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More than 300 members of MyMSTeam report living with scoliosis — a curvature of the spine. Most cases of scoliosis aren’t connected to multiple sclerosis (MS), but MS can occasionally cause a type known as neuromuscular scoliosis.
Read on to learn more about the relationship between scoliosis and MS. You’ll also find tips to help maintain good posture while living with MS.
Scoliosis is a sideways curving of the spine (like an S), usually in the thoracic or lumbar areas (middle to lower back). The most common type of scoliosis is called idiopathic (meaning it has no known cause). It typically develops during childhood or the teenage years.
Scoliosis doesn’t develop because of any particular cause, and in many cases, it’s mild and doesn’t require treatment.
Like anyone else, people with MS may have idiopathic scoliosis, which is unrelated to MS. They can also develop neuromuscular scoliosis, which is a curve in the spine that occurs when the muscles can’t support the spine properly.
In people with MS, neuromuscular scoliosis develops when MS attacks the central nervous system (CNS) and disrupts communication between the nerves and the muscles around the spine. These disrupted signals weaken the muscles and cause the spine to curve.
MS is one of several neurologic diseases linked to neuromuscular scoliosis, including cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy.
The first sign of neuromuscular scoliosis is often a change in posture. However, this doesn’t mean that your MS posture changes or challenges are being caused by scoliosis. Challenges with posture are very common among people with MS. Most often, the cause is reduced muscle control, not the spinal curve or another deformity.
MS can make it more difficult to control your posture, even in the early stages of the disease. This is because good posture is not a reflex or an automatic body system. It’s actually controlled by a set of complex signals and responses being sent across your body’s systems, and MS can disrupt these signals. MS damages the CNS, which affects how your body receives signals from your eyes, inner ears, and muscles. As a result, it’s harder to stay balanced and know your exact position.
Lack of posture control can make you feel unbalanced, cause pain, or make you hold certain positions for a long time. It’s important to pay attention to changes in your posture.
According to Multiple Sclerosis Trust, “Poor posture can develop gradually, often without you noticing, until it interferes with everyday tasks or causes pain. It can then make other MS symptoms worse or harder to deal with.”
Speak with your healthcare provider right away to get help making a plan to improve your posture or balance if you’re noticing new issues.
Back pain is a common part of daily life for many people with and without MS, and it can have many causes. Between 10 percent and 16 percent of people with MS have back pain, and it’s often related to muscle pain, muscle weakness, imbalance, or a need to sit or stand for a long time.
Neuromuscular scoliosis associated with MS doesn’t cause back pain, unless the spinal curve is severe.
“It’s hard having problems with my back due to my scoliosis, and my MS is no help,” one MyMSTeam member wrote.
“I’ve had to accept a wheelchair into my life just a few weeks ago. I can still walk several steps, but my balance is shot due to MS and scoliosis,” another member said.
Osteoporosis, a condition caused by low bone density, could also cause pain or posture changes. People with MS and limited mobility have a greater risk of developing osteoporosis. Spending much of the day in a wheelchair or in bed can weaken the bones.
Some people with neuromuscular scoliosis may lean to one side or forward when they sit in a wheelchair or stand. People with scoliosis who use wheelchairs often have a more severe spinal curve.
The effects of scoliosis vary widely, but it can cause significant disability. Some people can experience loss of height, numbness, weakness, or an abnormal alignment of their pelvis and hips. The spinal curve for people with neuromuscular scoliosis tends to get worse over time.
Severe neuromuscular scoliosis can lead to complications such as:
In extreme cases, scoliosis can also affect breathing by reducing the space the lungs have to expand. As a result, a person may feel short of breath or find it harder to take in enough air.
If your posture is changing, your back pain is getting worse, or walking is becoming harder, it’s a good idea to see your doctor. Sudden weakness or numbness in your arms or legs, or new bladder or bowel problems, may indicate a more serious issue and should be evaluated immediately.
Your doctor will perform a thorough physical exam of your spine and a neurological exam to test your nerves, muscle function, and reflexes. They will also ask about your family history, pain, and your symptoms. If your doctor thinks you may have scoliosis, they will order X-rays of the front and side of your spine while you’re standing up, as well as when you’re bending over.
Treatment options for neuromuscular scoliosis are geared toward correcting difficulty walking or sitting and improving quality of life. Fixing the abnormal curve of the spine is not necessarily the goal. Treating symptoms of neuromuscular scoliosis might include wheelchair-integrated braces to help improve sitting position.
In some cases, surgery may be recommended to stabilize the spine, help with balance, and ease pressure on your nerves.
You can make small changes to help your posture while walking or standing. These include:
Ask your doctor how to best protect your posture and manage back pain over time. They can also recommend strategies to help you stay as mobile and comfortable as possible.
On MyMSTeam, people share their experiences with multiple sclerosis, get advice, and find support from others who understand.
Are you living with MS and scoliosis? Have you found helpful ways to manage both? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Undetected MS led to balance issues. I sustained fracture spine vertebroplasty.
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