Every so often we like to share notes from an actual patient case so you can get a real sense of how Chiropractic care unfolds inside our clinic. This one is about a 25 year old woman who came to us with upper back pain and a lifelong scoliosis.
Presenting complaint
She came in mid September with upper back pain that had built up over roughly three weeks. She had been living with scoliosis her whole life, but it had never really given her much trouble day to day.
What the assessment showed
The scoliosis was significant. It was not new information for her, but it needed to inform our approach. Her adjustments would need to work with her spinal curve, not against it. Alongside the upper back pain she was also getting recurring headaches, which is a pattern we see often when the mid and upper back is under strain.
Care plan so far
We started her on twice a week visits. Five treatments in, the upper back is a lot more comfortable and the headaches have eased. That is the marker we use to step frequency down. She is about to move to once a week, with the plan to keep spacing visits out as long as the improvement holds.
Where she is at
Responding well. The scoliosis itself is not something we set out to reverse, but the adjustments have not aggravated it. If anything they take some of the discomfort out of it, which mirrors what we see in a lot of long-standing scoliosis cases.
Rebates at the counter
She has Bupa cover, so payment on the day was a tap of the card on our TYRO terminal. The Bupa rebate came through instantly and she paid the gap. No paperwork chase, no waiting for a refund.
If you are still deciding
Not every case that comes through our doors is straightforward. Long-standing structural issues like scoliosis, sitting on top of a recent pain flare-up, are exactly the kind of situation an initial consultation is designed for. If you have been carrying pain for a while and wondering whether it is something we can help with, book an initial consultation and we will assess what is actually going on and talk you through options.
Patient name has been changed. Individual results vary. This case study is shared for educational purposes and does not constitute a clinical recommendation for anyone else.
Frequently asked questions
Can chiropractic help someone with a lifelong scoliosis?
Chiropractic cannot reverse scoliosis. What it can do is work with the spinal curve rather than against it, ease associated pain in the surrounding joints and muscles, and help manage symptoms. Many long-standing scoliosis patients find care reduces discomfort and the headaches that often accompany structural curves.
Is it safe to adjust someone with scoliosis?
Yes, when the practitioner understands the specific curve. Adjustments are tailored to work with each person's spinal mechanics. We assess first, choose technique based on the structure, and progress carefully.
Related patient cases
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A 45 year old regular patient hurt his neck lifting on Monday and came in with headaches by Thursday. Here is how we worked through it.
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