Bad news

[Guest guest]

He will be 1 in January. I am hoping for success with casting will of surgery. We were told about the veptr too. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheldFrom: amandaharrelson1984@...Sender: infantile scoliosis treatment Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 01:38:41 +0000<infantile scoliosis treatment >Reply infantile scoliosis treatment Subject: Re: bad news

He will be 2 in February. We have the casting done at the Greenville Shriners. The Dr keeps talking about the VEPTOR (sp?). But I hope that several years of casting can cure the scoliosis. How old is yours?Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerryFrom: kfaul@...Sender: infantile scoliosis treatment Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 01:36:16 +0000<infantile scoliosis treatment >Reply infantile scoliosis treatment Subject: Re: bad news

I hope we can see correction like your son. That's great! How old is your son?Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheldFrom: amandaharrelson1984@...Sender: infantile scoliosis treatment Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 01:30:22 +0000<infantile scoliosis treatment >Reply infantile scoliosis treatment Subject: Re: bad news

My sons curve was 81* before casting. He was 15* in his 1st cast and is now 7* in his 2nd cast. The Dr hopes to eventually get him straight in the cast. The Dr won't rule out surgery but I'm standing firm with my faith! Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerryFrom: kfaul@...Sender: infantile scoliosis treatment Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 01:21:55 +0000<infantile scoliosis treatment >Reply infantile scoliosis treatment Subject: Re: bad news

Well we saw our ortho today. Not good! 's curve is now 79*. I am glad that we are Dr H on the 23rd of Dec. And really hoping that he schedules the MRI when we are there. This is all progressing too fast. Has anyone else had a child with a high curve like ? And had good results with casting?Scared! :(Keeley Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheldFrom: Troy Willmann <troy.willmann@...>Sender: infantile scoliosis treatment Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:11:42 -0800 (PST)<infantile scoliosis treatment >Reply infantile scoliosis treatment Subject: Re: Re: New Here - 4 month old son with scoliosis , My daughter was diagnosed at almost 2 months old. They called it infantile scoliosis with no known cause. Novella had a curve of about 32*. We waited 2 months and came back when she was 4 months old and her curve had progressed to 46*. We then had her casted at 4 months old. However, every child is different. My daughter also had hip dysplasia. We are treated in Kansas City Missouri and our doctors, thankfully, are aware of the proper method of casting. Novella is now 8 months old and was casted for 4 months in 3 different casts. Novella had an MRI after her last cast was taken off and it showed now congenital deformities. However it is showed signs of a connective tissue disorder. The casting will probably not correct Novellas scoliosis but it will keep her in a safe range ofcurvature as her curve did correct about 6* and thank goodness it did not get ant worse. So casting for us is keeping us away from surgery as long as possible. If you choose casting for your child you will be amazed at his resilience. You will see that every kids story on here is different so I cannot say what the best decision is for you but the best decision for us was to cast and cast early as it was a safe option for us. If we had not casted Novella her curve may have progressed to a life threatening state. In my opinion a 2 month wait is too long. In my experience with doctors it seems that curves are relatively unpredictable. So it could be hard to definitively say whether your sons curve with progress or not. I will say that I wish we would have gotten the MRI sooner. When casting we were expecting the best because we got great results while in cast but after the cast came off her curve popped back out. This is due to the possibleconnective tissue disorder that was only found because of the MRI. I do not want to frighten you because Novella's story is certainly not everyone story. It is just nice to get the MRI out of the way because an x-ray and physical examination cannot tell the full story of what is going on with the curve like an MRI can. I hope this help. The best way to advocate for your child is to have as much information as possible and then take that information and use it as you see fit for you and your child. Knowledge is the power! If you feel like 2 months is too long call other doctors, get second opinions, call the current doctors office DAILY and see if there were any cancellations so you can move your appointment up. Hang in there. I know it is tough. Novella's Mommy, AliFrom: genericallyloud <jennifer.leggett@...>infantile scoliosis treatment Sent: Mon, December 13, 2010 2:31:04 PMSubject: Re: New Here - 4 month old son with scoliosis Welcome! I would not worry too too much about a 1-2 months wait. We had about a 6 week wait to get in and at your son's age he has a ton of time so I would not worry. Also most doctorsdo not cast at 4 months. I think Mehta tried to wait until a year, tough kids on this group I think have been casted between 6 and 9 months. I would make sure that the doctor does Mehta style casting so you won't have anther 1-2 month wait after seeing this specialist. Jenn Mommy to Cole, 2.5 years old, 1st brace from rochester, 0 degrees laying down - down from 47 > > Hi, > My son, Tyler, was recently diagnosed with scoliosis. Shortly after his 3 month routine checkup a family member pointed out that Tyler 'always seemed scrunched up'. I initially shrugged it off thinking that he was just too young to hold his back straight, but sure enough when we did try to straighten him out,we realized that he could not hold it. We also noticed that he had a hump on his upper left back when pulled to a sitting position. We scheduled an appt with the ped and he sent us to have xrays. The xrays that there was "gentle rotoscoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine convex to the left, with no obvious bony abnormality." A degree of curvature was not given and the ped said he was not sure how to measure it. Although the ped felt comfortable telling me it was not congenital, he would not give a name to it as he is not an expert. We have been referred to Dr. Hedden at the Edmonton Stollery and were told to expect a 1-2 month wait for an appointment. > We, like all others here, are concerned with the wait time and the potential for progression of the curve. We do not know if it will help, but are taking advice of a physical therapist and trying to do what we can to strengthening his left and lengthening his right and to encourage him to workagainst the curve. > A few questions I have are: > 1) Without knowing what the degree of curvature is, or the RVAD, is there any way of telling if it is progressive? Any experts on reading xrays out there? (My husband and I looked up the formula, but decided since neither of us are experts we'd better not try to find the degree because if we were wrong, we'd either be getting our hopes or thinking something was worse than it was.) > 2) Being that a curve was seen on an xray, regardless if it is progressive or not, would it not be prudent to cast any child (of a young age) to straighten the spine permanently, leaving less chance of something occurring during puberty that would require more invasive surgeries? Or will non-progressive types never progress, even during growth spurts in the later years? > 3) Any advice on getting an appointment anywhere sooner? We are willing to travel. Once we have an appointment date withDr. Hedden, I will contact the Dr.'s office and try to be put on a cancellation list, just in case. > Hurry up and wait.... so frustrating! > Thanks for your input. > Hubick > Edmonton, Alberta, Canada >

[Guest guest]

Our MRI is scheduled for January 18th. They may move it up for us. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheldFrom: Amy <amscales11@...>Sender: infantile scoliosis treatment Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 01:41:37 +0000<infantile scoliosis treatment >Reply infantile scoliosis treatment Subject: Re: bad news Keely,Any way the ortho would order the MRI so that you could have the results by the appontment on the 23rd?~amymom to Makenna (3.5 yrs, currently in a brace)> >> > Hi,> > My son, Tyler, was recently diagnosed with scoliosis. Shortly after his 3 > >month routine checkup a family member pointed out that Tyler 'always seemed > >scrunched up'. I initially shrugged it off thinking that he was just too young > >to hold his back straight, but sure enough when we did try to straighten him > >out, we realized that he could not hold it. We also noticed that he had a hump > >on his upper left back when pulled to a sitting position. We scheduled an appt > >with the ped and he sent us to have xrays. The xrays that there was " gentle > >rotoscoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine convex to the left, with no obvious > >bony abnormality. " A degree of curvature was not given and the ped said he was > >not sure how to measure it. Although the ped felt comfortable telling me it was > >not congenital, he would not give a name to it as he is not an expert. We have > >been referred to Dr. Hedden at the Edmonton Stollery and were told to expect a > >1-2 month wait for an appointment.> > We, like all others here, are concerned with the wait time and the potential > >for progression of the curve. We do not know if it will help, but are taking > >advice of a physical therapist and trying to do what we can to strengthening his > >left and lengthening his right and to encourage him to work against the curve.> > A few questions I have are:> > 1) Without knowing what the degree of curvature is, or the RVAD, is there any > >way of telling if it is progressive? Any experts on reading xrays out there? > >(My husband and I looked up the formula, but decided since neither of us are > >experts we'd better not try to find the degree because if we were wrong, we'd > >either be getting our hopes or thinking something was worse than it was.)> > 2) Being that a curve was seen on an xray, regardless if it is progressive or > >not, would it not be prudent to cast any child (of a young age) to straighten > >the spine permanently, leaving less chance of something occurring during puberty > >that would require more invasive surgeries? Or will non-progressive types never > >progress, even during growth spurts in the later years?> > 3) Any advice on getting an appointment anywhere sooner? We are willing to > >travel. Once we have an appointment date with Dr. Hedden, I will contact the > >Dr.'s office and try to be put on a cancellation list, just in case. > >> > Hurry up and wait.... so frustrating!> > Thanks for your input.> > Hubick> > Edmonton, Alberta, Canada> >>

[Guest guest]

I'm so sorry about the bad news! But yes, other kids on this group have begun casting with curves higher than 79 and gotten great results. Just act as fast as you can and hang in there! Heidi, Bexon's Mommy, (3 years old, in 8th cast from Salt Lake City Shriners, currently down from 62 degrees to 20 in cast. You can read Bexon's Story on www.GirltoMom.com)From:

"kfaul@..." <kfaul@...>infantile scoliosis treatment Sent: Mon, December 13, 2010 5:21:55 PMSubject: Re: bad news

Well we saw our ortho today. Not good! 's curve is now 79*. I am glad that we are Dr H on the 23rd of Dec. And really hoping that he schedules the MRI when we are there. This is all progressing too fast. Has anyone else had a child with a high curve like ? And had good results with casting?Scared! :(Keeley Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheldFrom: Troy Willmann <troy.willmann@...>

Sender: infantile scoliosis treatment

Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:11:42 -0800 (PST)<infantile scoliosis treatment >Reply infantile scoliosis treatment

Subject: Re: Re: New Here - 4 month old son with scoliosis

, My daughter was diagnosed at almost 2 months old. They called it infantile scoliosis with no known cause. Novella had a curve of about 32*. We waited 2 months and came back when she was 4 months old and her curve had progressed to 46*. We then had her casted at 4 months old. However, every child is different. My daughter also had hip dysplasia. We are treated in Kansas City Missouri and our doctors, thankfully, are aware of the proper method of casting. Novella is now 8 months old and was casted for 4 months in 3 different casts. Novella had an MRI after her last cast was taken off and it showed now congenital deformities. However it is showed signs of a connective tissue disorder. The casting will probably not correct Novellas scoliosis but it will keep her in a safe range of

curvature as her curve did correct about 6* and thank goodness it did not get ant worse. So casting for us is keeping us away from surgery as long as possible. If you choose casting for your child you will be amazed at his resilience. You will see that every kids story on here is different so I cannot say what the best decision is for you but the best decision for us was to cast and cast early as it was a safe option for us. If we had not casted Novella her curve may have progressed to a life threatening state. In my opinion a 2 month wait is too long. In my experience with doctors it seems that curves are relatively unpredictable. So it could be hard to definitively say whether your sons curve with progress or not. I will say that I wish we would have gotten the MRI sooner. When casting we were expecting the best because we got great results while in cast but after the cast came off her curve popped back out. This is due to the possible

connective tissue disorder that was only found because of the MRI. I do not want to frighten you because Novella's story is certainly not everyone story. It is just nice to get the MRI out of the way because an x-ray and physical examination cannot tell the full story of what is going on with the curve like an MRI can. I hope this help. The best way to advocate for your child is to have as much information as possible and then take that information and use it as you see fit for you and your child. Knowledge is the power! If you feel like 2 months is too long call other doctors, get second opinions, call the current doctors office DAILY and see if there were any cancellations so you can move your appointment up. Hang in there. I know it is tough. Novella's Mommy, AliFrom: genericallyloud <jennifer.leggett@...>infantile scoliosis treatment Sent: Mon, December 13, 2010 2:31:04 PMSubject: Re: New Here - 4 month old son with scoliosis Welcome! I would not worry too too much about a 1-2 months wait. We had about a 6 week wait to get in and at your son's age he has a ton of time so I would not worry. Also most doctors

do not cast at 4 months. I think Mehta tried to wait until a year, tough kids on this group I think have been casted between 6 and 9 months. I would make sure that the doctor does Mehta style casting so you won't have anther 1-2 month wait after seeing this specialist. Jenn Mommy to Cole, 2.5 years old, 1st brace from rochester, 0 degrees laying down - down from 47 > > Hi, > My son, Tyler, was recently diagnosed with scoliosis. Shortly after his 3 month routine checkup a family member pointed out that Tyler 'always seemed scrunched up'. I initially shrugged it off thinking that he was just too young to hold his back straight, but sure enough when we did try to straighten him out,

we realized that he could not hold it. We also noticed that he had a hump on his upper left back when pulled to a sitting position. We scheduled an appt with the ped and he sent us to have xrays. The xrays that there was "gentle rotoscoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine convex to the left, with no obvious bony abnormality." A degree of curvature was not given and the ped said he was not sure how to measure it. Although the ped felt comfortable telling me it was not congenital, he would not give a name to it as he is not an expert. We have been referred to Dr. Hedden at the Edmonton Stollery and were told to expect a 1-2 month wait for an appointment. > We, like all others here, are concerned with the wait time and the potential for progression of the curve. We do not know if it will help, but are taking advice of a physical therapist and trying to do what we can to strengthening his left and lengthening his right and to encourage him to work

against the curve. > A few questions I have are: > 1) Without knowing what the degree of curvature is, or the RVAD, is there any way of telling if it is progressive? Any experts on reading xrays out there? (My husband and I looked up the formula, but decided since neither of us are experts we'd better not try to find the degree because if we were wrong, we'd either be getting our hopes or thinking something was worse than it was.) > 2) Being that a curve was seen on an xray, regardless if it is progressive or not, would it not be prudent to cast any child (of a young age) to straighten the spine permanently, leaving less chance of something occurring during puberty that would require more invasive surgeries? Or will non-progressive types never progress, even during growth spurts in the later years? > 3) Any advice on getting an appointment anywhere sooner? We are willing to travel. Once we have an appointment date with

Dr. Hedden, I will contact the Dr.'s office and try to be put on a cancellation list, just in case. > Hurry up and wait.... so frustrating! > Thanks for your input. > Hubick > Edmonton, Alberta, Canada >

[Guest guest]

Strength and prayers coming your way for great correction, the MRI,

decreased rotation, good flexibility and lower #'s on the 23rd. Please

read Hadleys Story..... and I know there are a few others on CAST who have

had great success with high #'s & early & proper EDF casting.

My daughter Liv had curves that high by age 1 and couldnt get a Risser

cast until after she was haloed at 100 degrees and almost 3......Im so

glad has an appt. in Edmonton on the 23rd and will send all I got

your way on that day. Please keep us posted & hang tough, hon.

HRH

> Well we saw our ortho today. Not good! 's curve is now 79*. I am

> glad that we are Dr H on the 23rd of Dec. And really hoping that he

> schedules the MRI when we are there. This is all progressing too fast.

> Has anyone else had a child with a high curve like ? And had good

> results with casting?

> Scared!

>

> Keeley

> Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld

>

> Re: New Here - 4 month old son with

> scoliosis

>

>

> Welcome! I would not worry too too much about a 1-2 months wait. We had

> about

> a 6 week wait to get in and at your son's age he has a ton of time so I

> would

> not worry. Also most doctors do not cast at 4 months. I think Mehta

> tried to

> wait until a year, tough kids on this group I think have been casted

> between 6

> and 9 months. I would make sure that the doctor does Mehta style casting

> so you

> won't have anther 1-2 month wait after seeing this specialist.

>

>

> Jenn

> Mommy to Cole, 2.5 years old, 1st brace from rochester, 0 degrees laying

> down -

> down from 47

>

>

>>

>> Hi,

>> My son, Tyler, was recently diagnosed with scoliosis. Shortly after his

>> 3

>>month routine checkup a family member pointed out that Tyler 'always

>> seemed

>>scrunched up'. I initially shrugged it off thinking that he was just too

>> young

>>to hold his back straight, but sure enough when we did try to straighten

>> him

>>out, we realized that he could not hold it. We also noticed that he had

>> a hump

>>on his upper left back when pulled to a sitting position. We scheduled

>> an appt

>>with the ped and he sent us to have xrays. The xrays that there was

>> " gentle

>>rotoscoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine convex to the left, with no

>> obvious

>>bony abnormality. " A degree of curvature was not given and the ped said

>> he was

>>not sure how to measure it. Although the ped felt comfortable telling me

>> it was

>>not congenital, he would not give a name to it as he is not an expert.

>> We have

>>been referred to Dr. Hedden at the Edmonton Stollery and were told to

>> expect a

>>1-2 month wait for an appointment.

>> We, like all others here, are concerned with the wait time and the

>> potential

>>for progression of the curve. We do not know if it will help, but are

>> taking

>>advice of a physical therapist and trying to do what we can to

>> strengthening his

>>left and lengthening his right and to encourage him to work against the

>> curve.

>> A few questions I have are:

>> 1) Without knowing what the degree of curvature is, or the RVAD, is

>> there any

>>way of telling if it is progressive? Any experts on reading xrays out

>> there?

>>(My husband and I looked up the formula, but decided since neither of us

>> are

>>experts we'd better not try to find the degree because if we were wrong,

>> we'd

>>either be getting our hopes or thinking something was worse than it

>> was.)

>> 2) Being that a curve was seen on an xray, regardless if it is

>> progressive or

>>not, would it not be prudent to cast any child (of a young age) to

>> straighten

>>the spine permanently, leaving less chance of something occurring during

>> puberty

>>that would require more invasive surgeries? Or will non-progressive types

>> never

>>progress, even during growth spurts in the later years?

>> 3) Any advice on getting an appointment anywhere sooner? We are willing

>> to

>>travel. Once we have an appointment date with Dr. Hedden, I will contact

>> the

>>Dr.'s office and try to be put on a cancellation list, just in case.

>>

>> Hurry up and wait.... so frustrating!

>> Thanks for your input.

>> Hubick

>> Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

>>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

EXCELLENT. I knew someone would share some hope. Gotta keep the faith!

HRH

> My sons curve was 81* before casting. He was 15* in his 1st cast and is

> now 7* in his 2nd cast. The Dr hopes to eventually get him straight in the

> cast. The Dr won't rule out surgery but I'm standing firm with my faith!

> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

>

> Re: New Here - 4 month old son with

> scoliosis

>

>

> Welcome! I would not worry too too much about a 1-2 months wait. We had

> about

> a 6 week wait to get in and at your son's age he has a ton of time so I

> would

> not worry. Also most doctors do not cast at 4 months. I think Mehta

> tried to

> wait until a year, tough kids on this group I think have been casted

> between 6

> and 9 months. I would make sure that the doctor does Mehta style casting

> so you

> won't have anther 1-2 month wait after seeing this specialist.

>

>

> Jenn

> Mommy to Cole, 2.5 years old, 1st brace from rochester, 0 degrees laying

> down -

> down from 47

>

>

>>

>> Hi,

>> My son, Tyler, was recently diagnosed with scoliosis. Shortly after his

>> 3

>>month routine checkup a family member pointed out that Tyler 'always

>> seemed

>>scrunched up'. I initially shrugged it off thinking that he was just too

>> young

>>to hold his back straight, but sure enough when we did try to straighten

>> him

>>out, we realized that he could not hold it. We also noticed that he had

>> a hump

>>on his upper left back when pulled to a sitting position. We scheduled

>> an appt

>>with the ped and he sent us to have xrays. The xrays that there was

>> " gentle

>>rotoscoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine convex to the left, with no

>> obvious

>>bony abnormality. " A degree of curvature was not given and the ped said

>> he was

>>not sure how to measure it. Although the ped felt comfortable telling me

>> it was

>>not congenital, he would not give a name to it as he is not an expert.

>> We have

>>been referred to Dr. Hedden at the Edmonton Stollery and were told to

>> expect a

>>1-2 month wait for an appointment.

>> We, like all others here, are concerned with the wait time and the

>> potential

>>for progression of the curve. We do not know if it will help, but are

>> taking

>>advice of a physical therapist and trying to do what we can to

>> strengthening his

>>left and lengthening his right and to encourage him to work against the

>> curve.

>> A few questions I have are:

>> 1) Without knowing what the degree of curvature is, or the RVAD, is

>> there any

>>way of telling if it is progressive? Any experts on reading xrays out

>> there?

>>(My husband and I looked up the formula, but decided since neither of us

>> are

>>experts we'd better not try to find the degree because if we were wrong,

>> we'd

>>either be getting our hopes or thinking something was worse than it

>> was.)

>> 2) Being that a curve was seen on an xray, regardless if it is

>> progressive or

>>not, would it not be prudent to cast any child (of a young age) to

>> straighten

>>the spine permanently, leaving less chance of something occurring during

>> puberty

>>that would require more invasive surgeries? Or will non-progressive types

>> never

>>progress, even during growth spurts in the later years?

>> 3) Any advice on getting an appointment anywhere sooner? We are willing

>> to

>>travel. Once we have an appointment date with Dr. Hedden, I will contact

>> the

>>Dr.'s office and try to be put on a cancellation list, just in case.

>>

>> Hurry up and wait.... so frustrating!

>> Thanks for your input.

>> Hubick

>> Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

>>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheldFrom: heather@...Sender: infantile scoliosis treatment Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:50:47 -0500<infantile scoliosis treatment >Reply infantile scoliosis treatment Subject: Re: bad news Strength and prayers coming your way for great correction, the MRI,decreased rotation, good flexibility and lower #'s on the 23rd. Pleaseread Hadleys Story..... and I know there are a few others on CAST who havehad great success with high #'s & early & proper EDF casting.My daughter Liv had curves that high by age 1 and couldnt get a Rissercast until after she was haloed at 100 degrees and almost 3......Im soglad has an appt. in Edmonton on the 23rd and will send all I gotyour way on that day. Please keep us posted & hang tough, hon.HRH> Well we saw our ortho today. Not good! 's curve is now 79*. I am> glad that we are Dr H on the 23rd of Dec. And really hoping that he> schedules the MRI when we are there. This is all progressing too fast.> Has anyone else had a child with a high curve like ? And had good> results with casting?> Scared! >> Keeley> Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld>> Re: New Here - 4 month old son with> scoliosis>>> Welcome! I would not worry too too much about a 1-2 months wait. We had> about> a 6 week wait to get in and at your son's age he has a ton of time so I> would> not worry. Also most doctors do not cast at 4 months. I think Mehta> tried to> wait until a year, tough kids on this group I think have been casted> between 6> and 9 months. I would make sure that the doctor does Mehta style casting> so you> won't have anther 1-2 month wait after seeing this specialist.>>> Jenn> Mommy to Cole, 2.5 years old, 1st brace from rochester, 0 degrees laying> down -> down from 47>> >>>> Hi,>> My son, Tyler, was recently diagnosed with scoliosis. Shortly after his>> 3>>month routine checkup a family member pointed out that Tyler 'always>> seemed>>scrunched up'. I initially shrugged it off thinking that he was just too>> young>>to hold his back straight, but sure enough when we did try to straighten>> him>>out, we realized that he could not hold it. We also noticed that he had>> a hump>>on his upper left back when pulled to a sitting position. We scheduled>> an appt>>with the ped and he sent us to have xrays. The xrays that there was>> " gentle>>rotoscoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine convex to the left, with no>> obvious>>bony abnormality. " A degree of curvature was not given and the ped said>> he was>>not sure how to measure it. Although the ped felt comfortable telling me>> it was>>not congenital, he would not give a name to it as he is not an expert.>> We have>>been referred to Dr. Hedden at the Edmonton Stollery and were told to>> expect a>>1-2 month wait for an appointment.>> We, like all others here, are concerned with the wait time and the>> potential>>for progression of the curve. We do not know if it will help, but are>> taking>>advice of a physical therapist and trying to do what we can to>> strengthening his>>left and lengthening his right and to encourage him to work against the>> curve.>> A few questions I have are:>> 1) Without knowing what the degree of curvature is, or the RVAD, is>> there any>>way of telling if it is progressive? Any experts on reading xrays out>> there?>>(My husband and I looked up the formula, but decided since neither of us>> are>>experts we'd better not try to find the degree because if we were wrong,>> we'd>>either be getting our hopes or thinking something was worse than it>> was.)>> 2) Being that a curve was seen on an xray, regardless if it is>> progressive or>>not, would it not be prudent to cast any child (of a young age) to>> straighten>>the spine permanently, leaving less chance of something occurring during>> puberty>>that would require more invasive surgeries? Or will non-progressive types>> never>>progress, even during growth spurts in the later years?>> 3) Any advice on getting an appointment anywhere sooner? We are willing>> to>>travel. Once we have an appointment date with Dr. Hedden, I will contact>> the>>Dr.'s office and try to be put on a cancellation list, just in case.>>>> Hurry up and wait.... so frustrating!>> Thanks for your input.>> Hubick>> Edmonton, Alberta, Canada>>>>>>>>>