Re: Second Opinion...To cast or is it a Resolving curve????

August 30, 2008

I know from other posts that some children do get improvements in braces, even those that go into a brace after casting. SLC is one of the very best in this field, so I would go with their recommendation and your gut feeling on it.

Good luck!

Second Opinion...To cast or is it a Resolving curve????

I wrote last week about my almost 4 year old son Connor who has had a scoliosis with a curve that has ranged from 19 to 24 to 10 and back to 22 in a less than 2 years. We had a second opinion given to us today by Shriners SLC. The doctor feels that Connor doesn't need a cast at this time but that we probably need to do something. To my surprise, he thinks we should do a TLSO Brace. I thought that a brace could only hold a child's curve until it was removed and then the curve would increase again??? They said that in children with lower curves it can work similar to a cast if it is well sitting. HMMM.... Does anyone have any experience with this working?They also told me at this point that I could stay with our doctor in Denver and have him do the brace or I can turn in my paperwork ASAP to have them do it there. (They do come to Denver but she said it would take forever for me to get in there.) Lots of decisions. I would appreciate anyone's input. Thanks! (Mom of Connor (3), infantile scoliosis, tethered cord released 9/02)

August 30, 2008

,

I just posted today about my son and I remembered your post about your son's curve going down and back up again and when we were given this information I thought of your post. Just wondering a few things...what positioning was used for the x rays? I went back through my memory and Jack was supine in all the xrays except one. Just wondering if that gave you the increase and decrease and then increase or are they all the same position. I don't even know if this makes a difference, just thinking about it. I was sharing with another mom that emailed me that I thought about asking whether or not a brace could be used before the cast, but I didn't ask. What is your son's RVAD? Because the curve numbers are similar to my son's...20, 17, 23.5, 30 within 6 months. But your son's measurements have been over 2 years?? Hang in. I hope someone posts that can help with your situation. I don't

even know what TLSO brace is? Maybe you can share. ~krista

Subject: Second Opinion...To cast or is it a Resolving curve????To: infantile_scoliosis Date: Friday, August 29, 2008, 11:33 PM

I wrote last week about my almost 4 year old son Connor who has had a scoliosis with a curve that has ranged from 19 to 24 to 10 and back to 22 in a less than 2 years. We had a second opinion given to us today by Shriners SLC. The doctor feels that Connor doesn't need a cast at this time but that we probably need to do something. To my surprise, he thinks we should do a TLSO Brace. I thought that a brace could only hold a child's curve until it was removed and then the curve would increase again??? They said that in children with lower curves it can work similar to a cast if it is well sitting. HMMM.... Does anyone have any experience with this working?They also told me at this point that I could stay with our doctor in Denver and have him do the brace or I can turn in my paperwork ASAP to have them do it there. (They do come to Denver but she said it would take forever for me to get in there.)

Lots of decisions. I would appreciate anyone's input. Thanks! (Mom of Connor (3), infantile scoliosis, tethered cord released 9/02)

August 30, 2008

I have heard, but don't know from personal experience, that they have had some very positive results with bracing at Shriners in Philly PA..... May be worth calling the care coordinator there and compare notes with what your doc is saying.... Just a thought... Steph

Subject: Second Opinion...To cast or is it a Resolving curve????To: infantile_scoliosis Date: Friday, August 29, 2008, 11:33 PM

I wrote last week about my almost 4 year old son Connor who has had a scoliosis with a curve that has ranged from 19 to 24 to 10 and back to 22 in a less than 2 years. We had a second opinion given to us today by Shriners SLC. The doctor feels that Connor doesn't need a cast at this time but that we probably need to do something. To my surprise, he thinks we should do a TLSO Brace. I thought that a brace could only hold a child's curve until it was removed and then the curve would increase again??? They said that in children with lower curves it can work similar to a cast if it is well sitting. HMMM.... Does anyone have any experience with this working?They also told me at this point that I could stay with our doctor in Denver and have him do the brace or I can turn in my paperwork ASAP to have them do it there. (They do come to Denver but she said it would take forever for me to get in there.)

Lots of decisions. I would appreciate anyone's input. Thanks! (Mom of Connor (3), infantile scoliosis, tethered cord released 9/02)

August 30, 2008

Hi ,My son, , was in a series of 6 casts over 14 months. started with a 34 degree curve. Casting worked some for him, but after casts 3- 5 his curve basically stayed the same. It was at that point his doctor felt it was time for the brace. Casts just were not doing anymore than they already had for him. went into a brace with a 15 degree curve. That was September of last year. By January of this year his curve had gone down to 8 degrees. Just last month he had another xray. His curve is staying about the same and is now in a brace only at night. We will see in November how his spine is looking. is in a TLSO brace. Bracing does work for some kids. Keep us posted on what you decide.TashaMommy of twin boys- and 3 years

oldFort Worth, Texas is 7.5 degrees and brace free during the day!!!Casting 14 months and bracing 10 months--- On

Fri, 8/29/08, Mohr wrote:Subject: Second Opinion...To cast or is it a Resolving curve????To: infantile_scoliosis Date: Friday, August 29, 2008, 6:33 PM

I wrote last week about my almost 4 year old son Connor who has had a

scoliosis with a curve that has ranged from 19 to 24 to 10 and back to

22 in a less than 2 years. We had a second opinion given to us today

by Shriners SLC. The doctor feels that Connor doesn't need a cast at

this time but that we probably need to do something. To my surprise, he

thinks we should do a TLSO Brace. I thought that a brace could only

hold a child's curve until it was removed and then the curve would

increase again??? They said that in children with lower curves it can

work similar to a cast if it is well sitting. HMMM.... Does anyone have

any experience with this working?

They also told me at this point that I could stay with our doctor in

Denver and have him do the brace or I can turn in my paperwork ASAP to

have them do it there. (They do come to Denver but she said it would

take forever for me to get in there.) Lots of decisions. I would

appreciate anyone's input. Thanks!

(Mom of Connor (3), infantile scoliosis, tethered cord released

9/02)

August 30, 2008

Hi :

Our daughter was a wait and see for years. She hovered at 19- shot up to 22 and then to 35 in 3 months. They didn't cast her until she shot to 35 and they didn't brace her either. We were told (and are still told)

that children can live perfectly normal lives with a curve of 25 or under.

Onto the brace. We have had additional correction in the brace after our casts come off. So it's my lay opinion, having seen it, that a well made brace on a " low " curve can correct with growth. So I guess my advice

to you would be to get the brace because even if it doesn't correct it, if he is going to get worse at the very least it may prevent it from getting to out of hand and shorten your casting time. We casted at 5 years old--with hopeful success--I say hopeful

because we have yet to wean from the brace but so far so good!

E

From: infantile_scoliosis [infantile_scoliosis ] On Behalf Of Mohr [lisamohr@...]

Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 6:33 PM

To: infantile_scoliosis

Subject: Second Opinion...To cast or is it a Resolving curve????