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  • Hi! I am mother of newly diagnosed...

    Hi everyone!

    This is my first post on this site so here is a little history. My 12 yo daughter was diagnosed in May here in Germany. We are going to the orthopedic specialist tomorrow. Apparently, scoliosis runs in our family. My brother has it, although his wasn't discovered until he was an adult, and it was corrected with surgery. My mother is adopted so we don't know any more "family history".

    We believe that the radiologist has read the x-rays wrong, he only read 2 vertebrae - L1 and L2 @ 13 degrees - where he noted in his report that the apex of her curve was located. In finding out as much as we can about this for the last two months, for a lumbar curve (is this what she has?) the measurement of the curve should use 4 vertebrae, right? A second radiologist measured 5 vertebrae and got 16 degrees. We are by no means experts, but we do know (now) where to measure and from our calculations she is 23 degrees using 4 vertebrae. Someone please let me know if I am mistaken in my understanding of the measurements.

    Also, please understand that I am VERY mistrustful of military doctors...

    The orthopedic specialist that we are seeing is a German civilian doctor. Physical Therapy said they didn't even know why we were referred there. My daughter DID let us know 3 days ago, that her back had been hurting since at least christmas, maybe the beginning of the school year. She said she didn't want to complain....

    Well, I think that is probably enough for a first post!

    I look forward to hearing all of your advice! Or just saying Hi!
    Diana
    Brittany's Mom

  • #2
    update

    Well, seeing a German Orthopedic Specialist did not give us ANY more answers than the regular doctors...

    This is SO FRUSTRATING!

    Here is what we have so far -

    x-rays
    1st - 13*(measuring 2 vertebrae at the apex of the curve) 2nd - 16*(measuring 5 vertebrae)
    Me - read that for Lumbar curves they are to measure 4 vertebrae - I measured and got 24*
    Ortho - measured top curve that no one had measured before and got 10* out of that little wiggle - if THAT is 10* then that bottom one cannot be 13 or 16 (I believe)

    Physical Therapy - Her body is tilted because of the curve - Raised her left side with a heel shoe lift

    Ortho guy - Her body is tilted because of the curve - Suggested we raise her RIGHT side by 2 cm...almost an inch!

    Physical Therapy - There are no exercises that will help her

    Ortho - Oh, she needs to be doing back strengthening exercises 5 days a week.

    Ortho - twisted her back and popped it after daughter said it was hurting, at night, almost every night. VERY leary of this - spine is already having difficulty!

    Ortho - Followup x-rays in a YEAR!

    No one can tell us her Risser score because all of her iliac crest was not shown in the x-ray.

    God, This is like pulling TEETH trying to get answers! I am getting so many conflicting opinions - and we are running out of options....

    Sorry - just needed to VENT. We so need to come back to the states - so I can talk with someone I can believe!

    Diana
    Brittany B's Mom
    Diana
    Brittany's Mom

    Comment


    • #3
      Check with the Scoliosis Research Society www.srs.org to see if a member physician is in your area. If no area doctors are listed try sending an email to them for a possible area doctor not included on the website list.

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