What are some non-surgical ways to deal with kyphosis?
The type of treatment you receive will depend upon the cause of your kyphosis. If your kyphosis is caused by a spine fracture, you can try: • bed rest • over-the-counter medications • prescription medications If your kyphosis is caused by poor posture, you can try: • physical therapy so that you can learn exercises that will strengthen your spine • correcting your posture (a physical therapist can help with this, too) If your kyphosis is caused by a structural problem, you can try: • wearing a special brace Will I need surgery? If your kyphosis is severe a curve greater than 70° your doctor may recommend surgery. He or she may also recommend surgery if your curve is progressing rapidly, your balance is affected, your nervous system is affected, or you have persistent pain. To correct the abnormal curve, surgeons try to fuse the spine into a more normal curve. Spinal fusion involves placing small pieces of bone between the vertebrae. Over time these pieces of bone will grow and join or
