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Post by jcmom04 on Aug 18, 2016 20:01:22 GMT
My DS just had his 12 yo well-check (even though he's almost 13- yikes!) and we were sent for an X-ray to determine if he has scoliosis. His doc said if he does he is glad we caught it before any puberty -induced growth occurs (our son will be a late bloomer!).
My only experience was a HS friend who had metal pins in her spine. (So not a good experience!)
Anyone BTDT?
Thanks in advance!
Kristin
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Post by bearmom on Aug 18, 2016 21:04:10 GMT
Dd has a significant curve, 44 degrees. How hers got so bad, we aren't sure. She went for a well child check in Oct and no curve noted. In June my mom commented that one of her shoulder blades seemed to stick out more than the other. In July I was putting sunscreen on her back and was surprised. X-rays at our local hospital showed a curve of 37 degrees. We were referred to a major hospital and the x-Ray there showed a 44 degree curve, different measuring techniques and better x-rays. Unfortunately she was 16 and pretty much done growing.
We follow up with the surgeon in Jan to see if the is progression (per our local hospital x-Ray, no change this summer). If there is any progression, surgery will be required. No change, surgery is optional.
Probably doesn't help you much in your situation though......
When doing research on dd, it seems that bracing during the growing years is required and gives the best outcomes. Dd would have rather wore a brace than face the option of surgery (she has commented on this, high anxiety + possible major surgery does not equal a happy mom).
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Post by chichi on Aug 18, 2016 21:10:09 GMT
Check out www.treatingscoliosis.com/I have scoliosis which has worsened since I had back surgery I am not a candidate for his treatment bc of other issues with my spine But the scoliosis activity suit is interesting to me Also vertebral body tethering is something that gives the spine more flexibility vs the traditional big instrumentation and fusion |
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Post by Minty118 on Aug 18, 2016 21:19:34 GMT
My DD was diagnosed with a 47 degree curve when she was 15. Since she wasn't finished growing, she needed to have surgery. She's now a year post surgery and has no problems other than a little loss of flexibility. It was scary for me, but it went incredibly well and she bounced back quickly.
If there is less than a 45 degree curve, they will just keep an eye on it's progression. If it looks like it's worsening, they will fit for a brace. Surgery isn't recommended until 45 degrees.
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Post by Skellinton on Aug 18, 2016 21:19:37 GMT
I have scoliosis, but mine was diagnosed when I was 5. I wore a brace 20 hours a day from then until I was 13. When I was 12 they decided I would have to have surgery when I was 13. My curve had doubled from 24 to 48 in a year, by the time I had surgery my curve was over 70 degrees. I had the surgery many years ago and had to wear a brace for 10 months after the surgery, I was initially in a body cast for a week and the hospital 10 days post surgery. I don't recall most of that time thanks to the drugs  My surgery was the Harrington rod surgery. Wearing the brace was certainly not fun, nor attractive, but knowing I had an end date was super helpful. I knew when the brace finally came off that would be it. Things are WAY WAY WAY different now. I am just sharing my experience so you can know that my experience was pretty rough, but it is hardly a blip on my radar now. I came through just fine and the only issue I have is that periodically my scar will randomly scab a bit and gets more itchy then normal, but that is very random and minor. I know my parents were worried about surgical complications, but that is true for any surgery. Doctors have to give you the worst case scenario, but I think this surgery is pretty safe and if you trust your doctors you should be fine. My doctor was awesome, and was the same one I had been seeing since I was 5, so that helped ease my parents mind a bit. What problems did your friend experience? I have known 2 other people that had the same surgery I did- one of them didn't even have to wear the brace afterwards and neither had any complaints either. I don't know much about the technical aspects, Bearmom- 44 seems pretty high to just ignore. Have you gotten a second opinion? |
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,912 
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Post by melissa on Aug 18, 2016 21:25:51 GMT
There is a very wide range of experience. I was followed for scoliosis for many years and it never got severe enough to do anything about it. This experience is far more common than needing a brace or surgery. Mild scoliosis is quite commonplace, especially developing during the rapid growth years of adolescence. My guess is that if he has some curvature, he will just be followed as he grows to make sure it doesn't worsen.
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Post by bearmom on Aug 18, 2016 21:27:55 GMT
I have scoliosi, but mine was diagnosed when I was 5. I wore a brace 20 hours a day from then until I was 13. When I was 12 they decided I would have to have surgery when I was 13. My curve had doubled from 24 to 48 in a year, by the time I had surgery my curve was over 70 degrees. I had the surgery many years ago and had to wear the Boston brace for 10 months after the surgery, I was initially in a body cast for a week and the hospital 10 days post surgery. I don't recall most of that time thanks to the drugs My surgery was the Harrington rod surgery. Wearing the brace was certainly not fun, nor attractive, but knowing I had an end date was super helpful. I knew when the brace finally came off that would be it. Things are WAY WAY WAY different now. I am just sharing my experience so you can know that my experience was pretty rough, but it is hardly a blip on my radar now. I came through just fine and the only issue I have is that periodically my scar will randomly scab a bit and gets more itchy then normal, but that is very random and minor. I know my parents were worried about surgical complications, but that is true for any surgery. Doctors have to give you the worst case scenario, but I think this surgery is pretty safe and if you trust your doctors you should be fine. My doctor was awesome, and was the same one I had been seeing since I was 5, so that helped ease my parents mind a bit. What problems did your friend experience? I have known 2 other people that had the same surgery I did- one of them didn't even have to wear the brace afterwards and neither had any complaints either. I don't know much about the technical aspects, Bearmom- 44 seems pretty high to just ignore. Have you gotten a second opinion? Not yet. We are still in the watch and wait mode. He wanted to see what happened over the next year and then discuss options. |
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Post by rst on Aug 18, 2016 22:14:32 GMT
My youngest son had a 97 degree curve, a big C with a spiral twist. He had a full spinal fusion with two metal rods from nape of the neck to pelvis and we were able to correct him to about 30 degrees -- which in our world is a success. It's a tough surgery, and never something to be taken lightly.
Chances are really good your son will not need significant correction and it's just a good thing for his doctor to be aware of and tracking.
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Post by gracieplusthree on Aug 18, 2016 22:22:28 GMT
I was diagnosed/discovered to have scoliosis when I was 10(1984) have 2 curves. I wore a Milwaukee brace for 23hours a day for 2 years and that whole experience was wretched, I basically got to take the thing off to bath, a hour goes by FAST when you are that age ya know?... anyway the thing didn't work, I mean I guess it may have slowed it down,but in 1986 my top curve was progressed to the point that it was potentially going to cause me to be paralyzed, I dont know the degree of the curve(s) so n 1986 when I was 12 I had surgery for Harrington rods, I have them top to bottom on both sides, did not have to be in a brace after surgery,but I did come out of the surgery 2inches taller LOL. I was in the hospital a week, missed 3 weeks of school(but fortunately the teachers had all given me work ahead of time and I worked on that even while in the hospital lol--yeah I was that kid---..
anyway the surgery is tons different now I guess, they did a bone graph off of my hip bone, so had to let that heal. I do have degenerative arthritis in my lower back now,but not sure how much the scoliosis is to blame since plenty of people have arthritis without scoliosis ya know.
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snappydog
Full Member
Posts: 171
Sept 11, 2014 22:53:41 GMT
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Post by snappydog on Aug 19, 2016 0:42:39 GMT
My daughter had surgery 5 years ago at 15 for a serve s-curve. The curve isn't just 2-D but also
3-D which meant that her lungs were rubbing on her ribs when she took a breath. If it progressed unchecked it would have crushed her lungs and heart.
Her curve was 60 degrees at the top and 35 degrees at the bottom at the time of surgery and it was progressing fast. She was fused and couldn't be completely straightened but has 2 rods and 14 screws. She is at 28 and 14 degrees which is great compared to what she was.
Surgery was rough including over a week in the hospital
With 2 days in ICU. They were so good with pain management at the Children's Hospital that she basically missing 2 weeks out of her life. I think I prefer that to her having been in horrible pain.
Feel free to ask me any questions.
Sandy
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sweetpeasmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,592
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Post by sweetpeasmom on Aug 19, 2016 1:37:48 GMT
When I took the kids last year for their check-ups, the dr said dd (11 at the time) had a touch of it (didn't recommend xrays or anything at that time).
I was talking with a friend today who's dd (15) just had surgery at the end of last school year for this. She said it happened pretty fast too. Her other dd (14) was told today that she has the beginnings of it. She mentioned the fast growth spurt that brought the severity of the first dd's on.
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My surgery was the Harrington rod surgery. 
