My 13 year-old daughter had been complaining of back stiffness since she started secondary school in September, which I put down to the weight of her school bag. But I mentioned it to my GP on a routine visit and he said it could be something called scoliosis. Is this condition serious?
Scoliosis is the term used to describe a lateral curvature of the spine. It is a common condition which may result from a birth defect or develop later in life, most commonly during adolescence. In many cases, the cause is unknown. Mild scoliosis typically produces little in terms of symptoms. Sometimes the only clue that there is a problem is the complaint of pain or stiffness after sitting or standing for long periods.
I've noticed that she holds one of her shoulders higher than the other and that tops don't always hang properly on her.
Mild scoliosis may be discovered as part of a routine examination by a doctor or when a parent notices, as you have, that clothes don't hang straight or one shoulder appears higher than another. Given your suspicions, you should bring her to your GP to be examined.
During the examination the doctor may ask her to lean forward to allow him view the spine from behind as a curvature is often more noticeable from this angle. An X-ray will reveal the location and degree of curvature and when repeated over time, its progression.
She is reluctant to have anything done about it and is, I suppose, just hoping it will just go away. What would happen if we did nothing?
It's perfectly normal for a teenager to resist a parent's effort to deal with a medical problem. At this age she understandably does not want to be different from her peers. However, if there is a problem that requires treatment, the earlier it starts the better the chance of preventing permanent and severe deformity.
Curvatures which develop during adolescence tend to progress more markedly in girls than boys, and for this reason you should persuade her to see your family doctor.
At the very least, the cause and extent of her condition needs to be established. Treatment will depend on the severity of the scoliosis and will include observation, a brace or even surgery.