Scoliosis in adults
Scoliosis is where the spine curves and twists to the side. In adults it may have been there since childhood or developed with age, and the main issue is often back pain or stiffness. Read more about scoliosis in adults →
If symptoms are sudden, severe or getting worse, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Where are you up to?
The NHS reports waiting times by specialty, not by individual condition, so this is the orthopaedics wait (not specific to scoliosis in adults), updated August 2026. Enter a postcode to see the hospitals near you.
orthopaedics waiting times by hospital
| Trust | Location | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | Reading | 5 weeks |
| Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust | Bath and North East Somerset | 12 weeks |
| Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Liverpool | 13 weeks |
| George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | Nuneaton and Bedworth | 13 weeks |
| South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | Warwick | 14 weeks |
| University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | Birmingham | 15 weeks |
| South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Middlesbrough | 15 weeks |
| University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Camden | 16 weeks |
About scoliosis in adults
Scoliosis is a sideways curve and twist of the spine. In adults it may be a curve that has been present since the teenage years, or one that develops later as the discs and joints of the spine change with age. Some people notice an uneven back, shoulders or waist; others mainly have back pain, stiffness or, less often, aching that spreads into a leg.
How it is treated
In adults, treatment focuses on easing symptoms rather than straightening the spine. That usually means painkillers, staying active and physiotherapy, and sometimes spinal injections for pain. Surgery to correct the curve is only occasionally needed in adults, for example when the curve is severe or getting worse or when pain or nerve symptoms are not helped by other treatment. A specialist assesses the curve with an examination and a standing spine X-ray.
After treatment
Most adults manage scoliosis with pain relief, exercise and physiotherapy and never need an operation. Where surgery is done it is a major procedure with a recovery measured in months, so it is reserved for the minority who clearly need it.
Sources: NHS: Scoliosis. Last updated October 2026.
General information only, not medical advice. Wait or Pay is independent and is not the NHS. Your GP decides what care, if any, you need.