Pain patterns in adult scoliosis

Adult patients with scoliosis often have back pain, but that pain may or may not be due to the curvature. A careful history, physical examination, routine radiographic examination, and, on some occasions, specialized radiographs, CT, myelography, discography, and facet joint injection will help the physician or surgeon separate out those pain syndromes owing to the curvature versus those not owing to the curvature. Only after these critical evaluations have been done can a decent decision be made as to the area of the spine to be treated, either surgically or nonsurgically.