We had DD13's 48 hours out of brace (TLSO) x ray yesterday. She has been wearing the brace 24-7 since February when she was at 30/30 S curve. In brace x ray showed complete correction of the lumbar curve (doc called it a compensatory curve) but only 20-25% correction of the thoracic curve.
6 months later, 48 hours out of brace, her thoracic has progressed to 36 degrees (she's been curving a degree a month all along the way of monitoring, and now bracing). Doc says it is very hard to control the "aggressive" upper curve with TLSO. I asked if we should consider a Milwaukee brace (after school, all night, weekends) as even the doc says "we don't do Milwaukee anymore" but would consider it and also sent us back to orthodist to see if we can get further adjustment (doc says he doesn't think the TLSO can be adjust any higher as it is already high under her arm). And curve is making one leg shorter than the other as her hips are shifting up on one side.
We also have a referral to the ortho surgeon at Childrens in Chicago (current doc doesn't do the scolio surgery anymore) and wants this other doc to also evaluate alternatives.
Someone tell me about Milwaukees? Do they really work? Are we at 36 now just blowing sunshine that bracing will help? Are we one the inevitable path to surgery?
DD is crushed. She hasn't had first period. She has years of growing still.
6 months later, 48 hours out of brace, her thoracic has progressed to 36 degrees (she's been curving a degree a month all along the way of monitoring, and now bracing). Doc says it is very hard to control the "aggressive" upper curve with TLSO. I asked if we should consider a Milwaukee brace (after school, all night, weekends) as even the doc says "we don't do Milwaukee anymore" but would consider it and also sent us back to orthodist to see if we can get further adjustment (doc says he doesn't think the TLSO can be adjust any higher as it is already high under her arm). And curve is making one leg shorter than the other as her hips are shifting up on one side.
We also have a referral to the ortho surgeon at Childrens in Chicago (current doc doesn't do the scolio surgery anymore) and wants this other doc to also evaluate alternatives.
Someone tell me about Milwaukees? Do they really work? Are we at 36 now just blowing sunshine that bracing will help? Are we one the inevitable path to surgery?
DD is crushed. She hasn't had first period. She has years of growing still.
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