Can Scoliosis Cause Neuropathy? Explained

When someone with scoliosis develops nerve-like symptoms such as tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain that travels into the arms or legs, it can understandably be concerning. In some cases, changes in spinal alignment can contribute to nerve irritation or compression.

Scoliosis can sometimes contribute to nerve-related symptoms, especially in adults or more severe or degenerative curves, when spinal changes reduce space around the nerves. However, neuropathy can have many causes, so symptoms should be assessed rather than assumed to be caused by scoliosis.

Knowing the early signs of scoliosis may help prevent neuropathy through early intervention.

Scoliosis and Neuropathy

Scoliosis can cause neuropathy because of the spine’s unnatural curve and twist; it can expose the spinal nerve roots, where they exit the spine, to uneven and/or excessive pressure.

Nerves need space to function, and if they are pinched, impinged, and/or compressed, they can become inflamed, irritated, and less functional (1).

If a nerve can’t properly send and receive important information, it can disrupt a number of bodily functions, and because nerves are extensive and travel throughout the body, symptoms of neuropathy can be felt far from the original site of nerve compression (1).

Symptoms of nerve irritation are shaped by the degree of nerve involvement and the affected nerve’s location and function, and adults are more likely to experience scoliosis-related nerve pain, particularly when degenerative changes, narrowing around the nerves, or larger curves contribute to compression (1, 3, 4).

Scoliosis can cause neuropathy by interrupting communication between the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system, compressing nerves, stretching nerves, and/or uneven wear.

Nerve Compression

Scoliosis doesn’t just cause the spine to curve to the side, it also causes the spine to twist, and the twisting can cause less space inside the spinal canal (4).

The spinal canal protects the spinal cord, and spinal nerves branch out from the spine to different areas of the body. If narrowing or spinal changes place pressure on these nerves, symptoms can affect sensation, movement, or pain (4).

Neuropathy most often affects the hands and feet, and signs to watch for include tingling sensations, numbness, and muscle weakness (1).

Radiating pain in the arms and hands, legs and feet, is a primary symptom of adult scoliosis (2).

Stretched Nerves

With an abnormal sideways spinal curvature, nerves on the outer edge of the curve are being stretched, and nerves on the inner edge of the curve are being compressed.

Nerves can become irritated when they are stretched or compressed, which may lead to symptoms such as shooting pain, pins and needles, numbness, or weakness (1).

The sensation of a limb falling asleep is a common effect, and muscle weakness is evident with difficulty gripping objects and/or a loss of muscular control (1).

Uneven Wear

The spine is the body’s central structural anchor; it establishes the body’s balance and stability. Because scoliosis is an asymmetrical condition, its main effects are asymmetrical.

The development of asymmetrical posture is the first sign of childhood scoliosis to watch for, including uneven shoulders and hips, and because scoliosis disrupts the spine’s healthy alignment, the imbalance translates to the body and shapes body mechanics (5).

Scoliosis causes uneven posture which interrupts healthy movement patterns and causes uneven weight distribution and loading on the spine (6). If the spine curves and twists unnaturally, its individual structures (discs and facet joints) are being exposed to uneven wear, nerves are exposed to uneven pressure, and this can initiate a damaging cycle of uneven wear and degenerative changes to spinal health (6).

If this type of imbalance is left unaddressed, over time, arthritis and bone spurs can also develop, along with nerve irritation and neuropathy (6). It’s important to interrupt the cycle before it becomes established and causes permanent nerve damage.

What Neuropathy Symptoms Can Feel Like

Neuropathy can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms of nerve compression can be felt far from the site of the irritated nerve, so it’s helpful to understand nerve health, function, and what the early signs of neuropathy can feel like (1).

Neuropathy symptoms are shaped by the type of nerve and its location. Neuropathy involving sensory nerves can involve a mix of sensations such as tingling, (pins and needles), numbness, sharp, burning stabbing pains. Symptoms typically start in the finger tips and toes and spread upward throughout the body (1, 7).

Tingling sensations can be constant or flare up at different times. Numbness involves a loss of feeling, and sharp burning pain can get worse at night. Hypersensitivity to light touch may also develop where contact from a bed sheet or clothing can cause discomfort (1).

Symptoms of motor nerve neuropathy affect movement by causing muscle weakness, difficulties with fine motor skills (doing up buttons on a shirt), and a loss of balance (1).

If an autonomic nerve is damaged, involuntary functions such as digestion (constipation and bloating), blood pressure, and sweating too much or too little may develop (1).

If a nerve is left irritated and/or compressed for long periods of time, permanent damage may develop, so the goal is recognizing the early signs of nerve irritation and locating the affected nerve so pressure and inflammation can be relieved.

Neuropathy

Scoliosis may contribute to peripheral nerve symptoms if the curve, rotation, or related degenerative changes place pressure on nearby nerves.

It’s important for scoliosis patients to understand the progressive nature of scoliosis, how effects can increase over time, and the early signs of nerve compression to watch for so a cycle of poor posture, uneven spinal loading, and asymmetric wear isn’t initiated (5, 6).

If you are experiencing numbness, tingling sensations, and muscle weakness, nerve compression may be occurring and is a sign that assessment is needed (1). Nerve damage can occur slowly over time and be difficult to reverse, so it’s ideal to recognize the signs of compression and nerve irritation before neuropathy develops (1).

For people with scoliosis not undergoing treatment, new or worsening nerve-related symptoms may indicate that the spine, nerves, or treatment plan needs reassessment. In some cases, this may relate to curve progression or degenerative change.

The Importance of Nerve Health

Nerves are pathways that carry signals and information throughout the body. They collect information from inside and outside the body and send it to the brain, and when internal and external sensory input reaches the brain, the brain and spinal cord work together to process and integrate the information (7). Then the information is sent from the brain back to the body to initiate a physical response.

Feeling pain and reacting, the eyes adjusting to changing light levels, and feeling full after a meal all depend on a complex system of nerve involvement (7, 8).

Neuropathy mainly involves the nerve roots where they exit the spine; known as the peripheral nervous system, these nerve roots branch into different areas of the body such as the arms, legs, organs, and skin, and scoliosis directly impacts the peripheral nervous system so is more closely connected to peripheral neuropathy (1, 9).

The peripheral nervous system connects the central nervous system to the arms, leg, organs, and skin, and can be further divided into somatic nerves and the autonomic nerves that regular voluntary and involuntary responses (9).

Nerve health is necessary for the brain and body to communicate and function properly, and while scoliosis can cause neuropathy if nerve compression is severe and/or is unaddressed, many scoliosis effects can be managed effectively through a personalized and complete care plan (5).

When the early signs of nerve irritation are noticed, the cause can be determined, treatment can be started, and permanent nerve damage may be preventable, and when the early signs of scoliosis are detected, a proactive personalized treatment plan can help prevent curve progression and increasing nerve involvement (5).

Conclusion

Scoliosis causes the spine to curve and twist unnaturally, but it doesn’t just affect the spine and its immediate surroundings. Scoliosis can also affect nerve health and function through compression, nerve stretching, and uneven pressure.

The spinal cord contains 31 pairs of spinal nerves, and if scoliosis is causing nerve root compression where they exit the spine, is stretching nerves on the outside of the curve, and/or is causing uneven wear and pressure on nerves, assessment is important to understand whether symptoms are coming from nerve compression, another spinal issue, or a different cause. Early care may help reduce irritation and guide appropriate treatment before symptoms worsen.

Neuropathy mainly involves the peripheral nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord but can also interrupt communication between the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.

If you have been experiencing nerve-related symptoms such as pain, tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness, a medical assessment is needed to determine the cause, and scoliosis patients need to be aware that any increasing effect, including nerve pain, may mean curve progression is occurring and treatment needs to be adjusted.

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References:

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