When you come to see a doctor about scoliosis, they will ask several questions about how and when it was first noticed and about whether it is getting worse. They will also want to know about any other medical problems or other things that may have happened around the time of your birth or during your childhood, which could have caused the scoliosis. The doctor will also want to now about how much you have grown recently and, for girls, when your periods started. These are all ways that the doctor can help to decide when you will grow most rapidly and when your curve is most likely to get worse. It is important to tell the doctor if you have noticed and weakness or change in the feeling in you arms or legs.
The doctor will also want to examine you. This will involve looking at the shape of your spine and seeing whether the scoliosis has effected the overall alignment of your body. They will want to assess how much rotation or twisting there is in your spine by asking you to bend forward. They may measure your height and weight and they will look at how flexible your spine is. They will also assess your strength, feeling and reflexes to make sure that there are no problems with the nerves coming from your spine.
As a next step, you may need to have further X-rays and other tests to look at your spine in more detail. The X-ray will allow the doctor to see how bad the scoliosis is, and other tests may be done to make sure that there is no other problem in the nerves or bones, which may be causing the scoliosis. If these tests are all normal then your doctor will discuss the treatment options with you.
If you attend the outpatient clinic you may be required to have X-rays of your spine. You will probably have two views taken, one from the back and a side view. These will show your whole spine and hips and demonstrate any curvature of your spine or imbalance in your posture.
On follow-up visits to the Outpatients' Department, you may have an X-ray each time you come – normally at six month or yearly intervals. These X-rays will show any changes in your curve over time. If you are wearing a brace, this will show how well the treatment is working. If you have had surgery it will clearly show the implanted metalwork.
If you need surgery, you may be required to have side bending X-rays taken before the surgery, which will help your surgeon to decide which vertebral levels to operate on. During the operation you will have X-ray screening to ensure correct positioning of the screws. This will be followed by X-rays before you leave hospital.
We aim to keep the radiation dose as low as is reasonably practicable at all times. Also, we will need to check whether there is any chance that female patients may be pregnant, as we would not want to irradiate a baby in the womb. Please ensure that you know the date of your last menstrual period, as the radiographer will ask you before you have your X-ray.
Your doctor may refer you for an MRI scan of your spine to check that you have no abnormalities in your spinal cord, especially if there is a likelihood of you having surgery. This would be undertaken by appointment at the Stanmore site. An MRI scan shows the soft tissues, for example, spinal cord and intervertebral discs.
This differs from a radiograph (X-ray) which mainly demonstrates bones.
For the scan, you will need to lie inside a magnetic tube for about 45 minutes to demonstrate the whole of your spine. You will be able to listen to music while you have your scan to help pass the time.
Information Guides for Adults
Imaging
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A Patient's guide to having a CT Scan | 79.59 KB |
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A Patient's Guide to having a DXA Scan | 81.49 KB |
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A Patient's guide to having a Renogram | 61.20 KB |
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A Patient's guide to having an Ultrasound Scan | 54.00 KB |
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A Patient's guide to having an X-Ray | 55.12 KB |
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Fluoroscopy injection | 111.39 KB |
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Patient guide to myelogram | 111.70 KB |
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Patient guide to sinogram | 111.97 KB |
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Ultrasound guided injection | 111.75 KB |
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Ultrasound guided biopsy | 116.29 KB |
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Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Blood Injection | 112.38 KB |
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A Patient's guide to having a CT Guided Injection | 88.09 KB |
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A Patient's guide to having a Bone Scan | 61.24 KB |
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CT guided Radiofrequency ablation | 110.62 KB |
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Fluoroscopy guided biopsy/aspiration | 111.37 KB |
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CT guided biopsy/aspiration | 111.38 KB |
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Patient guide to Arthrogram | 112.56 KB |
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Patient guide to Discogram | 111.44 KB |
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CT Angiogram | 109.59 KB |
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CT guided facet and nerve root injection | 111.43 KB |
See the full list of Patient Information Guides.