My 12 year old daughter was recently diagnozed with a 24-25% curve on top and 9% curve on bottom. She was fitted with a TSLO brace and just started wearring it yesterday (2 hours fisrt day, 4 hours second etc up to 22 hours). Did not go well. She is so unhappy. Scoliosis on top of everything else she is going through as a pre-teen girl. She is not popular in school and is somewhat overweight. While she is an incredibly smart girl, her self esteem is low as it is - I'm not sure how she is going to handle this. She doesn't want to wear it to school but I think we will be able to get beyond that - although I may very well be wrong. She says she doesn't want to go to camp and doesn't want anyone to know (i.e. granparents aunts, uncles). She doesn't even want her sisters to know because they may say something to family or at school. (she wants her own room so that no-one will see her in it.) The orthopedist seemed to give us choices as to length of hours a day to wear it but really wants her to wear it 20-22 hours. He also told us that due to her being overweight, the brace may not be effective - which my daughter is now using as an argument against wearing the brace - not in an effort to lose weight - (another issue).
When my wife suggested to her that we should speak to someone who could help her (a therapist or support group) she freaked out.
Clothing of course is an issue that we are beginning to address now that we have the brace. She and my wife are going shopping this weekend.
So many questions. My wife feels that maybe we can have her wear it at night only but the doctor wasn'y too thrilled with that, although he said it's better than nothing. The orthotist says she can't put it on herself and make the correction tight enough so - anyone have experience with this issue?
The diagnosis and treatment all seem so "iffy." Maybe this will help, maybe not. The doctor we are using is the head of the pediatric orthopedics at Columbia in New York and he is fine but I guess we are looking for more than the diagnosis.
My wife and I are trying to be positive and keep our uncertainty to ourselves but the "It's just like braces on your teeth" argument is not cutting it.
Do we discuss this with her school (teachers, principal etc)? Are there special chairs she should sit in? Can anyone direct me to any support groups in the New Jersey/New York areas?
Thanks.
When my wife suggested to her that we should speak to someone who could help her (a therapist or support group) she freaked out.
Clothing of course is an issue that we are beginning to address now that we have the brace. She and my wife are going shopping this weekend.
So many questions. My wife feels that maybe we can have her wear it at night only but the doctor wasn'y too thrilled with that, although he said it's better than nothing. The orthotist says she can't put it on herself and make the correction tight enough so - anyone have experience with this issue?
The diagnosis and treatment all seem so "iffy." Maybe this will help, maybe not. The doctor we are using is the head of the pediatric orthopedics at Columbia in New York and he is fine but I guess we are looking for more than the diagnosis.
My wife and I are trying to be positive and keep our uncertainty to ourselves but the "It's just like braces on your teeth" argument is not cutting it.
Do we discuss this with her school (teachers, principal etc)? Are there special chairs she should sit in? Can anyone direct me to any support groups in the New Jersey/New York areas?
Thanks.
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