Well I'm very glad to see that the tension on this thread has subsided. It truly is a wonderful place to gather information and support. I don't know how I would have gotten through all of the decisions I've had to make in the last year if I didn't have this forum to come to.
Just as a note, my daughter does not have AIS. Her scoliosis was caused by Chiari and a syriyx. A few months ago, when her curve increased with her spinecor brace, I called Janice at Shriner's in PA. I wanted to find out "if my daughter was even a candidate for VBS", if Emily were to continue to progress. According to Janice, Emily is a candidate for VBS, even though she has had decompression surgery and continues to have a syrinx in her spinal cord. So it seems as though VBS is not only being used in AIS cases, but is now being used in scoli caused by neurological issues.
As of this moment, I am trying to stay positive and confident that Emily's curve seems stable in the Spinecor brace. I have no idea what the future will hold, but I do know that this brace has given me some hope that Emily's curve "might" improve. If it doesn't then at least I have the knowledge that I have tried to do something to help my daughter. By taking the wait and see approach, that the orthos STILL recommend I do, I would be
A) allowing her to progress
B) resigning her to "at least" having a 20 something degree curve for the
rest of her life
C) putting myself and her into a position were we may have to be reactive
instead of proactive
Scoliosis caused by Chiari tends to be very aggressive if it progresses. So at this point if her curve were to progress, then we would be on a plane to PA. As I see it, there are no right or wrong treatments or paths. Rather what is right for someone at one point in time, may not be what is right for them at another point in time.
Finally, ALL of the children of the parents on this board are VERY blessed to have parents that are here, searching for options, trying to do all in their power to help these children. I am a teacher. I have told three different parents of elementary school children to take their children to the pediatrician to get checked over the last few years. (You know how NOW you see scoli everywhere you go, but never noticed it before). One parent has not asked their doctor to check the child. The other two kids do have curves according to their pediatricians, but the parents have not even taken the kids to an orthopedic. It is so infuriating.
We are all here for our kids, we shouldn't be here to say that one treatment option is better than another. It is all dependent on each individuals particular situation.
Just my 2 cents.
Just as a note, my daughter does not have AIS. Her scoliosis was caused by Chiari and a syriyx. A few months ago, when her curve increased with her spinecor brace, I called Janice at Shriner's in PA. I wanted to find out "if my daughter was even a candidate for VBS", if Emily were to continue to progress. According to Janice, Emily is a candidate for VBS, even though she has had decompression surgery and continues to have a syrinx in her spinal cord. So it seems as though VBS is not only being used in AIS cases, but is now being used in scoli caused by neurological issues.
As of this moment, I am trying to stay positive and confident that Emily's curve seems stable in the Spinecor brace. I have no idea what the future will hold, but I do know that this brace has given me some hope that Emily's curve "might" improve. If it doesn't then at least I have the knowledge that I have tried to do something to help my daughter. By taking the wait and see approach, that the orthos STILL recommend I do, I would be
A) allowing her to progress
B) resigning her to "at least" having a 20 something degree curve for the
rest of her life
C) putting myself and her into a position were we may have to be reactive
instead of proactive
Scoliosis caused by Chiari tends to be very aggressive if it progresses. So at this point if her curve were to progress, then we would be on a plane to PA. As I see it, there are no right or wrong treatments or paths. Rather what is right for someone at one point in time, may not be what is right for them at another point in time.
Finally, ALL of the children of the parents on this board are VERY blessed to have parents that are here, searching for options, trying to do all in their power to help these children. I am a teacher. I have told three different parents of elementary school children to take their children to the pediatrician to get checked over the last few years. (You know how NOW you see scoli everywhere you go, but never noticed it before). One parent has not asked their doctor to check the child. The other two kids do have curves according to their pediatricians, but the parents have not even taken the kids to an orthopedic. It is so infuriating.
We are all here for our kids, we shouldn't be here to say that one treatment option is better than another. It is all dependent on each individuals particular situation.
Just my 2 cents.
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