Kyphosis is a condition in which the sufferer has a curved spine in one or several regions. Some people refer to the condition as roundback, Kelso’s hunchback or just hunchback. They refer to it that way because of the way that it makes the sufferer appear to be slouched over. The condition can affect any person, and many conditions and situations can cause it. Postural kyphosis occurs because the affected person exhibited poor posture for many years. The slouched posture then caused the individual’s spine to curve excessively. The condition can also come from gene mutations, nutritional problems, fractures that happen in the vertebrae and more.
Diagnosis of kyphosis usually involves a physical examination and an angle measurement. The primary mechanism of measurement is called a Cobb angle. An abnormality is any variance in the angle that is more than 2.5 cm. Specialists can treat the condition with surgery, braces, physical therapy and other measures. It all depends on the cause and the degree of deformity. Symptoms of kyphosis vary from individual to individual. The following are 10 of the most common symptoms. Anyone who experiences more than one of these symptoms may want to visit a specialist for a test.
1. Back Pain
Back pain is very common in people who suffer from kyphosis. It occurs because of the unusual angle of the spine and the pressure that the situation causes. The area of pain is usually in the upper back or thoracic spine area. However, the pain can occur in the lumbar areas or other areas of the back. Back pain can come at any time during the person’s life. It could last for a short while, or it could last for a significant amount of time. The pain can be mild, or it can be severe enough to require medication for its management.
Some over-the-counter drugs may work for managing the back pain that kyphosis can cause. Acetaminophen is a pain medication that works for some people. It’s also known as Tylenol. Ibuprofen may be a more effective solution for the pain because it has anti-inflammatory properties. If those solutions don’t work, the specialist may prescribe something a little bit stronger that can help to suppress the pain. An affected person may also be able to do some exercises that can help the back pain. The exercise may do wonders for a person who has the postural form of the disorder.
2. Neck Pain
Some people who suffer from kyphosis experience neck pain. Neck pain is only prevalent in the cases that come from degenerative types of kyphosis, however. The wear and tear on the person’s spine becomes so severe that it stresses different areas of the back and the neck. The neck pain can vary in intensity. It would also have the same over-the-counter solutions as the back pain, and the specialist may order something strong if the person finds the pain to be unbearable or disabling to the point that he or she cannot work or perform daily life activities because of it.
3. Physical Deformity
Anyone who suffers from kyphosis will have a physical deformity prevalent that will distinguish the condition form other conditions. A medical specialist can almost develop a complete diagnosis just by looking at the physical deformity. The deformity is in the way that the back curves and rounds itself to the point where the victim assumes a slouched position and is unable to get out of that position. The curvature in the back is usually more than 50 degrees, which makes the deformity appear to be excessive. Most cases of this affliction occur in the thoracic area or the upper back, but they can also affect the lumbar area or the neck.
4. Balance Disorder
A balance disorder may occur in people who have this condition. When the spine is off, every other part of the body is off. It causes weight to distribute unevenly when the person is standing, and that can cause the individual to lose balance. The loss of balance can lead to involuntary falls, which can cause the person to experience further damage to his or her body. Those who don’t fall may stumble or experience tripping or something else. A medical brace may be able to help the person to regain balance and avoid falls and injuries because of the disorder.
5. Compression Fracture
A spinal compression fracture is something that can happen in kyphosis, too. Compression fractures are little cracks in the spine that happen because of all the stress on the spine. A common symptom of a compression fracture is back pain. The person who is experiencing it may have a quick onset of sharp pain. The pain could be dull, as well as it’s very unpredictable. The pain sometimes stops if the individual is lying down or relaxing, but then it gets worse as soon as he tries to perform a significant or strenuous activity like walking or lifting things.
6. Falling
Falling down is very common in people with this disorder. It happens because of the balance disorder that occurs because of gravity and the uneven distribution of weight. The equilibrium becomes disrupted, and the person loses balance when trying to complete normal tasks like walking. A person with this condition has to be very careful to avoid falls because of the damages that they can cause. Broken bones, cuts and bruises only compound the myriad of challenges that such a person already faces from having the disorder.
7. Mobility Limitation
Mobility limitation comes with the territory of having problems with the spine. a person who is suffering from this condition may find that he can no longer move around like he uses to be able to do before the condition progressed. Some of the activities that the person may experience difficulty doing are raising the arms and lifting objects. Simply twisting the body for exercise or any other reason may become an impossible task.The extent of the immobility is directly related to the amount of curvature in the spine. Lack of treatment will cause the condition to get worse over time.
8. Muscle Weakness
Muscle weakness can occur in a person who has this condition. Muscle weakness can wreak havoc on the individual because it can cause a variety of symptoms. Some of the issues that it can cause are pain, inability to complete certain tasks and loss of balance and coordination. A person who has muscle weakness can easily fall or drop items that he tries to carry because of the frailty of the muscles. The muscle weakness can cause other symptoms such as frustration or stress when the individuals realize that he cannot conduct normal activities.
9. Short Stature
In some cases, people who have kyphosis also have short stature, or they develop to be shorter than most people in society. The short stature issue is especially prevalent in people who have congenital forms of the disorder. A short stature is a height that is below the rest of the population for sex and age. People with short have a growth retardation issue that usually does not get better with time. This condition does not occur in people who have posture related kyphosis, however, since many of them had already stopped growing before they caused their spines to curve.
10. Stiffness
A person who has kyphosis may experience stiffness in the neck or back. Stiffness occurs because of the damage that happens to the tissues. The stiffness can have a severe effect on the person’s ability to move around and do things that are necessary for life. It can cause the individual not be able to straighten up his posture even if he wants to. The stiffness could limit the person’s mobility only a little bit, or it could be a significant hindrance that causes the need for assistance or benefits. In some cases, exercise can help to loosen the stiffness, but not in all cases.
