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  • child recently diagonosed

    Hi - My 12 year daughter was initially diagnosed in January 2002 with very mild case, registering only an 18. We were told to watch and wait until she began menstrating. We were told to return for follow up in 6 months. For reasons that I can not recall, our appointments were not kept and we only now returned for follow up. My daughter now registers a 25 on the scale and she has not yet menstrated.

    The Doctor has not braced her, but has asked us to return in February for further evaluation. He anticipates that she will have begun menstrating by then.

    Everything I read indicates that bracing should be done BEFORE growth ends. But our doctor is planning to begin bracing only after menstation has begun. I am confused by this somewhat.

    Should bracing be started now? Is 25 too insignificant to be concerned? Should we be waiting until my daughter's first period?
    I know from reading many of the other postings that a 25 seems insignificant. Is it? At what point should aggressive treatment be considered?

    A lot of questions, I know. But the literture hasn't helped. Maybe someone reading this can.

    Thanks-
    enjayef

  • #2
    Hi Enjayef,

    Welcome to the board. Your situation sounds very similar to my daughter's situation. She found her "mild" curve just before her 13th b-day. Her curve at that time measured 21 degrees (remember the +/-5 degrees margin of error). Within three months, her curve progressed to 26 degrees (more than 1 degree per month). The ortho chose to brace her at that time. She also began menstrating 3 months after her 13th b-day. Menstration does not mean the end of growth. In spine terms, the spine will grow with the most energy and biggest spurts the year before AND the year after menstration begins. Knowing that, it sounds like your daughter needs to be watched a little closer than the ortho is watching her now. It sounds like her spine could progress more, even if she soon begins menstrating. Are you seeing a PEDIATRIC orthopedist who is a scoliosis specialist? If not, I strongly suggest you do. Good luck and 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/

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    • #3
      in response to recently diagnosed

      Hi Enjayef! Your daughter's situation sounds so similiar to my 12 year old daughter's...she was diagnosed with a 17 degree curve (and 15 as she has a double curve) last September 2002. She was seen in Nov. by a pediatric ortho who specializes in scoliosis and was put on a 4-6 month check up cycle with x-rays to monitor the curve. In March everything was status quo, but this August the curve had jumped to 25, which is the lowest end for bracing. Two days later she was in the brace and has worn it since then for 18 hours a day.

      Her doctor was concerned about the jump from 17 to 25 in only 5 months and felt that it was not a good indicator for the future development of the curve if left untreated. The purpose of the brace is to stop the curve from worsening. It generally does not reverse the curve permanently. I strongly encourage you to get another opinion. From what we have read and were told the period of time before she gets her period is the time of intense growth, during which the curve can increase. Once she starts with her period, the growth will begin to level off, but she may still grow for another year or so.

      I know how frightening and frustrating all of this can be. When we started with the brace I know I felt very confused and had a ton of questions about real life situations, not just the text book answer/question stuff. It helps to communicate with others who are dealing with similiar issues and feelings. Please feel free to email me at kjmalony@msn.com if you want to talk more. My prayers will be with you and your daughter.

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      • #4
        Hello.I read your post about your daughter. I am (as of today)a new member of this site. It is so hard to find anything or anyone to talk to about this sort of thing, aspecially when you live in a small town like I do.
        My daughter is 10 years old, and just 3 months ago, we were told she may have Scoliosis. We had the X rays done, and at that time she had 25 and 28 degree curves. We were refered to the Scottish Rite Hospital In Dallas Tx {Thank God for them}.
        We just went on Dec.5th, they re evaluated her and now, her curves are 30/30...so it changed quite a bit in just 3 months.
        I would suggest you get another doctor and see what he says. My daughter hasn;t started her period yet either,but they do want to keep a close eye on her, as she will be having growth spurts soon.Also have they told you your daughters "bone age"?
        my daughters is 18 years.I have all the info on this hospital, and best of all....It is a non profit hospital.All you need is a doctors referral. I hope I have helped at least some, so you won't feel as if you are "grasping at straws".
        Hope to hear back from you.
        DeAnna
        DeAnna

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        • #5
          How does one go about find ing a pediatric orthopedist? There are many orthos in my area, but very few see patients with back problems. I have a doctor who is a spinal specialist and is supposed to be a great scoilosis doctor, but how do I KNOW that? I want the best for my little girl. How do I find the right doctor?

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