I recently visited a SpineCor chiropractor in NYC, maybe one the most experienced SpineCor professionals in the United States, with over 1,000 patients. It was a very bad experience.
My 8 yr. old daughter and I over the past year have seen 4 orthopedic surgeons and 3 chiropractors. I have read hundreds of threads on forums and read several books. I have worked very hard to learn as much as I can about scoliosis and our options to try and develop a program that is best for her.
We got the SpineCor brace Nov 2009 at Children's Hospital when she reached 36 degrees. The orthopedic surgeon recommended SpineCor.
The beginning of this year (Jan 2010) we visited Dr. Sid in NYC to do the Clear 2 week intensive treatment program and to have the SpineCor brace adjusted. We chose Dr. Sid because he was certified in Clear and SpineCor. Dr. Sid and his staff were outstanding working with my daughter.
Most recently we visted Dr. Betz (Feb 2010) at Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia and Dr. Durrani (Mar 2010) in Cincinnati OH at Center of Advanced Spine Technologies to discuss VBS options. We were very pleased with both doctors, not only for their expertise, but their willingness to work with us.
My daughter is wearing the SpineCor brace but Dr. Betz recommended a Boston brace to try and reduce her curve below 30 degrees, maybe down to 25 degrees. I asked if my daughter could wear the SpineCor brace to school and to play sports and wear the Boston brace at home and at night. He said yes, if that is what you want to do, and if that is what your daughter wants to do. His only requirement was that we get the SpineCor brace correction (18 degrees) closer to that of the Boston brace (13 degrees).
I wanted to also learn Schroth to supplement the Clear exercises that my daughter does every day. We decided to go to one of the leading SpineCor chiropractors in NYC who was recently certified to teach Schroth. (not Dr. Sid).
However, before visiting this new chiropractor I clearly explained my expectations that we needed a greater correction with the SpineCor brace. He said he would look at it and see if that was possible, but could not guarantee it. He said there would be a one hour consultation for $150 and Schroth exercises $150 per hour (4-5 hours) for a total of $750-$900. Insurance pays for none of it so we are very cost conscious. I shared this with him.
We ended up spending 3 hours of consultation reviewing old x-rays and working on the SpineCor brace (he had no other pending appointments). He said the 3 ½ month old straps were no longer any good so we would need new straps. I reluctantly agreed but he said it was necessary for the brace to work correctly. He totally readjusted the SpineCor brace and when done I said it was not near as tight, therefore her correction would be worse than 18. He said this was best for her. I said that the goal of the adjustment was to get a better correction. He said "I know what you wanted but I have fitted over 1,000 patients and I know what is best. A better correction in the brace is not what she needs." He totally disregarded what I had asked. He had no intentions to try and do what I asked. His only intentions was to refit the brace the way he wanted it.
We ended up having to pay $1480 (yes! charged me $150 per hour for the 3 hour consultation) and while we did learn some Schroth exercises we now have a SpineCor brace that does not accomplish what Dr. Betz recommended. I showed the old straps to another SpineCor chiropractor and he said all of the straps were fine. In addition, he said the new fitting was too loose and would not correct her. We will probably go back to the original SpineCor adjustment and the original straps. Her curve is about 28-30 degrees right now OOB and we feel the SpineCor brace and the Clear treatment have helped her. We want to continue with what we are doing, not start over with a brand new adjustment (with much less correction in the brace).
This was all very frustrating. I just wanted to share this with other SpineCor parents hoping that you may learn from my costly mistake. It is my fault for not stopping him and just saying NO! But I truly thought he was trying to do what we asked. He is the only professional, over the past year, that made no attempt to work with me to do what we asked. I respect his experience of having over 1,000 SpineCor patients, but if he was not going to help us, he should had said that before charging me an extra $650 (2 additional consultation hours and $350 for new straps).
Please feel free to PM me if you have any interest in knowing the chiropractor name/business so that you can either avoid them or at least be aware of how the practice works. If you are in NYC I would recommend Dr. Sid for SpineCor.
I would be interested in the experience of others regarding the replacement of the straps. Does this mean we need to replace the straps every 3-4 months. I also talked with someone who got their SpineCor brace in Dec 2009 and they had to replace the vest and straps already (by the same chiropractor). IS THIS COMMON? This is very expensive, especially when insurance does not cover it.
Thanks
Michael
My 8 yr. old daughter and I over the past year have seen 4 orthopedic surgeons and 3 chiropractors. I have read hundreds of threads on forums and read several books. I have worked very hard to learn as much as I can about scoliosis and our options to try and develop a program that is best for her.
We got the SpineCor brace Nov 2009 at Children's Hospital when she reached 36 degrees. The orthopedic surgeon recommended SpineCor.
The beginning of this year (Jan 2010) we visited Dr. Sid in NYC to do the Clear 2 week intensive treatment program and to have the SpineCor brace adjusted. We chose Dr. Sid because he was certified in Clear and SpineCor. Dr. Sid and his staff were outstanding working with my daughter.
Most recently we visted Dr. Betz (Feb 2010) at Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia and Dr. Durrani (Mar 2010) in Cincinnati OH at Center of Advanced Spine Technologies to discuss VBS options. We were very pleased with both doctors, not only for their expertise, but their willingness to work with us.
My daughter is wearing the SpineCor brace but Dr. Betz recommended a Boston brace to try and reduce her curve below 30 degrees, maybe down to 25 degrees. I asked if my daughter could wear the SpineCor brace to school and to play sports and wear the Boston brace at home and at night. He said yes, if that is what you want to do, and if that is what your daughter wants to do. His only requirement was that we get the SpineCor brace correction (18 degrees) closer to that of the Boston brace (13 degrees).
I wanted to also learn Schroth to supplement the Clear exercises that my daughter does every day. We decided to go to one of the leading SpineCor chiropractors in NYC who was recently certified to teach Schroth. (not Dr. Sid).
However, before visiting this new chiropractor I clearly explained my expectations that we needed a greater correction with the SpineCor brace. He said he would look at it and see if that was possible, but could not guarantee it. He said there would be a one hour consultation for $150 and Schroth exercises $150 per hour (4-5 hours) for a total of $750-$900. Insurance pays for none of it so we are very cost conscious. I shared this with him.
We ended up spending 3 hours of consultation reviewing old x-rays and working on the SpineCor brace (he had no other pending appointments). He said the 3 ½ month old straps were no longer any good so we would need new straps. I reluctantly agreed but he said it was necessary for the brace to work correctly. He totally readjusted the SpineCor brace and when done I said it was not near as tight, therefore her correction would be worse than 18. He said this was best for her. I said that the goal of the adjustment was to get a better correction. He said "I know what you wanted but I have fitted over 1,000 patients and I know what is best. A better correction in the brace is not what she needs." He totally disregarded what I had asked. He had no intentions to try and do what I asked. His only intentions was to refit the brace the way he wanted it.
We ended up having to pay $1480 (yes! charged me $150 per hour for the 3 hour consultation) and while we did learn some Schroth exercises we now have a SpineCor brace that does not accomplish what Dr. Betz recommended. I showed the old straps to another SpineCor chiropractor and he said all of the straps were fine. In addition, he said the new fitting was too loose and would not correct her. We will probably go back to the original SpineCor adjustment and the original straps. Her curve is about 28-30 degrees right now OOB and we feel the SpineCor brace and the Clear treatment have helped her. We want to continue with what we are doing, not start over with a brand new adjustment (with much less correction in the brace).
This was all very frustrating. I just wanted to share this with other SpineCor parents hoping that you may learn from my costly mistake. It is my fault for not stopping him and just saying NO! But I truly thought he was trying to do what we asked. He is the only professional, over the past year, that made no attempt to work with me to do what we asked. I respect his experience of having over 1,000 SpineCor patients, but if he was not going to help us, he should had said that before charging me an extra $650 (2 additional consultation hours and $350 for new straps).
Please feel free to PM me if you have any interest in knowing the chiropractor name/business so that you can either avoid them or at least be aware of how the practice works. If you are in NYC I would recommend Dr. Sid for SpineCor.
I would be interested in the experience of others regarding the replacement of the straps. Does this mean we need to replace the straps every 3-4 months. I also talked with someone who got their SpineCor brace in Dec 2009 and they had to replace the vest and straps already (by the same chiropractor). IS THIS COMMON? This is very expensive, especially when insurance does not cover it.
Thanks
Michael
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