Hi! This is my first post. My daughter has scoliosis. Her pediatrician suspected it at a physical exam in July with a scoliometer curve of 8 to 10. She advised us to return in a few months to be checked. On September 18, the doctor thought the curve increased, ordered an X-ray and referred us to an orthopedic specialist within our network, Kaiser. At the time, I did not know to request a pediatric orthopedic specialist. The radiology report from the first x-ray showed T18, L17. She was seen by the specialist on October 15th. He ordered a second x-ray on the spot (because the first film was not sent over) which confirmed an S curve of T19, L17. He said they did not do anything with these numbers and we should return in 6 months to see if they reach high 20’s to consider bracing. Not wanting to panic in front of my daughter, we left. BTW, the radiology report on the second x-ray was T24, L22 (but a different vertebrae number was used. I guess that would increase the angle, right?)
Once we got home and I started to research scoliosis. I now think that 6 months was far too long to wait when she is about to go into her puberty growth spurt. My DD is 12.5 years old. She has not started menstruation and family history indicates it could still be a few years off. Her Risser Sign appears to be at stage 0, Tanner Stage 2.
Therefore, I requested a second opinion from the pediatrician. The request to Children’s Hospital in Washington was denied because they are not Kaiser doctors. We got an appointment with Kaiser pediatric orthopedic specialist which was an awful experience. I cannot take my child back to that doctor.
So….do you think I should be concerned about seeing a specialist who deals with scoliosis? I do, but I am not sure I am making too much out of this. It seems to me that given my child’s age and stage in maturation, the progression can increase. If bracing were required, would she (and I) be supported in this? Has anyone on this forum dealt with scoliosis treatment within the Kaiser system? I am wondering if I should change health insurance companies now while I can during open season.
Thank you for any insight and experience you have to share.
P.S. We are originally from Canada, so dealing with the health care system is a little unnerving for us.
Once we got home and I started to research scoliosis. I now think that 6 months was far too long to wait when she is about to go into her puberty growth spurt. My DD is 12.5 years old. She has not started menstruation and family history indicates it could still be a few years off. Her Risser Sign appears to be at stage 0, Tanner Stage 2.
Therefore, I requested a second opinion from the pediatrician. The request to Children’s Hospital in Washington was denied because they are not Kaiser doctors. We got an appointment with Kaiser pediatric orthopedic specialist which was an awful experience. I cannot take my child back to that doctor.
So….do you think I should be concerned about seeing a specialist who deals with scoliosis? I do, but I am not sure I am making too much out of this. It seems to me that given my child’s age and stage in maturation, the progression can increase. If bracing were required, would she (and I) be supported in this? Has anyone on this forum dealt with scoliosis treatment within the Kaiser system? I am wondering if I should change health insurance companies now while I can during open season.
Thank you for any insight and experience you have to share.
P.S. We are originally from Canada, so dealing with the health care system is a little unnerving for us.
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