Daughter age 10 and son age 14 diagnosed with scoliosis

[bearfoot68]

Hello everyone, I am very new to all of this, so any input would be greatly appreciated. I am a 35 year old mother of 4 wonderful children, and today I had my two oldest to the doctor's, my daughter who is 10 was getting checked for scoliosis and my son who is 14 being checked for dislocated shoulders. But also found out that he has minor scoliosis. Anyway.... my daughter had two x-rays done on her back (side view and back view) Oh my gosh did my mouth drop to the floor when I saw the results . They looked horriable. Come to find out she not only has scoliosis but she also has Lordosis (severe bowing of the back inward) and the doctor told me that so far he does not want her to wear a brace, or even to consider surgery. All he wants her to do is exersizes twice a day for 20 minutes at a time to see if it helps her any. And not to lift any thing heavy. But the problem is that my daughter is having a lot of pain with her back. It burns all the time around her waist line and aches all of the time. I am very concerned about that and told the doctor about my concerns. He said to give her Tylenol and see if that helps. I am very concerned about all of this. The doctor wants to see them both back in a year to see how much it has progressed and I don't think that is the right thing to do. I think that something should be done about it now. My daughter is very small for her age and she only weighs 56 pounds. She get's very clumsy while she is walking and often trips over her feet. She tells me it is because it's because her back is bothering her that it happens so often. I like I said am very concerned about her and my son. Should I be having all of these feelings (worried, upset, fearful ect. ) I am planning on getting a second opinion a.s.a.p I think there should be more done than just excerises. The doctor also told me that with the comination of the Lordosis and the Scoliosis is bad and could also be very rapid in changes. Is this true and if so where do I go from here? ANY INPUT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED !!! I am very sorry if this was very confusing to read, but hope you all understand where I am coming from and my concern's.

[LindaRacine]

Hi...

You might want to post your message in the Parents forum for more replies.

I'm guessing that your daughter was not seen by a scoliosis specialist. If you're concerned, and want a second opinion, you can find a list of specialists at http://www.srs.org/locator/.

Regards,
Linda

[Mom in Chicago]

It definitely sounds like something that a specialist should see. I would suggest that you go with your instincts to get help for your children and not to wait another year. My daughter developed a severe thoracic curvature within one year and needs surgery. Maybe you will be able to avoid surgery if you act quickly.

The Internet has some good websites where you can find more information on scoliosis and treatment, such as iscoliosis.com and spineuniverse.com. Also, srs.org, as Linda mentioned.

Best of luck,
jb

[Carmell]

Welcome to the board.

You need to find a pediatric orthopedist who specializes in spine malformations for your daughter. Waiting a full year between exams at her age is not the typical recommendation from most ped. orthos who know what they are doing.

And, to brush off her pain and other symptoms is not good either. Some questions they should be asking you (and her) include: Has she had anyy changes in her bladder or bowel habits? Does she occasionally have numbness or tingling sensation in her feet and/or legs? Does she have a hairy patch, lump or dimple on her lower back? These (and others) are all questions to rule out any neurologic involvement that would contribute to a scoliatic curve.

A 10yr old should not be having the pain you described. Yes, you should be able to feel the feelings you are having - that is normal. If you don't mind posting the area you live in, someone could probably recommend a good ped. ortho in your area. Or, if you can't see a ped. ortho at a teaching or children's hospital facility, you could contact Shriner's hospital. They have excellent surgeons who deal with spine issues everyday.

Please let us know when you get another opinion. I'd like to hear what another doc recommends for her. Good luck!

[stees]

2nd opinion, and she should be seen at least every 6 months imo.
Susan

[Ellen Kiley]

I am a survivor of several scoliosis surgeries and am now a yoga teacher.

"Exercise": Your daughter has a severe muscular IMBALANCE which needs to be addressed. Her body's habitual muscular pattern is such that some muscles are overworking, while their partners in motion are not at all. Regular exercise without heightened awareness of this issue, will likely just make the situation worse, the muscles which overwork will continue to do so and have a snowball effect.

I tried everything, including bracing, surgery, chiropractic, alexander technique, acupuncture, massage, etc. and Yoga practice, every day for the rest of my life, has enabled me to live with this condition and stop the progression, even reverse, the muscular imbalance. But it takes time, lots of it, and dedication. Nothing like pain as a motivator.

Yours, EK

[MaryK]

In looking for ideas of what may be wrong with my brother's back I came across Lordosis. From what I read the lordosis can be caused be muscles in the legs. The excercises stretch these muscles out and relieves the pain. Your daughter's imbalance is more caused by her curves. The curves through you "off center" and that causes balance issues and clumsiness. I also had sever curves before my surgery and my balance was nonexsistant! I sincerely hope that by now she is doing better and that you've gotten a second opinon. I also read that wearing a brace as well as excercises can help the pain a great deal. God bless and I will keep both of your children in my prayers!