Re: Daughter just diagnosed with severe scoliosis

[Guest guest]

>

> This week I was blindsided by the diagnosis of my daughter having

> scoliosis. She has 3 curves; 19, 30, and 70 degrees. We have a

> meeting tomorrow and one next week with two different pediatric

> orthopedists who will probably tell us the same things--surgery.

Does

> anyone have any uplifting and postive advice. My daughter, who is

12,

> is an emotional wreck. As a parent, I want to take her pain away

and

> carry it myself. I want to protect her and I feel helpless right

now.

> Any positive feedback is appreciated.

Hello, I know you are very concerned about your daughter. As mothers

we never want them to feel pain. I am so amazed at how far surgery

for scoliosis has come along. I had my first surgery in 1996 when I

was 36 years old. I'm reading about how people are pain free after

surgery and that it was the best thing they ever had done. Your

daughter is young and that will really work in her favor. My curve

was 85 degrees so you are doing the right thing in stopping your

daughters curve now. Scoliosis can be very dangerous on the organs.

My rig cage was aiming downward on one side and about to harm one of

my lungs. I already had disc damage.

You are doing all the right things in getting as much information as

you can. My daughter wore a brace for 2 years and so far her curve

has not progressed. I'll be saying prayers for your daughter. Be sure

to let us know how she is doing. God Bless You, Dereise...............

[Guest guest]

The only advice I can share is that treatment at 12 is better than at 52.  I

know is is scary

and nerve-wrecking. I was 12 when I was diagnosed.  I wore a Milwalkee brace (No

longer used much - like a torchure chamber in itself.) It was suggested I have

surgery but I had severe asthma and gave my parents a real hard time about the

scoliosis treatment.

I am paying for that now with severely worsened spine, lots of pain  and options

that are far more challenging at this age. I wouls say to find a specialist and

a hospital with a great reputation and than do anything you can now while she is

long. God bless you!

From: heidi.lezotte <heidi.lezotte@...>

Subject: Daughter just diagnosed with severe scoliosis

Scoliosis Treatment

Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 5:47 PM

This week I was blindsided by the diagnosis of my daughter having

scoliosis. She has 3 curves; 19, 30, and 70 degrees. We have a

meeting tomorrow and one next week with two different pediatric

orthopedists who will probably tell us the same things--surgery. Does

anyone have any uplifting and postive advice. My daughter, who is 12,

is an emotional wreck. As a parent, I want to take her pain away and

carry it myself. I want to protect her and I feel helpless right now.

Any positive feedback is appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Hi Heidi,

I had very sucessful surgery last year at the age of 60. There are

very good ways to control the postop pain. I would make sure that

whoever will be doing her surgery has a specialty in spinal surgery.

Many, many times I heard how children heal much faster than adults. I

read several books on spinal problems and found several website to be

very helpful for me in preparing myself to have this healing surgery.

Beverly Oleksiak

Aurora, OH

>

> This week I was blindsided by the diagnosis of my daughter having

> scoliosis. She has 3 curves; 19, 30, and 70 degrees. We have a

> meeting tomorrow and one next week with two different pediatric

> orthopedists who will probably tell us the same things--surgery.

Does

> anyone have any uplifting and postive advice. My daughter, who is

12,

> is an emotional wreck. As a parent, I want to take her pain away and

> carry it myself. I want to protect her and I feel helpless right

now.

> Any positive feedback is appreciated.

>

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry to hear about your daughter's recent dx...please be rest

assured this to shall past. Make sure you get a second opinion and then

possibly a third. Do your research, make sure you talk with the

surgeons regarding the surgery itself, how they will perform, how long

will it take, recovery.. I was dx at the age of 13yrs. My parents did

not really explain things to me, so make sure she understands what

going on and what will happen. I'm now 38 yrs old. I had a Harrington

Rod implant...it wasn't until 2 years ago I found out the surgeons

placed the implant on the wrong side of the curve, therefore creating

another curve. That will not happen in your case, because you have

groups like this one and the web...God bless you and your daughter.

Will keep you both in my prayers for a speedy recovery.

[Guest guest]

Hi Heidi (I hope it is Heidi from your ID).

My daugther was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 9, wore a Boston brace for 3

years, and had surgery at age 12. She is 16 now. She had a 55 degree

thoracic curve. Needless to say she was following in my footsteps. I was

diagnosed at age 5, started treatment with a Milwaukee brace at age 9, and

also had surgery at age 12. I just had revision surgery last year. Today

the scoliosis surgeons realize the importance of keeping the natural front

to back curve of the spine and my daughter will not end up with flatback

syndrome like I did. She is fused from T2-T12 with her thoracic and lumbar

curves balanced at approximately 30 degrees. She did not have to wear a

brace after surgery. She took pain pills (Vicodin) for a few weeks after

surgery. She is now cleared to do anything she wants to do.

The most important thing is having a surgeon that is very familiar with

scoliosis and does several surgeries a year for correction.

If your daughter is interested in talking to someone that has been through

it, I will see if my daughter is willing to mentor her.

Peggy

On Wed, Sep 10, 2008 at 5:47 PM, heidi.lezotte <heidi.lezotte@...>wrote:

> This week I was blindsided by the diagnosis of my daughter having

> scoliosis. She has 3 curves; 19, 30, and 70 degrees. We have a

> meeting tomorrow and one next week with two different pediatric

> orthopedists who will probably tell us the same things--surgery. Does

> anyone have any uplifting and postive advice. My daughter, who is 12,

> is an emotional wreck. As a parent, I want to take her pain away and

> carry it myself. I want to protect her and I feel helpless right now.

> Any positive feedback is appreciated.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> >

> > This week I was blindsided by the diagnosis of my daughter

having

> > scoliosis. She has 3 curves; 19, 30, and 70 degrees. We have a

> > meeting tomorrow and one next week with two different pediatric

> > orthopedists who will probably tell us the same things--

surgery.

> Does

> > anyone have any uplifting and postive advice. My daughter, who

is

> 12,

> > is an emotional wreck. As a parent, I want to take her pain away

> and

> > carry it myself. I want to protect her and I feel helpless

right

> now.

> > Any positive feedback is appreciated.

>

>

> Hello, I know you are very concerned about your daughter. As

mothers

> we never want them to feel pain. I am so amazed at how far surgery

> for scoliosis has come along. I had my first surgery in 1996 when

I

> was 36 years old. I'm reading about how people are pain free after

> surgery and that it was the best thing they ever had done. Your

> daughter is young and that will really work in her favor. My curve

> was 85 degrees so you are doing the right thing in stopping your

> daughters curve now. Scoliosis can be very dangerous on the

organs.

> My rig cage was aiming downward on one side and about to harm one

of

> my lungs. I already had disc damage.

>

> You are doing all the right things in getting as much information

as

> you can. My daughter wore a brace for 2 years and so far her curve

> has not progressed. I'll be saying prayers for your daughter. Be

sure

> to let us know how she is doing. God Bless You,

Dereise...............

> Wow 3 curves, technology is so good now days so ur daughter will

be fine after surgery. If possible try the brace 1st. When I was 12

my curve was a 45% & my Doc said it was 2 far progressed 4 the brace

& tech. was not that good back then so I did'nt have the sugery

then. At the age of 33 is when I had 2 have it cause it had

progressed 2 an 80% & I was having trouble breathing & my pain meds

were'nt helping but all they gave me was tab 7.5's. Your girl is

young & will heal fast. I will be praying 4 her & ur family.

[Guest guest]

Ssurgery for a 70 degree curve needs surgery, in my opinion.  She is young and

will recover more quickly than us in our 50's.  One of my curves was 76.  Now, l

have almost no pain and am happy with my 23 and 36 degree curves, (or they are

something like that.)  Ask all your questions and try not to fret.  I know it's

easier said than done.  It's important that you trust your surgeon(s).

 

Lana (I'm 59, had surgery T2 to L5 in 2002)

From: heidi.lezotte <heidi.lezotte@...>

Subject: Daughter just diagnosed with severe scoliosis

Scoliosis Treatment

Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 5:47 PM

This week I was blindsided by the diagnosis of my daughter having

scoliosis. She has 3 curves; 19, 30, and 70 degrees. We have a

meeting tomorrow and one next week with two different pediatric

orthopedists who will probably tell us the same things--surgery. Does

anyone have any uplifting and postive advice. My daughter, who is 12,

is an emotional wreck. As a parent, I want to take her pain away and

carry it myself. I want to protect her and I feel helpless right now.

Any positive feedback is appreciated.