I'm new here. My daughter, 16, has a 20 degree lumbar curve (I think) I'm just learning this terminology. I feel horrible and guilty, sorry this is long.
She had pain for 18 months and I thought it was because she was dancing less--she'd been doing 6 classes a week and was down to just two classes a week and her back hurt after her Modern class. I thought she just wasn't in as good shape as when she took more classes. Problem is you can't "see" the curve. She had a scoli exam at 14 that was negative; she had classes with an alignment specialist who didn't see it; the pediatrician did a spine check just one month before another dance teacher noticed the asymetry in the muscles. Pediatrician didn't even believe it until I took DD back and showed her. We've had an x-ray that shows the lumbar curve. The Orthopedic Surgeon called it "tiny". I know it's not as bad (so far) than the larger curves that many are dealing with. Surgeon said there was no reason to brace. He also said that if dance causes pain she should stop dancing (DD says, no way!). I've read on these forums that some patients use braces for smaller than 20 degrees. DD is 16, so age is against her, which is why I feel horrible because if we'd gotten an x-ray when she first felt the pain we'd be further along (at least in terms of learning to cope).
She had pain for 18 months and I thought it was because she was dancing less--she'd been doing 6 classes a week and was down to just two classes a week and her back hurt after her Modern class. I thought she just wasn't in as good shape as when she took more classes. Problem is you can't "see" the curve. She had a scoli exam at 14 that was negative; she had classes with an alignment specialist who didn't see it; the pediatrician did a spine check just one month before another dance teacher noticed the asymetry in the muscles. Pediatrician didn't even believe it until I took DD back and showed her. We've had an x-ray that shows the lumbar curve. The Orthopedic Surgeon called it "tiny". I know it's not as bad (so far) than the larger curves that many are dealing with. Surgeon said there was no reason to brace. He also said that if dance causes pain she should stop dancing (DD says, no way!). I've read on these forums that some patients use braces for smaller than 20 degrees. DD is 16, so age is against her, which is why I feel horrible because if we'd gotten an x-ray when she first felt the pain we'd be further along (at least in terms of learning to cope).
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