing more pain.

A hot bath when the pain feels especially bad is a simple way to relax your body and loosen your rigid muscles. Or try a hot compress on your back and joints. Layer up when heading out to lessen the impact of cold wind. Readjusting your home/office thermostat can also have a significant impact on your pain during the winter months.

Your Mattress

The average human spends about one-third of their life sleeping. The type of mattress you sleep on significantly impacts your back. Selection of the correct mattress type is even more critical for scoliosis patients.

How to know if your mattress is worsening your scoliosis-related back pain? A good gauge is observing how you feel in the morning. If you regularly wake up with stiffness in your back and sore muscles, your mattress might be the culprit. 

Try a firmer mattress or a specially formulated orthopedic mattress. Some patients have had good results with sleeping on the floor as well. Discuss all options with your doctor, as they might be able to guide you on which mattress type will be best suited to your needs.

Pressure Points

Scoliosis means your spine curvature is abnormal. Depending on this unique spine shape and bend, different groups of muscles will be affected in different patients. Each patient has different pressure points that can trigger pain. Identifying yours and avoiding over-exertion of these points can help reduce your pain.

Bad Posture

While good posture is crucial for everyone; it’s even more pivotal for patients with a scoliosis diagnosis. The reasoning behind this is the pressure points we mentioned earlier. Your Scoliosis brace also helps straighten out your curve and improve your posture. 

Poor posture can not only make the physical appearance of the patient look worst, but it can also cause the spinal curvature to progress. Resulting in more pain and exacerbating the condition.

Awareness of your posture is the first step toward bettering it. Practicing the proper posture can be as simple as frequently reminding yourself to sit and stand up taller. For those working at desk jobs, using an elevated desk can help decrease strain on your neck and shoulders.

3. Re-Examine Your Dietary Habits

The food we consume has an impact on every system of our bodies. Taking a proactive approach toward your diet should be focused on these two main goals:

• Reducing inflammation within your body
• Supplying your body with adequate nutrition

Talk to your doctor about the type of foods that can agitate scoliosis pain and cause flare-ups. In most cases, excess sugar, processed foods, and meats are some foods to steer clear of.

Certain foods such as turmeric, cinnamon, and fenugreek add flavor and are great at fighting inflammation.

4. Prioritize Exercise

Exercising and stretching regularly can help increase the flexibility of your muscles and back. Make sure you are taking the time to work out a few times every week or do some simple stretches each morning when you wake up. Stretching can often be done with your scoliosis brace on. Talk to your doctor about exercise regime recommendations, as it's easy to overdo physical activity. 

Make sure you recognize the difference between stiffness in your body and acute pain. In most cases, you can remedy stiffness by doing gentle stretches regularly and don’t need medication for it.

Exercising can also help you maintain an ideal BMI that can help you manage scoliosis pain.

5. Supplement the Right Way

Supplementing your diet with recommended amounts of minerals and vitamins can help maintain bone and spine health. It’s also crucial to take supplements as a preventive measure to avoid further scoliosis-related complications.

Discuss your supplement regime with your doctor, and never start medication without your doctor’s go-ahead. Here are some supplements that are usually prescribed for Scoliosis patients:

• Calcium
• Selenium
• Vitamin D
• Ascorbic acid
• Magnesium
• Probiotic supplements
• Fish oil, Cod liver oil in particular​

Start Managing Your Scoliosis Pain Today
​
Scoliosis pain doesn’t have to stop you living your best life. Managing scoliosis pain is easier when you have the right support system. Our experts at Align Clinic can help you manage your condition. Book an appointment today to learn how you can manage your pain to lead an active life.