I am not in this group, but I wanted to write as a family friend is going through this right now with their 14 year old daughter. Currently she is taking private yoga lessons that focus on regaining balance. Look up Elise Browning Miller as she has a wonderful website about the benefits of doing yoga to help with scoliosis. This is not a cure all, but it is has been shown to help strengthen the muscles around the spine as well as help create traction.

Hugs-
CK

Thank you so much, i will look her up.

Hi!

I'm so sorry to hear what you have and what you're going through. My 13 year old daughter has just been recently diagnosed as well with a 28 and 26 degree curve (double curve). Her orthopedic doctor did recommend bracing her as he told us children typically grow approx. 2 years after they start their menstrual cycle. She started Feb. this year; therefore, will need to wear 2 years from that date. I just wanted to let you know what we found out. They did say they will not consider surgery unless the curve is 40 degrees or over. I hope this helps. Please let me know what you found out at the Children's Hospital as this is where we went. I hope and pray she's coping well.

i noticed this post and even tho it was a while ago i hope you dont mind me writing.
i was 11 when i found out i has scoliosis and it was pretty severe. i had an almost complete S curve. i was molded for a brace just a week later. im not sure if you have gone through the process yet of getting a brace or if the procedure has changed but my experience with this was HORRIBLE. two full grown men pushing on both of my sides was intense. i was bullied at school for wearing this brace and til this day i still remember every harsh word that was said. i was poked with pencils and kicked while wearing it. my mothers heart was breaking along with mine. no one should ever see their baby girl go through such horrific tortures. as a result i stopped wearing the brace. at age 12 i had an appt with shriners hosp. i met a girl in the waiting room who was about 17 at the time who was just in for a check up. my father and her mother started chatting and quickly i found out that she had the surgery. she told me all the things she was still able to do and how everyday she is thankful for the surgery. that same appt i was given the choice to either get another brace or have the surgery. in that second i knew i wanted that surgery. though my parents were at first against it they let me make the decision for it was something that i was going to have to live with for the rest of my life despite the choice i made. sep 19th 2005 i had my surgery, i was 12. everyday i am thankful for my surgeon and my parents for giving me my life back. it was the best thing i have ever done. it did of course come with downfalls. i still have pain everyday, i have a long scar the entire length of my back and as a girl going through school it was something i had to cope with. i have learned my scar is beautiful. i also deal with issues when it comes to dating now because it is such a visable flaw.
i know this is only my experience but i hope whatever happens with your daughter that my little story can help in some way.

Sorry I wouldn't be here on much lately but I can just give you some information. I to have severe scoliosis and haven't had surgery, I'm almost 19 years old. My experience with doctors is similar to yours, I first had pain around age 13 or 14 like your daughter and that's when my scoliosis must have started. My doctors never even found out I had scoliosis untill 17. By 16 I realized exercise kept the pain down but honestly untill 17 I didn't know what scoliosis was. Contrary to your belief, I don't thnk bracing would be good. See, Your body learns to adapt to things like scoliosis. If you wear a brace then the muscles conforming to your back aren't being used therefore they will be weak AND the second u take off that brace, it'll feel weird. Message me if u have other ?'s.

First, let me say that even if your daughter had been braced, there is no way to know if it would have stopped the curve from progressing. Second, orthos usually don't do surgery on a 30 degree curve unless your daughter is a canidate for VBS or VBT or there is something else going on. And third, please come back and tell us what her doctor at the Children's Hospital told you. Finally, I am too excited not to share our news.

I was told that if this new physical therapy we were trying was going to work for our child’s scoliosis, we would know within the first 4 months. –Four months later, her (moderate)curve had stopped getting worse! I am a mom, not a medical professional, so I can’t tell you why it works; just that it worked AND is still working for our child.

We were told she had scoliosis and during the watch & wait phase had to get an x-ray every 6 months. Later, her orthopedic surgeon prescribed a brace, but by that time our daughter was finally tall enough to begin using progressive resistance torso rotation strength training, so she did that instead. Though her main curve had progressed 16 degrees between the prior set of x-rays, her curve completely stopped progressing after she began strength training on the MedX Core Torso Rotation and has remained stable for a total of 22 months based on her orthopedic surgeon’s x-rays. (Her curves remain T31 and L28 degrees.)

My daughter was unable to fit into the equipment at the beginning of her growth spurt and due to her high rate of progression (16 degrees) and low level of maturation (Tanner: 2, Risser: 0, Triradiate Cartledge: open, Menarche: 0 months) was expected to require surgery. She was petite and therefore still did not fit into the exercise equipment well even when she did start using it. My husband and I contacted the MedX Corporation and asked them to make some changes so the equipment would fit her better. It turns out the modifications were simple and now my 13yro daughter fits into the equipment perfectly! The company told us they will make these alterations available on their new equipment and as a retrofit for those who already own the unit. Parents, we no longer have to wait for our kids to grow into the MedX Core Torso Rotation machine!!!

If I understand it correctly, this type of physical therapy works best for someone with AIS and a thoracic or thoracolumbar curve, Risser 0-III (maybe IV too), mild to moderate Cobb angle, with no other medical concerns (r/o red flags raised by a left or high thoracic curve, Chiari Malformation, & Syringomyelia, etc.), who is able to workout 2x a week until strength on each side of the spine is fairly equal (several months), and then 1x a week until maturation (several years.) You would have to ask your doctor to make sure I have the info right!

My daughter’s program is a little different than either Dr. Mooney’s or Dr. McIntire’s. She warms up, completes stretches & exercises chosen by her physical therapist, uses the MedX Core Torso Rotation machine & BackStrong VARC, and then finishes with a large icepack for 15 minutes.

The core of the program takes less than 20 minutes, adding the “extras” to the core equals a little more than an hour. Either way, our family decided if it worked, physical therapy 1x or 2x a week was better than our child spending 22-23 hours a day, 7 days a week in a brace.

Keep in mind I am reporting my opinions and the results of my child and not presuming to know what is best for your child.

A_Mom

The next Dallas monthly Scoliosis Support Group meeting is Mar 6, 2013 from 7-8pm in “The View” Conference Room at 1600 Coit Rd, Plano, TX 75075 (The Medical Center of Plano hospital campus).

Enter main entrance to Building One, turn left down the hallway past the new restrooms. “The View” will be on your left. Parking is free.

Barbara Baker will discuss Posture Alignment therapy, a unique and effective program for musculoskeletal pain & imbalance.

Come meet others who have either had surgery or are considering surgery. All ages welcome.

Please RSVP if you plan on attending by leaving a message at 214-473-7240, or emailing michelle.wright1@hcahealthcare.com