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  • 5year checkup turns to Scoliosis

    I took my Daughter to her 5year well kid checkup at her pediatricians this morning. Found that she has her first ear infection. but thats not the only thing.. near the end of the checkup, he checks her back.. Puts her feet together, makes her stand straight, and he hmmmm's and huhhhh's a bit, then he says' Looks like shes got Scoliosis. He says a few things about it, and first thing i think about is that TLC special that i saw a couple months back. I start to worry. He said that it isn't that bad. That we will just keep an eye on it. and when she hits puberty then maybe a backbrace or surgery will be needed.

    Im wondering if there is anything i can start doing with her to lessen the effects when she turns a teenager? Can i do exersizes with her, or start routine visits to the chiropractor? Any Helpful websites?
    ANy help or advice would be appreciated
    Thanks,
    Kat

  • #2
    Hi Kat...

    Did you get a referral to a scoliosis specialist? That would be the next step, at least in my opinion. There is no benefit from chiropractic, at least in terms of stopping the progression of scoliosis curves.

    Regards,
    Linda
    Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
    Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

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    • #3
      Kat,
      Go see a shriner's pediatric orthopedic surgeon, pediatric scoliosis specialist.
      I totally agree with Linda Racine.

      When my daughter was 9, she was noted to have a mild scoliosis and like that I took her to a pediatric orthopedic specialist. He said wait and see you next year. At 10, he orders an x-ray and lo and behold it was 30 degree lumber, 17 thoracic. When I Ttook her to the shriner's pediatric orthopedic surgeon for a second opinion, the surgeon was surprised that no x-rays were taken at age 9. The third opnion was also in agreement.

      My experience tells me to take my child to not just any orthopedic surgeon but to someone who deals with scoliosis. With your child being so young, I would get an opinion from that type of specialist, for x-ray, or MRI or etc.

      Good Luck
      Hawaii MOM

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      • #4
        Kat,

        I, too, am in total agreement. From my experience, pediatricians are not that knowledgeable when it comes to scoliosis. When my son was just 15 months old I told our pediatrician that I thought something was not right with his back. She looked and said "it's probaly just extra muscle tissue that makes his back protrude a little more on one side - let's watch it and see what happens". When I insisted, she sent him for an x-ray "just to rule out scoliosis". Lo and behold the x-ray showed a curve of 45 degrees!!! I'm not trying to alarm you - perhaps your daughter's curve IS mild. But you should definitely see a pediatric orthopedic specialist just to be sure.

        Best of luck to you,
        mariaf305@yahoo.com
        Mom to David, age 17, braced June 2000 to March 2004
        Vertebral Body Stapling 3/10/04 for 40 degree curve (currently mid 20's)

        https://www.facebook.com/groups/ScoliosisTethering/

        http://pediatricspinefoundation.org/

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        • #5
          Hi Kat - Welcome!

          Your daughter is very young. Scoliosis in young children is not common. She needs to be seen by a PEDIATRIC orthopedist who has extensive experience treating children with scoliosis. You need to know if her scoliosis is idiopathic (meaning there are no bone malformations in the spine) or congenital (at least one bone did not form correctly. This will determine what treatment options are right for her.

          Scoliosis is rarely an emergency situation. You have time to research and find the right doc, with the right recommendation, at the right time. Getting more than one opinion for young children with scoliosis is important.

          If her scoliosis is idiopathic and she has no other medical issues that would complicate matters, EXERCISE will be her best friend. Being an active young lady will be the best therapy possible. Doing things that will strengthen her torso and keep her muscles/soft tissue strong to support the spine is best. You can work with her doing things like having her stand with both feet flat on the floor. Then have her reach for something above her head. Have her stretch the inside of that trunk, especially on the weak side of the spine. Also, hanging is great. If she likes playground equipment, have her hang on the monkey bars. Hanging is theraputic for many of these kids. Another exercise would be to have her sit on a large ball (like the exercise balls) and then you hold onto her hips. Rotate the ball slowly so she has to use her trunk muscles to stay straight on the ball. Another thing, when she's sitting on the floor, put a folded towel under her strong side. This forces her to use the weak side muscles to stay sitting upright.

          Lots of info there... but mostly don't panic. Take this all one step at a time and find the information you need to make sure she's going to be just fine. Having 100% confidence in the ortho is the biggest step forward.

          Take care and I look forward to hearing how things go.
          Carmell
          mom to Kara, idiopathic scoliosis, Blake 19, GERD and Braydon 14, VACTERL, GERD, DGE, VEPTR #137, thoracic insufficiency, rib anomalies, congenital scoliosis, missing coccyx, fatty filum/TC, anal stenosis, horseshoe kidney, dbl ureter in left kidney, ureterocele, kidney reflux, neurogenic bladder, bilateral hip dysplasia, right leg/foot dyplasia, tibial torsion, clubfoot with 8 toes, pes cavus, single umblilical artery, etc. http://carmellb-ivil.tripod.com/myfamily/

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          • #6
            Carmell,

            Those tips about exercise were great!! I'm going to have David try some of them to keep his torso muscles strong....he'll especially love hanging on the monkey bars

            By the way, I've often thought that I would have been very fortunate to have known you 6 years ago when David was first diagnosed at such a young age. You are a wealth of information - and I'm sure a very welcome voice to the parents just signing on for the first time!

            take care,
            mariaf305@yahoo.com
            Mom to David, age 17, braced June 2000 to March 2004
            Vertebral Body Stapling 3/10/04 for 40 degree curve (currently mid 20's)

            https://www.facebook.com/groups/ScoliosisTethering/

            http://pediatricspinefoundation.org/

            Comment


            • #7
              Thanks for such kind words, Maria. Very nice of you to say. Honestly, by sharing bits and pieces of our story with others, and hearing from other families, is the best form of THERAPY I can imagine! I get so much from talking to other families. It makes my little corner of the world a little less overwhelming.

              Keep up the great work with David! I'm sure he's doing great. Keep us posted.
              Carmell
              mom to Kara, idiopathic scoliosis, Blake 19, GERD and Braydon 14, VACTERL, GERD, DGE, VEPTR #137, thoracic insufficiency, rib anomalies, congenital scoliosis, missing coccyx, fatty filum/TC, anal stenosis, horseshoe kidney, dbl ureter in left kidney, ureterocele, kidney reflux, neurogenic bladder, bilateral hip dysplasia, right leg/foot dyplasia, tibial torsion, clubfoot with 8 toes, pes cavus, single umblilical artery, etc. http://carmellb-ivil.tripod.com/myfamily/

              Comment


              • #8
                Carmell,

                I know exactly what you mean about therapy. We can all surely remember what a scary place the beginning of the journey was.

                The sharing on this forum and on Spinekids, together with my involvement and work with the Shriners organization, are some of the most rewarding things for me - besides, of course, caring for my family

                take care,
                mariaf305@yahoo.com
                Mom to David, age 17, braced June 2000 to March 2004
                Vertebral Body Stapling 3/10/04 for 40 degree curve (currently mid 20's)

                https://www.facebook.com/groups/ScoliosisTethering/

                http://pediatricspinefoundation.org/

                Comment

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