Scoliosis ????

[SC Minnie]

Anyone here have a child with scoliosis? At DD's routine annual visit she told the dr she was having back pain. She measured her spine and said she had a slight curvature but not much. Since she was having pain she suggested xrays and an appt with an orthopedic dr. Her pediatrician called today after looking at her xrays and its worse than she originally could tell and said the ortho will probably want to 'vest' her. We have an appt Wed morning with the ortho.

Anyway, I am freaking out a little here. The only experience I have with this is a cousin when we were in HS. She had surgery to put a metal bar in her back and was in a cast then full back brace for over a year.

Any one here have an experiences they can share?

 

[SaraJayne]

My children don't have scoliosis, but my DH does. For reasons only known to them, his parents chose not to treat it.

It now causes him daily pain and suffering.

Wait and see what the doctor says regarding treatment. If you aren't comfortable, seek a second opinion.

 

[Mom3girls]

My DD has scoliosis. I too was terrified when we first found out. She has an S shape spine with two curves. She was monitored by an orthopedic for 6 months and the curves were getting worse. The doctor explained to us that it was a back brace or spine surgery. My DD was then 12 and she calmly said well, I don't want to have surgery so I guess I'll wear the brace! We were so impressed with her acceptance of this being that she was at a very awkward age. She had to wear her brace for 20 hrs a day at first....and she did. This past January the doctor was able to knock the time down to 16 hrs a day and last month, down to 12 hrs a day. Any questions you have, please ask away!

 

[StitchBuddy]

We found out in January that my DD14 has scoliosis. She took a test call the Scoliscore, I would highly recommend it. It predicts with 99% accuracy if it will progress or not. You want a score under 50, but my daughter's was 60 so there is a very low chance hers will progress. She is borderline mild/moderate. We go back to the doctor for x-rays in July. I had a girl in my class in middle school that had severe scoliosis and had the surgery. I now teach high school so I found her to get more information. She is doing great and bounced back quickly. Just know there is nothing you could have done to prevent it. I know how hard it is to get that news. I will keep you and you your daughter in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[mrsv98]

DN had a terrible case of scoliosis. Her spine curved in two directions, side to side and back to front. It got to the point that the bottom of her ribcage was touching her hip. This was with treatment btw. She had surgery to insert two steel rods in her spine. The first 48 hours were rough and it was hard to control her pain but after that she started to recover pretty quickly. She had to wear a hard "turtle" shell all the time at first and then the ortho stepped it down as she healed. Today she is 17 and will be a SR in high school in the fall. The only lingering issue she has is with driving. She has a hard time to turn and look over her shoulder. However, she is tiny ad has neck issues so that adds to the situation.

Try not to worry too much (easy for me to say I know) DN had a really severe case and came through well. If your DD's is mild she will have a much easier time. Good luck and good catch!

 

[WDWBarb]

Several years ago, DD was diagnosed with a 12% deviation (I think she was 12). They said it wasn't severe and we just needed to keep an eye on it. She was sent to physical therapy to try and improve her Kyphosis (this was more extreme and was in her upper back and was far more painful and noticable).

The Kyphosis almost went away with PT and we just had the doc check her spine at normal checkups.

Weird end of this story - DD has been seeing a rheumatologist (for other health issues) and she examines DD's bones and joints very carefully. I mentioned that DD's Scoliosis was likely still causing a great deal of her back pain and she looked at me as if she was very confused. She asked me what I was talking about because DD's back was straight as an arrow.

I looked and, sure enough, it was perfect. I had one of those "am I dreaming?" moments. The Rheumatologist told me that it wasn't uncommon for muscle spasms to temporarily deform the spine, especially with kids who carry 25 lbs or more of books around in a backpack all day at school. So, no Scoliosis here!

 

[beaucoup]

I went through the surgery, rod and cast thing as a kid, and have a friend whose son had the surgery last year. How they did it when we were kids is miles apart from how they do it today.

If she even ends up with surgery, she would be out of the hospital in about a week and no cast at all. Really amazing.

Here is a message board I have visited and lots of kids there share their stories. Some have put together stuff for youtube. Or online photo albums.
http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/index.php

I don't really think its anything to be terrified about. It's not deadly. If they are just catching it now, its not been a life debilitating event for her. Its not something I define myself by. It doesn't run my life. I often forget.

She'll be fine. Really. You can relax a bit.

 

[XYSRUS]

http://www.spinekids.com/

Wonderful site.

 

[mckryan]

Mine was never caught, and now at 45 it's causing me some trouble. It's not severe enough for surgery. I wish my parents had been proactive with mine and sought treatment!

 

[SC Minnie]

Thanks everyone. This news is still new. Once we see the ortho Wed I hope I fell better. I did tell DD 16 tonight what the pediatrician said. She's old enough to be involved fully.

 

[KATHINOWA]

My 12 year old niece was diagnosed about a year or so ago. She wears a brace (not as much as she should) and her curve has improved. Her scoliosis was picked up during a chest xray. She was told she would need to wear the brace for a year after puberty hits (and she still waiting for that). It's harder to conceal it now that tank top weather is here.

http://www.curvygirlsscoliosis.com/ is a great resource for girls.

 

[linda0706]

I realize it was a very long time ago & things have probably changed, but I have scoliosis & wore a Milwaukee brace from 1976-1979. From the summer before 7th grade till summer after 9th grade.

I wore it 23 hours a day nearly every day. Took it off for bathing & swimming, and a few times to go to Disney. (We lived in Orlando.) Yes it was miserable but it simply had to be done. At least it didn't hurt - just uncomfortable and hot.

I have never had any issues or problems with my back since then.