's newest x-rays - should we brace?

[Guest guest]

Hi! I don't know if you remember us or not, so here's a quick recap

of our story.

was diagnosed at 9 months with a Cobb 45/RVAD 21 curve (x-rays

taken in an upright position). She had an MRI and a neurological

exam, both showing no abnomalities.

Two months later, she had another set of x-rays that Dr.

measured as Cobb 27 (RVAD unknown) curve (x-rays taken supine).

A month later, right after her 1st birthday, we traveled to Erie to

have her examined by Dr. . They took another set of x-rays

(supine), which Dr. measured as Cobb 21/RVAD 1 with " almost

no rotation " . He said she looked great and that he was fairly certain

that her scoliosis would be/is resolving (yay!). He recommended that

we get another x-ray taken in 4 months and send it to him to look

at/measure.

A week and a half ago, got another x-ray (it was at our very

small, local hospital, and I had to convince them to take it

supine!). I immediately sent it to Dr. , and I just got the

call today from Jane with his measurement and comments.

Now this is where I need your advice! Dr. measured 's

current curve at Cobb 22/RVAD 2 (which Jane says means it hasn't

changed - for good or bad). He also said that we " could " get her into

a brace (not " should " , Jane double-checked his comments), but

that she definitely doesn't need a cast.

And, as you probably know, that's the last we will hear from him,

since his last day at the Erie Shriner's was last Friday 12/14/07

(which happens to be the exact day he looked at 's x-rays!).

So! It seems to me, from my research and Dr. ' opinion, that

's curve is/will be resolving. But my question is, should I

pursue the brace? Like I said, Dr. said we " could " brace,

not " should " . And it was always my understanding that if a curve is

going to resolve, it will do it completely on its own, without the

need of any treatment (please correct me if I'm wrong).

Also, if her curve is resolving, why wouldn't it have gotten any

smaller after 4 months? Do you agree with Jane's comment that the

1 degree difference means that it hasn't changed? I know that her

extremely small RVAD strongly indicates that her curve will resolve,

but I'm just a little bit confused at this point (like how LONG does

it take to resolve - months or years?).

To be honest, I kind of thought that her scoliosis " issues " were

pretty much behind us (other than monitoring and an occasional x-

ray). Now I'm not so sure! I'm definitely glad that her curve isn't

bad enough to require casting, but being in this " gray area " is kind

of frustrating!

Any thoughts or advice you could give (not " should " ...hahaha!) would

be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

~ : )

Mommy to ~ ~ ~ AND

(8/18/06) ~ diagnosed at 9m with Cobb 45/RVAD 21 ~ currently

at Cobb 22/RVAD 2 with no treatment

Oh, and we're expecting baby #5 in July! Yay! : )