Re: My 24 month old daughter.

March 23, 2012

I can't speak for the casting-bracing-casting, but personally with your daughter being only 2, there is no way I'd stop casting at this point. I would also see about finding a doctor that does a Mehta cast over the Risser to see if I could get some more correction with that. Your daughter is still in a major growth time and might be able to get under 10 degrees still. Like I said, just my opinion, but I've seen the benefits of the Mehta cast and it's made me a believer...we went from 42 degrees out of cast to 0 degrees in cast in just 2 casts. I'm sure others will have a lot more advice for you, but I'd keep casting. Curt From: aivrees mommy <amber.flannery@...> infantile scoliosis treatment Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2012 6:35 PM Subject: My 24 month old daughter.

I have a beautiful daughter named Aivree. She will be two in weeks, I can't believe it! She was diagnosed with severe scoliosis in May of 2011 at 13 months. Her spine had a 51 degree curvature. We decided to try casting for correction. She was placed in her first Risser cast. It worked well at first but then plateaued. She is stuck at 20 degrees after 5 casts. I am so grateful for that correction though! Next month Aivree will have her cast removed and placed in a brace for an indeterminate time. I am excited for the break but I am worried that she will lose all of her correction. The uncertainty is the worst. I pray that she doesn't need surgery. Has any one else gone through this? Or tried casting again after bracing? My daughter is treated at Children's Hospital Colorado with the Risser casting method. I would appreciate any input. Thank you!

March 23, 2012

Hi,

My son was in a Risser from Children's for a year with minimal

correction - that's so great that your daughter got down to 20*! We

were told that our son's spine was too stiff for further correction

and he was put in a brace. It was inferred that switching to a brace

meant the doctor no longer thought casting was an option - the brace

was only to hold the curve until he was old enough for surgery. I'm

curious what you were told, as our doctor was not very forthcoming

about his plans. Our son was only in the brace for a month and his

curve progressed another 15* - we also had serious doubts that it

was fitted correctly. After that month in a brace, we were able to

have him seen by a doctor trained in the EDF/Mehta method of casting

and in his first cast, he got down to 30* (from 57). He has been in

an EDF/Mehta cast for a year, and our new doctor says that the spine

is still flexible. Because of unrelated medical issues he's been out

of cast for 6 months, but will be back in cast in early May. Your

daughter is still at a great age for casting and from what I've

read, being stuck at a measurement for awhile isn't so unusual - she

might just be ready for a growth spurt soon which would gain her

some good correction if in the cast. Just keep asking questions and

digging for info until you're comfortable with your doctor's plan.

Blessings,

-Patrice

On 03/22/2012 4:35 PM, aivrees mommy wrote:

I have a beautiful daughter named Aivree. She will be two

in weeks, I can't believe it! She was diagnosed with

severe scoliosis in May of 2011 at 13 months. Her spine

had a 51 degree curvature. We decided to try casting for

correction. She was placed in her first Risser cast. It

worked well at first but then plateaued. She is stuck at

20 degrees after 5 casts. I am so grateful for that

correction though! Next month Aivree will have her cast

removed and placed in a brace for an indeterminate time. I

am excited for the break but I am worried that she will

lose all of her correction. The uncertainty is the

worst. I pray that she doesn't need surgery. Has any one

else gone through this? Or tried casting again after

bracing? My daughter is treated at Children's Hospital

Colorado with the Risser casting method. I would

appreciate any input. Thank you!

March 23, 2012

We have a similar story & I have the same worry! Levi's scoli was found

in May 25 2011 at 15 mos. he was 31* when he was casted in Oct at SLC

Shriners in a Mehta cast. He is in cast 3 now at 15* in cast (we have not

done any out of cast X rays.) Cast #1 was 16/17* Cast #2 was a little

higher but still under 19* & cast #3 is 15* or just a little lower. So we

were told one more cast on May 7th & then try a brace. I know this doc

knows his stuff & many consider him the expert but I am also worried about

staying the casting coarse! He said to us that with the last cast he

would push the hardest & that Levi would wear it for 6-8 weeks. That he

also felt he could get further correction with the brace since his curve

was becoming " small " . My question is to other parents have they

experienced additional correction in brace? If that is the case I'm happy

to stop casting but am also not ready to give up on a cure if that is what

a cast break means??? My son is 25 mos old now. So stressful knowing

what to do!!!

Amber

ps. we aren't too far from you we are in Nebraska

> I have a beautiful daughter named Aivree. She will be two in weeks, I

> can't believe it! She was diagnosed with severe scoliosis in May of 2011

> at 13 months. Her spine had a 51 degree curvature. We decided to try

> casting for correction. She was placed in her first Risser cast. It worked

> well at first but then plateaued. She is stuck at 20 degrees after 5

> casts. I am so grateful for that correction though! Next month Aivree will

> have her cast removed and placed in a brace for an indeterminate time. I

> am excited for the break but I am worried that she will lose all of her

> correction. The uncertainty is the worst. I pray that she doesn't need

> surgery. Has any one else gone through this? Or tried casting again after

> bracing? My daughter is treated at Children's Hospital Colorado with the

> Risser casting method. I would appreciate any input. Thank you!

>

March 23, 2012

she is only 24 months. There is no waaaaaay I would stop casting. There are sooooo many mama/daddy's on here that have kids over the age of 2 that are still getting correction. Logan will be 3 in June and we will be casting through the summer and onto the winter. Any amount of correction is better than nothing. Dr P has told us, the worse thing you could do is stop when correction can still be achieved. Tame---tell sierra's story about pushing when the drs wanted to stop. Her lil girl is now at 10 or under 10 and going to the brace because she made the drs keep casting through a plateau. Logan's mama (45 down to 9 out of cast, 2.5 years old, 12th

cast) From: aivrees mommy <amber.flannery@...> infantile scoliosis treatment Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2012 6:35 PM Subject: My 24 month old daughter.

I have a beautiful daughter named Aivree. She will be two in weeks, I can't believe it! She was diagnosed with severe scoliosis in May of 2011 at 13 months. Her spine had a 51 degree curvature. We decided to try casting for correction. She was placed in her first Risser cast. It worked well at first but then plateaued. She is stuck at 20 degrees after 5 casts. I am so grateful for that correction though! Next month Aivree will have her cast removed and placed in a brace for an indeterminate time. I am excited for the break but I am worried that she will lose all of her correction. The uncertainty is the worst. I pray that she doesn't need surgery. Has any one else gone through this? Or tried casting again after bracing? My daughter is treated at Children's Hospital Colorado with the Risser casting method. I would appreciate any input. Thank you!

March 23, 2012

Patrice,

Thank you for your reply and information! Were you seen at Children's Hospital

in Denver? Where were you able to find a doctor that uses the Mehta casting? Our

doctor at Children's told us that we can try casting again if her curve

progresses too quickly in the brace. Thank you so much for this information. I

want to stick with the casting and keep things as non invasive as possible. I am

glad your little guy is doing well too!

Blessings for you as well!,

Amber

> >

> > I have a beautiful daughter named Aivree. She will be two in weeks, I

> > can't believe it! She was diagnosed with severe scoliosis in May of

> > 2011 at 13 months. Her spine had a 51 degree curvature. We decided to

> > try casting for correction. She was placed in her first Risser cast.

> > It worked well at first but then plateaued. She is stuck at 20 degrees

> > after 5 casts. I am so grateful for that correction though! Next month

> > Aivree will have her cast removed and placed in a brace for an

> > indeterminate time. I am excited for the break but I am worried that

> > she will lose all of her correction. The uncertainty is the worst.

> > I pray that she doesn't need surgery. Has any one else gone through

> > this? Or tried casting again after bracing? My daughter is treated at

> > Children's Hospital Colorado with the Risser casting method. I would

> > appreciate any input. Thank you!

> >

>

March 23, 2012

Thank you for your input. I am most definitely going to research the Mehta

method and see where it is offered near me. I do not want to give up on casting.

I am glad it worked for your little one!

>

> I can't speak for the casting-bracing-casting, but personally with your

daughter being only 2, there is no way I'd stop casting at this point.Â I would

also see about finding a doctor that does a Mehta cast over the Risser to see if

I could get some more correction with that.Â Your daughter is still in a major

growth time and might be able to get under 10 degrees still.Â Â Like I said,

just my opinion, but I've seen the benefits of the Mehta cast and it's made me a

believer...we went from 42 degrees out of cast to 0 degrees in cast in just 2

casts.Â I'm sure others will have a lot more advice for you, but I'd keep

casting.

> Â

> Curt

> Â

>

> ________________________________

> From: aivrees mommy <amber.flannery@...>

> infantile scoliosis treatment

> Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2012 6:35 PM

> Subject: My 24 month old daughter.

>

> Â

>

> I have a beautiful daughter named Aivree. She will be two in weeks, I can't

believe it! She was diagnosed with severe scoliosis in May of 2011 at 13 months.

Her spine had a 51 degree curvature. We decided to try casting for correction.

She was placed in her first Risser cast. It worked well at first but then

plateaued. She is stuck at 20 degrees after 5 casts. I am so grateful for that

correction though! Next month Aivree will have her cast removed and placed in a

brace for an indeterminate time. I am excited for the break but I am worried

that she will lose all of her correction. The uncertainty is the worst. I

pray that she doesn't need surgery. Has any one else gone through this? Or tried

casting again after bracing? My daughter is treated at Children's Hospital

Colorado with the Risser casting method. I would appreciate any input. Thank

you!

>

March 23, 2012

Amber,

SLC Shriners, I will have to look into that. Your casting progress sounds like

my daughters. Her first casting had wonderful correction but the ones after that

had little. I think casting is the best non invasive option and I don't want to

give up on it yet. I'm just unsure about the results.

>

> We have a similar story & I have the same worry! Levi's scoli was found

> in May 25 2011 at 15 mos. he was 31* when he was casted in Oct at SLC

> Shriners in a Mehta cast. He is in cast 3 now at 15* in cast (we have not

> done any out of cast X rays.) Cast #1 was 16/17* Cast #2 was a little

> higher but still under 19* & cast #3 is 15* or just a little lower. So we

> were told one more cast on May 7th & then try a brace. I know this doc

> knows his stuff & many consider him the expert but I am also worried about

> staying the casting coarse! He said to us that with the last cast he

> would push the hardest & that Levi would wear it for 6-8 weeks. That he

> also felt he could get further correction with the brace since his curve

> was becoming " small " . My question is to other parents have they

> experienced additional correction in brace? If that is the case I'm happy

> to stop casting but am also not ready to give up on a cure if that is what

> a cast break means??? My son is 25 mos old now. So stressful knowing

> what to do!!!

>

> Amber

> ps. we aren't too far from you we are in Nebraska

>

> > I have a beautiful daughter named Aivree. She will be two in weeks, I

> > can't believe it! She was diagnosed with severe scoliosis in May of 2011

> > at 13 months. Her spine had a 51 degree curvature. We decided to try

> > casting for correction. She was placed in her first Risser cast. It worked

> > well at first but then plateaued. She is stuck at 20 degrees after 5

> > casts. I am so grateful for that correction though! Next month Aivree will

> > have her cast removed and placed in a brace for an indeterminate time. I

> > am excited for the break but I am worried that she will lose all of her

> > correction. The uncertainty is the worst. I pray that she doesn't need

> > surgery. Has any one else gone through this? Or tried casting again after

> > bracing? My daughter is treated at Children's Hospital Colorado with the

> > Risser casting method. I would appreciate any input. Thank you!

> >

>

March 23, 2012

What method of casting does your doctor use for Logan? My daughter is in the

Risser cast but I am looking into the Mehta method. I do not want to stop the

casting, this brace is supposed to be a break. Thank you for your input and

info!

>

> she is only 24 months. There is no waaaaaay I would stop casting. There are

sooooo many mama/daddy's on here that have kids over the age of 2 that are still

getting correction. Logan will be 3 in June and we will be casting through the

summer and onto the winter. Any amount of correction is better than nothing. Dr

P has told us, the worse thing you could do is stop when correction can still be

achieved.

> Â

> Tame---tell sierra's story about pushing when the drs wanted to stop. Her lil

girl is now at 10 or under 10 and going to the brace because she made the drs

keep casting through a plateau.

> Â

>

> Logan's mama (45 down to 9 out of cast, 2.5 years old, 12th cast)