Rogers found out she has spina bifida occulta . Unlike the more serious form of spina bifida that we typically see in babies, Toselli says most cases of occulta are not noticable. It is simply a tiny bony defect in the spine. Toselli says a small percentage of patients do experience symptoms and should seek medical attention. Like Rogers, most people with spina bifida occulta are diagnosed as adults.
Doctors say while there is no cure, most patients can still live active lives.
For Cindy Rogers, every day is about the quality of the journey, not the time it takes to get there. Doctors estimate that as many as 10 percent of the population has spina bifida occulta. There is no cure, but there are treatments. In the most serious cases, patients opt for minor surgery, physical therapy and pain medication to help then cope with their symptoms. In most cases, people with occulta require no treatment.