Question about scoliosis

[Kath]

Lori
Sciatica was a major problem during my pregnancy with all three of my children and sometimes I still have a bouts with it.
I was 60 before anyone mentioned I had mild scoliosis and that is because my PT was interested in the management of my entire body not just my arm, neck.

Kath

[dmom]

It makes me wonder how many OBPI kids end up with scoliosis or some similar back problems, for the very reasons you all bring up.

I guess we can just add that to our list of "long-term BPI statistics we wish existed ..."

This injury is so darn frustrating!

Janet

[admin]

Thanks for all your replys. I can see how this injury could result in scoliosis, eventually. Makes you wonder what all else might pop up in the future. Just so many concerns for me at this point. Just wanted to get your opinions.

[AngieD]

My daughter is 8 yrs old with a OBPI. She has scoliosis, she went from a 10 degree curve last year to 17 and 22 degree curve this year(it is S-shaped). She is know wearing a back brace to help prevent it from getting worse. She had several factors into the fact she has scoliosis. She has BPI, plus her phrenic nerve was cut during primary surgery so her ribs on that side did not develope right. She has had three surgeries on that side through the ribs trying to fix the diaphragm. All of that contributed to her already having this issue. Hopefully, the brace will help but if not when the curve hits 50 degrees they recommend surgery. We know that with out the brace she would get worse quickly. My suggestion is to get your child checked every couple of years. You do need to see a Ortho. though because when they take the x-ray it needs to be done a certain way. We had a x-ray done at the Pedi. doctor and the curve was not the same as at the Ortho. The technicians there just don't understand how you need to position the child to get an accurate picture.
Angie

[admin]

Hi Janet

I reply to your message re scoliosis. You might say I'm in the middle, my 16 year old daughter was diagnosed and operated on for scoliosis last November, and my 19 year old son suffered traumatic BPI May this year. I post mostly on the TBPI site. I can give you some information regarding scoliosis and BPI injury, but not the two together on one child. Anyway if I can help with any questions please contact me .....regards Narelle
email address horsie3@bigpond.com.au

[rachelcasa]

I have not heard and I shoudl go get checked out to see if I have it or not. However, when I was in 6th grade we had Scoliosis checks and thats when they knew something was wrong. I went to the doctor and they found that I had a Brachial Plexus Injury. My mom knew that at birth my arm was injured, however, she was young and the doctor just told her to do range of motion and it would straigthen out. I imagine when your arm is thrown off like that it could definately cause slight scoliosis. I think I'll go get checked out. I hope everything goes well for you.

[JessicasMom]

Wow Rachel! I can't imagine not finding out that you had a BPI until you were in 6th grade! That just sounds crazy! What a shock that must have been!

[CW1992]

Brittney was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was 4. Her pediatrician had noticed and recommended we go see an orthopedist. We could tell because she was sticking her stomach way forward and her little ribs stuck out - her back was always arched to reach things with her injured arm.. Her curve degree has gotten better and worse over the years and we were told that it only gets worse but that was not true in our case. Her therapist in Baton Rouge said that we needed to strengthen her stomach muscles. She had us do sit ups with her nightly and 'windshieild wipers' where she laid on her back and kept her legs straight and went side to side with her legs like wipers. We did the exercises with her every night and she didn't seem to mind - it was family exercise time... and in four months, after x-rays, her scoliosis degree had gone way down. Her curve degree has gone up and down over the years – the highest it has ever been I think was a 21 degree curve, and we were told that if it went over 24 - we would have to do something about it – but then it would go down again… When she was in second grade she could do more sit ups than any other kid could during PE - sometimes the therapy stuff gives them great benefits.

In fifth grade she was supposed to be tested at school for scoliosis with all of the fifth grade girls, and she was upset about that - that she would be the one that the sirens went off on.... She did not want to go to school that day - which is not like her at all. I called the nurse and told her the situation, that we already knew she had scoliosis, but that she didn't want her friends to know because that would be one more thing that made her different. The school nurse and I agreed that Britt should just go with the flow - go through the assembly line of girls being tested, and that since I already knew what the results would be, she would not make a big deal about it. The school has Five fifth grade classes and Brittney was worried that she would be the only one that got a note sent home.. She ended up not being embarrassed at all, got tested, no papers sent home, and everything went great.

She is due for more x-rays, but I can tell that her stomach and back are looking pretty good right now - she is not sticking her stomach forward and that is a good sign.

On a side note - I just had a flashback of Brittney at age 5, smiling while her x-rays were being taken, (as usual) because she wanted the doctors to 'see her pretty smile'. She'd say "cheese' and pose and act like she was having her picture taken professionally and the x-ray technicians would tell her to hold still... She is such a ham! The gowns were always adult sized and she looked so small in them and would trip over them when she went down the hall to the x-ray room. That kid has been x-rayed so many times and has smiled in every single one. She is now 12-1/2. I hope this helps.
Christy

[admin]

Scoliosis runs in my family, so we are always on the lookout. One of my twins has it, so we go yearly for xrays and a checkup with an excellent scoliosis specialist. He is a conservative guy, so we are just watching right now. He checks Juliana everytime we see him. For now, she is okay, but with our family history and the bpi, she is at great risk.

Make sure the orthopod you go to knows scoliosis...there are a lot of changes in the treatment of scoliosis.

good luck,
claudia