I would like to introduce myself and my daughter, Deirdre. She is now three years and five months. At 18 months, I discovered during one of her baths that her ribs were not where they should have been. I remember looking at myself in the mirror at the time and I was white as a sheet. I didn't know what she had, I thought it was cancer or something. I didn't know what scoliosis was or what to look for. I always thought her back looked a little funny, but I never thought that it was possible for a spine to curve and rotate like that. I do recall her pediatrician looking at her back during the three month check-up but he never said anything to me !!!
Later, when an x-ray was done I discovered that she had a sixty
degree curve. Within two weeks, just before she was placed in her first cast, her curve had already progressed to 68 degrees. The medical objective was to delay surgery for as long as possible. Filled with fear about the possibility of spinal fusion, I read about different treatment options. I came across the following websites:
http://www.sauk.org.uk/infant_treatment.htm
http://www.scoliosis.org/resources/m...earlyonset.php
The only option that held out any hope for Deirdre seemed to be
serial casting. At the next visit with her orthopedist, I insisted
that he keep her in the cast and have it replaced within three months time (to allow for growth). Everytime we went for a visit with the doctor, I kept insisting that he continue to change her cast. By the third cast( six months later ) her curve had decreased to 14 degrees !!! (lying down) A stand-up x-ray later revealed that her curve was at 19 degrees.
The last time she had an x-ray done was in November of 2003, and her curve was 13 degrees (standing-up). She has been in and out of casts for the past 21 months. She has had five cast changes. Sure it hasn't been a cup of tea, but who ever said scoliosis was going to be easy. I am hoping that her next cast change will be her last and that she will be straight once and for all !!!
Thanks for listening and I hope this story will inspire someone out
there.
Celia
Later, when an x-ray was done I discovered that she had a sixty
degree curve. Within two weeks, just before she was placed in her first cast, her curve had already progressed to 68 degrees. The medical objective was to delay surgery for as long as possible. Filled with fear about the possibility of spinal fusion, I read about different treatment options. I came across the following websites:
http://www.sauk.org.uk/infant_treatment.htm
http://www.scoliosis.org/resources/m...earlyonset.php
The only option that held out any hope for Deirdre seemed to be
serial casting. At the next visit with her orthopedist, I insisted
that he keep her in the cast and have it replaced within three months time (to allow for growth). Everytime we went for a visit with the doctor, I kept insisting that he continue to change her cast. By the third cast( six months later ) her curve had decreased to 14 degrees !!! (lying down) A stand-up x-ray later revealed that her curve was at 19 degrees.
The last time she had an x-ray done was in November of 2003, and her curve was 13 degrees (standing-up). She has been in and out of casts for the past 21 months. She has had five cast changes. Sure it hasn't been a cup of tea, but who ever said scoliosis was going to be easy. I am hoping that her next cast change will be her last and that she will be straight once and for all !!!
Thanks for listening and I hope this story will inspire someone out
there.
Celia
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