Daughter dx. with juvenile scoliosis.
My 11 year old daughter has grown almost 5 inches in the last year. I occasionally take her to the chiro. when she asks. Took her on Tuesday where he noticed an asymmetrical curve. Her right shoulder blade was noticeably higher than her left. He stated that she is developing scoliosis.
Our chiro. gave us a couple exercises to do. We see him again next week.
Can anyone point me in a direction to start learning about current, effective, treatment?
Thank you!
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This very thing happened to us for our 12 year old son this past fall. He has been very active in sports his whole life and occasionally had some back pain. The chiro actually found it out and we went to a pediatric specialist. The specialist was very helpful. He will be monitored for several years every 6 mos and is encouraged to continue to play sports. Best of luck. I would see a specialist.
@ Brenda- That's on the plan for next week.
Not the kind of person to wait and see. Trying to figure out what we can do for her now. She is having pretty significant back pain that disturbs her sleep. We are going to start her in massage therapy. I have also ordered her an intellaskin. It's not as aggressive as a brace but will give her muscles a work out and support. She was given exerecises to start too.
After looking into the major pediatric Neuro. clinic in Oregon, OHSU. On their front page is the disclaimer that "surgery is the only effective treatment." Would you take your kid to them? Sounds like a wait and see plan until surgery is no other option.
So I am researching exercises and stretches that may help her. If nothing else gives her something to do to help herself.
Thank everyone!
Go to her primary physician first. I am a pediatrician, and the first thing I would do would be to examine her to see if I could see any other obvious signs of her pain. Next, X-rays at a facility that can do full length/one film X-ray of her back (most Children's hospitals are equipped for this, many adult places are not). If her curve is significant compared to her developmental stage (how far through puberty she is), you will be referred onto a specialty center. In Denver, I would refer to the orthopedic scoliosis clinic at the Children's Hospital Colorado. They will decide if intervention is needed now, or if it should be wait/watch/follow closely kind of scenario.
It is very possible that her back pain is not related to the scoliosis. I have about a 12 degree curve of my back, which I can notice when standing in front of the mirror in a bikini or someone else can notice if they are behind me on a bike. But, the episodes of back pain that I have had were completely unrelated to my scoliosis.
Most of the kids I've treated for back pain when there wasn't a structural cause have been due to lacking core strength. Yep, important in kiddos too. Kids in general don't just "play" anymore, and the best thing for core strength in kids is playgrounds- climbing, sliding, swinigng, etc. But yes, definitely make sure you know the cause of the back pain! Good luck!!