Mackenzie had her 6 month appointment with Dr. Skaggs last week. While we were both anxious to hear, I felt like her curves hadn't progressed much (they looked the same to me).
So - the good news is:
1 - Her curves went from 37 thoracic, 37 lumbar to 39 thoracic, 37 lumbar
2 - Dr. Skaggs told Mackenzie to throw her brace away since he feels confident she is done growing (of course, Mackenzie would have FIND her brace in order to throw it away - just kidding, but barely).
3 - Dr. Skaggs told her she didn't need surgery, that her back was beautiful (because the curves are balanced) and she didn't need to come back for a year.
So the "I Think" part comes in because I'm a mother! I worry that the thoracic is growing because the first specialist said it was 28. Then we switched to Dr. Skaggs and he said it was 37 (five months after the first x-ray). When I asked if that progression was normal, he said he wasn't really sure there was much progression and wouldn't comment on an x-ray that had been taken elsewhere (which I understand since he couldn't "quality control" how the x-ray had been taken). And, I have to say, the x-ray was taken by a colleague of mine who did it as a favor because he thought I was over-reacting (yes, he is an ortho spine surgeon - but does adults only). He actually turned white when he saw Mackenzie's x-ray - and immediately referred her to a pediatric spine surgeon.
Now it's 39 (6 1/2 months after the second x-ray). I realize there's a margin of error on the x-rays, but I'm still afraid that 28 to 37 to 39 is progression.
So - sorry to rattle. Just had to get this off my chest. I'm really happy her lumbar curve didn't progress - and maybe a 2 degree change is minimal - and within the margin of error. I'll keep my eye on her back and will definitely take her back if I think the thoracic is progressing.
Thanks for listening. And I'd be interested to hear what your thoughts are.
Lisa
So - the good news is:
1 - Her curves went from 37 thoracic, 37 lumbar to 39 thoracic, 37 lumbar
2 - Dr. Skaggs told Mackenzie to throw her brace away since he feels confident she is done growing (of course, Mackenzie would have FIND her brace in order to throw it away - just kidding, but barely).
3 - Dr. Skaggs told her she didn't need surgery, that her back was beautiful (because the curves are balanced) and she didn't need to come back for a year.
So the "I Think" part comes in because I'm a mother! I worry that the thoracic is growing because the first specialist said it was 28. Then we switched to Dr. Skaggs and he said it was 37 (five months after the first x-ray). When I asked if that progression was normal, he said he wasn't really sure there was much progression and wouldn't comment on an x-ray that had been taken elsewhere (which I understand since he couldn't "quality control" how the x-ray had been taken). And, I have to say, the x-ray was taken by a colleague of mine who did it as a favor because he thought I was over-reacting (yes, he is an ortho spine surgeon - but does adults only). He actually turned white when he saw Mackenzie's x-ray - and immediately referred her to a pediatric spine surgeon.
Now it's 39 (6 1/2 months after the second x-ray). I realize there's a margin of error on the x-rays, but I'm still afraid that 28 to 37 to 39 is progression.
So - sorry to rattle. Just had to get this off my chest. I'm really happy her lumbar curve didn't progress - and maybe a 2 degree change is minimal - and within the margin of error. I'll keep my eye on her back and will definitely take her back if I think the thoracic is progressing.
Thanks for listening. And I'd be interested to hear what your thoughts are.
Lisa
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