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  • Need help?

    Hi,

    I'm new here you may have seen my posts about. But if you need any help with anything or you have any worries, questions or need help on what to look for from a good doctor, then just ask and I will try my best to help, as everything I know about Scoliosis I learnt from my doctor of 18years, (Dr Min Mehta) who also suffers from Scoliosis.

  • #2
    just found out scoliosis!

    hi, my 13 yr old son has just been diagnosed with a 25° curve in his upper spine.. he had an xray and was sent to a specialist and he ordered an MRI, do they do MRI's with everyone?

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    • #3
      My daughter never had an MRI until we were preparing for surgery, but don't worry, 25* does NOT mean surgery. Each doctor is different as each patient is different. Some doctor do MRIs almost routinely, I guess. For some kids, the cause of their Scoliosis is unknown and for others, they do an MRI and find other reasons for the Scoliosis.

      Mary Lou

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      • #4
        MRI scans

        Hi,

        To answer your question, no. unless they are preparing for surgery, but the curve should be greater than 25* before surgery. I have never had an MRI scan just x-rays, but alot of doctors suggest MRI's just to be on the safe side. I have had cruves of 25 and 27* but I was just fitted with a brace, or serial casted.

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        • #5
          Does everyone get an MRI?

          My daughter had an MRI when her curves were mid-30s. Her surgeon ordered it for two reasons. 1) In case she needed surgery. Since New Zealand has National Health, it can sometimes take a long time to get a non-emergency procedure done, so he wanted to get her on the list well in advance. 2) To rule out any other conditions of the spine that would need to be dealt with prior to the surgery. There are some other structural abnormalities that can be related to scoli that must be dealt with before (or in some cases, instead of) the scoli. Although these conditions are rare, it's easy to identify them with the MRI, so it seems sensible to get it done.

          A doctor would also tend to order an MRI for a patient with atypical scoli, since there is more likely to be some underlying cause in these children (as opposed to the common idiopathic -- doctor talk for "I dunno" -- type that most people on this forum are dealing with). Atypical cases are boys, left thoracic curves and, of course, anyone with neurological symptoms. Meangingful curves (greater than 10 degrees) are simply much rarer in boys. I have seen ratios of 9/1 quoted in places (i.e. 90 girls for every 10 boys). Left thoracic curves are rarer than right thoracic curves and are more likely to be caused by some underlying structural condition of the spine and spinal cord. Again, this doesn't mean that there aren't any idiopathic left curves, just that they are rarer. If there are neurological symptoms -- numbness or tingling in the legs, abnormal reflexes, etc. -- the doctors will naturally be curious about structural problems in the spine affecting nerve function. These can show up on the MRI.

          The MRI itself is no big deal, just noisy and boring. Remember that the more still your child can be, the quicker it will be over. If there is wiggling, they will have to do those portions of the scan over.

          Waiting for the MRI results is very unpleasant if, like me, you tend to imagine the worse possible outcome for things like this. However, the vast majority of adolescent scoli cases are idiopathic, and if there are any abnormalities in the spine and spinal cord, they can be treated.

          Good luck.
          Patricia
          Scoli Mum from New Zealand
          Daughter Caitlin's surgery 2nd May 2005
          Posterior fusion T3 - L1

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          • #6
            Mri

            hi,thanks for your response to my last question soo fast! we just found out my son has a 25° curve, and the specialist ordered and MRI with contrast. from the xray they took a month ago, they could tell with the risser sign that his hasnt even begun fusion at all yet (hes 13 5'9 and 144lbs right now) and that he has alot more growing to do before hes done. hes going for the MRI in a week or so and then will be fitted for a charleston brace for bedtime only he will have to wear it for many years, this is what we were told. my question is.. are curves like this in boys likey to get worse, since he hasnt started showing any fusion on the risser sign? and why and MRI with contrast? are charleston braces successful? sorry for soo many questions... the worry is setting it!

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            • #7
              Hi.

              I am happy to say that (being male) because your son will be getting a night brace his curve shouldn't get worse, and he is lucky because when I was 13 I had a 20 degree curve and I had a Plaster cast for 6 months, then i had a night brace.

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