Can MS cause scoliosis?

5/22/2016

Question:
Can MS cause scoliosis?

Answer:
Multiple Sclerosis can certainly cause secondary scoliosis (adult onset) to occur over many years, usually in association with degenerative changes (arthritis) in the joints of the spine, associated with asymmetric weakness of the muscles and ligaments supporting the spine.

Revere (Rip) Kinkel MD
Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Program
Director of Hillcrest Neurology
Professor of Clinical Neurosciences
University of California San Diego

4 Comments

Nancy Redford

12/17/2017 02:52:35 pm

I was diagnosed with MS about 10 years ago. For a long time I did the A shots then the B. I finally quit all shots this year. I’m now in my late 60’s and my neurologist felt it was safe to stop & see what happened. So far so good. On this question of MS Scoliosis, I never had Scoliosis before MS, now I’m like the bent woman of Bible times. My spine is totally curved and I am bent forward at my waist. This happened about 4 years into my MS when it was most active. Just wanted to make my comment as I think I have been hit by Scoliosis as hard as anyone I know. I still work full time. I’m very active. But I have to use a walker to get anywhere. My left arm barely reaches over my head. I have normal reaching with my right. I of course have terrible pain and have been in the Kaiser Pain Clinic since the beginning of all of this. I have a special bed. I can’t lay flat of course. Sitting is fine. Anyway, just wanted to make my comment. Thank you.

Janis

7/16/2018 05:39:21 pm

i also developed scoliosis after ms had taken its hold on me. my scoliosis was very rapid and i consulted with an ortho surg re this. he said that i would probably continue to worsen so much that i would be in a specially made wheelchair. i opted to have spinal anterior posterior fusion surg from top to bottom. yes my scoliosis is better, but nobody now i am faced with new issues along with the ms. i say all of this because i had to be proactive and search out a surgeon and then I evaluated what i wanted to do. None of my physicians were "alarmed" by my scoliosis. I had to take control. I ask this question of Neurologist, are we the MS patient that annoying that you just want to get us in and out with as little personalized thought to what is going on with my body. Bless you on your journey!

Dorothy

12/24/2018 06:05:29 pm

I am 56 & I was dx with RRMS in 1995. After 15 years on Avonix, 5 on Rebif, i have spent 3 on Tysabri. 6 weeks ago I was dx with scoliosis. While I am still able to walk (2canes), I have had back pain (lasting several weeks at a time) on and off for the last 4-5 years, but it increased significantly in the last 6 months. My neurologist sent me to physio about a month ago. I am wondering if anyone might have an idea about what I might expect in the future.

Nancy Ward

12/30/2018 11:41:54 am

Hi, I was daigoused with a 13 degree curve to my spine as a teenager, the doctors were not worried about it since it was so slight. In my early 30’s my spine starting curving rapidly and I started having a lot of pain so at 27 degree curve I was recommended to have surgery and a rod was placed in my back, to find out at age 58 that I had MS and the surgery was not needed. Nerve damage did occur from the surgery and many months of pt afterwards, not a happy camper to say the least. My lesions are on my spine, which I”m assuming was causing my spine to curve so fast and not from the scoliosis. If any one can agree with my assumptions, please let me know.
MS is not easy for me to live with since my walking is minimal.
Thank you for your time.
Nancy

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