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Pretty much nothing. At 14, she has probably about stopped growing, and they probably won't do anything unless it is truly horrible. (If it was, you would have probably noticed it before this.) Bracing is only for kids who are still growing, and they aren't sure if it really works all that great. Surgery is only used in extreme cases.

 

My dd was 12 when we took her to an orthopedist to be checked. (We had known she had scoliosis since she was 8 and were keeping an eye on it.) Her curvature is 26* top and 25*bottom (an almost perfect S). The ortho said to come back in a year, but that she should be pretty much finished with growth. (He thought she hadn't started menses only because she is an athlete. Menses is seen as the indicator of slowing growth in girls.) We didn't bother going back for a recheck a year later. She does have pain from it. (Which he said doesn't happen.) We treat it with weekly massage therapy.

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I have very minor scoliosis. One of my hips is slightly higher than the other as a result but you'd really have to be looking at me closely to tell.

 

Every year my school would do the screening as part of the physical fitness test, and every year I'd have to get a note from my pediatrician stating that he was aware of the issue but that it did not warrant treatment at this time. Highly annoying!

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My oldest was seen by an orthopedist from 6yo to 14yo (when she stopped growing). When she had her major growth spurt from 11yo to 12yo, her curves actually improved. But from 12.5yo to 13yo, her curves suddenly became a lot more severe. She was in a Boston brace for one year. At 14yo, x-rays showed that she was done growing, so she didn't wear the brace any more. My dd was willing to wear the brace because she would have done just about anything to get all the height she could. She is 5'3.5".

 

My youngest hasn't been referred to an orthopedist yet, but she is being watched by the doctor. This dd would be a nightmare to have in a brace and would not be at all compliant.

 

I have scoliosis with three curves. I didn't find out about it until my physical for ROTC at 18yo. According to the doctor, I would have been about 5'4" (instead of my actual 5'1.5") if I didn't have scoliosis. I used to have a lot of back problems, but those nearly all went away when I started working out at the gym. I wouldn't have been able to get an epidural during childbirth either, but I didn't end up needing that kind of relief so it didn't matter.

 

edited to add:

My youngest works out at the gym with me 2x/week and loves it. I think it is helping to keep everything in check for her. My oldest (who wore the brace) didn't go to the gym with me until after she was in the brace and then it was only to try to keep up core strength since she was encased in plastic from her hips to her armpits for 22 hours every day.

 

My middle dd shows absolutely no signs of scoliosis at all.

 

I hadn't though about hanging, but that's a great idea. We have a monkey bar thing on our swing set, so I'll have my dd hang on it for as long as she can stand at least 1x/day.

Edited by AngieW in Texas
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My son has been seeing an orthopedist for his scoliosis for a couple of years. His developmental specialist noticed it first when he was around 12. His is caused by unequal leg length. Actually, one entire side of his body is a little bigger than the other (hemi-hyper-trophy). He has gone for x-rays and check ups twice a year, and the difference is staying the same. At this last appointment, we got cleared to just come one time a year now.

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Dumb questions for those of you experienced with scoliosis: (1) does the curve go side to side or front to back? and (2) did they rule out tethered spinal cord (via MRI)?

 

One of my kids had a tethered cord and the cause is one that could be familial (filum lipoma) so I'm always on the lookout for symptoms in the other kids, especially the ones who have sacral dimples/crooked butt cracks, etc. But I know nothing about scoliosis.

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I have scoliosis.

 

The one real mistake people and doctors make is to "watch and see." This is absolutely the WORST thing you can do about scoliosis.

 

Instead, if your child has scoliosis, it is imperative that he/she exercises regularly, and particularly focuses on upper body and core strength.

 

Another effective way to combat scoliosis is by hanging. Literally. Hold onto a bar above the head and just hang there as long as you comfortably can, a couple times per day. This is especially effective for a child who is still growing.

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:iagree:

 

I had scoliosis dx'd when I was in my early teens. I had physical therapy which helped tremendously and corrected the curvature by about 50%. Most of the exercises were core exercises. I rarely exercise, but when I do I can tell that the curvature improves and the pain is relieved.

 

I can't imagine why orthopedics no longer recommend pt.

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I have very minor scoliosis. One of my hips is slightly higher than the other as a result but you'd really have to be looking at me closely to tell.

 

Every year my school would do the screening as part of the physical fitness test, and every year I'd have to get a note from my pediatrician stating that he was aware of the issue but that it did not warrant treatment at this time. Highly annoying!

 

Ditto here. My spine is a very pretty S shape. Causes one hip to be 1/2 inch higher than the other. However, my one leg grew to compensate, so it doesn't affect my walking but I do need to sometimes hem pant legs different lengths or hem skirts at a bit of a slant... of course, I just deal with this by not wearing very tailored clothing or having it slightly loose on my waist. No one can tell when my pant legs pool a bit at my ankles (they assume it's because I'm short). I also really like floor-length skirts, so I don't hem much.

 

It pretty much just gave my mother something to worry about. :D

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I've got a curve that didn't require bracing or surgery. I can't remember the degree but we did improve the degree with physical therapy focusing on core (front and back) strength.

 

My shoulder blades are uneven. I would imagine one hip is higher but I never noticed. I have at times had what I would describe as significant back pain that I really believe is related but perhaps it isn't. At any rate it hasn't really impacted my life.

 

I'm glad this thread was posted. I really need to work on core strength with my low muscle tone guy to try to prevent this.

 

If anyone has access to horses that is terrific for core work and more fun than the typical exercises--at least what I was assigned! I like the hanging idea.

 

Dumb questions for those of you experienced with scoliosis: (1) does the curve go side to side or front to back? and (2) did they rule out tethered spinal cord (via MRI)?

 

One of my kids had a tethered cord and the cause is one that could be familial (filum lipoma) so I'm always on the lookout for symptoms in the other kids, especially the ones who have sacral dimples/crooked butt cracks, etc. But I know nothing about scoliosis.

 

If your kids have sacral dimples/midline defects they should have tethered cords ruled out via testing. I can't remember whether it's MRI or something else as they get older. I know babies are different than older toddlers and kids. But any child with sacral dimples and related should have it imaged to rule out formally and that's even without your family history.

 

My curve is side to side. I assume they all are but I don't know exactly what front to back would be/what you're thinking.

Edited by sbgrace
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I have had back pain for as long as I can remember. As a kid my parents dismissed it as nothing.

 

It wasn't until I was around 12 that I was diagnosed with scoliosis (I had also stopped growing). I saw doctor after doctor and no one was able to give me relief.

 

I also have one leg shorter than the other and a swayback.

 

It was quite the experience getting an epidural for childbirth (2 doctors and finally the head guy came in, it took him 3 trys).

 

I have been through all different kinds of physical therapy which I found to be useless. My back felt better while I was there and hours later the pain came back.

 

When my son was 11 months old I had two disks in my back explode (I don't know how else to describe it). Back surgery, 1 week in the hospital unconscious. I have felt significantly less pain since then. Ocassionally the pain comes back like crazy to remind me it is not completely gone.

 

30 years later and I am at the point where I just adjust my life accordingly.

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Right now you do nothing - just wait for your appointment. They will probably take lots of x-rays and then you will have a chat with the ortho. He will tell you the location and degree of her curvature and what (if anything) they will do to treat it. In many cases scoliosis is something you can live your entire life with and not need to worry about.

 

My S curve scoliosis was diagnosed in 6th grade. I was braced until I turned 17, did nothing other than exercise through college, then I had major surgery to fuse my spine (T5-L5) prior to getting married (Doc said that the weight I'd gain bearing children would cause my spine to compact and hinder my lung function).

 

If your DD's curve is bad enough that she needs to be braced, PM me, I'd be happy to talk with her about it. There are lots of tricks for making it more comfortable and less obvious.

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Thanks ladies. I do have a little more info now that the initial xrays are in.

 

She has the typical "S" curve. This was actually a surprise to the pediatrician because only the shoulder height difference is visible, her hips look fine. He only expected 1 curve not 2. He said one curve is about 11 degrees the other is smaller. For whatever reason, he is concerned enough that he wants us to see a scoliosis specialist (2 hours away) ASAP. The specialist office said since she is nonsurgical, it will probably be 2 weeks before we can get in.

 

I am still in a bit of shock. There has never been any evidence of anything like this, ever!!!

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Thanks ladies. I do have a little more info now that the initial xrays are in.

 

She has the typical "S" curve. This was actually a surprise to the pediatrician because only the shoulder height difference is visible, her hips look fine. He only expected 1 curve not 2. He said one curve is about 11 degrees the other is smaller. For whatever reason, he is concerned enough that he wants us to see a scoliosis specialist (2 hours away) ASAP. The specialist office said since she is nonsurgical, it will probably be 2 weeks before we can get in.

 

I am still in a bit of shock. There has never been any evidence of anything like this, ever!!!

 

That's one of the reasons we still take our dc to well checks. Our doctor caught my dd's scoliosis. She is seeing an ortho. He had her do the new ScolioScore (a genetic test,) which was interesting (but not highly helpful to us, as dd scored in the mid range.)

 

We are waiting for her to start her growth spurt (she is 14 and 5'6", and she has not started into her growth spurt :001_huh:) to see what happens. DR told us that she will be braced if she has any increase this next visit. She is already seeing our chiro.

 

Our family doc sent the 12 yo for a screen, too, because of back pain and a difference in shoulder height, but she just has one leg shorter than the other (like me :D) and not scoliosis.

 

We are ready to try some alternative therapies if her curve increases.

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Thanks ladies. I do have a little more info now that the initial xrays are in.

 

She has the typical "S" curve. This was actually a surprise to the pediatrician because only the shoulder height difference is visible, her hips look fine. He only expected 1 curve not 2. He said one curve is about 11 degrees the other is smaller. For whatever reason, he is concerned enough that he wants us to see a scoliosis specialist (2 hours away) ASAP. The specialist office said since she is nonsurgical, it will probably be 2 weeks before we can get in.

 

I am still in a bit of shock. There has never been any evidence of anything like this, ever!!!

 

Having a curve of over ten degrees is definitely cause for concern, though it's not an emergency.

 

I have spent a lot of years researching this, and a lot of years trying to address the pain and physical dysfunction that accompanies scoliosis as you age.

 

Please, please, please embrace RIGHT NOW the need for your dd to invest heavily in exercise. You and she need to do this not just for a little while, but for the next several years. She's young enough for this to make a real difference, especially if she is still growing. INSIST on a referral for physical therapy to kick-start the process, and then please, please keep her exercising. If she were diabetic, you would test her blood sugar and monitor her diet, right? Scoliosis requires that level of care and attention to exercise.

 

I also will reiterate how effective hanging has been shown to be for scoliosis. It's kind of a new thing, and not all doctors are familiar with how helpful it is. It really is a good therapy for scoliosis, though. Get your dh to hang an exercise bar in a doorway somewhere in your house and get her to hang for as long as she's comfortable, 2-3 times per day.

 

When I was growing up, scoliosis was seen as a "watch and see" condition. When it got bad enough, drs would consider bracing or surgery or both. It is just sad and unfortunate that they were not trained as to how exercise can affect outcome for scoliosis. Many drs today still see this the same way today--some drs understand the need for exercise, but many have not been trained in that therapy and so it's just not on their radar.

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Thanks ladies. I do have a little more info now that the initial xrays are in.

 

She has the typical "S" curve. This was actually a surprise to the pediatrician because only the shoulder height difference is visible, her hips look fine. He only expected 1 curve not 2. He said one curve is about 11 degrees the other is smaller. For whatever reason, he is concerned enough that he wants us to see a scoliosis specialist (2 hours away) ASAP. The specialist office said since she is nonsurgical, it will probably be 2 weeks before we can get in.

 

I am still in a bit of shock. There has never been any evidence of anything like this, ever!!!

 

10* and under is considered to be in the normal range, so she really only has one true curvature at this point. Dd's ortho doesn't consider doing anything with bracing until the curvature is over 25*, and that is only if they have not started menses yet. Honestly, with just an 11* curve, you wouldn't have noticed anything without looking for it. Plus, it most likely has just come on. It does need to be watched, but it isn't anything to be overly concerned about at this point.

 

Adding, Strider is very correct, exercise is one of the best things she can do. Swimming is perfect for this. The strokes tend to mimic the exercises the physical therapist showed dd. It is extremely good for those core body muscles.

Edited by Lolly
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Unless your dd still has a lot of growing to do, I wouldn't worry about a curve that size. Like you, we were thrown into this without any warning. My dd was 12 and she was a competitive gymnast. She worked out 20 hours per week and she was very strong. There was no indication of any problem. Even her coaches did not notice a problem and they watched her perform in leotards every day. (Unless you are looking for it, it would be hard to notice a curve the size your dd has.)

 

She started complaining of back pain, so we took her in, thinking that she had injured her back. Her curves were in the 40 degree range. The doctor recommended surgery and we were shocked. We decided to think about it for a few weeks and absorb the shock. Surgery meant that dd could never do gymnastics again and at that time she was a very dedicated gymnast. By the time we went back a month later her curves were 51 and 49 degrees and she was still growing. We scheduled the surgery immediately and she had 12 vertebrae fused.

 

My impression from my research is that surgery is usually only recommended in severe cases like my dd. I believe it is likely that the specialist will tell her to exercise as most of the other posters have mentioned. This is scary I know. :grouphug:

 

For those who are curious about my dd, she had a hard year, but she took her first ballet class at age 13. Less than a year later she was dancing en pointe. At 16, she now takes 5 advanced ballet classes per week, and performs with a ballet company. There are some moves that she can not do, but most people do not notice.

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Thank you again!! I am still just, I don't know, "overwhelmed" for lack of a better word. Dd is really not happy about any of it.

 

She is 14 and she has had her cycle for just over a year now. So, I'm thinking most of her growth is done (?). I've read that most girls finish their growing a year after the onset of cycles.

 

Like another poster said, dd was also an active gymnast until last year. She plays basketball now so she is active. I've wanted her to do a pilates class with me since summer started, so maybe now she will want to do some more of that type thing. I've wanted her to establish a good foundation of fitness now while she is young and not "play catch up" when she is old like me. I've had back trouble off and on for the past 10-15 years, I do not want that for her. Younger sister dances ballet throughout the week, so she already has quite a fitness routine going!

 

Thanks again, and keep the info and encouragement coming!!!

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Thank you again!! I am still just, I don't know, "overwhelmed" for lack of a better word. Dd is really not happy about any of it.

 

She is 14 and she has had her cycle for just over a year now. So, I'm thinking most of her growth is done (?). I've read that most girls finish their growing a year after the onset of cycles.

 

Like another poster said, dd was also an active gymnast until last year. She plays basketball now so she is active. I've wanted her to do a pilates class with me since summer started, so maybe now she will want to do some more of that type thing. I've wanted her to establish a good foundation of fitness now while she is young and not "play catch up" when she is old like me. I've had back trouble off and on for the past 10-15 years, I do not want that for her. Younger sister dances ballet throughout the week, so she already has quite a fitness routine going!

 

Thanks again, and keep the info and encouragement coming!!!

 

Good grief, I wonder why your doctor is wanting her to be seen asap! Honestly, at 14 with that small amount of curvature, unless I had really excellent insurance I would not even take her into a specialist. My experience with 3 girls says that they may grow a little bit more, but not enough to be concerned with more curvature. I do wonder what your pediatrician is thinking.:confused:

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Good grief, I wonder why your doctor is wanting her to be seen asap! Honestly, at 14 with that small amount of curvature, unless I had really excellent insurance I would not even take her into a specialist. My experience with 3 girls says that they may grow a little bit more, but not enough to be concerned with more curvature. I do wonder what your pediatrician is thinking.:confused:

 

I disagree. A curve of 10 degrees or larger is a cause for concern. My curves are minor but still cause me pain and ongoing issues. At age 14, intervention could make a huge difference. And, early intervention is definitely most effective for smaller curves--the op's daughter stands a good chance of halting the curve or even improving.

 

Also, as far as growth . . . it's not always as predictable as drs would like to think. I personally grew several inches in high school, and another inch and a half in college. For me, that was continued growth for seven years after the onset of my first menstrual cycle. (I am now 5'10".)

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I disagree. A curve of 10 degrees or larger is a cause for concern. My curves are minor but still cause me pain and ongoing issues. At age 14, intervention could make a huge difference. And, early intervention is definitely most effective for smaller curves--the op's daughter stands a good chance of halting the curve or even improving.

 

Also, as far as growth . . . it's not always as predictable as drs would like to think. I personally grew several inches in high school, and another inch and a half in college. For me, that was continued growth for seven years after the onset of my first menstrual cycle. (I am now 5'10".)

 

My post may have been misleading. I did not mean that no intervention should occur. I just do not understand the ped.'s urgency or even the need for an orthopedist who is not likely to intervene in any sort of way though. They will do the toe touch looky and probably take more x-rays. Physical therapy and exercise are likely to be the only interventions. As you most likely know, bracing is not done unless the curvature is at least 20, usually 25 degrees. At 14, even then it is unlikely. The benefits just are not certain (it is in dispute as to whether bracing has much effect) and usually is not recommended at a certain stage of bone development (which I am assuming at 14 would have been reached. A doctor is going to make the same assumption.) An orthopedist may or more likely may not recommend physical therapy. (They are not always sold on its possibilities. Often, they have an "It won't hurt" type of attitude towards it.) It is something that could easily be pursued with the recommendation of the pediatrician without the expense of consulting with an orthopedist. When dd visited a therapist, even they said that there was no reason for her to continue with physical therapy. She should just do the exercises on her own.

Edited by Lolly
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My post may have been misleading. I did not mean that no intervention should occur. I just do not understand the ped.'s urgency or even the need for an orthopedist who is not likely to intervene in any sort of way though. They will do the toe touch looky and probably take more x-rays. Physical therapy and exercise are likely to be the only interventions. As you most likely know, bracing is not done unless the curvature is at least 20, usually 25 degrees. At 14, even then it is unlikely. The benefits just are not certain (it is in dispute as to whether bracing has much effect) and usually is not recommended at a certain stage of bone development (which I am assuming at 14 would have been reached. A doctor is going to make the same assumption.) An orthopedist may or more likely may not recommend physical therapy. (They are not always sold on its possibilities. Often, they have an "It won't hurt" type of attitude towards it.) It is something that could easily be pursued with the recommendation of the pediatrician without the expense of consulting with an orthopedist. When dd visited a therapist, even they said that there was no reason for her to continue with physical therapy. She should just do the exercises on her own.

 

I see what you're saying, and I agree. The op might consider having a pediatric chiropractor handle this--a friend of mine did so, with wonderful results. Her kids did a combination of chiropractic care, hanging, massage, and physical therapy. Her dd still has a curve, though her dd's weight struggles play into that. Even so, her dd's curve is no worse (four years of care and attention). Her ds, on the other hand, actually saw improvement to his curve--there was big improvement in the first 18 months, and he has held steady since then.

 

Bottom line: Embrace exercise. Use a physical therapist to kick-start the process, and then continue with both the targeted pt exercises and with more general upper-body and core strength exercise. Continue to evaluate yearly, unless curvature worsens, in which case they should evaluate with an ortho.

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