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MSK & Orthopaedics

Adult scoliosis

Adult scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that can cause back pain, nerve symptoms and postural change; most cases are managed without surgery.

Key points

The essentials at a glance.

What to look out for, who treats it, and what usually happens next.

  • May be a carried-forward adolescent curve or a new degenerative curve

  • Pain and nerve symptoms, not the curve size alone, drive treatment decisions

  • Core strengthening and targeted physiotherapy help most people

  • Nerve root injections can settle leg pain from pinched nerves

  • Surgery is reserved for progressive curves or significant nerve compression

Understanding it

About Adult scoliosis.

Scoliosis in adults comes in two main forms: a curve from adolescence that persists into adult life, and a new degenerative curve that develops as discs and joints wear unevenly, usually after 50. Symptoms range from none at all to aching, leaning to one side, and leg pain when nerves are pinched within the curve.

Standing X-rays measure the curve and MRI assesses the nerves. Management is usually non-surgical - exercise-based rehabilitation, pain management and injections - with corrective surgery considered when curves progress or nerve compression causes significant leg symptoms. In the UK you can start with your GP: on the NHS, a routine referral to a specialist clinic often means waiting 20–45 weeks or more to be seen, while a private consultant will typically see you within around two weeks, with any tests arranged soon after.

Frequently asked

Common questions about Adult scoliosis.

Quick, plain-English answers to what people ask us most.

  • What is adult scoliosis?

    Adult scoliosis is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine occurring or persisting in adulthood, either as a continuation of a curve from adolescence or newly developing due to age-related spinal degeneration.

  • What causes adult scoliosis?

    It can result from an untreated or progressing childhood scoliosis, or develop newly in adulthood due to degenerative changes in the spine's discs and joints, sometimes called degenerative scoliosis.

  • What are the symptoms of adult scoliosis?

    Symptoms include back pain, visible spinal curvature or uneven shoulders and hips, and in more significant cases, leg pain, numbness, or weakness from nerve compression.

  • Is adult scoliosis dangerous?

    Most cases cause manageable pain and don't threaten overall health, but larger curves can occasionally affect lung function or cause significant nerve compression requiring more active treatment.

  • Can adult scoliosis be treated without surgery?

    Yes, many cases are managed successfully with physiotherapy, pain management, and sometimes bracing, particularly for mild to moderate curves without significant nerve symptoms.

  • How is adult scoliosis treated?

    Treatment ranges from physiotherapy and pain management for mild cases to surgical correction for larger curves causing significant pain, nerve compression, or progressive deformity.

  • How long does recovery from scoliosis surgery take?

    Recovery from spinal surgery for scoliosis correction is often prolonged, typically three to twelve months for significant improvement, given the complexity of these procedures.

  • When is surgery needed for adult scoliosis?

    Surgery is generally considered for significant, progressive curves causing severe pain, nerve compression, or when non-surgical treatments have failed to adequately control symptoms.

  • Adult scoliosis vs adolescent idiopathic scoliosis — what's the difference?

    Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis develops during growth spurts in childhood or the teenage years without a clear cause, while adult scoliosis either represents this original curve persisting into adulthood or new degenerative curvature developing later in life due to spinal wear and tear.

  • When should I see a doctor about adult scoliosis, and how quickly can I be seen privately?

    See a doctor if you have back pain with visible spinal curvature or nerve symptoms like leg numbness or weakness. NHS spinal referral can take 20 to 45 or more weeks, while private specialist assessment is often available within about two weeks.