Hi,
What are the criteria for being through with the brace?
My daughter has been wearing a Boston brace for about 15 months now. She is 13, had her first period over two years ago. She has two curves, 40 on top, 37 below, and they have been stable and do not seem to involve much of a twist (OK, there's a term for that, but this was the simplified explanation.)
Today the doctor said he wanted her to keep wearing the brace for another four months. He didn't check her height for any change from the last visit, didn't xray the growth plates in her hand, just asked if she "seemed" to still be growing. We said no, because she has been very eager to get taller than I am, and has been measuring herself against me for months now with no change.
On our last visit three months ago, it sounded like the Dr. just wanted her to wear the brace a few more months as a "precaution." Now he's added four months on to that.
I understand that a brace does no good once you have stopped growing, but shouldn't he be measuring something to determine that? When we started bracing, he said that they like to have girls out of the brace by 700 days after the start of their first period, and we're way beyond that, too.
Is he being very reasonable and cautious? Are we being unreasonable because we believe that this decision should be based on some observable criteria, not just a hunch that she might grow some more?
I hate to put her through any more bracing if it is not going to be effective, but do now want to do anything that would increase the risk of surgery in the future.
Thanks for listening...
What are the criteria for being through with the brace?
My daughter has been wearing a Boston brace for about 15 months now. She is 13, had her first period over two years ago. She has two curves, 40 on top, 37 below, and they have been stable and do not seem to involve much of a twist (OK, there's a term for that, but this was the simplified explanation.)
Today the doctor said he wanted her to keep wearing the brace for another four months. He didn't check her height for any change from the last visit, didn't xray the growth plates in her hand, just asked if she "seemed" to still be growing. We said no, because she has been very eager to get taller than I am, and has been measuring herself against me for months now with no change.
On our last visit three months ago, it sounded like the Dr. just wanted her to wear the brace a few more months as a "precaution." Now he's added four months on to that.
I understand that a brace does no good once you have stopped growing, but shouldn't he be measuring something to determine that? When we started bracing, he said that they like to have girls out of the brace by 700 days after the start of their first period, and we're way beyond that, too.
Is he being very reasonable and cautious? Are we being unreasonable because we believe that this decision should be based on some observable criteria, not just a hunch that she might grow some more?
I hate to put her through any more bracing if it is not going to be effective, but do now want to do anything that would increase the risk of surgery in the future.
Thanks for listening...
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