
Originally Posted by
AMom
Rhea's head injury recovery has been sloooooow, but improvements continue to be noted. Her phenomenal memory is beginning to reappear and her comprehension levels are increasing. Even missing 3 weeks of school this year (a week at a time due to illness) she earned a B+ in engineering and A's in everything else. Her confidence is beginning to reemerge and she humming while completing homework and smiling again. I have been considering asking her if she is interested in her science project.
However, tonight I received a telephone call saying she fell about 6-7 feet, landing on her back and head. No matter the pain, even with tears falling, she has NEVER complained--not once, until tonight about pain. She says her back hurts (right shoulder blade to mid-back area, where the scoliosis bump is located), she has a mild headache, bit her tongue, doesn't quite remember what happened just before/during the fall, states "the breath was knocked out of me" and that she is tired (she does not appear exhausted or apathetic.) Her gait is good, pupils equal and reactive, speech clear, and verbal & physical responses are good. She hasn't any nausea, dizziness, confusion, loss of balance, or consciousness. If it weren't for the multiple concussions she has had over her short life and the blip in her memory regarding the actual incident I probably wouldn't be checking on her every hour while she is sleeping. I will take her to the medicenter tomorrow morning (asking questions of course) and schedule an appointment with her neuro on Monday.
My question is in regard to her back pain and AIS. Do I treat her back pain differently b/c she has scoliosis and the pain is specific to the raised area caused by the scoliosis? It is a 4.5 hour drive to her ortho's office and he hasn't seen her in several years. I guess I am asking if there is a general "If this, then that" response to a fall. FYI: She is not scheduled to see Dr. Newton until the second week in June.
A Mom
Back pain is back pain, and as far as I know, there's no difference in treating pain between people with spine conditions and those without.
Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
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Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation