Kyphosis
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Kyphosis
Symptoms
Kyphosis symptoms are most visible in appearance itself, with the top arch of the back appearing excessively rounded, creating a hunchback or hump-like appearance. However, this is not the only symptom and patients may also observe the following:
- Recurring back pain
- Loss of flexibility and stiffening of the spine
- Muscle fatigue and feelings of weakness
- In rare cases, nerve compression can cause loss of control over bladder and bowel movements, loss of sensation, and so on
Causes
The most common causes of kyphosis include the following:
- Osteoporosis, which causes bone loss and weakening, can result in crushing of the vertebrae, or compression fractures
- Normal disk degeneration that occurs with age can exacerbate kyphosis
- Kyphosis may be caused by a rare condition that develops just before puberty, called Scheuermann’s disease. The condition primarily affects boys.
- In some cases, kyphosis can result from prenatal developmental problems that prevent proper spinal bone formation.
- Spine cancer can cause severe weakening of the vertebrae, increasing the risk of compression fractures and bone damage. This can cause or exacerbate kyphosis symptoms.
