What does it mean to have Osteoarthritis AND scoliosis?

I'm 26 and I just found out that I have Osteoarthritis and Scoliosis in my lower back. What exactly does this mean for me? My doctor was kind of vague with me with this diagnosis. I have a LOT of lower back pain and it hurts all the time and I don't know what to do. My doctor recommended physical therapy, but my work's health insurance doesn't cover it. I have tried Aleve, but it doesn't phase it.

Osteoarthritis basically means that you have some degenerative changes of the joints in your spine. This is a normal part of aging but if the doctor is pointing it out it may be advanced for your age. Scoliosis means a curvature of the spine. Just because you have a curvature does not necessarily mean that you need to get treated. However, considering the fact that you are having symptoms, you should. I would take the referral from the physician to a physical therapist at least for a consultation/examination. The will perform a thorough exam and give their findings and educate you on what is going on. They can also possibly give you some exercises and other treatments that you can do on your own. Since your health insurance does not have physical therapy benefits you can self pay and go intermittently (instead of 2-3x/wk may 1x every 2-3 wks). Just remember you will not see progress as quickly with the lower frequency. You must be very committed to complying with the instructions and recommendations of the PT. Source(s): I am a PT (Physical Therapist) specializing in orthopedics, sports medicine and manual therapy.

hmmm..scoliosis does cause early degeneration of the spine (that's osteoarthritis)...
Or degenerative spine could tilt and case mild to moderate scoliosis as well.
Since you are young I'd tend to lean towards arthritis being secondary to scoliosis.

Rehab could help in some instances..but you need to find someone who really knows what they are doing..especially one's who have dealt with scoliosis..

Another option is soft braces like spinecor. It was originally designed as corrective device...but can be used in adults for symptomatic relief.

Check it out at http://www.myscoliosis.net
http://www.myscoliosis.net