Scoliosis Treatment with Dr. Tony Nalda

When talking about spinal health, one distinctive diagnosis that emerges, especially among adults dealing with spinal deformities, is known as flat back syndrome. This condition disrupts the natural curvatures of the spine, impacting its strength, flexibility, and overall biomechanics. Defining Flat Back Syndrome The spine, designed with natural curves for strength and flexibility, experiences dis...

When discussing the normal anatomy of the spine, it's essential to recognize the importance of maintaining straightness from the front and well-defined curves when viewed from the side. These natural curves play a crucial role in absorbing forces, enhancing flexibility, and distributing stress throughout the spine. However, when these healthy curves are lost and displaced into the frontal view, it...

In a tale of self-discovery, today’s guest stumbled upon the realization of her scoliosis during college. Prompted by a friend's observation and armed with a picture revealing an unleveled appearance in her back, she sought answers. Her journey began with an X-ray revealing a 26-degree curve, and despite reassurances that it wouldn't worsen in adulthood, she started experiencing discomfort, leadin...

Today, Dr. Tony Nalda delves into the definition of kyphosis, its symptoms, and the surgical solution, and explores non-surgical alternatives. What is Kyphosis? Kyphosis is a spinal curvature that, when viewed from the side, exhibits a backward bend away from the center of the body. While there are normal ranges for kyphosis, hyperkyphosis occurs when the thoracic spine's curvature extends beyond...

Kyphosis is more than just a term; it's a key element of our spinal anatomy. As we dissect the spine's natural curvatures, we discover that kyphosis refers to the backward bending of the thoracic spine. This curvature, essential for strength, flexibility, and spinal cord protection, plays a pivotal role in maintaining balance and distributing mechanical stress evenly throughout the spine. These cu...

One common concern among patients with scoliosis is can my curve become big enough that it starts affecting the way my lung functions. In this episode, Dr. Tony Nalda addresses the potential impact of scoliosis on lung function. There are three main types of scoliosis: idiopathic, neuromuscular, and congenital. Idiopathic scoliosis, the most prevalent form, lacks a known cause, making it a multifa...

Amanda shares her journey with scoliosis, highlighting the crucial role played by Dr. Tony Nalda in her quest for relief. Diagnosed as a child, Amanda's scoliosis wasn't progressing significantly. She was told not to worry about it, like not to do anything, until adulthood when she was diagnosed with a vocal cord dysfunction. It is a common misconception that scoliosis becomes a non-issue after gr...

In this episode, Dr. Tony Nalda provides a comprehensive exploration of scoliosis surgery, dissecting the intricacies of spinal fusion – the most common surgical intervention for scoliosis patients. Purpose of Scoliosis Surgery Scoliosis surgery, often termed spinal fusion, aims primarily to stop the progression of the condition. While results can vary, the primary goal is to stabilize and straigh...

Patients with scoliosis often seek safe and effective forms of exercise, with swimming being a common choice. In today’s episode, Dr. Tony Nalda explores the relationship between swimming and scoliosis, shedding light on its historical use as a treatment option and addressing the confusion surrounding its effectiveness. Swimming was once considered a treatment option for scoliosis, based on the id...

When patients receive a diagnosis of scoliosis, they very often start looking for different treatment options. Basically, there are two specific approaches when it comes to scoliosis. Traditional Approach Traditionally, this approach is just reactive and mostly involves watching and waiting. No active intervention is done until the curve reaches a point where spinal fusion becomes a consideration....

In this episode, Dr. Tony Nalda discusses the success story of adult scoliosis treatment, featuring a patient who shared her transformative experience under Dr. Nalda's care. Pain in adult scoliosis is not strictly proportional to the curve's size; smaller curves can cause significant pain due to compressive progression. The best advice Dr. Nalda can give is to treat structural issues in the spine...

When patients are diagnosed with scoliosis, one thing that always comes into their mind is will I need scoliosis surgery? Scoliosis is a progressive condition that worsens during key phases of life, notably in adolescence and later stages. Surgical intervention becomes a consideration when curves become severe. What is Spinal Fusion Surgery? Spinal fusion is a major surgery aimed at stopping the p...

Patients with scoliosis encounter diverse issues stemming from their condition. Idiopathic scoliosis, the most common type, constitutes 80% of diagnosed cases, characterized by an unknown cause. Types of Scoliosis Idiopathic scoliosis dominates, affecting all age groups but is most commonly diagnosed between 10 and 18 years. Other types include neuromuscular, congenital, traumatic, and degenerativ...

When patients undergo spinal conditions such as low back pain, mid-back pain, or neck pain, they are often prescribed MRI scans. From these scans, findings are obtained, with one prevalent result often linked to these symptoms known as disc desiccation. Disc desiccation occurs when the spine shifts out of alignment, leading to degeneration and loss of hydration in the discs. Degenerative Disc Dise...

The spine has some natural curvatures that are very important to its normal function and alignment. These curvatures play a vital role in maintaining spinal strength, flexibility, and distributing mechanical stress during movement. There are two essential curvatures: lordosis, which bends forward in the cervical and lumbar spine, and kyphosis, which bends backward in the thoracic spine. These curv...

When examining X-rays or MRIs of the cervical spine, terms like cervical hyperlordosis, reversal of cervical lordosis, or cervical kyphosis often come up. To grasp these concepts, it's essential to understand what cervical lordosis is and why it matters. The spine possesses natural curves when viewed from the side, making it stronger against gravitational and compressive forces. These curves distr...

Contrary to common belief, scoliosis affects a larger percentage of older patients than children. It's most prevalent between 10 and 18 years of age and this is something that we call adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Types of Scoliosis Idiopathic Scoliosis: The most common type with no clear singular causation factor; it is a multifactor problem. Neuromuscular Scoliosis: Associated with conditions...

In today’s episode, we meet Armelle. Her story serves as an inspiring example of how non-surgical scoliosis treatment can bring relief and improved quality of life to individuals dealing with adult scoliosis. Armelle's journey began after a car accident in 2012, during which she sustained an injury that went unnoticed in terms of scoliosis diagnosis. Despite experiencing post-accident pain, her co...

Scoliosis is often diagnosed among children and adolescents. However, contrary to common perception, scoliosis isn't confined to. In fact, there are studies that indicate that up to 50% of patients in the 60s and 70s have some form of scoliosis, with Idiopathic and degenerative scoliosis as the main types affecting adults over 50. 2 Types of Adult scoliosis Idiopathic scoliosis: Most common type a...

In understanding conditions of the spine, the first thing we have to understand is that there is different spinal sections or different areas of the spine wherein problems can occur. In today’s episode, we dive into a common yet often misunderstood condition – C5-C6 Disc Bulging. If you've ever wondered about the neck's intricate workings and how a disc bulge can impact your well-being, then stay...

One of the most common questions that get asked when consulting with a patient regarding their scoliosis treatment is scoliosis bracing. Scoliosis bracing actually has a long history in the treatment of scoliosis but the debate still continuous between the time-tested traditional approaches against the groundbreaking new-age methods. Traditional Bracing: A Closer Look Traditional bracing is primar...

When patients have their spine examined, the term lumbar lordosis often gets thrown around during discussions about spinal health. In today’s episode, we discuss the world of spinal curvatures, demystifying their significance, and uncovering secrets behind lumbar lordosis. Lordosis vs Kyphosis These are different types of spinal curvatures, like the graceful bends of a bridge that give it strength...

Today, we talk about the nature of scoliosis pain to gain a better understanding of what individuals living with this condition may feel. Scoliosis pain is a multi-faceted experience that differs from person to person. Understanding the nuances of scoliosis pain can help individuals better manage and communicate their symptoms to be able to come up with effective treatment strategies. Scoliosis pa...

In this inspiring podcast episode, Alisha shares her journey as a person with scoliosis. We learn about her struggles, her pain, and how she triumphed with the help of Dr. Tony Nalda. Alisha’s Story Alisha was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was just 16, with a moderate 35-degree curve. A spine specialist recommended surgery. The doctors said that surgery would correct about 50% of the curve, bu...

People with Scoliosis often look for ways to either fix, cure, or totally correct their conditions. Unfortunately, scoliosis cannot be completely corrected, fixed, or cured with any known treatment option. The goal is to manage scoliosis proactively, preventing severe progression and the need for invasive surgery. Traditional Treatment Methods The traditional approach tends to be reactive rather t...