RE: Too Optimistic???

January 30, 2012

Before we even began casting the PA at SLC predicted that Levi would only

Need 3 or 4 casts & that he should be moving into a brace by summer based

on his x rays and traction x ray. Levi went from 31* & 15/20* rotation to

16/17* & no rotation on cast 1 with the same result in cast 2. They

predicted the same results both casts too before they ever even casted. If

you have an experienced doc I think they have seen enough to make educated

predictions but that being said keep in the back of your mind that this is

a benificial process & if they are wrong & he needs more casts then it is

worth it. Until levi gets close enough to 0 I am prepared to plea for more

casting as I do not want to go back into a cast again after A brace & his

predicted potential height could be all of 6'7 " like his dad. I don't want

a relapse during his adolescent growth spurt.

Amber

> Hello All,

> My 20-month old son, just got his third cast at Shriner's

> Philly. After the casting, Dr. C told us something that quite

> surprised my husband and I. While I want to believe him, I was just

> wondering if any of you have ever been told something like this.

>

> 's curve began at at least 44 degrees (I say " at least " because

> there were weeks between this X-ray and casting). An " out of cast " X-ray

> was taken after his first cast, revealing a 40 degree curve (probably

> more than 4 degrees correction). There were also TWO " apples to apples "

> comparison X-rays taken on his first and second casting days, but they

> were taken supine. Before cast #1, he was 22 degrees supine ... and

> before cast #2, he was 11 degrees supine. Dr. C did NOT take an " out of

> cast " X-ray after cast #2.

>

> Currently, IN cast #3, 's curve is 3 to 4 degrees. We are super

> excited about this, but we were surprised because Dr. C told us " I only

> expect to have one to two more casts after cast #3. " WHAT?!?!

> Don't get me wrong, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL ... however, it really shocked

> us that he would make that call without seeing a standing, " out of cast "

> X-ray. We don't want to be too optimistic and then be crushed when this

> process takes much longer! In your opinion, would you just assume that

> " doctor knows best " and that he can somehow estimate this based on

> 's " in cast " curve? He also mentioned that was very, very

> flexible and that that was a good sign.

>

> Any opinions/experinces would be appreciated!

>

January 30, 2012

WOW! That would be fantastic if he only needed that many more. From what our dr tells us, its ALL based on growth rate. So if Logan had a significant growth spurt the time lessens. With that, Logan spine is very flexible, and he has been casted since 9 months, @45 degrees. We leave next week for cast #12, and as of post #9 he was 9 degrees out of cast. Most of his casts have been on for about 8 weeks and this last one was on for 10.5 weeks. Ive heard some mamas on here say they only had 6 casts (but thier duration in the casts were longer spread). I personally think he is EXTREAMLY cautious and would aire on the side of overcasting than undercasting and going to the brace too early. (Just based on talking to other parents, each time we go).

I say pray for the best! Best of luck for your little one!

Logan's mama (45 down to 9 out of cast, 2 years old)

From: Heath <jaheath86@...>infantile scoliosis treatment Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 2:38 PMSubject: Too Optimistic???

Hello All,My 20-month old son, just got his third cast at Shriner's Philly. After the casting, Dr. C told us something that quite surprised my husband and I. While I want to believe him, I was just wondering if any of you have ever been told something like this. 's curve began at at least 44 degrees (I say "at least" because there were weeks between this X-ray and casting). An "out of cast" X-ray was taken after his first cast, revealing a 40 degree curve (probably more than 4 degrees correction). There were also TWO "apples to apples" comparison X-rays taken on his first and second casting days, but they were taken supine. Before cast #1, he was 22 degrees supine ... and before cast #2, he was 11 degrees supine. Dr. C did NOT take an "out of cast" X-ray after cast #2.Currently, IN cast #3, 's curve is 3 to 4 degrees. We are super excited about this, but we were surprised because Dr. C told us "I only expect

to have one to two more casts after cast #3." WHAT?!?! Don't get me wrong, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL ... however, it really shocked us that he would make that call without seeing a standing, "out of cast" X-ray. We don't want to be too optimistic and then be crushed when this process takes much longer! In your opinion, would you just assume that "doctor knows best" and that he can somehow estimate this based on 's "in cast" curve? He also mentioned that was very, very flexible and that that was a good sign.Any opinions/experinces would be appreciated!

January 30, 2012

Hey, my son miller was 29* when we started @ 6 months old with first cast, after 1st and 2nd cast we were told he was less than 10* told to go to brace. I was very nervous too, but we go back Wednesday for xray out of brace. We were originally told we would have to cast longer, but me said he was very flexible. We had lots of prayers so, I decided to go with brace and see what happened. We will know this week, if I don't see good numbers we will to back to casting.FrancesMomma to 10 monthsSent from my Verizon Wireless Phone----- Reply message -----From: " Heath " <jaheath86@...><infantile scoliosis treatment >Subject: Too Optimistic???Date: Mon, Jan 30, 2012 1:38 pm Hello All,My 20-month old son, just got his third cast at Shriner's Philly. After the casting, Dr. C told us something that quite surprised my husband and I. While I want to believe him, I was just wondering if any of you have ever been told something like this. 's curve began at at least 44 degrees (I say " at least " because there were weeks between this X-ray and casting). An " out of cast " X-ray was taken after his first cast, revealing a 40 degree curve (probably more than 4 degrees correction). There were also TWO " apples to apples " comparison X-rays taken on his first and second casting days, but they were taken supine. Before cast #1, he was 22 degrees supine ... and before cast #2, he was 11 degrees supine. Dr. C did NOT take an " out of cast " X-ray after cast #2.Currently, IN cast #3, 's curve is 3 to 4 degrees. We are super excited about this, but we were surprised because Dr. C told us " I only expect to have one to two more casts after cast #3. " WHAT?!?! Don't get me wrong, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL ... however, it really shocked us that he would make that call without seeing a standing, " out of cast " X-ray. We don't want to be too optimistic and then be crushed when this process takes much longer! In your opinion, would you just assume that " doctor knows best " and that he can somehow estimate this based on 's " in cast " curve? He also mentioned that was very, very flexible and that that was a good sign.Any opinions/experinces would be appreciated!

January 30, 2012

,

Dr C also treats my daughter. He has

NEVER said anything like this to us. My daughter’s curve, although

near ’s at the start of treatment, is stiff and resolving slowly

(she’s also 4). She’s in cast #8 with a second planned brace

for the summer and more casting this fall. If this is what he said, I’d

believe it. I am SOOOOO happy for and you. I think you can

allow yourself to feel hopeful!!!

Sherry

Too

Optimistic???

Hello All,

My 20-month old son, just got his third cast at Shriner's Philly. After

the casting, Dr. C told us something that quite surprised my husband and I.

While I want to believe him, I was just wondering if any of you have ever been

told something like this.

's curve began at at least 44 degrees (I say " at least "

because there were weeks between this X-ray and casting). An " out of

cast " X-ray was taken after his first cast, revealing a 40 degree curve

(probably more than 4 degrees correction). There were also TWO " apples to

apples " comparison X-rays taken on his first and second casting days, but

they were taken supine. Before cast #1, he was 22 degrees supine ... and before

cast #2, he was 11 degrees supine. Dr. C did NOT take an " out of

cast " X-ray after cast #2.

Currently, IN cast #3, 's curve is 3 to 4 degrees. We are super excited

about this, but we were surprised because Dr. C told us " I only expect

to have one to two more casts after cast #3. " WHAT?!?! Don't get

me wrong, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL ... however, it really shocked us that he

would make that call without seeing a standing, " out of cast " X-ray.

We don't want to be too optimistic and then be crushed when this process takes

much longer! In your opinion, would you just assume that " doctor knows

best " and that he can somehow estimate this based on 's " in

cast " curve? He also mentioned that was very, very flexible and

that that was a good sign.

Any opinions/experinces would be appreciated!

February 3, 2012

Hi ,

I would cross that bridge when you get to it. Easier said than done, I

know. If your gut is telling you lil needs more casts in his

series, then have a sit down with the doc in Philly and express your

concerns prior to his 4th cast. Will lil J be weight bearing by then?

Perhaps, a weight bearing, out of cast film would help ease your concern

and will also be super accurate.

You may be more optimistic after the next cast! No worries, lil J is on

the right track..

HRH