Curve getting worse and painful...

[MJB]

My daughter has been in pain the past few days, her back has been hurting her to the point of tears... I don't know what to do and I don't know how she is feeling. It is VERY obvious that her back is getting worse, her back and front looks much different than it did a few weeks ago, she's looking more sunk in from the front on one side. Normally her back doesn't look too bad because she is never out of the brace long enough to see the true curve but right now I can see more than I ever have before. We will find out on Tuesday at her Pre op what her curve is now.

Her brace is too small for her now, or maybe because of the change in her curve and we can't even get it done up fully anymore, we can't pull the straps as far as they are supposed to go, I guess we will have to get another adjustment but I don't know that it's going to help at this point.

Her surgery is in 4 1/2 weeks, I really hope these weeks pass quickly, even though I hate that she will have to have surgery and I am dreading it.

[Elisa]

My son's back pain got really bad about a month or so before his first surgery on March 22nd. (second on Tuesday) and I talked to the pharmacist about it and he suggested Tylenol with a built-in muscle relaxer. It seemed to work fairly well as it eased the pain and relaxed his super tense back muscles.

[MJB]

Good idea, I should look into something like that for her. I gave her some children's advil before bed and a back rub. I wonder if she would be allowed to take something with a muscle relaxer in it being only 11 years old. I will have to look into it! Thanks Elisa!

[Elisa]

I was told that one week before his surgery he had to stop taking any Advil, Ibuprofen and anything else that thins the blood. Not sure about the Tylenol but maybe someone else will know. I played it safe and stopped all over-the-counter medication and he toughed it out with deep heat rub (A535 type topicals) as well as back massages, heated up corn bags in the microwave and a plug-in heating pad. March 22nd. could not come fast enough!

[MJB]

Great to know, I didn't even think about the fact that Advil thins the blood!

[Elisa]

Great to know, I didn't even think about the fact that Advil thins the blood!

I wasn't thinking about that either, it was when I spoke to admissions a few weeks before his surgery, the fellow on the phone told me. He also said to make sure I did my best to keep him healthy otherwise they'd probably have to reschedule. I was a nervous wreck anytime anyone was around and sneezed. I even decided to take him out of school a couple of days earlier b/c I did not want him getting a cold/flu and getting all congested. It was a pretty stressful time for me and was so relieved when the actual surgery date came and he was healthy.

[MJB]

wow, that's a good point... I wonder if I should keep her home the week before too, I don't want her to get sick! I mean she is already missing 6 weeks of school, what's another week gonna do?

[CAmomof2]

MJB,
Sorry your daughter's pain is getting worse. I tried to PM you, but your inbox is full.

[Ballet Mom]

Hi Marlowe,

I'm sorry to hear your daughter's pain is increasing and that the curve seems to be progressing rapidly.

I would call your daughter's orthopedist, I suspect he wouldn't insist she try to wear her brace at this point, it is obviously not doing any good. And it sounds really horribly uncomfortable for her to try and wear. Poor thing. You could ask about pain relief at the same time.

[MJB]

MJB,
Sorry your daughter's pain is getting worse. I tried to PM you, but your inbox is full.

Thank you! I deleted messages in my inbox!

[MJB]

Hi Marlowe,

I'm sorry to hear your daughter's pain is increasing and that the curve seems to be progressing rapidly.

I would call your daughter's orthopedist, I suspect he wouldn't insist she try to wear her brace at this point, it is obviously not doing any good. And it sounds really horribly uncomfortable for her to try and wear. Poor thing. You could ask about pain relief at the same time.

Thank you! We are going for her pre-op on tuesday, I don't know if we see her orthopaedic surgeon or not, I just can't see him saying she can stay out of the brace until surgery, I would worry that in those 4 weeks she will get much worse.