Kyphosis, A Simple Guide To The Disease, Treatment And Related Conditions

By Kenneth Kee

Kyphosis is a curving of the spine that causes a bowing or rounding of the back which leads to a hunchback or slouching posture.
Kyphosis can occur at any age although it is rare at birth.
Adolescent kyphosis, also known as Scheuermann's disease, is caused by the wedging together of several bones of the spine (vertebrae) in a row.
The cause of Scheuermann's disease is unknown.
In adults, kyphosis can be caused by:
1. Degenerative diseases of the spine (such as arthritis or disk degeneration)
2. Fractures caused by osteoporosis (osteoporotic compression fractures)
3. Injury (trauma)
4. Slipping of one vertebra forward on another
Other causes of kyphosis include:
5. Certain endocrine diseases
6. Connective tissue disorders
7. Infection (such as tuberculosis)
8. Muscular dystrophy
9. Neurofibromatosis
10. Paget's disease
11. Polio
12. Spina bifida
13. Tumors
Kyphosis can also be seen with scoliosis.
Symptoms are:
1. Difficulty breathing (in severe cases)
2. Fatigue
3. Mild back pain
4. Round back appearance
5. Tenderness and stiffness in the spine
The doctor will also look for any:
1. Nervous system (neurological) changes (weakness, paralysis, or changes in sensation) below the curve.
2. Spine x-ray
3. Pulmonary function tests (if kyphosis affects breathing)
4. MRI (if there may be a tumor, infection, or neurological symptoms)
Congenital kyphosis requires corrective surgery at an early age.
Scheuermann's disease is treated with a brace and physical therapy.
Occasionally surgery is needed for large (greater than 60 degrees), painful curves.
Multiple compression fractures from osteoporosis can be left alone if there are no nervous system problems or pain.
However, the osteoporosis needs to be treated to help prevent future fractures
Complications are:
1. Decreased lung capacity
2. Disabling back pain
3. Neurological symptoms including leg weakness or paralysis

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Kyphosis
Chapter 2 More Facts of Kyphosis
Chapter 3 Treatment of Kyphosis
Chapter 4 Kyphoscoliosis
Chapter 5 Scoliosis
Chapter 6 Osteoporosis
Chapter 7 Costochondrosis
Chapter 8 Pectus Excavatum
Chapter 9 Pectus Carinatum
Epilogue

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Kee
• Release date: Sep 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370033096

Kenneth Kee

Medical doctor since 1972.Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours inthe afternoon.He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.comThis autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.The later books go into more details of medical disorders.He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) startingwith the Apple computer and going to PC.The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.Dr Kee is the author of:"A Family Doctor's Tale""Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine""Case Notes From A Family Doctor"

Book preview

Kyphosis,

A

Simple

Guide

To

The Disease,

Treatment

And

Related Conditions

by

Dr Kenneth Kee

M.B.,B.S. (Singapore)

Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)

Copyright Kenneth Kee 2014 Smashwords Edition

Published By Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com

Dedication

This book is dedicated

To my wife Dorothy

And my children

Carolyn, Grace

And Kelvin

This book describes the Kyphosis and Their Treatments and Related Diseases or in vernacular terms

(What You Need to treat Kyphosis)

This eBook is licensed for the personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Introduction

Ode to Kyphosis

Kyphosis is the abnormal curvature of the spine

It is usually noticed in older people and grows with time

Elderly females are affected more than male

Kyphosis screening should done for both males and females

Usually there are no symptoms except a slight fatigue in the spine

There may angulation of the spine that showed up over time

The most important test is the Bone density test

Where porosity of some bones are more than the rest

X-rays and MRI of the spine will then confirm the severity

Constant observation will determine the need for surgery

Measurement of the curvature will help decide the treatment

Mild kyphosis do not require any adjustment

Moderate kyphosis may require the wearing of back braces

Which should prevent further curving of the spine at all places

Severe kyphosis may require surgical intervention

With metal rods, bolts and screws and vertebral fusion

-An original poem by Kenneth Kee

Interesting Tips about the Kyphosis

A Healthy Lifestyle

1. Take a well Balanced Diet

2. Treatment depends on the cause of the disorder:

Congenital Kyphosisrequires corrective surgery at an early age.

Scheuermann's disease is treated with a brace and physical therapy. Occasionally surgery is needed for large (greater than 60 degrees), painful curves.

Multiple compression fractures from osteoporosis can be left alone if there are no nervous system problems or pain. However, the osteoporosis needs to be treated to help prevent future fractures.

For debilitating deformity or pain, surgery is an option.

Kyphosis caused by infection or tumor needs to be treated more aggressively, often with surgery and medications.

Treatment for other types of kyphosis depends on the cause. Surgery is needed if neurological symptoms or persistent pain develop.

3. Keep bones and body strong

Bone marrow produces our blood

Eat foods rich in calcium like yogurt, cheese, milk, and dark green vegetables.

Eat foods rich in Vitamin D, like eggs, fatty fish, cereal, and fortified milk.

Eat food rich in Vitamins B and C such as green vegetables and fruits

Zinc and other minerals are important to the body

4. Get enough rest and Sleep

Avoid stress and tension

5. Exercise and stay active.

It is best to do weight-bearing exercise such as walking, jogging, stair climbing, dancing, or lifting weights for 2½ hours a week.

One way to do this is to be active 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week.

Begin slowly especially if a person has not been active.

6. Do not drink more than 2 alcohol drinks a day for a man or 1 alcohol drink a day for a woman.

Alcohol use also increases the chance of falling and breaking a bone.

Alcohol can affect the neurons and brain cells.

7. Stop or do not begin smoking.

It also interferes with blood supply and healing.

Cigarettes contain more than forty types of hazardous and possibly cancer causing chemicals which can harm the smokers and those around them

Chapter 1

Kyphosis

What is Kyphosis?

Kyphosis is a curving of the spine that causes a bowing or rounding of the back which leads to a hunchback or slouching posture.

What are the Causes of Kyphosis?

Kyphosis can occur at any age although it is rare at birth.

Adolescent kyphosis, also known as Scheuermann's disease, is caused by the wedging together of several bones of the spine (vertebrae) in a row.

The cause of Scheuermann's disease is unknown.

In adults, kyphosis can be caused by:

1. Degenerative diseases of the spine (such as arthritis or disk degeneration)

2. Fractures caused by osteoporosis (osteoporotic compression fractures)

3. Injury (trauma)

4. Slipping of one vertebra forward on another

Other causes of kyphosis include:

5. Certain endocrine diseases

6. Connective tissue disorders

7. Infection (such as tuberculosis)

8. Muscular dystrophy

9. Neurofibromatosis

10.