Guest guest Posted March 7, 2010 Report Share Posted March 7, 2010 Hi a! I'm kinda in your boat too. We are new to this site and I really don't have any great advice for you because we haven't been casted yet. My son Eli was diagnoised at 9 months, and he is getting a Mehta Cast on April 1. We have learned so much from this site. Everybody is amazing! It looks like Doc and Eli are going to be cast buddies! Eli will be close to 18 months when he gets his first cast. (In fact he is 17 months today) Nice to meet you!! I'm Judy! Blessings! judy : ) mom of 3 boys! Our youngest is Eli, 37 degrees Hi,My name is a and my 14 month old, Doc, has just been diagnosed with progressive idiopathic infantile scoliosis. Through a series of ear infections with heavy coughing, the ER did a chest x-ray and determined his diagnosis. Our GP, upon examining him, agreed and gave us a referral to Dr. Todd Ritzman at Akron Children's Hospital. We had our first consult with him last week and he seemed very informed and talked me through all the options available- observation, surgery, bracing and casting. We opted for casting because we liked that it had a high success rate and seemed the least invasive. We're still trying to get a handle on the whole situation, but at this point, we're going for an MRI on the 18th, a pre-cast consult the next week, and then serial Risser Casting (waterproof) starting April 1st. I've got grandparents buying clothes a couple of sizes larger, and we're getting some bibs with the pockets/catchers at the bottom. Is there anything else materialistically that we should buy to prepare? The doctor insists we'll be able to take him swimming this summer and bathe him fully. Doc has a few minor delays, so he has an occupational therapist and a developmental therapist that he sees. They say his delays (which seem more like " adjustments " he's created to do what he needs to do) may be caused by his balance issues from the scoliosis. I'm really hoping that I can learn from everyone here; I've already picked so much up from the infantile scoliosis website!Thanks.a and Family Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2010 Report Share Posted March 7, 2010 Hi a! I'm kinda in your boat too. We are new to this site and I really don't have any great advice for you because we haven't been casted yet. My son Eli was diagnoised at 9 months, and he is getting a Mehta Cast on April 1. We have learned so much from this site. Everybody is amazing! It looks like Doc and Eli are going to be cast buddies! Eli will be close to 18 months when he gets his first cast. (In fact he is 17 months today) Nice to meet you!! I'm Judy! Blessings! judy : ) mom of 3 boys! Our youngest is Eli, 37 degrees Hi,My name is a and my 14 month old, Doc, has just been diagnosed with progressive idiopathic infantile scoliosis. Through a series of ear infections with heavy coughing, the ER did a chest x-ray and determined his diagnosis. Our GP, upon examining him, agreed and gave us a referral to Dr. Todd Ritzman at Akron Children's Hospital. We had our first consult with him last week and he seemed very informed and talked me through all the options available- observation, surgery, bracing and casting. We opted for casting because we liked that it had a high success rate and seemed the least invasive. We're still trying to get a handle on the whole situation, but at this point, we're going for an MRI on the 18th, a pre-cast consult the next week, and then serial Risser Casting (waterproof) starting April 1st. I've got grandparents buying clothes a couple of sizes larger, and we're getting some bibs with the pockets/catchers at the bottom. Is there anything else materialistically that we should buy to prepare? The doctor insists we'll be able to take him swimming this summer and bathe him fully. Doc has a few minor delays, so he has an occupational therapist and a developmental therapist that he sees. They say his delays (which seem more like " adjustments " he's created to do what he needs to do) may be caused by his balance issues from the scoliosis. I'm really hoping that I can learn from everyone here; I've already picked so much up from the infantile scoliosis website!Thanks.a and Family Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2010 Report Share Posted March 7, 2010 Welcome to CAST! A few things we have found really helpful when it comes to casting have been easy ups and suspenders.We found diapers to rub his hips and leave sores so we switched to pampers easy ups and have not had a problem since. They have the same absorbency as diapers. Also when Cole bends over his pants slide beneath the cast and then do not slide back up when he stands, causing the pants to fall down. We found 1 piece outfits, overalls or suspenders to be very helpful to eliminate this problem. Also I wanted to just mention a few other things. I suggest making sure you get both a brain and spinal MRI to ensure that any problems are caught and you do not have to go back in and get another MRI done later. We were suggested this and are very glad we did it, as Cole did have a small brain abnormality found. Also Risser casts do not tend to get as good correction as Mehta casts, and can also lead to rib deformities in some children, which is not the case in Mehta casting, it also does not address all 3 dimensions of scoliosis which Mehta casting does. That said there are some parents on here who have done Risser casting and had positive results. You may want to check out Erie PA, Shriners, I think it is only a couple of hours from you, they do Mehta casting and are FREE. Our initial Dr. suggested us to go with a risser cast and I am very glad we found Mehta casting and went with that, as our son has had incredible results, gone from 47 degrees 8 months ago to 13 degrees today. Finally, Our doctor has warned us that waterproof casts do not get as good of correction especially in curves over 20 degrees. I don't want to overwhelm you, as I know how rough the initial period of diagnosis and getting treatment it, I was a wreck! I just want to share the information that we found helpful. JennMommy to Cole, 2 years old, 5th cast from rochester, NY, 13 degrees down from 47, chiari malformation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 First of all, thanks for the welcomes and advice. After a bit more research, I called the doctor today to request we change to a Mehta cast. They're supposed to call me back. I'm hoping for the change. We're running into a lot of problems because Doc is allergic to SO many things. They even have to use special sedation procedures for him. I'm worried about his allergies in the event of a Risser cast- I can just imagine how bad a reaction he'd have if something got onto his skin. ---------- I do try to respond to things as quickly as I can, but I've been swamped lately here. I'm a Girl Scout troop leader (and it's cookie time!) as well as a Homeschooling Mom of a Kindergartner. My Hubby is domestically stupid (and that's putting it politely-lol!) so he's hopeless when it comes to cleaning or laundry and I've been trying to catch up from having the flu a few weeks ago. Add in the multiple trips back and forth to Akron (a three hour drive each way) and I'm just swamped. So, I guess mainly, sorry if I was a bit slow to respond to people. a > > > > > > > Welcome to CAST! > > > > A few things we have found really helpful when it comes to casting have > > been easy ups and suspenders. > > > > We found diapers to rub his hips and leave sores so we switched to pampers > > easy ups and have not had a problem since. They have the same absorbency as > > diapers. > > > > Also when Cole bends over his pants slide beneath the cast and then do not > > slide back up when he stands, causing the pants to fall down. We found 1 > > piece outfits, overalls or suspenders to be very helpful to eliminate this > > problem. > > > > Also I wanted to just mention a few other things. > > > > I suggest making sure you get both a brain and spinal MRI to ensure that > > any problems are caught and you do not have to go back in and get another > > MRI done later. We were suggested this and are very glad we did it, as Cole > > did have a small brain abnormality found. > > > > Also Risser casts do not tend to get as good correction as Mehta casts, and > > can also lead to rib deformities in some children, which is not the case in > > Mehta casting, it also does not address all 3 dimensions of scoliosis which > > Mehta casting does. That said there are some parents on here who have done > > Risser casting and had positive results. You may want to check out Erie PA, > > Shriners, I think it is only a couple of hours from you, they do Mehta > > casting and are FREE. Our initial Dr. suggested us to go with a risser cast > > and I am very glad we found Mehta casting and went with that, as our son has > > had incredible results, gone from 47 degrees 8 months ago to 13 degrees > > today. > > > > Finally, Our doctor has warned us that waterproof casts do not get as good > > of correction especially in curves over 20 degrees. > > > > I don't want to overwhelm you, as I know how rough the initial period of > > diagnosis and getting treatment it, I was a wreck! I just want to share the > > information that we found helpful. > > > > Jenn > > Mommy to Cole, 2 years old, 5th cast from rochester, NY, 13 degrees down > > from 47, chiari malformation. > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 First of all, thanks for the welcomes and advice. After a bit more research, I called the doctor today to request we change to a Mehta cast. They're supposed to call me back. I'm hoping for the change. We're running into a lot of problems because Doc is allergic to SO many things. They even have to use special sedation procedures for him. I'm worried about his allergies in the event of a Risser cast- I can just imagine how bad a reaction he'd have if something got onto his skin. ---------- I do try to respond to things as quickly as I can, but I've been swamped lately here. I'm a Girl Scout troop leader (and it's cookie time!) as well as a Homeschooling Mom of a Kindergartner. My Hubby is domestically stupid (and that's putting it politely-lol!) so he's hopeless when it comes to cleaning or laundry and I've been trying to catch up from having the flu a few weeks ago. Add in the multiple trips back and forth to Akron (a three hour drive each way) and I'm just swamped. So, I guess mainly, sorry if I was a bit slow to respond to people. a > > > > > > > Welcome to CAST! > > > > A few things we have found really helpful when it comes to casting have > > been easy ups and suspenders. > > > > We found diapers to rub his hips and leave sores so we switched to pampers > > easy ups and have not had a problem since. They have the same absorbency as > > diapers. > > > > Also when Cole bends over his pants slide beneath the cast and then do not > > slide back up when he stands, causing the pants to fall down. We found 1 > > piece outfits, overalls or suspenders to be very helpful to eliminate this > > problem. > > > > Also I wanted to just mention a few other things. > > > > I suggest making sure you get both a brain and spinal MRI to ensure that > > any problems are caught and you do not have to go back in and get another > > MRI done later. We were suggested this and are very glad we did it, as Cole > > did have a small brain abnormality found. > > > > Also Risser casts do not tend to get as good correction as Mehta casts, and > > can also lead to rib deformities in some children, which is not the case in > > Mehta casting, it also does not address all 3 dimensions of scoliosis which > > Mehta casting does. That said there are some parents on here who have done > > Risser casting and had positive results. You may want to check out Erie PA, > > Shriners, I think it is only a couple of hours from you, they do Mehta > > casting and are FREE. Our initial Dr. suggested us to go with a risser cast > > and I am very glad we found Mehta casting and went with that, as our son has > > had incredible results, gone from 47 degrees 8 months ago to 13 degrees > > today. > > > > Finally, Our doctor has warned us that waterproof casts do not get as good > > of correction especially in curves over 20 degrees. > > > > I don't want to overwhelm you, as I know how rough the initial period of > > diagnosis and getting treatment it, I was a wreck! I just want to share the > > information that we found helpful. > > > > Jenn > > Mommy to Cole, 2 years old, 5th cast from rochester, NY, 13 degrees down > > from 47, chiari malformation. > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2010 Report Share Posted March 9, 2010 First of all, thanks for the welcomes and advice. After a bit more research, I called the doctor today to request we change to a Mehta cast. They're supposed to call me back. I'm hoping for the change. We're running into a lot of problems because Doc is allergic to SO many things. They even have to use special sedation procedures for him. I'm worried about his allergies in the event of a Risser cast- I can just imagine how bad a reaction he'd have if something got onto his skin. ---------- I do try to respond to things as quickly as I can, but I've been swamped lately here. I'm a Girl Scout troop leader (and it's cookie time!) as well as a Homeschooling Mom of a Kindergartner. My Hubby is domestically stupid (and that's putting it politely-lol!) so he's hopeless when it comes to cleaning or laundry and I've been trying to catch up from having the flu a few weeks ago. Add in the multiple trips back and forth to Akron (a three hour drive each way) and I'm just swamped. So, I guess mainly, sorry if I was a bit slow to respond to people. a > > > > > > > Welcome to CAST! > > > > A few things we have found really helpful when it comes to casting have > > been easy ups and suspenders. > > > > We found diapers to rub his hips and leave sores so we switched to pampers > > easy ups and have not had a problem since. They have the same absorbency as > > diapers. > > > > Also when Cole bends over his pants slide beneath the cast and then do not > > slide back up when he stands, causing the pants to fall down. We found 1 > > piece outfits, overalls or suspenders to be very helpful to eliminate this > > problem. > > > > Also I wanted to just mention a few other things. > > > > I suggest making sure you get both a brain and spinal MRI to ensure that > > any problems are caught and you do not have to go back in and get another > > MRI done later. We were suggested this and are very glad we did it, as Cole > > did have a small brain abnormality found. > > > > Also Risser casts do not tend to get as good correction as Mehta casts, and > > can also lead to rib deformities in some children, which is not the case in > > Mehta casting, it also does not address all 3 dimensions of scoliosis which > > Mehta casting does. That said there are some parents on here who have done > > Risser casting and had positive results. You may want to check out Erie PA, > > Shriners, I think it is only a couple of hours from you, they do Mehta > > casting and are FREE. Our initial Dr. suggested us to go with a risser cast > > and I am very glad we found Mehta casting and went with that, as our son has > > had incredible results, gone from 47 degrees 8 months ago to 13 degrees > > today. > > > > Finally, Our doctor has warned us that waterproof casts do not get as good > > of correction especially in curves over 20 degrees. > > > > I don't want to overwhelm you, as I know how rough the initial period of > > diagnosis and getting treatment it, I was a wreck! I just want to share the > > information that we found helpful. > > > > Jenn > > Mommy to Cole, 2 years old, 5th cast from rochester, NY, 13 degrees down > > from 47, chiari malformation. > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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